T-bone Club... LsL Instruments

[teleamp]

First, welcome to the T-bone club, discussion about LsL guitars is welcome here. Tell your LsL story or ask about LsL guitars.

LsL only builds to a few specs, not a lot of options, but they have a great recipe for a vintage looking, feeling, sounding, and playing guitar. LsL purposely routes the neck pocket shallower than a stock tele so that the strings ride high and have a steep break angle over the saddles. The bodies and necks are cut, shaped, and sanded by hand in California. Their pups are wound in house. They also make their own truss rods and pickguards. If you email them after purchasing one, Lance will send you some extra spec's specific to your guitar.


I have a swamp ash T-bone "Teri" and it is probably the best tele that I have owned or played. Mine is a lightweight weighing in at 6 3/4 lbs. It is very resonant and loud. The neck is a full C shape, it is a thick as any Nocaster neck.

When I bought mine, the shop had several Nocasters and this LsL, I tried them all and the LsL stood out in both tone and feel.

I'll try to get some pics up soon.

[ToneShark]

I accidentally bought Rhiannon. I was looking at a whole bunch of Nocasters for a backup to my Creston (probably the most traditional Tele he ever made, with a HUGE neck). They had an LSL on the wall, so I figured I should give it another listen, having just seen Greg V's demo for Fat Sound - I had actually played it a while back and not loved it, who knows why. Anyway, this time around comparing it to the really wonderful Nocasters, it was pretty clear that this was the guitar I wanted. So, I bought it. And now it's seeing a little more playtime than the Creston! They're both such great guitars though.

[kananond]

I just purchased mine a few days ago. Never was a Tele guy till now! It's taken the #1 spot. Really special guitar. I came close to buying a Nash, but in the end, I chose the LSL. Both were great guitars, but the LSL has an amazing unique feel and sound that I love.

[toddoutloud]

I purchased Lyra a little over 3 weeks ago to replace my stolen American Strat. I had been jonesing for another Tele since losing my beloved 92 Tele Plus in Katrina. I was in Montgomery, AL for a gig and went to see a friend of mine who owns a music store in town. He had a few high end Tele style guitars in the store: Grosh, Tom Anderson, Glendale, etc. and I played them all, but he had me hold out on playing the LSL until last. He ran me into a 66 Deluxe Reverb, which is closest to the amp I currently own.

While slightly underwhelmed by the Grosh and Glendale, and the Anderson out of my budget, I finally tried the LSL. All I could say is that it was love at first touch. She had the most comfortable feel of all the guitars I played that day and listening to her unplugged was magical. Lyra is the one of the most resonant solid body guitar I have ever played. And she's lightweight: 6 lbs. 2 oz. I plugged her into the BFDR, played my version of "What a Wonderful World" and I was sold.

I've gigged and done a few church services with Lyra and I get nothing but great compliments about my "chewed up" guitar's sound. My music minister gave me some junk about playing with a "chewed up"-looking guitar and he ate his words during the service. He asked that I only bring the "chewed up" guitar when I play there in the future.

Lance and his crew have the right mojo for building guitars. They made my baby completely perfect for me with the feel and sound I want from a guitar. IMHO, LSL is the best bang for the buck on a Nocaster style guitar.

[campfire]

"Lance and his crew have the right mojo for building guitars. They made my baby completely perfect for me with the feel and sound I want from a guitar. IMHO, LSL is the best bang for the buck on a Nocaster style guitar."

> +1 on that! I just walked home with "Krissy" from my local guitar dealer today, and I'm completely blown away by the quality, sound, and authenticity of the guitar. (T-Bone) One of the best blackguard Teles I've ever played. (I once owned a blackguard '54) The light relic job is superb, too.

[campfire]

Man, only 5 members? Surely there must be a few more LSL owners out there who would like to join. BTW- I wonder if LSL is ever going to make a "thinline" model? I would be 1st in line! I've been lusting for a good thinline tele lately!

[ToneShark]

Update on Rhiannon... it's the only guitar I play. My newest Creston showed up - a completely custom guitar with custom paint by Sarah Ryan and everything, but all I can bring myself to play 99% of the time is that damn LSL. What a guitar.

[campfire]

I agree with toneshark, I just can't put mine down either. What a great sounding, effortless playing tele! And the relic vibe is so good, sometimes I feel like I'm really playing my old '54 blackguard. More Kudos to Lance & CO!

[sekt88]

I am in the club. Just brought home "Carita"- pine tele goodness!

[teleamp]

Originally Posted by sekt88

I am in the club. Just brought home "Carita"- pine tele goodness!

Congrats, SA'a are welcome here too. LsL offers the best bang for the buck as far as I am concerned.

I play mine so much that I have started noticing some fret wear.

[JoeYello]

My first post......

Kalan in the house! The first RW board pine T-Bone!

[campfire]

ooohhh! I love rw board teles! As per my avatar, I have a rw board tele, too. We'd love to see pics of your new LSL! I'll bet being pine, it's really a lightweight, also. Congrats on Kalan!

[campfire]

My question is: Do you guys keep the "name" lable on the back of the neckplate? For instance, mine is "Krissy". I realise this is the serial # also, but it appears under the pickguard, too. Should I just peel off the paper neckplate lable? I just don't like it on the neckplate! Opinions? Thanks.

[campfire]

Anybody home?

[teleamp]

Originally Posted by campfire

My question is: Do you guys keep the "name" lable on the back of the neckplate? For instance, mine is "Krissy". I realise this is the serial # also, but it appears under the pickguard, too. Should I just peel off the paper neckplate lable? I just don't like it on the neckplate! Opinions? Thanks.

I left mine on. I finally pulled the neck to have a look in the pocket and found an actual serial number stamped on the heel of the neck, mines in the low 130's.

I've replaced my pickguard with one from a Fender 52 RI because I like the way the edges of the Fender one are rolled.

I've also replaced my bridge plate with one that is less reliced.

[MikeyB59]

I bought "Taylor" about 3 months ago. It's a pine T-Bone. There are actually a couple of NAMM videos of this guitar being playing and it sounds great there and great in my hands. It's as fine a guitar as I've owned and I've had a lot over the years. I played a bunch of teles and bought several in the last few months (Grosh, G & L, 75 Fender) on the way to Taylor. Taylor is clearly the best of the bunch though they all have their charms.

I'd just as soon they not relic it quite as much as mine is relic'd, but it's the sound and feel that matters most to me, so I can live with the relicing.

I'd played a used custom shop Tele relic that was really nice going for $1000 more than Taylor. It was the nicest one in the store and I don't think it's as good as Taylor is. I'm a very happy owner.

I've been playing it with 10s that came with it, but they're beat and I'm going to put 11s on. It already amazes me with its' fullness with 10s, so I think I'm about to get blown away again. It just sounds great from jazz to blues to country to rock. I occasionally wish the bridge pickup had a hair more wallop, but it still sounds great and the neck pickup is the best tele neck pickup I've ever had.

Mike

[campfire]

MikeyB59 wrote> "I've been playing it with 10s that came with it, but they're beat and I'm going to put 11s on."

Larry wrote> I did the same thing, but ended up going back to .10's again. The guitar just plays so much better, and is more balanced with .10s, IMO. When I play jazz on an archtop, I use .12's or .13's, but my LSL T-Bone is just more balanced with .10's. Not to mention a joy to BEND!!! I have to agree, I think LSL is the best telecaster on the market now. (I personally love the relic job on mine. The intricate finish checking blows my mind!)

[teleamp]

Well, I'm going to A/B my LsL against one of the new broadcasters tomorrow, it should be interesting.

[teleamp]

It's been a good ride, "Teri" has moved on.

[campfire]

Originally Posted by teleamp

It's been a good ride, "Teri" has moved on.

Hello...goodbye!