James Tyler Studio Elite HDX (Dann Huff)

What superlatives can I write about Tyler Guitars that I haven't written before? Each time I think I've said it all, Tyler Guitars proves me wrong by delivering another exceptional instrument with its own unique personality and heart.

This Studio Elite HDX represents something special—a collaboration between Tyler Guitars' legendary craftsmanship and Dann Huff's decades of experience in the world's finest recording studios. Dann knows what works because he's been there, playing on everything from Michael Jackson to Keith Urban, laying down tracks that have defined multiple generations of music. When someone with that kind of resume tells you what he needs in a guitar, you listen.

The specs here tell an important story. The lightweight alder body paired with its stunning quartersawn maple neck create a foundation that's both resonant and responsive. I've always loved this wood combination—it mirrors my old reliable 1956 Stratocaster, and there's a certain full-body warmth from the alder that just feels like home. The quartersawn maple adds its own sonic punch and pop.

Tyler's JTS5500 single coils in the neck and middle positions are made with Alnico 5 magnets, delivering a robust, responsive, full-bodied chime. Paired with the Tyler Guitars’ Super humbucker in the bridge, this HSS configuration gives you serious tonal range. The pickups are balanced and responsive with good low-end and upper-mid sparkle. Notes bloom with a full, vintage-like 3D character—a quality that's hard to explain, but you know it when you hear it.

Then there's the midboost preamp system with bypass. This is the secret weapon that session players have relied on for years. Three buttons next to the 5-way switch give you volume, boost, and tone control, plus series/parallel switching and the ability to add neck and bridge together. If you're bringing one guitar to a session or gig, this kind of versatility is everything.
The neck profile here is Tyler's ST64 shape—inspired by Dann's beloved 1964 Strat, capturing that perfect mid-'60s vibe that Tyler lovers are genuinely addicted to. The compound radius fingerboard and wide/tall frets make this guitar a joy to play, whether you're laying down delicate rhythm parts or pushing into more aggressive territory.

Tyler guitars doesn't know how to build anything less than an exceptional guitar. Each one has its own heart and soul, yours for the playing. This Studio Elite HDX, finished in that warm White Shmear with gold hardware, combines classic styling with modern refinement. It's a guitar built by someone who's spent decades listening to what the best players in the world actually need, then delivering exactly that.

About the Model:
The Studio Elite HDX is James Tyler's collaboration with legendary Nashville session guitarist and producer Dann Huff. After the success of the Dann Huff Original Classic, this model is based on another Tyler guitar that Huff owned and played extensively during the recording of his solo work.

The HDX features premium lightweight alder, quartersawn maple neck with Indian rosewood fingerboard, and a sophisticated HSS pickup configuration. Tyler's signature JTS5500 single coils in the neck and middle positions are paired with a Super humbucker in the bridge, providing incredible tonal versatility. The signature midboost preamp system with bypass switch offers the kind of sonic flexibility that made Tyler guitars the choice of elite session players like Michael Landau, Steve Lukather, and Dean Parks.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.