Somewhere between a South Beach sunset and the outer edge of a tropical nebula, James Tyler picked up a brush and created the Vice Shmear — and the Interstellar Tone Traveler has never been more grateful for a guitarist's sense of color. This Studio Elite HDX is a full-on, unapologetic 80s time capsule rendered in Tyler's signature hand-applied Shmear technique: electric pink, ocean blue, and flashes of green swirling across an alder body in a finish that radiates Miami Vice energy from across the room. The Vice Pink headstock carries the color story all the way to the top, and the rear-routed body with zero pickguard keeps the entire painted surface completely uninterrupted — nothing but art, white pickup covers floating clean against the swirling canvas. On a stage under colored lights, this guitar will look like it's being played inside a pastel supernova.

Underneath that spectacular finish lives the full James Tyler Studio Elite HDX platform at its finest. A roasted maple neck and matching roasted maple fingerboard give this guitar a warm, toasty feel that's as visually distinctive as it is tonally rewarding — the caramelized wood is more stable, more resonant, and more beautiful than standard maple in every measurable way. JTS5500 single-coils in the neck and middle positions deliver the clear, articulate, session-proven tone that Tyler's pickups are famous for, while the Super humbucker at the bridge brings focused, musical heat when the moment calls for it. The HDX switching system adds a Midboost preamp, Series/Parallel bridge humbucker control, and Add Neck/Bridge button for tonal combinations that go well beyond what the dial suggests. A Vintage Trem, locking tuners, and wide tall stainless steel frets on a compound 10"- 12" radius round out a package that plays as fast and effortlessly as it looks. At 7 lbs 4 oz — featherweight even for a Tyler — this one will feel like it disappeared the moment you strap it on.

Model: Studio Elite HD
Body Wood: Alder
Body Finish: Vice Shmear (Semi-Gloss) 
Neck Wood: Roasted Maple 
Headstock Finish: Vice Pink 
Neck Back Finish: Satin Natural 
Neck Shape: ST64 (.825" - .915") 
Nut Width: 1 5/8"
Inlay: Dots
Scale: 25.5"
Radius: 10"-12"
Frets: Wide Tall (Stainless Steel) 
Bridge: Vintage Trem 
Tuners: Locking 
Hardware Color: Nickel
Neck Pickup: JTS5500  
MiddlePickup: JTS5500  
Bridge Pickup: Super
Pickguard: None 
Switching: 5-Way, 3 Buttons (Mid Boost, Add Neck/Bridge, Series/Parallel Bridge) Vol, Boost, Tone
PU Rings/SW Tip: White
String Gauge: .010-.046
Weight: 7lbs 4oz. 
Case: Hardshell Case