James Tyler, the founder of James Tyler Guitars and a manufacturer of electric guitars in Los Angeles, regrettably passed away. His death occurred on Thursday, August 29, 2024, shocking his friends and family. Many people are shocked to learn of his passing. James Tyler passed away, however the precise reason of his death is still unknown.
James Tyler Guitars is a manufacturer of electric guitars. The company was located near Van Nuys, California and established in 1972. Consequently reaching the public eye through studio musicians like Dann Huff, Michael Landau, and Neil Stubenhaus. The company is known for creating custom high end guitars, with an unusual headstock, and guitar body finishes with names like “psychedelic vomit”, “burning water”, and “caramel cappuccino shmear”.
During the 1980s the company did primarily repairs and modifications on guitars, but built some custom guitars based on parts from other manufacturers such as Kramer for the Los Angeles studio musicians Dean Parks, Michael Landau and Dann Huff. In 1987 the first production model was released called the “Studio Elite”, a hot-rodded Fender Stratocaster. The woodwork was done by hand and it featured a “hockey paddle” headstock, which was used to ensure that the company does not infringe on Fender Musical Instruments Corporation’s trademark headstock design. The Studio Elite model is featured on Guitarist magazine’s list of “50 guitars to play before you die”.
In 2011 Tyler Guitars relocated their operation and offices to a new facility in San Fernando Valley. In 2014 James Tyler partnered with Japanese distributor Daisuke Kitahara to manufacture affordable versions of their popular models in Japan before establishing Tyler Guitars Japan two years later.
Tracy