Product: Lyle 630L
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
11/25/2007
at
07:44pm
by
Louie Seven
Email: louieseven<at>hotmail dot com
Features
:
4
HI! - MADE IN JAPAN (almost lawsuit copy of a Gibson Hummingbird) features include tuning keys, sound hole, one strap button and a label. Tuners are the sucky Asian covered junk. I have replaced them with better sucky Asian gold sealed Grover copies. Neck is absolutely mahogany. Top might be solid or laminated - hard to say - but it's very thin and x-braced, which tends to explain it's nice mellow tone.
Sound
:
10
The sound is smooth, even, balanced and mellow. Very jazzy sounding. The notes drop off like an arch-top, but it is not cheap or tinny sounding at all. Volume is average - it's not a cannon, but I don't WANT a cannon. So there. Nice tone. Better tone than my mid 70's Gibson J-55.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
well.. this is an old guitar. When I got it, the belly was up and the bridge was rotated. I immediatly installed a 'bridge doctor' and pulled the top down and leveled out the bridge. The original 'adjustable' saddle was long gone and replaced with a chunk of plexi-glass, which I rapidly discarded and replaced with a compensated micarta saddle. The nut is plastic, but it's in nice condition, so I'm holding off replacing it with a bone nut, until I'm finished with more important issues. Poly finish is OK - it polished up real bright. Binding is intact - no issues. Frets are good - I buffed them out. Neck is about average for straightness...typical Asian stuff.
Reliability/Durability
:
7
Well........ it's lasted this long. But the thin top certainly tends toward lifting. The 'Bridge Doctor' I installed counters that tendency and also strenghtens it's structure and inproves the tone and volume. Giving it a seven for lasting this long without going into a dumpster.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I've been told by long-time dealers who used to handle these guitars, that Japanese Lyles from this period are quite good. (but I should say I've seen other Lyles that are pure trash).
Overall Rating
:
8
I've played guitar since 1963. I've owned Martins and Gibsons...and even though this is STILL a Lyle, it's a gass to play! The neck is electric-guitar slim, and plays well with very low action. The neck is very similar to the Gibson ES-175 Jazz box, believe it or not.
I really enjoy playing this guitar on the couch while watching TV. It's neck radius and width fits my hand quite well! It's a smooth playing devil. I really like it. And I don't have to worry about it, at all. Good tuners, better saddle and new strings make this thing really sing. Of course my set-up mojo helps too. *hehe*
I traded an old beat up Ventura V10 for it. I think I got the better end of the deal in the final analysis.
