Dillion DL Extreme

For a list of features, check out dillionguitars.com. These come stock with a really weird looking trapezoid tailpiece, and even weirder looking tuners. The look kind of cheap. Fortunately for me, I bought this used and the guy before me switched out both (with Grover tuners and a stop tailpiece) so it looks more "Les Paul-like." As for the other features, they are what you would expect from a high-end Les Paul copy. Nothing more, nothing less.

The sound is pretty good. I'd say that the stock pickups are stronger than a stock Epi, but nowhere close to a stock Gibson. Not really any definition to the bridge pickup, and a little muddy on the low end. I'm going to replace mine with SD 59's (but I was planning to do that anyway, so no big deal). I mean, you can't expect to pay a few hundred bucks and get the look AND the sound of a very expensive guitar. In fact, the guitar that this was modelled after goes for around $40,000. So, when you consider the difference in price, it ain't bad.

FINISH: This is where the guitar really shines (literally). Mine has a Cherry Burst finish with the AAA top. Does it look like a $5000 Gibson? No, but it looks really good and I saved $4,600... The pearl flower inlay is really exceptional, and it blows me away that this was make in Korea. Same is true for the binding and the abalone. The headstock inlay is pretty cheesy. I mean, I wish it would say ANYTHING other then "Extreme." I don't know if that was supposed to appeal to 10 year olds, or what the marketing stragegy was, but it doesn't really work for me. Anyway, that's a minor thing, and I doubt it's legible while on stage.

ACTION: I bought mine used, so I don't know how it came from the factory. However, the action on mine is pretty darn good. I'm going to have it professionally tuned when I get the pickups put in, so hopefully they can lower it even more. As it is now though, it's very comfortable (and MUCH better than I had expected).

I've had mine for a week, so I can't really speak to this point. However, it seems to be built like a tank. I don't think I'll ever gig with it (as my back would give out due to the weight), so it'll probably last forever.

Once again, I haven't had the guitar long enough for this to be an issue. But, I've heard that John is cool to work with.

I've been playing off an on for years, and I'm by no means a professional. I've mostly played Fenders. So, the biggest shock came when I tried to pick this thing up. It weighs about 50 pounds. But, I don't play standing up (since I suck and nobody would want to see me play), so no biggie.

I read LOTS of reviews before I bought this guitar. I can't find them locally, so I had to order one sight unseen from eBay. Most of the reviews compare John Dillion to some sort of god, and others to the devil (but mostly god). As with all else, the truth lies somewhere inbetween. I mean, this is the best Gibson copy I've ever seen or played. But, it is a COPY designed to provide a SIMILAR instrument for a lot less money. You get what you pay for. In this case, you may get a little more, as the guitar is very will made. If lost, I'd buy another. In fact, I may buy another one anyway. I want to give a Dillion PRS copy a shot, as I certainly can't afford the real thing. Overall, I would highly recommend the guitar. Buy a good set of pickups and you're good to go.

2005 bought, made in Korea. I dragged the next bit off the web site:
AAA arched flame maple top, Solid mahogany body with abalone body binding, Set neck, hand polished frets and highly etched pearl floral fret inlay, 2 gold humbucking pickups- passive, Dillion custom shop headstock with inlaid pearl and abalone, Gold hardware with original style trapeze bridge, 2 volume, 2 tone and toggle selector switch, Gold machine with Grover imperial style heads.
This 'Les Paul Ultima' clone is heavy, but worth it.

Truely excellent sound. Typical Les Paul. I use it through a modelling amp and it it fantastic. Big and beefy as you would expect. Among my other guitars I have an Epi Zakk Wylde with EMGHZ's and I have got to say the Dillion Extreme sounds so much better- no word of a lie.

Good set up, action just right, pickups adjusted well. Finished in a blue burst colour with really nice abalone binding- gotta see this to appreciate it. The neck inlay is awesome. Couple of small blemishes, which do not in any way diminish the beauty of this guitar. I am amazed at the amount of time and effort that must have gone in to making this instrument. If it was made anywhere else other than Korea, I am sure the craftsman labour time would out price this guitar for the average muso.

Will stand up to live gigs. Gold hardware may tarnish over time, but this is only my guess. Of course you would put more secure strap locks on this heavy instrument for live performing. (Did I mention it was HEAVY and has huge sustain)

Have not dealt with John Dillion- haven't had to. Purchased through Dillion Guitars in Australia. Based in Melbourne- Steven the proprietor is very helpful. This is the second Dillion I have bought from him.

Playing music- drums/guitar for over 30 years. I own 10 guitars- a mixed variety of Strat's, Ibanez's, Dillion's, Acoustic's. etc

If this was lost/stolen I would hunt for another one. It is the best value for money- just as much a piece of art as a guitar. You have to actually see one to appreciate it, photos do not do it justice.

Quilted maple top.Alabone inlay around body.Floral inlay on fretboard.
Vintage stringthru type bridge.Les paul style body.gets a 9 cause i found some flaws with the binding.As they say "you get what you paid for." definetly as competitively comparable to any top of the line REAL Gibson Les paul.

10.Sounds as good as any les paul.

9.Great all around guitar.Wouldn't recommended for somebody thats going for the over the top shredder playing since neck isn't as thin .

6.Would give a 10 but the tuner seems to not hold up too well ever other song.

na

great guitar.Is a copy but stands alone cause it features some really cool features that the top of the line guitars at Gibson dont even come with.Actually makes most proplr think its a custom guitar from some fancy luthier.Great price great value.Oh yeah for those whiners that complain about the weight of the guitar,it does weigh just as much as any real les paul.

It has some cool features, not as many as I might have liked. But really it's at least as many as any other guitar in it's price range. Came with a hardshell case.

Sounds real nice, I wasn't expecting all that much from the pickups, but they ended up sounding very nice

Came with very low action, I actually had to raise it a bit to get rid of some buzzing. Very nice, smooth finish. No visible flaws

So far it seems very reliable. I've had it for about a week and played one show with it. It almost feels like the weight of the guitar will rip the strap buttons off when I'm playing, but it's just because it's a pretty heavy guitar. I would us it at a show without a backup.

I have not dealt with customer service at all. No problems. Everything I hear about their customer support is good though.

Awesome guitar. I'm very satisfied with it. It's better than any Gibson in it's price range. The inlay is cool, and doesn't really mess you up when playing. I would definitely recommend this guitar.

2002 Dillion Extreme. Made in Korea. Les Paul style pickup config.
Mahogany body flame top. Flame top appears to be about a A or AA quality not the AAA as advertised. Floral inlay on neck...overall a good axe for the money.

Decent sound from the stock pickups though I will prolly swap them out for some duncans in the future. Sounds like a Les Paul. Good Jazz tone on rhythm pickup. Decent bite from the bridge.

Factory setup was not bad. Did need to swap the factory strings for some good quality strings. Abalone binding seemed to be dull in some areas due to maybe the way it was installed. Neck was pretty sweet and found no flaws in it when playing it on a first gig. Top was not quite as pictured in the photo's. I ordered a blue top and instead got a blue-burst which is actually very cool looking but it hides the fact that the flame on the top is not great, good but not great, still for the money very impressed and the floral inlay on the neck is insane!

Seems solid only used on one gig with stock pickups but people really dug the tone. Ran it through a DR. Z with a fulltone fulldrive 2 in front and it was perfect for the jazz/r and b gig I was on. Tuners seems solid and accurate, seems pretty solid overall.

John Dillion answers your questions what more can you ask...he's very prompt.

I bought the guitar through an online dealer so was not able to actually "pick" from many different ones. Overall however for the money this guitar is awesome. In the future I would like to actually see it before I buy it but I am happy with my purchase and this guitar is a way better value than any Epi or Gibson I have seen.

2001 import copy of a Les Paul. Some of the features are a triple arched flame maple top, solid mahogany body, abalone body binding, standard gold humbucking pickups and Grover imperial style heads. The finish is a beautiful dark blue color that displays the tiger maple top very nicely.The neck is sleek and well rounded for a fast action.

My style ranges from blues to hard rock and this instrument does a fine job of covering the bases. I own a Rivera Chubster that this guitar just sings through. I thought the stock pickups were fine,but I replaced them with a DiMarzio Air Norton in the bridge position & a DiMarzio Air Clssic in the neck position.I just had them lying around, they have made the guitar sound better.The neck pickup sounds sweet and sustains well, while the bridge pickup has just enough bite without being too powerful.

Like all Dillion's , the fret work is exemplary. The frets are polished and well dressed without one single sharp fret.The tiger maple top is well matched and the floral pearl tree of life inlay on the fretboard is beautiful.I just can't believe the quality of this instrument for the price. The guitar is comfortable to play and not too heavy like many Les Paul models.

I just started playing out with this guitar and anticipate no problems.The hardware is gold plated and in time will more than likely age to an antiqued type finish, which I actually like.I would recommend a good set of strap locks just to be on the safe side. I think this guitar is good enough to gig without a backup though I bring my strat just for the variety of sounds.

This is my third Dillion and each time I've sent John Dillion an email, I receive an answer within 24 hours. This is customer service done the old fashioned way.The warranty is two years though I'll doubt I'll ever need it.

I've been playing for twenty years as a weekend musician. I own the standard Gibson Les Pauls & Fender Strats. This guitar company is really making an impact on local musicians who are blown away by the quality of workmanship and price value of these guitars. It is such a beautiful instrument, I can't find fault with it.If your in the market for a new guitar, I would recommend you check out the Dillion line. You won't be disappointed.

Made 2001, descendant of their lawsuit-killed Les Paul clones. The extreme features an ornate mother-or-pearl tree-of-life neck inlay like the Les Paul Ultima. Mahogany body with flame maple top with crushed abalone binding; bound neck gold hardware with trapeze tailpiece, and LP humbucker pickup/control configuration. Neck seems to have a little more girth than the Gibson "slim-taper" neck. Frets seem a little bigger than medium jumbos without being quite so tall as the regular Gibson schoolbus-crown frets. Body is reminiscent of LP but horn is a little rounded and the shoulders are slightly narrower. Looks exude top-of-the-line LP vibe with a slightly sleeker quality of their own. Stunning, my friends are weeping over this axe.

I play rock and blues (30 years). Currently using Tech 21 amps and recording gear. This guitar is fantastic. I wonder if it's equipped with PAF's-- it has absolutely immortal sustain but great bright clarity at the same time. Even the most fuzzed-out setting maintain a defined tone-- could be the trapeze tailpiece accentuates this, but the treble pickup has incredible bitwe without being harsh, and the neck pickup gives the best rolled-off womantone I've heard since Sunshine of Your Love. Very versatile tone-wise, and completely quiet.

Like its look, the Extreme captures the LP vibe sonically while sporting a unique character that sets it apart.

Beautiful beautiful translucent prussian blue sunburst over flame maple top is mouth-watering-- coupled with the abalone body binding and inlays it could be in a museum--beatiful abalone/pearl inlays on the headstock too. All my friends agree, in spite of its heavy decoration it has more class than cheap flash. But it's an incredible eye-catcher. The finish is well-applied without seeming to heavy or light. And the fret job is typically Dillion-- that means AMAZING. This is the first axe I've gotten in some time that I really couldn't put down. It looks like good quality throughout.

Looks like it will last as long as I take care of it. I see no reason why I couldn't gig without a backup. Besides, after showing this one off under a spotlight, any other guitar would seem anti-climactic.

The folks at Dillion are great-- not many companies you deal with hook you right up with the man in charge. John Dillion is very friendly and Tony at Musician's Mate is great to deal with.

I've owned or played them all over the years. I wouldn't turn my nose up and Gibsons or Fenders etc but the Dillions I have go beyond being bang-for-the-bucks champs-- they're amazing guitars in their own right. And when you factor in the prices, it's almost criminal. This is a great guitar. If this one were lost or stolen it would really hurt