Dillion DR500

Dillion DR500, PRS Custom 24 copy. Made in 2000 I think, in Korea. Pretty nice for being made there. 24 frets, laminated top (mine's like amber burst; it's very nice looking). 1 volume, 1 tone, and a 3 way rotary pickup selector. H/H. I dunno what the pickups are, but they are stock. They are okay, but I just bought some Seuymore Duncans to put in to replace them. I think it's a maple, but I'm not 100% sure. Neck thru body design. Tremolo. Nice neck with medium/jumbo frets. Rosewood top with doves. I bought it from a guy over the interet, so it didn't come with anything.

This guitar suits my style pretty well. My band calls our style rasti-core, which is like a mix of raggae, hardcore, and weird sounds. We have some pretty cool stuff. I think my new Duncan pickups will help my sound though, especially with distortion. The stock ones just don't provide the crunch, thickness, or bass I need. I run it through a Boss Metal Zone, then a Boss GT-6, then to my crappy little 30 watt Laney Amp, or to my Peavey 4x12 when we are playing shows. The guitar is pretty quite, not much hum. The pickups, like I said, are only mediocre. The Duncans will change that, but I just took it in to the shop, so I dunno how it will sound exactly.

The action was perfect when I received it. The pickups, well, we already know that story. The guitar was finished nicely, and the fretwork is niiice. Very fast playing neck. There is one thing that kinda bugs me about mine, and that's the volume. With high distortion, it doesn't do a very good fade it. It's just kinda quiet, then BAM! I plan to get that fixed though. Also, the G string will sometimes go flat when I haven't played it for a few days, but, that really isn't all that big of a deal. It stays in tune when I play it, which is what's important.

Very reliable. As always, I would have a backup guitar just in case, and I do have one (a Fender). But overall, it should last quite awhile.

Talked to John Dillion himself. He's a nice guy who actually helps you with YOUR problems. That's a rarity these days. So, a big 10 here.

I have been playing for about 2 and a half years, and this is really my second guitar. My first was a Fender American Fat Strat Texas Special, which I still have. This guitar is very nice for it's price, which was something that I researched very thouroughly. From what I had read, they were nice guitars, and now I am here to say they are nice myself. If it were lost or stolen, I'd get another one, but probably a green one. I have this thing for green guitars. I love the playability. The intonation is pretty good. I chose it for its beauty and for it's playablity. I don't really like the rotary pickup selector, so I'm getting that changed to a switch one, which is not really a big deal. Other than that though, this guitar is worth the money!

This was the Dillion 500 (the T, X, I, etc stand for the different accoutrements that come with the guitar).
The guitar has a set neck and body wise it's a copy of the famous Paul Reed Smith CE22, 24 and McCarty models. It is hand made in Korea accoring to the manufacturer's websie (which incidentally is www.dillionguitars.net not .com)
Maple body, quilted mapple top, HUGE frets, 1 volume, 1 tone and a three way switch (which doesn't look like a switch - it looks like the volume and tone pans).

I play mostly punk music but I also like blues, country, rock 'n roll, alterantive music - you name it, I probably like something from every genere and try to take as much as I can from all.
The guitar's pickups are pleasant. They were pretty warm an full. It was not noisy and there was no buzz or annoying hums. As a matter of fact, the guitar was pretty solid. It felt very solid. Since this is the "sound" section of the review, I will grade mostly the pickups.

This is where I have a huge problem with this guitar. First of all, EVERY high end epiphone I've played is a better executed guitar. I'm not talking about the $200 guitars here, mind you. I'm talking about Noel Gallagher's Supernova and Union Jack guitar, BB King's es-335, the sheratons, Joe Pass' Emperor and the Korean made copy of the Florentine.
There is no way this "copy" of the PRS even comes close to feeling like the real thing. I don't own a PRS but I've played the PRS (the McCarty and the singlecut) (I will eventually purchase one) and I'm wiling to bet my Gretsch Jet and Selmer Zodiac amp that you will not fail the Pepsi challenge either.
The body may look like the PRS (although nowhere near as nicely finished, carved, routed - notice the way the PRS McCarty models have the routing under the volume and tone pots - neat-o!) but the rest of the guitar is not even close. The neck certainly doesn't feel like the PRS. The PRS has the most amazing fretwork. The Dillion has HUGE, HUMONGOUS, GIGANTIC frets that betray the overall coarsness of this guitar. The neck is nowhere near as well rounded as the real deal.
I'm sorry but the Dillion does not feel like the PRS. It may be 1/4 of the price of a PRS and that's fine. It'a a decent quality guitar for the price but it is not better than the top end Epis, nor is it an acceptable substitute for the PRS. I dare say that a used American Fender Strat can be had for the price of this Dillion and it would be a better buy. Please keep in mind that I'm going to grade this guitar for what it is - If I were to grade it in comparison to the PRS, it would get a 2 or 3. If I were to grade it in comaprison with my bloved Gretsch or Strat it would get a 4.

I don't own one. I played it over the weekend at Pianos Plus in N.J.
It looked solid. The finish is not as nice as a high end guitar but better looking than most low end model guitars.

I heard only good things but since I don't own the guitar - nor do I suspect I'll ever own one - I can't make a judgement.

the best thing about this guitar is that they actually make a good looking hollow body copy of the PRS. The bad thing is that these guitars come nowhere near the level of the PRS

Dillion DR500t (tremolo version) 24 fret with the eagle inlays, 2 humbucking pickups, 3 way selector switch, quilted maple cap, alder body, i believe, PRS styling and feel, Tremolo version. All the features you really need in a guitar, rythym, lead, and ???

Let me start by saying that this guitar is an awsome looking, sounding, and playing guitar. I have only had it for a few short weeks, but it gets all of my attention already. The stock pickups are really good for the price range. I love the neck pickup and will leave it intact in the guitar. The bridge pickup is very useful as well. i like a little tighter sounding bridge pickup that gives more of a classic rock type sounds, ala' AC*DC, Skynyrd, and so on. I could see someone using this guitar for any style from country, metal and classic rock, or blues.
y amp setup is a Fender Vibrolux reissue and an ext cab with 2x12's. I get really good distortion and classic type tones through this setup and also play country as well. I also play through a few pedals like an original 808 and a boss gt-3 processor for my digital effects. i actually for the first time in about ten years have almost honed in on my sound, or what i think it should sound like. Also it is nothing against the sound of the bridge pickup, i have just come to like the certain sound of the Seymour Duncan Custom in most of my guitars, and i am sure it will sound great in this one.

I bought the guitar used but it was in prestine condition. I can't really comment on how it was out of the factory but after i tweaked a little here and there, it felt like home to me. I tend to like my strings a little higher than most because i play fairly rough. I think that setup is a personel preference and a guitar should not be judged on how it was setup to begin with. The guitars finish, color, feel, frets and everything that i can think of is absolutely flawless. I bought it moreless unseen and without ever holding one in real life. I was blown away at the workmanship on this guitar and i could not be happier with it. I did change the selector swith to a 3-way Les Paul type switch. I am a little more used to it than the knob type rotary selector. Once again that is personal preference and the guitar should not be judged on it.

This guitar i would take anywhere without a backup. It is one of the most brilliantly put together guitars that i have ever held, and that goes for any price range. The weight and feel is perfect, and it is not too light or heavy. The guitar just feels right in you arms, kind of like a good womam. No complaints or flaws here.

Since i did not purchase the guitar new, i'm not sure on the warranty. I will say that i e-mailed Dillion, And Mr. John Dillion himself e-mailed me back with my reply and actually seemed interested in me, and where i got the guitar and, and that i was happy with it. have you ever got an e-mail from Leo Fender? Les Paul? Paul Reed Smith? i din't think so. You would think that if you paid $2000.00 for a guitar Mr. PRS would drive to your house and shake your hand. Anyway i think that John Dillion is a class act and if someone had a real lugitimate problem or complaint, he would be the first to help. I didn't even get mine from him and he was interested in me. Thanks John!!!!

I have been playing about ten years and have played almost every guitar on the market. I have owned Les Pauls, Strats, Teles, and all other kinds. I have a 1962 reissue stratocaster and several other guitars right now, and i can honestly say that the finish, feel, fretwork and inlays are better than any other guitar that i own. The tone is very, very useful right out of the box and unless you have a crutch on a certain pickup, you will probably most likely not need to change anything about this guitar. I play blues, country and classic rock, and this guitar kicks!!! Thanks John for making such a great product for even a greater price!!!

A Korean made copy of a PRS 24.
24 Fret Set-neck with a solid flamed maple body.
2 Volume controls, 1 tone.
H/H configuration.
Wilkinson Tremolo

Great sound. Not much better in this price range. I use it for everything from blues to rock and it performes flawlessly. Not so hot for metal. Quiet pickups that are suprisingly good for unbranded models. I replaced mine with 2 Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates and it will run with almost any guitar costing significantly more. The only reason I replaced the pickups, was because I wanted more detail. Stock pickups are still damn good.

amazing finish. The body and neck are of superb quality, great tuners (mine stays in perfect tune, my Gibson LP does not), Only complaints that I have are, it came with only 2 tremolo springs (I had to buy another after I changed the strings) and it came with a bad pot. Minor issues.

I' ve played both live and in a studio with no problems, other than the bad pot in the beginning. None of the hardware has tarnished.

not had the to deal with the company.

I've owned and still own many guitars (Parker, Gibson, Epiphone, Rickenbacker, Dean, Ibanez, and B.C. Rich) and this is definetly one of, if not, my favorite guitar.

Korean-made PRS copy. 24 Frets, mother of pearl bird inlays, 2 humbuckers, 3-way rotary switch, Accutune trem, alder body, transparent finish, "quilted" top (I think it's veneer) that's not particularly well-flamed. I sometimes wonder if the quilting is acutally painted on under the transparent finish. I'd give it higher but the three-position rotary switch annoys me (relative to a 5-position switch). It's also reversed from the direction on a real PRS (clockwise full is the neck instead of the bridge)

It sounds pretty good. Not particularly like any of the real PRS guitars I've played, but pretty good nonetheless. Pickups are quiet. The neck PU is very thick, with a Les Paul-like muddiness. The bridge pickup is pretty crisp but I think it could use more bite. I bought the guitar intending to change the pickups and still intend to do so.

Action is reasonable but there are slight buzzes on the low E, A, and G strings. You can't tell when amplified, but you can hear a faint buzzing when unplugged. I'm not certain that the guitar was intonated before delivery. It's not too eager to stay in tune, but that's probably because of the number of times the strings are wrapped around the tuners (which are themselves quite nice). I'm not too keen on the bridge and plan to replace it as well. Finish was a bit disappointing (see comments about quilted top above) and the finish seems to be separating from the joint between the body and fingerboard on the upper bout. As my wife put it, "It's an inexpensive knock-off." As delivered, it leaves something to be desired but with a little work it can be a fine-playing guitar. On the plus side, the frets are nicely done, the tangs are trimmed so they're not visible on the side of the fretboard (unlike my PRS).

Despite the finish imperfections, it seems solidly constructed. The hardware seems to be of reasonable quality. I haven't yet changed the original strings (they'll get swapped out when I replace the trem & pickups) so I can't vouch for the tuning stability. Were it not for tuning concerns, I'd probably give it at least a 9. As a guy who likes floating trems, I'd never gig without a backup just in case of string breakage.

Top-notch! When I called the company trying to find a Colorado dealer (no luck), they were swamped with calls and asked if they could call me back. John Dillion called me about 10 minutes later and answered all my questions. I couldn't imagine a company offering better service and support.

I've been playing for about 20 yrs. I have an old Aria Pro II, a '92 Strat, a '01 PR CE-22 and I play them through a Line 6 AX-2. I bought this guitar as a project: something kinda like my PRS that I wouldn't worry too much about experimenting with (e.g., floyd rose). Though it's not nearly as nice as a real PRS, it's a great deal compared to the Santana SE and a whole lot cheaper to boot. My biggest gripes about it are the 3-position switch (probably a function of no coil-taps on the PUs) and the metal arrows on the volume/tone controls (like anyone is so concerned about the tone being set to exactly 7). I'd give my PRS a 9 and the Dillion gets an 8 based as much on value as quality.

See the Dillon web site for exact spec's. Basically, it is as near to a PRS as you will get without spending two grand. Mine is the two humbucker + trem model in transparent blue, and it really shows off the figured top. Controls are Vol & Tone ( which work ! ) and a three position rotary pick-up selector. Eagle inlays on neck are well fitted, with no filler present, and really look stylish. Only one suface flaw is visible, a tiny, and I mean tiny, laquer dimple on the rear of the headstock. So small I had the guitar a few days before I spotted it. The overall standard is better than a $1300 Epiphone Signature I bought the same week.

If you plugged a PRS into your amp what would it sound like ? Well, this will sound the same ! Pick-ups are really punchy, but clean up well at low volume. I run this thru a Line 6 Flextone and a Boss GT5, and I can get all the sounds I would expect from a genuine PRS, and then some. First test was the guitar straight into the Flextone, with the overdriven Boogie setting, no FX. Instant Santana ! Even at bedroom level's, this thing sustains for ever. It excells at powerfull Jimmy Page / Gary Moore tones.

This is the best guitar I have ever bought. I have 21 in my collection, running from Squires & Epiphones, to Ovations & Hi-End Charvels, and nothing has been this right out of the box. Everything was "just so"

I don't play live, so the question would I take a back-up does not apply. But I will say this. I am so taken with this guitar, I feel I should join a band just to show it off ! And it would be the only guitar I used.

We don't get Dillions here in the UK, I spotted a mention of one in an american guitar mag, then searched the internet. Found the Dillion web site, and e-mailed to find a dealer in Florida, where I was going on vacation. John Dillion replied within hours, very good when you consider the 5 hour time difference. He gave me the name of Modern Music in Ft Lauderdale. Between the two of them, they got me the exact model I wanted, at a really keen price. They could not have been more helpfull.

If it was stolen would I buy another ? Why Wait ! I'm now looking for a Dillion DR450, the hollow body version. I have seen other PRS copy's, the Samick and so forth, and they just do not come close, even at double the money. If you want this style of guitar, try a Dillion. If you have trouble finding one, talk to John Dillion, and I am sure he will help you out, but try one before you spend more money than you need to on another brand.

I bought this guitar after my house was broken in to.The dealer assured me that I would not be dissappointed and I was not.I had owned a PRS in the past and this guitar is just as hot if not hotter.I don't really care for the 3 way knob but that is easily replaced.I couldn't have bought a better guitar for the money.The fretwork is amazing and the finish is awesome.

I play through a CARVIN 100W tube and this guitar screams but at the same time it can be as clean as you want it.

The factory set was very nice but I had to get it set up for 11's.The pickups are HOT!!!!

I believe this guitar will last just as long as any 1000+ guitar.The finish is heavenly,it almost looks like glass.I bought the amber finish and am very satisfied.This will be a guitar for every gig.

2000 korean made 24 fret prs style, super detail mop bird inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, chrome covered humbuckers. Alder body, maple quilted top finish. finish is smooth. set neck.

my styles range from heavy metal distortions to glassy smooth blues and crunch classic rock. I play through a fender m80 chorus, crybaby, an eq and a tube screamer.

the guitar was set up incredible, hand plolished frets, perfect intonation, and an action a lot hotter than i'm used to. the fretwork was near perfect. the rotory pickup selector is a little akward.

i bought this as a backup but it has replaced my customs strat. very smooth. I've played it nonstop and seems to be holding up great. i would gig without a backup

i shopped about 4 months for a good archtop and the dillion dr500, stacked up against everything. I,ve been playing for 10 years. I would need to get another dillion if i ever lost it. I,ve never played any guitar this sweet, the guitar just flows. The bridge pickup was a little weak so i replaced it with a gibson 57classic plus,and now this guitar screams!!!!!!dollar per dollar you cant buy a better guitar.

2000 Dillion PRS copy. I have a Tremolo on mine, it could use locking tuners but that it fine for now. 3 way rotary knob for pickup selection. I had a problem at first of over turning it. But once I got used to it, it was fine. Although I may change to a toggle switch.

I love the sound of this guitar. It sounds great with the mids up on my amp. I play through ernie ball volume>crybaby>digitech whammy>jeckyl&hyde>VooDoo Labs Overdrive>DiazTremolo>Boss Flanger>Boss NS-2>Boss DD-3>Peavey classic 50. The DR500 really suits my playing. I'm definately sold on Dillion

The finish is amazing. Flamed Blue top(assuming maple). Mine looks more like a blue-burst than blue.

Action is great. It was great when I got it from Steve's Guitars. I'm not sure if they did a set up on it or not.

So far the only thing I did was put strap locks on it

will it withstand live playing? Yes
will the hardware last? Yes
is the finish good enough to last? Yes
are the strap buttons solid? Yes(both the original ones and the ones I put on
can I depend on it? Yet
would I gig w/o a backup? Yes, and I do

Never had a problem with my guitar. But I've asked them a few questions about their other models (the Jazzmaster copy) and they were more than friendly when responding. Sound like real down to earth guys

Steve's Guitar was great dealing with too. They answered all my questions that I had. Great guys.

I'm grateful that I bought this guitar long before Dillion got their name way out there and started to charge higher prices. I currently have a Dillion LP, the Traci Guns signature model, on layaway and I'm dying to get it out. Check these guitars out before shelling out a ton of $$$

BRAND NEW 2001 model.PAUL REED SMITH COPY. 24 fret korean made, one of the owners of the company worked for TOKAI FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS .this has a real maple top, not a veneer. YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED IF YOU WANT A REAL GIG WORTHY GUITAR, THAT LOOKS GREAT TOO. excellent guitar , right out of the box, gorgeous quilt. i have the fixed bridge model, and it is still a nice even weight. there were a couple of minor finish flaws, but i just got a real gibson BLUESHAWK in my shop.. the finish on the gibson is TERRIBLE... (WAVY,) SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SECOND. THE DILLION BLOWS IT AWAY, AT HALF THE PRICE. I WILL RATE THIS GUITAR AS A 9 , ONLY BECAUSE OF THE MINOR FLAWS, AND NOTHING IS PERFECT.

pickups are quiet and really sound good. i figured i would have to change them when i got this, but i will keep the pickups stock. pickups are hot, ohm out at about 10k. very full tone variation, if you are into "wah like" tones, you will like this. very rich neck tone, and a searing , yet toneful lead tone. the two pickups have a really nice range , because you have just a volume and tone control, so you don't have to fidget between two tones and two volumes. this is also pretty nice.. so far no dislikes. really good tone, far better than an epiphone, AND MAY COMPARE TO A REAL GIBSON LES PAUL.

pickups needed adjustment, but what guitar doesn't out of the box at this price? as i said earlier, a really gorgeous bookmatched top. tuners are nice and tight and hold up well to the "pull the string" test. STAYS IN TUNE , AND I BEND ALOT OF STRINGS.

strap buttons are solid. i will use it as my main guitar at my next job, but WILL USE A BACKUP. NO RATING , ITS TOO EARLY TO TELL

CALL THE DILLION NUMBER, YOU WILL GET ONE OF THE OWNERS! WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?

I HAVE PLAYED FOR 28 YEARS . I AM VERY CRITICAL OF A GUITAR. THIS FEELS GOOD , PLAYS GREAT AND SOUNDS GREAT. BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT , BALANCED WELL. it is NOT A PRS, BUT IT IS A REALLY GOOD COPY FOR ABOUT A 7TH OF THE PRICE. SAVE YOUR 2000 BUCKS AND BUY ONE OF THESE.