Lyle W-415 Dove

This guitar was made in the early 70's. It was bought new by my late cousin who sold it to my mom shortly after.
I used to play this guitar a lot growing up.It has a spruce top,mahogany back and sides and a rosewood fret board. I just replaced the tuners and put new strings on it. It hadn't been played for years except for an occasional child who always played it like a drum or something.This guitar is made very well and may be childproof. It's held up quite well over the years.Pearl inlay fretboard and head stock. Tune O Matic bridge

I like the sound as I do with most older guitars. It doesn'r compare with my Gurian but it's not a bad guitar.I recorded with it the other night and it sounds great, has that Gibson feel and sound to it.

I need to take it in for a set up, I'm getting some buzz when I bend the strings. Might need a fret job. I really don't like saddle.
This guitar is old, the finish is still pretty good, very tough finish. It plays very well.

This guitar is a tank, I'm going to be using it for my travel guitar.
I would drive cross country with this guitar and perform with it. It is not in an elite category but this guitar does the job.

Too old for this category.

I've been playing for over 30 years, I own a Gurian JM, Fender Strat, Ibanex bass,Alesis X guitar etc.
If it was stolen I wouldn't worry about replacing it.
I love the fact that it has a lot of memeories associated with it.
It had been sitting around my mom's house for years, with only a few strings on it,missing bridge pins and a missing tuning key. I really didn't think much about it but picked it up one day and started to examine it.I decide to put a little money and work into it and I'm very glad I did. It's a very nice,well built, great sounding guitar.

My parents bought this brand new for my graduation gift in 1974. For that I just LOVE this guitar. Has 20 frets, top appears to be solid spruce. The nut is looks like plastic. The bridge is a Tune-O-Matic style. I didn't care for the tuning keys so I replaced them with Schallers the first week I got the guitar (I never told my Dad that!).

Has a good full sound although I wish it had a little more brightness to it (I like bright sounds).

It plays real nice. Also if you like real hard strumming, it's good for that too. Never had any flaws that I noticed.

This is one beautiful guitar. The finish is in near perfect condition. It's hard to believe that it's over 30 years old. The only issue that this guitar has ever had is that the tension of the strings started pulling the middle of the bridge down about 20 years ago. So I bent the bridge back straight and custom made a wood shim to go underneath it for support. I think the bridge is made out of some kind of pot metal. Otherwise it has been very durable and very well made everywhere else. I never noticed any other flaws on it.

Out of business

I've been playing since about 1970. I have a Statocaster and a couple of other acoustics, but this is by far my favorite guitar. Mainly 'cause it's sentimental to me and it looks cool. I wouldn't mind finding a Lyle Hummingbird just so I can set them next to each other.....like best friends.

Bought the guitar in 1976..2nd owner
Plays like Butter !
20 frets
Solid Top...I believe
No e-controls at all
Maple Body? & Rosewood Neck?
Bridge...original adjustable saddles
Tuners...original replaced with 1980's GGOTOH Tuners
Case....Original

Internal Markings
Model...W-415
mark on neck butt...made in japan 911174

I don't know the year it was made...don't see it on the instrument, but it is a Lyle Dove, made in Japan, has 20 fets, and looks to me as if the top is solid...maybe spruce. Being a dove, there are no electronics at all. Don't know about the materials in the neck, back, and sides, but the fret board appears to be rose wood. The finish is a cherry sunburst, and I bought it used for $395.00 in 1996. The guitar is as beautiful as it plays, with the wite dove and roses on the top, and the pearl inlaid doves on the bridge. Each pin is separately adjustable for regulation, and the entire bridge will raise and lower on each side. The newer Doves from Gibson don't have this. I got a case with the purchase, and it's a good one, but a Lyle original. Would love to know the value of it, but haven't a clue. It sounds better than the newer Doves I've played.

Joe

Since I play an independant-thumb, folk style, it is well suited to me, though I don't take it on gigs for fear of damage. I feel that it would hold it's own for sound with any dreadnaught put up against it. The Taylors are excellent, but for my taste, the Dove is richer.

Since I got it used, I don't know how well the factory set it up, but it was near perfect when I got it. All I had to do was to move one or two of the individual string adjustments at the bridge to bring it right in. There are no flaws that I can see in it, or any substandard or damaged or misshappen parts in it.

Is it durable? The neck is still straight as an arrow, and everyone who sees and plays it (when I let them) drops their chin and raves over it. It holds tune for months at a time, and just fine adjustments of a tuning key or two is all it seems to need. Since I don't gig with it, all I can say is that it has never failed me during practice or recording.

I don't know any details about support, since I've never needed any, and I haven't a clue about what the warranty was or is.

Let's see, I've been playing guitar since I was eighteen, and I'm now fifty eight, so that would be 40 years...now I feel old ; ) If it were stolen or lost, I guess I'd have to replace it with a Taylor, since Lyle is out of business, but if they weren't I buy another one any day. Overall, I'd give it a 10.