Members Barebackwriter Posted April 6 Members Share Posted April 6 Greetings All, I've collected Lyle instruments for over 30 years now, and was trying to find ANYTHING, or anyone who has, or has seen a Lyle LM15 "Potatoe Bug" mandolin, like the one I have; I purchased it at least 20 years ago. Because of the striped round back, I'm guessing any of them produced, were at some point, damaged; the rounded back, made of individual strips of wood running parallel to the neck / body make it somewhat delicate, so I can easily imagine that holes , or caved in backs, got most of them. If I can figure out how to post an image or so, I'll do that, asap. Or, I'll be glad to send someone there at Harmony Central, and let them post it? I have 20+Lyle instruments, and have some rarest of the rare, including a matching set of high end electric and bass, copies of the Alembic style, with "neck-through", DiMarzio / P-90, respectively. I also have a copy of a Gibson Les Paul Jr., by Lyle. Those 3 guitars are the only Lyles I've ever seen with the Serial # stamped / engraved on the back of the headstocks, and my luthier rated, at least the "Alembic Style" electric, as high-end. On one of the tuners of the matching bass, someone even etched in an "owners?" Serial # of about 15 characters; I had to use a magnifying glass to make it out. I know as much as there is to know about the whole Lyle/Matsumoku, Norlin, Alembic connections, but would always love to learn more, if there is anything else? Speaking of that, the Serial #s on those 3 Lyles are: 90602, 90208, and 078008, respectively If anyone has a way to look up what year(s) they were made, it would be GREATLY appreciated. Anyways, I'd love to share my "finds", if anyone is interested; I don't do Social Media, except for Truth Social, where I occasionally will post a comment or two, but I'm on my PC all day as it is, and just don't have the time. By the way, I also started collecting tenor guitars a while back, and have 3 Soares'y and a Gold Tone TG-18; one of the Soares'y is an 8-string / octomando, and one a copy of a 40's Gibson Archtop that Mike made custom for me, between 2016 - 2019. Hope to hear from, receive an email from someone there at H. C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Barebackwriter Posted April 6 Author Members Share Posted April 6 I see I can attach files, now that I've been "approved". But, too tired tonight / this morning. I'll check for any "interest" later today, and post anything anyone would like to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 6 Moderators Share Posted April 6 Welcome to HC.... FYI we use private messages for 'off-board' discussions' None here will email you once you are verified. I have only seen one Lyle which belonged to a bandmate in the early '70s....sort of a Coronado copy. I'm sure you know there were a number of instruments identical to Lyles under different names. Lyles were imported by the L.D. Heater Co. in Oregon from the 50's to the late 70's. serial number info: http://www.matsumoku.org/cm_models/serial-no-dating-info/ Please do post a pic or two.... Have you checked at the Mandolin Cafe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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