James Tyler Shop Tour, NAMM 2010

[matt5150]

Spent part of a great day with Jim Tyler and took a couple of pics for you guys.

It all begins behind this nondescript door.

And immediately into the area where guitar bodies and necks come alive:

And works it's way into the bench of one Pete Skermetta, Master Builder:

Here are a couple of bodies waiting for wet sanding:

A little sanding action:

More bodies waiting for some attention:

The rack of finished or soon to be finished guitfiddles:

Some neck action:

Guitars awaiting final assembly:

The one of a kind John Ou RAT:

Note the $$$$$ sign. Who says Jim doesn't have a sense of humor?

The MAN himself:

My Tyler getting some attention:

You can't say Jim doesnt have good taste:

There was also an AMAZING 2-tone Ultimate Weapon that I would have sold most of my buddy Chuck' organs for. I was so enamoured I forgot to take pics.

Needless to say, we had a great time.

Jim, Pete and Paul as well as the rest of the crew were great and let us get in the way for awhile.

Thanks for having us Jim. Next time it is Sushi and cold beers.

Matt

 

[enigma]

Thanks for the pics! Enjoyed them!

 

[Buzzkill]

All simply amazing. Thank you for taking that visit, although I'm certain you were probably quite happy to make the trip yourself, am I right? hahaha

I'm also interested in the strathead Tyler. You think he might get in trouble for that? I mean, I hope not because it looks AWESOME, just saying.

 

[atquinn]

That strathead looks so sad and out-of-place

-Austin

 

[dcareaga]

All simply amazing. Thank you for taking that visit, although I'm certain you were probably quite happy to make the trip yourself, am I right? hahaha

I'm also interested in the strathead Tyler. You think he might get in trouble for that? I mean, I hope not because it looks AWESOME, just saying.

I think I read that it's an old neck from one of
Mike Landaus early (80s ?)Tylers.... Coma maybe?

I love how the strings are still clamped through the nut


DC

 

[Tonefish]

That's cool, Matt! Thanks for posting. I thought I recognized you from those pictures on the other site. NAMM looked like fine for your crew. Cheers!!

 

[freaktone]

Thanks for posting that. Very cool seeing the shop.

 

[matt5150]

Your welcome guys. I get by the shop every time I get to LA and it was well worth the 3 hours I got stuck in traffic heading back to Anaheim from Burbank. Good times!

The Strathead is indeed an old Mike Landau piece. The stories it could tell.

That is my buddy Chuck in the pics. He has the old school David Gilmour look going on.

The shop really has a old school vibe to it- a stark contrast to some of the other small builders I have visited.

The guy makes an amazing guitar. There will be no changing for me.

Matt

 

[Stefan S]

Thanks for sharing those pics.
It´s always a pleasure visiting Jim´s shop.
I was there on Tuesday before Namm and since then my inner voice says "You need one more Tyler and one more and one more...!!"

 

[march]

Cool photos of the birthplace of four of my guitars! Big thanks for sharing.

 

[CitizenAudio]

Very cool!

 

[JDouglee]

That Jimburst on the end is mine. Rebuilt after 2 decades of abuse. Made in 1989, it's outstanding.

 

[gerryguitar]

That Jimburst on the end is mine. Rebuilt after 2 decades of abuse. Made in 1989, it's outstanding.

awww man.... do you have more pics of that guitar......???

 

[Kappy]

Great thread. I appreciate a look inside his shop. Thanks!

Dave

 

[JDouglee]

awww man.... do you have more pics of that guitar......???

I'll have some soon! Jim did a stellar job of bringing it back to life. Gotoh Floyd, totally new electronics and refetted w/6150s. That neck tint is from years of use LOL

 

[52ftbuddha]

From humble origins come great things. Thanks for the photos, it is so good to see craft alive and well. If I was to need a HSS guitar this is where it would come from.

rob

 

[matt5150]

That Jimburst on the end is mine. Rebuilt after 2 decades of abuse. Made in 1989, it's outstanding.

It looked stellar.

Jim said it was a good one.

Matt

 

[Bobby D]

this thread is giving me serious GAS

 

[dobro man]

Great stuff, love the bodies but just couldn't live with the headstock.

 

[TikiJoe]

Great stuff, love the bodies but just couldn't live with the headstock.

Have you played one? If not, you really should hear these guitars and feel how they play before you write them off because you don't like the headstock. It's really funny how my attitude changed from not liking the headstock to really liking it.