Daion Performer Les Paul

A Les Paul Custom Copy made in the late 1970's. All the controls and pickups of a Led Paul are there. The shape is identical to my Gibson, though it is not as heavy. More like a studio model in weight. I like it a lot.

In a one on one test with a Gibson Les Paul Classic it compared very well. Not as harsh, though I don't think daion modeled it after these humbuckers.
It has beautiful full sounding Humbuckers.
This one is Black with Faded Gold Hardware and open humbuckers.

The original hardware was gold, though it's mostly gone now. The tuners might not be the best from age, though they hold tuning fine once you get 'em there!
Paint work is fantastic for a vintage guitar. All the white edges have yellowed over time and look awesome. The headstock is identical to Gibo except for the Daion name which is faded and would be hard to read off stage.
Neck is a good shape and plays well.

This guitar has aged well and should be around for many many more years yet. The build quality and finish is rock solid.

I think the warranty may have expired by now 1978-2008...not worry!

This guitar compares so well to my Gibson Les Paul Classic that I'd not be fussed to sell the Gibo and keep the Daion! I love vintage guitars, they have so many songs in them.

It's an (exact?) copy of a les Paul "Performer" like BBKing had....Lucille. Is that a "Black Beauty'?
It's very black, and metal ware used to be in "gold", which wore off after 25 years. Recently replaced some of the hard ware (pick-ups, switch, mechanics, bridge) and it looks like brand new!
Although I'm careful with it, I used it for over 20 years and the "vernish" is still perfect. It has the "diamant" on top with these oriental decorations between frets...

Like some of the others mention, the sound is just incredible!
For almost anything between rock, blues, ballad, trash and my kind of music it is very well fit. I personally use it on acoustic guitar amp mostly, because of the very good "acoustic" sound of the guitar itself.
If I want effects (mostly the case, from "heavy" to just little) I use separate electronics for that.
The sound is "fully grown" from the low to the very high frequencies and the sustain is incredible, giving a lot of space for special guitar effects. One dislike: I often brake my strings, but maybe that's my fault....?!

Not even sure I bought it new, but probably "yes".
Probably it was delivered in a carton box, but I bought it at the same time as a solid flight case for it, because I was in love already.........
I played it "as it was" for over 20 years without doing anything else than replacing the strings from time to time.
Recently I replaced most of the "loose parts", like tuning mechanics, switch, pick-ups and bridge-assembly.

Reliability/Durability: if you use an item for more than 20 years without having any other problem than breaking a string (or two) at a rehearsal than it is reliable and durable. The black "paint" / vernish is like new after almost 30 years.
I've done all gigs without a backup......

'This les Paul Performer has been reviewed once by a professional guitar manufacturer, so no opinion....!

This is my second solid body guitar and has ever since been my best friend, which is since more than 20 years. I just fell upon it and fell in love. It's so easy, gracefully & gratefully playing it's always a pleasure. I'd never sell it "for no price" and whenever I have to say goodbye to it for any reason, I wouldn't even dream of finding it's twin-sister, there are so few of them!

Late 70's Les Paul Custom Black Beauty copy. Originally w/Gold hardware and covered PU's. Now w/chrome hardware, Rio Grande Muy Grande PU's, and Schaller pearl/chrome tuners. Bigger neck than Gibson, great jumbo frets, low action. Even has the Gibson "Diamond" on the headstock. Very John Sykes...

This guitar sounds huge. The other guitarist in my band only plays Gibson, this guitar sounds and plays better than all of his Customs. I play it through a Mesa Triaxis and 2:90 power amp, or a Marshall JCM800. I have never covered the headstock, I think it's cool that a guitar this low priced looks and sounds good.

I was set up with 008's when I bought it, and the pickups were weak. The body has some dings and scratches, but that is part of the magic of it.

I would use this guitar at any gig or in the studio anytime.

Company sued out of business by Gibson

I have played all kinds of Gibson copies, and this is the coolest. I like it better than the Tokai and Epiphone copies. It weighs a ton just like it's supposed to, and it screams. If it were stolen, I would have to hurt someone.

Japanese made by Yamaki in about 1979. Two open humbuckers with fully adjustable pole pieces and three point adjustment. Standard Les Paul features. Body and neck wood are Mahogany coloured, but quite an open grain and a nice thick maple top. Rosewood fingerboard. The Yamaki tuners are and have always been a bit slippy. Lovely cherry sunburst which still looks fresh today.

Playing Blues and Rock this is a "hot" guitar. It really sings on the neck pick-up and screams and wails on the bridge, but wind it back and you can get some warm mellow clean and jazzy tones too. Of course it is a Les Paul style guitar with two untapped humbuckers, so some sounds it can't do. I've used this guitar through my old Peavey Backstage Plus for years and could be heard clearly playing with much bigger combos.

Never had any problems with this that I didn't make myself. The body is quite soft and dents easily. After all this time the top two or three frets really need replacing, but given its age that's no real surprise. I've had the action down to about 1mm without buzzing, although I have it a bit higher now.

The only reliability problem with this guitar is the machines. The original strap buttons were small but I use Schaller strap locks anyway. It is dependable, and irreplaceable to me.

NN/A

This was my second guitar, I've had it 20 years and I still love it to bits, I'd rather have this than an original '59 Gibson.

All the standard les paul features. I won't go into detail but its very nice indeed.

This guitar sounds great. Its got a really thick sound for a hollow body guitar. I play death metal and usually don't like les paul sounds but this one is great. Of course i exchanged the bridge humbucker for an EMG 85.

The guitar was bought from cash converters with no rear pickup or bridge and i got it fiwed up in the shop. Setup was realy good. Low action and nice smooth neck. For a 20 yr old second hand guitar i was quite surprised. There were no scratches or anything. Just a couple of small belt dents and one chip on the white trim.

I think you could beat your amp to death with this guitar and it would still work. It feels so tough and sturdy.

Company no longer exists

I've been playing for about 16 years. I own a marshall vavlestate and a marshall jcm900 quad, Digitech RP21d, Yamaha RGZ321p. The Daion was stolen from my house this weekend along with the yamaha and an ibanez bass. If i find the person that took ithem they will die slowly and painfully. If anyone comes across a black Daion Performer with an EMG in the bridge then please email me. I am in Canberra Australia
geoffbailey@auslig.gov.au

A true and faithful replica of the Cherry Sunburst Les Paul Standard. Double humbuckers, 3 way swtich, yum! Obviously there are no modern features like a Floyd Rose tremolo, active pickups etc, as it wouldn't then be a Les Paul. So that's why I give it a 9.

The only Gibson copy I've played that truely sounds authentic. Really! Epiphones sound dead and flat, SX and J&D don't quite to it either. An close friend of mine played this guitar and was blown away by the sound.

This baby is a low-rider. The neck is amazing. The workmanship is what surpised me. Usually Les Paul copies can be rather badly made, but this is mint! From reading other reviews, these guitars were made in Japan and were exceptionally well made. People can't believe they sold so cheap and made any money on these. Well, the company no longer exists. That could be why.

Also usually the logo on the headstock looks really tacky of cheap guitars. This one looks classy. I WOULD happily play this in public. Those who have tried copied guitars will know what I mean. :-)

It's pretty old, but still in mint condition. Pretty solid, well made, but not too heavy either. Actually the weight is nice. The only problem I had was the 3 way switch was corroded a little. Probably due to storage. Nothing a little CRC didn't fix (the equivalent product would be WD40). Just a little squirt, and back to working condition. Primo!

n/a

Company no longer exists. Only one way of getting hold of one of these: if you see one of these around in good condition, snap it up fast.

I am totally wrapped with this guitar. I bought it online 2nd hand and really had my doubts about it. Was totally blown away by it when it arrived. There is no way I'd shell out for an original Gibson now. No way! If this guitar were stolen, I'd be very sad.