Guitar Gear Forum

Up for sale is this gorgeous, truly one-of-a-kind Tyler six string bass. I am the original owner, and it was made by Jim Tyler and Myself when I worked at Tyler, and the finish was done by yours truly. The piece was made roughly 2006/2007 ish (if memory serves, but sometimes it doesn't) and has been languishing in my house, never been played on a gig or a session, ever since. It has actually never been seen publicly til now. For those of you who don't know a lot about Tyler basses, they are as rare as hens teeth, have a unique character to their sound that is huge, aggressive, articulate, and sweet all at the same time. There are a few that float around for sale every once in a great while, but players tend to keep them as they are difficult to replace.

The body has a wenge core with alder body wings, a four way bookmatched Austrailian Lacewood top and back, and is chambered. The neck is a nece pice of lightly figured maple with a Paufero fretboard and position markers on the side of the fingerboard only that are made of abalone, as well as an Ivory nut. Legally obtained of course, before the ban in the US. Nut width is 2.14"/54.55mm. It has a custom made Hipshot bridge which allows the bass to be strung with the ball ends of the strings anchored in the bridge, or strung through the body, and the string spacing at the bridge is 17.25mm. The instrument is also equpiied with Hipshot USA tuners, with a drop tuner on the B string, and Hipshot knobs. The pickups were custom made for me by Kevin Bellar as was the active 18 volt preamp which features a master volume, blend control, bass, mid, treble (+/- 25db), a midrange frequency select switch, and a push/pull swtch on the volume pot that activates a secondary EQ circuit in the preamp (inside the control cavity) that is currently adjusted for slap style playing.

The instrument does not have a case. Never did. I can have one custom made by G & G Custom Cases in Los Angeles if the buyer wishes, and will offer it at my actual OEM cost, or, it can be shipped, well protected and packed very well of course, in a gig bag.

I will edit this post tomorrow after I can get an accurate weight for you. I will also see if I can get a few more "glamour shots" of the instrument to post. For now, here is what I have. I also have some progress pics of the build that I will happily make available to the buyer. I do offer local pickup in Southern California, and for payment, I accept cash (if you're picking it up), PayPal, or bank wire transfer.

Price is $5000.00

wow
did you post this on talkbass too?

that is a gorgeous instrument!
how is it tuned?

I'd wear it low and hang the thumb over the neck like Jimi

clipless bumper wrote:wow
did you post this on talkbass too?

that is a gorgeous instrument!
how is it tuned?

It is on TB.

Tuned: B E A D G C

fretless wrote:I'd wear it low and hang the thumb over the neck like Jimi

*adds fretless to do not sell to list

95% of that thing is pure beauty. I'm surprised with your luthiery skills you wouldn't reshape that hideous headstock.

MISTER NOBODY™ wrote:

fretless wrote:I'd wear it low and hang the thumb over the neck like Jimi

*adds fretless to do not sell to list

I'll give you 200 bucks ... to reshape that headstock for itchy

itchyfingers wrote:95% of that thing is pure beauty. I'm surprised with your luthiery skills you wouldn't reshape that hideous headstock.

I was too embarrassed to say it, but that headstock is buttfuck ugly.

Then again, I don't have $5k to spend on a bass, so who give a fuck what I think?

long standing member wrote:

itchyfingers wrote:95% of that thing is pure beauty. I'm surprised with your luthiery skills you wouldn't reshape that hideous headstock.

I was too embarrassed to say it, but that headstock is buttfuck ugly.

Then again, I don't have $5k to spend on a bass, so who give a fuck what I think?

It's the Tyler headstock. Some like it, some don't, and it can be polarizing. People play it with their eyes first (which is dumb), disapprove of the headstock, and miss out on playing an amazing instrument. I'm sort of in between but well towards the "like it" side. And here is the thing...

How much time do you spend staring at the headstock of your instrument while playing? If you answered with a time of over two seconds, you're doing it wrong. Does it have the appropriate mass? Yes. Does it support the tuning machines well? You bet. That headstock is doing its job and doing it well, actually. It is simply that the distribution of said mass is "different" than what you are probably used to seeing (Fender, Fender, Fender, and more Fender), and creates a visceral reaction.

I have had 27 Tylers. I have no quarrel with the headstock design. All it is is different. If you've ever played a Tyler, I'd wager you'd get over your aversion pretty quickly and start saving your money.

And yeah, If you wanna come up with $5k for the bass, it would be a shame, and would devalue the hell out of a rare instrument, but you could take a chainsaw to it for all I care.

itchyfingers wrote:95% of that thing is pure beauty. I'm surprised with your luthiery skills you wouldn't reshape that hideous headstock.

Because it is a Tyler. They are super rare in the first place, and that one is the only one ever built like that. I would be insanely stupid to deface the instrument, not to mention destroying the value of the piece.

So, as far as changing it... No can do, bromigo.

fretless wrote:

MISTER NOBODY™ wrote:

fretless wrote:I'd wear it low and hang the thumb over the neck like Jimi

*adds fretless to do not sell to list

I'll give you 200 bucks ... to reshape that headstock for itchy

As soon as Itchy lays down the five grand for the bass, he can do whatever he wants with it. Have a bonfire and make S'mores for all I care.

MISTER NOBODY™ wrote:

long standing member wrote:

itchyfingers wrote:95% of that thing is pure beauty. I'm surprised with your luthiery skills you wouldn't reshape that hideous headstock.

I was too embarrassed to say it, but that headstock is buttfuck ugly.

Then again, I don't have $5k to spend on a bass, so who give a fuck what I think?

It's the Tyler headstock. Some like it, some don't, and it can be polarizing. People play it with their eyes first (which is dumb), disapprove of the headstock, and miss out on playing an amazing instrument. I'm sort of in between but well towards the "like it" side. And here is the thing...

How much time do you spend staring at the headstock of your instrument while playing? If you answered with a time of over two seconds, you're doing it wrong. Does it have the appropriate mass? Yes. Does it support the tuning machines well? You bet. That headstock is doing its job and doing it well, actually. It is simply that the distribution of said mass is "different" than what you are probably used to seeing (Fender, Fender, Fender, and more Fender), and creates a visceral reaction.

I have had 27 Tylers. I have no quarrel with the headstock design. All it is is different. If you've ever played a Tyler, I'd wager you'd get over your aversion pretty quickly and start saving your money.

And yeah, If you wanna come up with $5k for the bass, it would be a shame, and would devalue the hell out of a rare instrument, but you could take a chainsaw to it for all I care.

For me, it's not just the shape, its also repeating the dude's name like 10 times.

You know me, I don't care what brand a guitar is if its an exceptional instrument. I'm sure it plays amazing. I know your stable is nothing but the finest 1% of instruments ever made, and I'm sure this piece is no exception. I see the prices that Tylers are listed for on Reverb, and know that someone is actually going to get a deal on this at your price. I just don't get it, lol. I'd rather have a Pittman. Oh wait, I already do...

it's for people like OP that may have missed it the first time .

itchyfingers wrote:

MISTER NOBODY™ wrote:

long standing member wrote:

itchyfingers wrote:95% of that thing is pure beauty. I'm surprised with your luthiery skills you wouldn't reshape that hideous headstock.

I was too embarrassed to say it, but that headstock is buttfuck ugly.

Then again, I don't have $5k to spend on a bass, so who give a fuck what I think?

It's the Tyler headstock. Some like it, some don't, and it can be polarizing. People play it with their eyes first (which is dumb), disapprove of the headstock, and miss out on playing an amazing instrument. I'm sort of in between but well towards the "like it" side. And here is the thing...

How much time do you spend staring at the headstock of your instrument while playing? If you answered with a time of over two seconds, you're doing it wrong. Does it have the appropriate mass? Yes. Does it support the tuning machines well? You bet. That headstock is doing its job and doing it well, actually. It is simply that the distribution of said mass is "different" than what you are probably used to seeing (Fender, Fender, Fender, and more Fender), and creates a visceral reaction.

I have had 27 Tylers. I have no quarrel with the headstock design. All it is is different. If you've ever played a Tyler, I'd wager you'd get over your aversion pretty quickly and start saving your money.

And yeah, If you wanna come up with $5k for the bass, it would be a shame, and would devalue the hell out of a rare instrument, but you could take a chainsaw to it for all I care.

For me, it's not just the shape, its also repeating the dude's name like 10 times.

You know me, I don't care what brand a guitar is if its an exceptional instrument. I'm sure it plays amazing. I know your stable is nothing but the finest 1% of instruments ever made, and I'm sure this piece is no exception. I see the prices that Tylers are listed for on Reverb, and know that someone is actually going to get a deal on this at your price. I just don't get it, lol. I'd rather have a Pittman. Oh wait, I already do...

You need another Pittman. 2019. Set necks are coming. You WILL buy one

Twist my arm why dontcha...

MISTER NOBODY™ wrote:

long standing member wrote:

itchyfingers wrote:95% of that thing is pure beauty. I'm surprised with your luthiery skills you wouldn't reshape that hideous headstock.

I was too embarrassed to say it, but that headstock is buttfuck ugly.

Then again, I don't have $5k to spend on a bass, so who give a fuck what I think?

It's the Tyler headstock. Some like it, some don't, and it can be polarizing. People play it with their eyes first (which is dumb), disapprove of the headstock, and miss out on playing an amazing instrument. I'm sort of in between but well towards the "like it" side. And here is the thing...

How much time do you spend staring at the headstock of your instrument while playing? If you answered with a time of over two seconds, you're doing it wrong. Does it have the appropriate mass? Yes. Does it support the tuning machines well? You bet. That headstock is doing its job and doing it well, actually. It is simply that the distribution of said mass is "different" than what you are probably used to seeing (Fender, Fender, Fender, and more Fender), and creates a visceral reaction.

I have had 27 Tylers. I have no quarrel with the headstock design. All it is is different. If you've ever played a Tyler, I'd wager you'd get over your aversion pretty quickly and start saving your money.

And yeah, If you wanna come up with $5k for the bass, it would be a shame, and would devalue the hell out of a rare instrument, but you could take a chainsaw to it for all I care.

The same would happen with the Balls headstock and the wheelie truss rod Nope.


Also your name is now officially Nope ever since throwin' down with rhymes on da block yo.

Ostinato Rubato wrote:

MISTER NOBODY™ wrote:

long standing member wrote:

itchyfingers wrote:95% of that thing is pure beauty. I'm surprised with your luthiery skills you wouldn't reshape that hideous headstock.

I was too embarrassed to say it, but that headstock is buttfuck ugly.

Then again, I don't have $5k to spend on a bass, so who give a fuck what I think?

It's the Tyler headstock. Some like it, some don't, and it can be polarizing. People play it with their eyes first (which is dumb), disapprove of the headstock, and miss out on playing an amazing instrument. I'm sort of in between but well towards the "like it" side. And here is the thing...

How much time do you spend staring at the headstock of your instrument while playing? If you answered with a time of over two seconds, you're doing it wrong. Does it have the appropriate mass? Yes. Does it support the tuning machines well? You bet. That headstock is doing its job and doing it well, actually. It is simply that the distribution of said mass is "different" than what you are probably used to seeing (Fender, Fender, Fender, and more Fender), and creates a visceral reaction.

I have had 27 Tylers. I have no quarrel with the headstock design. All it is is different. If you've ever played a Tyler, I'd wager you'd get over your aversion pretty quickly and start saving your money.

And yeah, If you wanna come up with $5k for the bass, it would be a shame, and would devalue the hell out of a rare instrument, but you could take a chainsaw to it for all I care.

The same would happen with the Balls headstock and the wheelie truss rod Nope.


Also your name is now officially Nope ever since throwin' down with rhymes on da block yo.

Balls are lifeless, sterile, mass
manufactured guitar shaped widgets.
Not even close to a Tyler...

Or a Pittman.