How does a James Tyler Studio Elite HD-P handle high gain? Ran it into an Engl Savage 120 with midboost preamp on and off to find out

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nightlight

nightlight

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Not too shabby, I think. I ran the amp into a Suhr Reactive Load, which went into my Quad Cortex for tone sculpting and cabs.

I activated and disengaged the midcoast preamp at various points in the video.

 
I’ve owned a few elites but for me…once you hear that midrange thing that all Tyler’s do you can’t unhear it.

Which is why I sold all of mine but they’re definitely well built and play terrifically!
 
I’ve owned a few elites but for me…once you hear that midrange thing that all Tyler’s do you can’t unhear it.

Which is why I sold all of mine but they’re definitely well built and play terrifically!
Just throw that midboost away and install a pair of normal pickups, no?
 
I’ve owned a few elites but for me…once you hear that midrange thing that all Tyler’s do you can’t unhear it.

Which is why I sold all of mine but they’re definitely well built and play terrifically!

That's interesting, I had never played a Tyler before I got this one. I don't notice any prominent midrange character, perhaps because it is a swamp ash body.

Why did you own so many though? Was the midrange something you couldn't dial out?

The good thing from my perspective is that it sounds different from my other guitars. I don't have multiple types of anything and the pickups are all different.

Currently the list is:
- James Tyler with Super, Hot Laura and Studebaker pickups
- Aristides 060 with Seymour Duncan Alpha Omega pickups
- ESP RZK-II with EMG 81 and 85 pickups
- Caparison Horus HGS with Bareknuckle Blackhawk and OEM pickups
- ESP E-II MK-I with Fishman Fluence Modern pickups
- ESP Ronnie Wood with OEM pickups
- OD Guitars Venus 6 with Bareknuckle Aftermath pickups
- Strandberg Boden 8 with Seymour Duncan Pegasus and Sentient pickups


They all sound very different, which is great as it keeps things interesting. Variety is the spice of life, as they say.
 
That's interesting, I had never played a Tyler before I got this one. I don't notice any prominent midrange character, perhaps because it is a swamp ash body.

Why did you own so many though? Was the midrange something you couldn't dial out?

The good thing from my perspective is that it sounds different from my other guitars. I don't have multiple types of anything and the pickups are all different.

Currently the list is:
- James Tyler with Super, Hot Laura and Studebaker pickups
- Aristides 060 with Seymour Duncan Alpha Omega pickups
- ESP RZK-II with EMG 81 and 85 pickups
- Caparison Horus HGS with Bareknuckle Blackhawk and OEM pickups
- ESP E-II MK-I with Fishman Fluence Modern pickups
- ESP Ronnie Wood with OEM pickups
- OD Guitars Venus 6 with Bareknuckle Aftermath pickups
- Strandberg Boden 8 with Seymour Duncan Pegasus and Sentient pickups


They all sound very different, which is great as it keeps things interesting. Variety is the spice of life, as they say.

Oh I’ve owned just about everything that’s out there. I went through a superstrat phase where I had multiple Suhrs, Andersons and Tyler’s.

The Tyler’s were all Alder which is the usual tonewood for them. They just have this “honk” to their sound. I don’t think it can be dialed out but that’s just me.

Good variety in your collection!
 
Oh I’ve owned just about everything that’s out there. I went through a superstrat phase where I had multiple Suhrs, Andersons and Tyler’s.

The Tyler’s were all Alder which is the usual tonewood for them. They just have this “honk” to their sound. I don’t think it can be dialed out but that’s just me.

Good variety in your collection!

Thanks. I'm still in the "so much gear, so little time" mode. I want them all, but my budget is pretty limited. I've never even owned a Fender Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul.

Not to knock your experience, but sometimes these things are psychosomatic. We tell ourselves we can hear something, and then convince ourselves that it's always present.

I mean, alder isn't a very middy wood. And I don't see how a well constructed guitar would result in them having a middy sound. Pickups could play a role though, did you try swapping them out.

On how our mind tricks on us: Like after I played the Tyler today, I was looking at my Aristides all funny, feeling sad about the guitar.

After all, I had a new toy, the old one was now redundant.

Then I plugged the Aristides into the Savage and my Orange 2x12, turned up the volume and remembered what the guitar was like, both in terms of playability and sound.

Jaw dropping good, no fooling. I was really happy.
 
I’ve owned a few elites but for me…once you hear that midrange thing that all Tyler’s do you can’t unhear it.

Which is why I sold all of mine but they’re definitely well built and play terrifically!
As someone who owned and still owns multiple Tylers, I call BS. I don't think the Midboost switch is useful, but the guitars don't have any big midrange quality built-in.
 
As someone who owned and still owns multiple Tylers, I call BS. I don't think the Midboost switch is useful, but the guitars don't have any big midrange quality built-in.

well that settles it, i'm wrong and you're right. thank you!
 
Thanks. I'm still in the "so much gear, so little time" mode. I want them all, but my budget is pretty limited. I've never even owned a Fender Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul.

Not to knock your experience, but sometimes these things are psychosomatic. We tell ourselves we can hear something, and then convince ourselves that it's always present.

I mean, alder isn't a very middy wood. And I don't see how a well constructed guitar would result in them having a middy sound. Pickups could play a role though, did you try swapping them out.

On how our mind tricks on us: Like after I played the Tyler today, I was looking at my Aristides all funny, feeling sad about the guitar.

After all, I had a new toy, the old one was now redundant.

Then I plugged the Aristides into the Savage and my Orange 2x12, turned up the volume and remembered what the guitar was like, both in terms of playability and sound.

Jaw dropping good, no fooling. I was really happy.

all good dude, enjoy it all in good health!
 


this is a proper and informative video of what Tylers are about and what makes their versatility unique.
 
If guitar was great otherwise, I would suffice with pickup replacement.

That mid boost supposed for solo runs, right?

Very well playing guitars, i'd say the necks are probably some of the best in the industry. There's a reason some of the all time greats use them!

I just personally didn't care enough for the tones out of the 3 studio elites i owned.

I guess the mid boost is for solo runs, but i can't say for sure nor do i care to. I'll let the people with the decades of experience share their expert views on that :LOL:
 
Very well playing guitars, i'd say the necks are probably some of the best in the industry. There's a reason some of the all time greats use them!

I just personally didn't care enough for the tones out of the 3 studio elites i owned.

I guess the mid boost is for solo runs, but i can't say for sure nor do i care to. I'll let the people with the decades of experience share their expert views on that :LOL:
I mean I would definitely experiment with pickups if a guitar felt THAT good haha

I’d like to try one too one day
 
I mean I would definitely experiment with pickups if a guitar felt THAT good haha

I’d like to try one too one day

i dont care to experiment, there are only a million guitars out there to buy...sold 'em and moved on with life

out of tyler, anderson, suhr...i like suhr the best personally but i'm sure everyone has their favorite!

tone aside, they're terrific feeling guitars in my opinion. hope you have the opportunity to try em in person!
 
i dont care to experiment, there are only a million guitars out there to buy...sold 'em and moved on with life

out of tyler, anderson, suhr...i like suhr the best personally but i'm sure everyone has their favorite!

tone aside, they're terrific feeling guitars in my opinion. hope you have the opportunity to try em in person!
Ah, you US people have abundance of guitars and a good market for them. If I got a Tyler here, no way I could sell it and find similiar class instrument to buy in it’s place.

Yeah they all look cool. Although I don’t like how lower horn is a little bit “upwards” on Suhr Moderns. But yeah, technically they built to a high standart.

I would love to get a Tom Anderson too one day. Nothing here to touch and try 😞
 
Ah, you US people have abundance of guitars and a good market for them. If I got a Tyler here, no way I could sell it and find similiar class instrument to buy in it’s place.

Yeah they all look cool. Although I don’t like how lower horn is a little bit “upwards” on Suhr Moderns. But yeah, technically they built to a high standart.

I would love to get a Tom Anderson too one day. Nothing here to touch and try 😞

oh damn, where do you live?

take like a 3 day trip to LA and visit each factory. Suhr and Anderson were awesome to visit when i went...didn't bother with Tyler but i'm sure they'd be nice enough to let you check the shop out...i think

either way, plenty of shops where you could try each of those brands out!
 
oh damn, where do you live?

take like a 3 day trip to LA and visit each factory. Suhr and Anderson were awesome to visit when i went...didn't bother with Tyler but i'm sure they'd be nice enough to let you check the shop out...i think

either way, plenty of shops where you could try each of those brands out!
Azerbaijan.

Brother, a return ticket alone would cost me 1500 bucks, which is like 3 monthly wages here. That sounded so care free. Very american 😁

So you see, I am a little bit restricted from all those factories and great shops. That’s why I’m jealous 😂
 
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