Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

[JeffB]

Who is familar with this bar/bridge?

I really want to have a good trem guitar in my collection, but I just can't get used to a Fender/PRS/Floyd bridge no matter how much I try...the Lyre uses a TOM bridge....

What are the ins and outs of this thing? I've only played 2 before..one on a high scool friends early 60s SG with P90s, and a vintage Firebird I fooled with about the same time...thats was 20 years ago..LOL..

Strengths? Weaknesses?

I'm not a radical trem user...but I like to use it for subtle vibrato ala Gary Moore/Adrian Smith or the occasional dive. I've also noticed Frank Hannon playing these when he needs a bar (he's a gibson freak too)....

I'd be looking at the Firebird VII or a Angus Young SG I guess...possibly a Historic SG if I can sell some more stuff..

 

[Ez74]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

you may want to check out everythingsg.com . there are alot of guys over there that have SGs with the lyre and they can help you out.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

you may want to check out everythingsg.com . there are alot of guys over there that have SGs with the lyre and they can help you out.

Thanks! will do!

And a BUMP for the folks here

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

Sorry, I don't like vibratos.

But I saved a bunch of money on my car insurance.

Bump.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

I'm not a big fan of the lyre type vibratos. In fact, I like them less than Bigsby (and I don't like them at all!). I think they're okay for surf effects, but that's about it. Anything more extreme than the subtle in/out type of thing and the string hangs up on the TOM. If you want a decent reliable non-Floyd vibrato system, Kahler made some retro fitting types for SGs & Les Pauls. Look into digging one of those up. You may have to search a bit, but they're worth it.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

plain and simple...they suck...there is no other way to say it...you'd be far better off with a bigsby.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

. If you want a decent reliable non-Floyd vibrato system, Kahler made some retro fitting types for SGs & Les Pauls.

ughh..what I *want* is a TOM feel with a bar..sigh

Thanks for the tip though on the Kahler

 

[JeffB]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

plain and simple...they suck...there is no other way to say it...you'd be far better off with a bigsby.

Alrighty then.....

:crying:

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

I'm not a big trem user, but had one on a '67 SG Standard back in the day. Wasn't all that impressed with it. Rarley used it. The guitar was great though :6:

 

[NathanCahill]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

What about the Maestro? Or is it about the same?

 

[mind_transplant]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

The vibrola is usable, but it takes so much work and some serious adjustments in style to play it right. First of all it works better with light strings (why I don't know), 9s at least but better with 8s, and this also lets you get more intense dives with it. Frank Marino has always used one...

Second, the vibrola needs to be played with a special touch, and even then it still does go out of tune. With the Vibrola you can't just let the bar go after you dive or vibrato, you have to ease it back up just right. Most people expect it to pop back, which it won't, it really takes time to get a feel for how this works. :sleeping: When strings do hang up (the G always did for me) give them a tug right by the bridge, helps them pop back, this also you develop a feel for.

The vibrola isn't all bad, I do like the feel the bar has (very smooth) and doing double-stop bends in tune is nice. Playing with 8s can be annoying, and it will need to be retuned a fair bit so I never gig with one anymore. Personally I prefer it over the Bigsby (can't get into the feel or tone) but I'm one of very few.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

The "Les Trem"

There's another one I can't seem to find.

But I did find this quote from a few years ago on the LPF...

Is the "Lyre" vibrola the same as the "Maestro"? Simply a curved spring-steel piece (called a "bail" I think) with the slide-on whang bar?

I have great luck with my Maestro Vibrola on a Firebird re-issue. The early-90s Firebird came (incorrectly) with a stop-tailpiece. I put a Maestro on it (an old one). I had a little trouble with the neck-angle, but it worked, and works, well.

As for the RI vibrola, I have heard that it is not a good replica. That the steel is too thin. That it looks right but doesn't work right.

Just telling you what I heard . . .

dan

 

[JeffB]

Re: Gibson Lyre Vibrola Experts..need your opinions

Thanks everyone for the feedback....

Reckon I'll just continue to go barless, I don't want anything that's going to be too much of a PITA for the limited use it would get...