and say, "Who can build me 5000 Bob 335 copies, for around $30.00 wholesale?" Matsumko would say, "I can!" and boom, 5000 Bobs were lining the store shelves. you would put in a bid to the different companies. Much like Ibanez and Teisco did.įor example, let's say you were a distributor, named Bob. Aria, Westone, Phoenix, Westbury, Conrad, some early Domino's, Epiphone, and some house brands for Sears and JC Penny. See, Matsumko built for dozens of companies guitars. Unusual, yes, rare no.įor those who have 335 copy Lyle, the model 5102T, it's the EXACT same guitar as the Aria's, Westbury's, Epiphone's of that era. Ok, Lyles were made by Matsumko in Japan from the mid 60's to around 74 or so. E-N-D-R-I-X!!!!!! BUT WE ALL KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE SHAREįIRST AND LAST NAMES-SO WHO KNOWS? BUT IF IT WAS HIM-HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE? HAHA RE:EDDIE KRAMER -THERE IS A VERY FAMOUS ENGINEER/PRODUCER WITH THAT NAME WHO WORKED WITH MANY GREAT ARTISTS,MOST NOTABLY.WAIT 4 IT. Just nails it! Certain Gibson guitars have a "plaintive voice" and a "soul" that i have never heard from any other guitar and i have played 5 thousandĭollar Taylor guitars and all types of Martins and Japanese "copy" guitars-but this Lyle is "the one" it has that beautiful soulful "voice" -mine has a few scratches in the top and a very slight "bellying" by the bridge,but it is a beautiful guitar and it sounds like God opened a window in the sky and pouredĭown a blessing on you when you play it-i think your A690 Lyle was made a little earlier than my W-460,i'm guessing around the late sixties-you have found a really cool guitar and with a visit to a guitar shop for a cleaning and new strings,i think you will be amazed by your Lyle A690! I just bought a Lyle w-460 Hummingbird "lawsuit" guitar and i just have 3 words for all y'all I'M IN LOVE!!!! OMG -this guitar nails the "Gibson Tone" JAPAN is engraved on the back of the tuning key head in back.Ĭan anyone tell me the purchase year this guitar was made? Does anyone know the value of this guitar? Please reply. It has light tangerine and milk to dark chocolate stripped sides and back which is the natural wood grain showing through the clear lacquer finish. There is a set of three circles around the center opening (1 thin black line, a wide band of black and white lines and another thin black line. It has a dark chocolate bridge, and a black pick guard with a white pearl engraved inlay of a floral sprig or vine-type design. The body of the guitar is a light tangerine color showing the natural wood grain under the clear lacquer finish. The top tuning key head and neck are the color of milk chocolate with pearl-type fret inlays.
It looks like it was painted on the wood by the manufacture.
The top of the guitar says Lyle with a gold cross-like design up by the tuning keys. I just purchased a Lyle acoustic guitar in excellent condition.