lyle guitars

[junkguitar57]

i think i may have a lyle sg. dose any one have any info on lyle guitars.

[Big Beat]

Most Lyles were re-branded Arias. Research some Aria catalogs.

[VintAxe]

hey junkguitar57,

Big Beat is right about Lyle's being Matsumoku company Arias. They were imported and branded by the L.D. Heater company of Portland Oregon.

Between my Lyle and Aria catalogs there is a good chance you can figure out what you have if you consider it a $10 question. Good luck with your research. sb

[stevo147]

hi,

new to the forum,

what a goldmine of information it is here!!

were some of the earlier lyles made of solid wood and solid back and sides? hummingbirds or doves

does anybody know which were the models of the dove copies?

or how to read the serial numbers on lyles to date them

does anyone know which Dove copies came first the w-415 or the 680 (dl)

same with hummingbirds the w-460 or the 680,

and which model numbers were the better in quality, if read some fantastic reviews for the lyle gibson copies but amnt sure which would be the best model number to go with,

some reviews say they were all laminates while some say they were solids.

very confusing

any help much appreciated,

thanks

stevo

[VintAxe]

All good questions stevo. I don't have enough dated Lyle literature to provide definitive answers to your questions but I may be able to help a bit.

The w designation was used in 1974-75. I presume it stands for western.

The 1970 catalog I have mixes letter-number designations with number designations only. This suggests that the number designations may be the older models but I simply do not have a broad enough range of Lyle literature to confirm at this time.

The tops in the 1974-75 literature are described as "spruce top".

The description of tops in the 1970 catalog uses terms like "well seasoned spruce top".

The other catalog I describe as 1970's Lyle catalog since I'm not positive about the date uses the term "solid spruce top".

So, I certainly haven't answered all your questions but maybe you now know more than you did. sb

[stevo147]

thanks for the info,

yep that has been a great help,

finding it so hard to get info on these guitars but have heard so many great things about them

much appreciated, good to know the w-series were from 74-75


as a general rule of thumb is it right to assume the older the guitar the more chance that it would have a solid wood top/sides?

[jedistar]

Lyle threads at:

http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewfo ... ac22af62b5

[Riccalljim]

Hi , I have a Lyle that was re-branded as a Montana for the British market ( I assume) mine is a lminated body with an excellent neck, good quality metal tuners and those good old staple pick-ups - the model number however starts KE - maybe this was for "Korea" ?? - who knows?? - I don't?

[Bassassin]