![]() ![]() Significance Lyle guitars have a legacy of mostly being rare guitar models that are hard to find and popular to collect. ![]() The true story of the demise of the Lyle brand is largely unknown to this day. Japanese companies preemptively altered the designs of their guitars in such a way that they would not be exact copies of Gibson guitars. The actual lawsuit was indeed filed by Norlin, only not against Matsumoku but ElgerHoshino-the American division of Ibanez-over elements of the Les Paul and SG guitar designs that NorlinGibson had since claimed as a trademark. Lyle Acoustic Guitar Value Misconceptions A common misconception of the Lyle brand, among others, was that Norlin sued Matsumoku for copying their designs and shut them down. ![]() Heater was owned by Norlin, the parent company of Gibson, and known more for their exclusive production rights to Alembic instruments.Īs protection from potential lawsuits, Lyle guitars were part of the contract that stated under which brand names Gibson-licensed guitars could be produced and distributed. Heater Music Company The only known American distributor of Lyle guitars is the L.D.Ī small warehouse based in Beaverton, Oregon, L.D. It is inconclusive if they continued producing Lyle guitars at this time, but they did launch the Aria Pro II line in 1975, which included set-neck copies of the Gibson Les Paul and SG, and Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars. In the early 1970s, Arai joined with instrument manufacturing company Matsumoku to produce guitars. The explosion in popularity of the electric guitar in the 1960s led them to begin manufacturing and distributing several different brands, Lyle being one of them.Īrai attended the NAMM trade show and saw many of the American guitar designs that had attained popularity in the U.S.Īrai - Matsumoku Alliance By 1970, regular distribution of Japanese-made guitars, including Lyle brand guitars, began in America. Origins Serial Numbers Rolex Japanese classical guitarist Shiro Arai founded the Arai Co. The same company that produced many of them, Matsumoku, also produced the more popular Aria brand. Total distribution of Lyle instruments in the U.S. ![]()
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