Lyle W-400

rosewood fretboard, saddle, & sides & back-appears to be mahagony neck, with 20 frets-spruce top- body bound front & back-bound neck- abalone dot fret markers-black dot position markers on top side of neck- abalone "LYLE" & some kind of chevron inlaid on peghead-chrome tuners- black plastic pick gaurd-dreadnaught style acoustic-was bought new locally "arkansas" in fall of 1973- in 1974 I added a strap button to the neck base "a strap tied to the peg head restricted my fretting hand on the low end"- in 2004 I added an under the saddle/bridge pick-up with a 9volt pre-amp: the pre-amp is located inside the sound hole under the fretbaord- use Adamas 10/47 strings

I play anything from the 70's- Beatles/J.Taylor/Stones/PinkFloyd/C.King/M.Macanally.... it does everything I ask of it- with new strings it has a rich full sound; once they're worn the high-end becomes tinny- as a full bodied dreadnaught without a cuttaway playing beyond the 12'th fret is a challenge- when not @ home I play this thru an old Yamaha 410fifty wich reproduces the old girls tone quite well- not a loud guitar; but I'm not heavy handed either

the more guitars I play the better i like my old beater!!..actually I have played a few $1500 Taylors that impress me-for years this was just my guitar..it took awhile for me to realize it has the lowest action around & plays like warm butter-no buzzes no fuzzes- it tunes up well & holds it tune however the tuners turn stiffly; not smooth-a month or two after purchasing it the bridge started lifting up!!! the local shop owner tacked it back down with decoritive bolts on either side of the bridge; its held for 32yrs.- the top finish has beutifully darkened over the years; too bad as a dumb teenager I set it up by a radiator heater!! there are SEVERAL finish cracks on the top of this old girl-

I've used this guitar for 32 years!! I rub alittle fingerboard oil in when I change the strings

the support I needed & recieved was not from the manufacturer

started playing in 1972- this was my first real guitar- have owned a '72 fender thinline "purchased new in 1975" currently own a '84 as-80 artist-play both the artist"ibanez" & the lyle thru a yamaha 410fifty-yes I would dig around & buy another lyle if this one was lost to me-the action is SO LOW without buzzes -it takes such a light touch to play that I can concentrate on the music & not finger pressure-recently I went acoustic shopping..the gibsons had high action & were stiff to play..the martins were ...ok...but not special......the high-end taylors compared in both tone & action to my lyle;

The guitar was made in Japan and sold from Masons Music Mart wherever that is. I do not know the age but I have had it for over 10 years. I can not tell the type wood, but it is still in great shape. I had a pickup added to the end where the strap hooks on with no controls on the guitar. I like this because you can not tell it has electronics unless you look closley. The neck is thin and I like that. 21 frets. The Lyle label and a Gibson type pearl inlay is on the headstock.

I have enjoyed the sound with country music. I play it sometimes through a Fender m-80 Chorus amp. I have not had an expensive Acoustic so it is hard to compare, but this has above average sound especialy when playing through my Amp.

The guitar is very easy to fret and copares and looks like a Martin. The finish very good with very few flaws. Nothing is missing or loose.

It appears this was a quality made guitar and may be 15-20 years old. I have not had to repair anything on it since I bought it used over 10 years ago. A very dependable guitar.

I have been playing for approximatly 40 years. I own a Gibson SG Standard and a Gibson ES335 which are both electric. I have always wanted a Gibson acoustic but after getting this Lyle I was satisfied with it. I have a fried who loves it and has tried to buy it from me. He said it played and sounded as good as any he has seen including the Martin and Gibsons he has played. For what I payed for it including a hard case, I have been extremly satisfied.

Japan
20 Frets
Solid Spruce Top
Mahogony side and back

The sound is lacking in Tone

The action is good but the bridge is trying to pull up.
The finish has a couple of laquer cracks but other than that it is a good looking guitar.

I got this thing used in the mid 70's and its still playable.

I've played 25 years and I don't play this thing because I also own a Gallagher, Takamine and a Electric Gibson. All 60's or 70's vintage.
With the Gallagher at hand, I hardly touch the other instruments.