Dillion DR500

This is the set bridge soring vultures one. I bought it in 05' from some place of ebay. Got mine in tortishell

I've been playing for about 7 months adn my friend owns a PRS CE24 that I fell in love with. I never here anything sound so good, and play so silky smooth. He told me about Dillion and i did as much research as I could. I didn't get the tremolo due to bad reviews about it. When I got it I really thought it was beatiful. It played so my better than my tele. It sounded good to. After my friend came over and compared it to his he was really impressed, we both agreed that the sound was a little bit muddy (played through a fender Deluxe). But since he put Rio grande pickups in his PRS I put his stock pickups in mine. The guitar sound so much better. Please if you buy one plan on putting PRS pickups in it will sound like a $3000 dollar guitar. If not it will still sound ok though

Very Very nice, I think it plays that same as my friends PRS, looks great.

I've played a couple open mic nights with it, but always baby it. Very well made

I emailed Dillion Guitars three times asking about the colors opions and where to buy these. Very nice to talk to the owner!

This plays 10 times better than my Jay Turser stat copy (Terd ser) and 3 or 4 times better than my MIM tele that I had pro set up. The acion is really low and it just feels right, I like the smaller body, easy to move your arms around.

This purchase was specifically a Dillion DR500XI (X= stop tailpiece, or fixed bridge; I= Isis inlays on the fretboard), but I felt the review should be catagorized in the DSR500 general topic, since that is the base model being discussed.

I purchased it brand new in January of this year, so I'll assume it was made in 2005. I bought it at Ed Romans's in Las Vegas, which in itself warrants a whole discussion. More on that below.

It's Korean made, with 24 frets, maple body, beautiful maple laminated quilted top (mine is Amber color)which rivals the finish on ANY guitar at ANY price. There is one volume, one tone, and one rotary 3-position pickup switch. I think I'd prefer a 3-way toggle here, like on Gibsons, because it would be easier to switch, and I think it's just a matter of time before the knob comes loose. I will probably do this myself at some point in the future. All the knobs are black, which I prefer to the gold. There are two Humbucking pickups, which I assume are also Korean made, properly spring mounted. The electronics are passive. Not sure what the neck is made of, but it's multipiece and is a set neck. The body style is double cutawawy, but not to severe or large, which makes it a dream to hold and play. It is, after all, modelled after a PRS. The stoptail has a seperate Tune-o-matic bridge (or copy thereof), fully adjustable for each string. The tuners are very well made, with tulip shaped adjusters. I got a nice hardshell case for $120, and they threw in a nice strap as well. I'm a fussy customer, so I consider a rating of 10 perfection, which I see as something to be aimed for, not existing. So for me an 8 or 9 is pretty close to as good as it gets. Keep that in mind for my ratings.

Ther are many great guitarists, but Leslie West and Santana are very big influences for me. In fact it was after seeing Mountain last year that led me to selling my piano and begin my search for a good quality starter guitar after not playing for about 30 years. All the effects I need are in my little Fender GDEC. It's perfect for home playing, and a hell of a lot of fun, too.

There is a little bit of buzz from the guitar when the volume control is in the mid settings, and is completely quiet with the volume at off or full. I suspect this has something to do with varying impedance from the volume control. It is a minor bug which does not detract from my joy of playing it.

Well, getting a great Santana sound out of this is a no brainer. He's been using PRS guitars for a number of years now, and I have no problem getting a full, warm sound with gobs of sustain. I haven't worked that much yet on getting sounds with a lot more treble and bite, so can't comment on that yet. I will say it's been a lot harder to try and replicate a Leslie West sound than expected. Never have I heard so much sound come from even a single note, but I know that's got more to do with the artist than the gear.

The only additional feature that probably would have been nice is a switch or two for splitting the Humbuckers. I was also shown a comparable guitar by Michael Kelly which had this, but I was pretty much set on a Dillion, and when I tried it, I wasn't disappointed. Other than that they were very similar, and I'm convinced they're being made at the same plant in Korea.

Overall, action , fit, and finish are very, very good. You know, I'm judging things on an absolute level here, and when you stop and think about this guitar's price, it is truly excellent. It's so easy to play, and there's no string buzzing. The pickups could probably be a little higher, after reading and learning from the excellent Seymour Duncan web site - what a wealth of knowledge. Action seems very well adjusted - I'm satisfied and would be afraid to touch it. Intonation was somewhat off, and I did spend some time adjusting it. The bookmarked quilted top is absolutely stunning and beautiful. I sometimes flip open the case just to look at it, and I'm so happy it's mine. How many guitars can make you say that? The G-string tuning peg is missing a small white, nylon washer. I've decided to leave it alone- it works fine. All three knobs were loose when it was shipped to me. In fact the selector knob had come completely off, and unfortunately chipped the body on the edge near the output jack. See Customer Support below for more on this. Overall, it's obvious a reasonable amount of time was spent setting up the guitar, which is pretty amazing for its price. Ed Roman does this for free.

I don't play gigs so I can't comment on how it would stand up to live play. I can say it is built very solidly, beautiful but robust, and very dependable. These are high quality materials and parts. I have seen crap on guitars costing many times more,and from what I read in these columns, even the most expensive guitar can suffer from serious flaws. I'd bet Dillions are more consistant than most high end axes.

Okay, here we go onto Customer Support and the world of Ed Roman. Before that, on Dillion directly, I did email the company, and like others have said, he personally replied. His answers were moderately helpful, suggesting I see a specialist to correct minor things, but it says a lot when the owner takes the times to read and reply what his customers are saying.

As for Ed Roman, I'd read all the good, bad , and ugly about him. I can only tell you my story, and I'm a straight shooter, so here it is: When I decided to buy a guitar, I hit the web and searched and searched and read and read. I kept coming back to Ed Roman's site. (I had no clue that my favorite guitarist used custom made guitars from there.) Yes, many have said the web site is his hook, and once's he got you you're toast. The fact is I learnt more about guitars from his site in six months than I knew in my whole life. I emailed the store and got a prompt response from Jason on guitars and amps to consider. For me, the in store experience backed it up. Naturally I was very excited about going there and, if pleased, making my purchase. Jason was there, and he spent all the time I wanted with me to zero in on what I wanted. I was never asked if I was serious, and I didn't have to ask to try the guitars. When he felt the moment was right, he handed them to me to play. It was an exhilerating experience, and nothing was ever said or done that could have easily put a damper on it, or made me leave without buying. I saw Ed Roman walking out of his office and took the oppotunity to greet him. He was friendly and courteous, and was interested to know if and what I had bought. He comfirmed my choices. Yes, it would be very easy to say, "Well what else would he say?". But certainly we've all picked up on how brutally frank he is, and I know that if he thought they were poor choices, he would have told me right there and then. Say, sorry all you nay sayers; I say Ed Roman is everything he claims to be, and nothing more.

There's more: As I said above, the guitar arrived chipped because a loose knob had come off. I was naturally very disappointed and called the store. Brian, in charge of returns, discussed it in detail with me, and wanted me to return the guitar at once. He explained the process for a UPS claim (which I knew because I am in manufacturing myself), how long it would take (about 8 business days), asked me to be patient, and reassured me I'd be taken care of. This was also expressed to me by Jason. Their communication by email or phone was thorough and courteous. I didn't know what action was going to be taken. On one hand, I thought perhaps it should replaced. On the other, I wanted the guitar back that I had tried and was sold on. In the end, Ed Roman's custom shop repaired it. It was almost completely un-noticeable, and for the life of me I'll never figure out how they blended the clear finish, which was impeccable. The loose knobs were all repaired or replaced, and they were all very tight now. I was satisfied.

A lot of the Ed Roman criticism goes back a few years, and even to when his store was back east. I can't say if he took it to heart and made an effort to improve his customer relations, or if we're dealing with those customers (I've worked retail, and it's mostly thankless) who can never be pleased. I only know that my Ed Roman experience was a good one, enough to make me say, I'll be back.

I guess playing guitar is a little like riding a bicycle - you never forget. At least for me, a lot came back, and this guitar helped that happen. It's everything I wanted my guitar to be, and more, which I've yet to learn and discover. You could never go wrong with this instrument.

I'm not sure what year my Dillion is. It's a goldtop PRS copy with creme binding. The body is maple with a maple neck and rosewood fretboard with 24 frets. The inlays are birds, but not like the standard bird inlays pictured on the website. I got mine used, and it has Grover tuners. My DR 500 also has a fat, rounded neck, and the edges of the fretboard are slightly rounded ... very comfortable. I've also installed a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge position and took the cover off the stock neck pickup.

I play all original Christian rock in a three piece band. We aren't super heavy, sort of along the lines of KISS musically, with some ballads in the vein of REO and STYX. This guitar really suits my style well. I love it! I play through a Line 6 AX-2 212 combo. Playing this guitar through the Marshall, Soldano, and Boogie models really sounds warm and powerful. I get great natural & artificial harmonics. The clean sounds are also very nice, providing a great modern clean tone.

I bought this guitar used, so I'm not sure of the factory set-up. When I purchased it, the set-up was great. It has very low action and no string buzz. There were no blemishes of any kind on the front and only some minor scratches on the back from the previous owner.

I've played this guitar a great deal, and it definitly stands up well to the rigors of playing live. The tuning is very stable. As I mentioned before this guitar was used when I bought it, and there is no visible wear on the finish, or on the hardware. The original strap buttons were fine, but as I do on every guitar I buy, I put on straplocks. I would and have gigged without a back up. The only thing I worry about is breaking a string, but the guitar itself is rock solid, no pun intended.

I contacted the company by e-mail to get a wiring schematic for the 3-way rotary switch, and received a very quick and helpful reply from Mr. John Dillion, himself. I've owned a lot of different guitars through the years, and never have I had such great service from the manufacturer.

I've been playing for 29 years and have owned everything from USA Jacksons and Gibsons to Fenders, Ovations, and Ibanezes. I currently own a Line 6 Variax in addition to the Dillion DR 500. As stated above I play through a Line 6 AX2. If it were lost or stolen I'd replace it in a heartbeat. I truly love this guitar, and I would recommend it to anyone. The best thing about it is the sound and playablility, which, to me are the two most important things about a guitar. I compared it to several other guitars (I work at a recording studio/ music store) this is, by far, the best guitar value I've ever come across. It sounds, plays, and looks like a guitar costing 10 times as much, Dillion really rocks.

Dillion DR500 PRS copy, this is one of the very first with PRS style bird inlays, two volume and a tone: no selector switch. Made in Korea 2000, but no serial number. Photo simulated quilt top with a very nice green to black burst. Generic import humbuckers that sound incredibly good. Alder body, quasi-maple top. Ginormous hugemungous frets, but that's no problem. Wide and flat neck profile. Weird, weird tremelo bridge... I'm not a fan (did I mention it was weird?) Here's why: funky saddles, funky route in the body for the shape of the bridge, seriously lame if you ever had to replace the bridge... I blocked off the trem and now it stay in tune, there was no way it would before. Tuners are pretty good. Came with a generic case, probably not original. This might seem a tad negative to start out with, but these guitars seem to be a solid value with good features for the price range. Try to find an old with the birds... makes Paul Reed Smitty cringe... whee!

Unplugged: This the most resonant electric guitar I have ever owned, honest. Sustains till the cows come home... or pigs fly... or... something. Being alder also means it is not too heavy, about 7.5 pounds.

Electrogizmified: Playing through my Reverend Hellhound on both US and UK settings; this guitar sounds great! Someone else said the humbuckers are wax potted... could be, they are very quiet. They sound better than any Epiphone Les Paul I have played and completely nail classic LP tones to Santana type sustains. Having no selector switch is fun, but probably not for everyone. I like running the bridge pickup at 10 and fading in the neck for extra sustain. One word: booya (est. 1999)

Poor setup and the bridge design is so seriously funky that it detracts from the coolness of this guitar. Other than that, only minor things, sloppy slots in the cuts of the nuts, I mean, nut. Photo-quilt top no biggy to me, I don't really care, I can't tell the difference from 3 feet away.

On the plus side, the guitar is built solidly with very few imperfections (only one or two tiny tiny finish zits in places where the sun don't shine). Fret edges are done nicely, but could use some attention for optimal playing. For the price point, it deserves a 10, way above Epiphones and many other Korean made instruments... but I'll just give it a 9 since some gung-ho Americans like Ed Roman and George W Bush might freak if I give it a 10.

I wouldn't gig without a backup, but this guitar will last as long as you don't needlessly abuse it. Solid strap buttons and 3 inches of clear coat... solid. The only thing that concerns me is that bridge, I hope I never have to replace it, but then I'm a worrier *sniff* ;_: *tear*

Wrote the company an email and got a response from "John Dillion." He didn't really answer my question whatsoever and talked about something else throughout the short email, but it was nice of him to take the time.

Other guitars that have appeared and disappeared in my life: Various generic acoustics, Squier Strat, MIJ Fender 52 RI Tele, MIM Fender 50's RI Tele, Epiphone Les Paul, MIM Fender 50's RI Strat, MIM Fender 60's RI Tele, Gibson ES-335, Yamaha LS500 acoustic (Yamaha's now discontinued LS & LL handcrafted line is the best kept acoustic secret... see my review), CIJ Fender 62 RI Tele, Dillion DR500.

Currently I'm left with the Yamaha LS500, Dillion, Fender Japan 62RI and 335 (soon to go maybe?). These guitar are great. Period. If you want a PRS but can't accept eating ramen for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next two years... check out the Dillion DR500. It's way cool.

My Dillion guitar is a 2001 DR500, made in Korea.The guitar has a laminated quilted top, and has a beautiful 24 fret neck, with the one volume and tone control and the the 3-way rotary pickup selector which I think is a very good idea. Alot better than the Gibson toggle switches which are directly in the playing zone. The guitar also has a h/h configuration and standard tremlo which I had blocked.The only thing more i could ask for would be a coil tap, but I probally wouldn't use it anyway.

Well my music style is a Randy Rhoads/Zakk Wyldes mix. I like to have my riffs heavy with lots of deep harmonics on the a and e strings, and i love to make my solos and lead work to sound classical,and very emotional at the same time. The neck pick up is great for the Rhoad's leads, which I will not change. The bridge pick up was suprisingly very nice with alot of output;not as much as Zakk but goog enough until i can get some Seymour Duncan Black backs. Very rich bridge tone and very full neck I LOVE IT.

I bought my guitar from a local dealer and I haven't made any adjustments except to block off the tremlo. The action was so low there is no way it could get any lowwer w/o fretting out.The finish is perfect w/o spot or blimish. Every aspect of the guitar was strong and sturdy. The neck is a medium neck perfect for playing fast but yet it still can get the same tone as the Gibson lp necks.

This guitar I belive will last a very long time; but I really can't wait to find out. I believe in Mr.Dillion and what he makes and i depend on it w/o any problem. I believe the finish will last but even if it dosen't there is nothing wrong with a vintage look. Truth fully I wouldn't have used my Les Paul that I traded in without a back up but I have complete faith in this guitar.

Well I haven't had to deal with them but i do know if you E-mail the company you will recieve a response from the man himself Mr.Dillion.If i ever need to get it repaired i know my local dealer can take care of it.

This guitar is so great, right now i don't any guitar company that can touch the Dillion guitars. I can't stand Fender strats, I used to love Gibson LP but the first time i got the guitar down i knew I had to have it. I had to have it so bad that I turned down a 1972 Gibson Custom Les Paul w/ EMGS. Lots of people say these guitars are copies, well i sayu to that, guitar companies wish the could be that good to offer an instrument of it's magnatude for such a low price. This is the company thaa puts the customer first as far as qualityprice and all asprcts of the sales process. The only thing i hate about it is that i only have one.

Price paid includes shipping.

2000-2001(?) DR 500, set neck, tune-o-matic with stop-bar tailpiece, amber-burst quilted maple arched top. 2 full scales (equals 25 frets?). Three-way pickup selector with one volume and one tone. Huge frets, biggest I've seen. Not a problem at all, but they are big. I'm unsure of the woods used beyond the maple laminate top. Has a great looking grain throughout, though.

It's VERY PRS. Has the abolone bird inlays (sweet!) and two decorative abolone lines between the humbuckers and one from the bridge pickup to the strap button (also very cool looking). Apparently these guitars are such an accurate PRS copy a lawsuit has prevented Dillion from selling them in the US.

This guitar is not stock. It has had EMG active pickups (an 81 and an 85) installed and the rotary pickup selector changed out for a toggle.

I am putting the 10 mostly because of the great costmetic features. The birds, the quilt, and the decorative "lines" on the body look fantastic. Pretty unique.

Again, the pickups were replaced before I purchased the guitar, so my comments are reflecting the EMG models 81 and 85 which are installed.

I play from rock to punk rock to blues. My amps are a Peavey Heritage 2x12 Tube with Black Widows and a solid state Yamaha bass amp through a 15" Peavey Black Widow. I also use a Digitech GNX-3 digital effects floor processor sometimes. I mostly play directly through the amp with no effects, though, because the tone is great without any help.

Through the Peavey amp the sound is more warm and buttery (it's tube). The Yamaha bass amp is slightly harsher but makes a surprisingly cabable guitar amp. I've never noticed any noise with either setup. The EMG's are fantastic! The three-position switch is just right. You get a bright/sharper/trebly sound from the bridge, a more subdued, less trebble, more mid and bass and slightly more "muddy" (in a good way) sound from the neck, and the middle position is a pleasent combination of the two. I usually just leave it in the middle. I also leave the tone knob slightly toward the treble end as it tends to lean towards being basey.

As I said before, I don't bother lugging my GNX-3 out of the house every time I'm playing elsewhere - the guitar just sounds great on its own. I've even almost stopped playing my accoustic guitars altogether - the sound is so rich as to almost have that "accoustic" quality. Those EMG's are pretty expensive and it seems they're worth the money.

This guitar was certainly not directly from the factory, so I can't comment on factory setup. However, when I recieved it, it was pretty well set up. Action is very low, intonation was almost perfect, and neck is straight. The nut seems to have been filed a bit too much and there is slight fret buzz towards the head when you pick or strum hard. I am having a graphite replacement installed soon. I think the previous owner was responsible for the filing, though.

The person I bought it from on eBay didn't play it for more than a few minutes, it seems. It was six months old when I received it. Fretwork is perfect as far as I can tell. All the hardware is great as well. I like the tuners, very smooth. They're sealed chrome PRS lookalikes. Stays in tune forever. I also like the set neck. It's about "average" thickness, not noticably thick or thin. Guitar feels very solid in your hands. Well balanced as well.

The volume and tone controlls are smooth and provide plenty of adjustment. They even have a little metal "needle" that juts out from the bottom so you know where '0' really is. The aftermarket pickup toggle is nice. I don't think I would have liked the rotary.

The only flaw I can find on this guitar is on the neck joint. The finishing stuff (is that called laquer?) has a bit of a run. The wood is completely covered, but there's just a bit of a bump where it started to drip or something. The color is a bit lighter where the coverage is thinner. Not noticable unless you really look.

The whole guitar feels solid, as I said above. Strap buttons and hardware all feel tight and look quality. Finish shows no signs of wear yet. Have only had it a few months, though. It seems like it will last forever. I love this guitar. If I wear down those gigantic frets a few years from now, I will pay to have it refretted in a second.

Have not dealt with the company regarding this guitar, but have talked to them in the past. When you email Dillion Guitars, John Dillion himself responds. He was friendly and helpful enough.

I've been playing for about two years. I would consider myself at least somewhat above the average for a two "year old". I've got three other electric guitars (Epiphone, Johnson, and Kramer) and two accoustics (Ovation and Crafter). I've also got a Johnson 5-string bass and a Crafter Mandolin. I described my amplifier/effects setup above.

This guitar is by far the most quality intrument I own. I love it to death. It was the best $475 (came with hard case and those EMG's) I've ever spent. I took it to a music store the other day to have the nut looked at and the lady was like "wow, that is a beautiful guitar". They loved it and said to let them know if I was ever interested in selling it. Everyone says it looks and feels just like a PRS.

One feature that would be nice is a string-through body. The sustain is great as it is, though.

I love the unique look of the birds on the neck and the abalone "line" inlays on the body. The quilted maple burst top is beautiful as well. It feels great in your hands, it plays even better, and the sound is fantastic. It's a guitar I'm always proud to whip out of its case for everyone to see. I don't know if all Dillions are this good, and I know my particular model is rare, so who knows.

If it were broken or stolen and I could actually find this model again, I would buy it in a second.

2001 made in Korea PRS copy. 24 frets, Laminated quilted maple top. One volume and tone control. Stupid rotary 3-way pickup selector. Two humbukers. Maple body, neck and rosewood fretboard. Tune-o-matic bridge and stoptail. Non-locking Tulip style tuners. 25.5 scale.

Dillion--> Morley Bad horsie --> Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier--> Crate blue voodoo cabinet with vintage 30s. Sounds excellent. The pickups are very good for a heavy overdriven rythem. They have plenty of bass. They could cut through a little better for leads, but for cheap pickups they are the best I've heard. Cleans are better more bell like than my Les Paul, but not Strat like. I will probably try a Duncan Custum 5 and Anlico pro II because I really like Duncans. Overall Sounds like a $1000 guitar.

I got this guitar used so I can't say how it was set up from the factory. The fret work is very. very good. I did a little adjusting and now I have very low action and perfect intonation. It has a Graphite nut and the tuners work, but don't seem like they will last as long as the guitar. Finish on my guitar is flawless, I know other reviews have said that there was bubbles in the finish, but this one is perfect.

I gig with a backup, but I'm also paranoid. You can rely on this guitar.

Talked directly to John Dillion when I needed a few questions about the guitar answered. I think that sums up what this company is about.

I've been playing for about six years. I have a couple of les pauls and this guitar is right up there with them. I love it. If you see one buy it!

Made in Korea 2002, 24 Frets, Blue quilted laminated top, and Iris Inlays (Way better than birds) it has a 3way rotary selector unlike it's a real PRS which is a 5 way selector, 2 passive humbuckers, A solid Alder body and a maple neck, a rosewood fretboard(AMAZING!) I got the tune-O-matic with the Stop tail, Non locking tuners that work pretty good, And a wide-thin neck.

Sound is a very subjectable thing, So let me put it this way. If you like a way a PRS sounds (which is pretty mid-range when the pickup selector is in the 3rd slot,where both the pickups are used dual coils) it is very and I MEAN very comparable to a PRS guitar. And I mean to the older handmade prs. (PRE-95) Newer PRS are way over priced and are totally machine made. My opinion is that the older PRS tone is far better than the newer ones especailly the CE of old to the newer CE's (newer CE's have a mahagony body now). PRS are great guitars but think about the price, IT's not that great! 3000 plus for a custom with 10-top and birds(SHEESH.) I've played many PRS, a 1988 PRS Royal Blue PRS CE(GREAT Guitar!!) a 93 Custom in emerald green, and a 2002 PRS Custom in sunburst. In my opinion the Dillion is very similar to the tone of a PRS CE (Classic Electric)combined with the killer sustain of a PRS CUSTOM. The brighter tone I guess is because of the alder body. I love the tone of this guitar. The neck pickup gives the guitar a "full" "thick" sound and is great, it's definetly a keeper. The bridge pickup is good and gets the job done but I'd rather put in a Seymour Duncan or a PRS HFS to give it even more kick. For non name pickups these are suprisingly good. The only dislike I have is that there is no way to get the Fender single coil sound that a Real PRS has because of the 5 way selector. Which is no biggie given the price.

I bought this guitar from Victor litz, it came pretty well setup, lw actin, high quality. Not to PRS standards but almost there. Knobs are very smooth and easy to work with, one problem is the rotary switch. I am not a big fan of the rotary since it is very hard playing live and switching. Since the Dillion only has a 3 way selector, I wonder... why not just use a gibson style switch?

Very durable, the hardware is better than PRS. Yes better! Why? Think of all the cost cuts PRS had to make to keep the supply up with the demand. Go to ed Roman's site to read about that. Anyway everythng is durable and it is a great gigging guitar. But always have a back up... No back up.. are you crazy?!

JOHN DILLION rules. He got back to me every time i sent an e-mail to help. Hands down the best service.

I've been playing for 8 years, I own a PRS CE24 (pre-95), a Raven Rp450, A Dean Evo special select, and soon hopefully a Abbys custom made guitar (LOTZ OF MONEY). This guitar is perfect and in my opinion beats any new PRS Custom. You're paying 2400 dollars more for a LARGE heel, cheaper hardware, and a name. The top and the quality rivals prs at 1/3 the price. If you are looking for a PRS copy this is the best one. Buy one you won't regret it.

mine was made in 2001, in korea, its a 24 fret neck and a laminated top. the controls are 1 vol.,1tone, and 1 three way with 2 humbuckers
they are replicas but i can't remember what.it it has a quilt maple body,the body is the prs body style with a stop tail peice.it has a set neck all the electronics and tuners are stock.

it is very suitable for my musical style. i play Christian rock/pop
it sounds and plays great. but for some one who plays more heavy music i dont think that it would do very well b/c of the pick ups.
i play through a peavey special 212 and my effects are digitec rp200, boss metal zone,dod chrous,boss flanger and a cry baby wah, and it does get a litte noisy on a few of the settings on the rp200.
the tonal quality i the part that i don't like so much, it's not as bright as i like, and just don't get crunchy enough on the low end for me.
The main thing that attracted me to the guitar was the looks and the price. it is a beautiful guitar and plays great.

from what the dealer said to me the action was way off when he got it, he said on all the dillions he got in he had to do some neck work on them.but other than that it was great. the pick ups were fine.
i have had a little trouble with the stop bar, the peice that is suposed to stay in the guitar when the bolt is taken out, well it came out with it! i wasn't to happy bout that but i fixed it so it is ok now.

yes it will with stand some live playing, the hardware, i dont think will last as long as i would like but..., to me the finish is good and looks like it will last for a good while.
the strap buttons were not solid at all!! i had to find over sized screws to put them on with, the holes were stripped out
it is dependable as long as your not a hard player such as running aroumd crazy falling down ect....

the customer support is great!! the questions i've had i emailed to infodillionguitars and with an immediete and friendly response i got help!

i have been playing for 9 years, i own a martin, ovation, gibson, fender, ibanez,and epiphone. if it were stolen i would propobly go and buy another one. i really love the quilt top and the amber burst, i hate that it such a great looking guitar and there is some stuff wrong with it. i didn't compare it at all with any thing and the reason i got this one is b/c of the looks and the playability

This is a 2002 24 fret Dillion 500x stop tail PRS copy made in korea. Mine is in a pretty nice arched laminated tobacco sunburst that beats out any PRS SE in the same price rage. The tuners work pretty well, but in the end will be replaced with lockers. Pretty much the same guitar as everyone else has in this list. Overall <u>very nice</u>.

I play into a classic silvertone 70 watt tube amp or a terrible little marshal practice amp. The neck pickup is smooth and sweet. I love it. Even into the marshal, it sings. The bridge pickup however leaves plenty to be desired. Way too "poppy" for my taste. It sounds alright distorted, but will be replaced with a super distortion or some other reasonable faximile soon. If I were voting on just the neck pick-up I would post a 9.99999, then bridge pckup however brings it down to a solid 7

i got this guitar from a lopcal music shop, so it was set up pretty well when I got it. No flaws to speak of. Very Solid guitar that is well put together.

Solid Guitar. Always use a backup tho, no matter what.

One year warranty. Talked to John Dillion online. Not as rewarding as speaking with Leo fender through a oigi board, but still nice. Seem like a company that stands behind its products.

I have been playing for about 3 years. This was my high-school graduation present. I researched for a long time before picking dillions. In my opinion they out perform Epiphones, Fenders, and just about anything else in the price range. Speaking of price, few stores sell these guitars on e-bay fro cheaper than most retail places do. I would still recomend playing one before you order tho. The company website has dealer listings. BTW, if you have this guitar with non-stock pickups in it, drop me a line and tell me how they sound as I plan to throw in something new soon.

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.

Made in Korea,PRS COPY 24 Frets,Quilted Laminated top, . 1 vol, 1 tone, 1 3-way switch. Dual humbuckers, Arch Top Alder Body, Chrome Die Cast MAchine Heads, Accutone Tremelo. Nicely made Neck, thin and wide, Rosewood fingerboard. Case, strap, straplocks and shipping was included. For the type of guitar the expected features were provided.

I play many types of styles. This axxe fits my needs well. I'm presently playing through a Fender Amp without effects. This axxe sounds as good as any $1,000+ guitar. I don't like the rotary button I will repace it with a toggle A.S.A.P. Plays clean well, and with the preamp turned up it screams.

The guitar was set up well outa the gate. However, the lower 2 strings did buzz just a tad too much for my liking. So I raised them up just a bit. The fit and finish is superb. The top just jumps right out at you. For the money this guitar is a steal. The overall fit and finish is of exellent quality.

I dunno, just recieved it. However, in my honest opinion this guitar will last for years. Based on what I have played and owned in the last 30 years of playing. The construction is excellent and the hardware looks well chromed.

Here is where things get better. Steve and Frank of Steves guitar were wonderful to deal with. Were concerned about the transaction, and were extremely helpful. The shipping time was unbelievable and I couldn't have been happier.

Dillions are the deal of the century. Run, don't walk to your nearest dealer and make your purchase soon. Before someone wakes up and changes the prices. The guitar is beautiful it plays well, what are you waiting for?