About Lyle Mandolins

History

• An understanding of Lyle mandolins' status as collector's items requires a brief explanation of the history of the company's exports to the United States. Lyle, a brand produced by Matsumoku-Arai (a Japanese company/alliance of companies) began exports to the U.S. in the 1960s and continued into the 1970s. After the 1970s, however, sales of these instruments in the U.S. fizzled as other brands gained precedence over the Lyle models. These exports had a strong focus on string instruments, as the founder of Arai Co. was Japanese classical guitarist Shiro Arai. These exports to America were mostly guitars but also included banjos and mandolins. The only well-known seller of Lyle instruments was L.D. Heater Music Co. in Beaverton, Oregon.

Quality

• Like all other Lyle instruments, Lyle mandolins are known for their high quality. Most collectors of Lyle instruments point to the finish/glaze of the instruments and their sound as measures of fine manufacturing. While the quality of Lyle mandolins has been well-preserved over the years, most experts don't consider them "professional grade" instruments. Instead, Lyle mandolins are thought to be of "harmony student" quality.

Rarity

• The limited import period and the fact that most of the Lyle instruments were guitars adds to rarity of Lyle mandolins in the U.S. and explains their status as collectibles. Their rarity among western collectors was further enhanced because the L.D. Heater Music Co. was the sole distributor of the Lyle brand.

Purchasing

• Lyle mandolins can be purchased through secondhand sellers online. These mandolins can also be found at Salvation Army and Goodwill stores at affordable prices. Browsing these stores' online merchandise easily allows collectors to find Lyle mandolins. While not highly sought as performance instruments, Lyle mandolins still fill their places on collectors' shelves.