Dillion DR500T

2002 Dillion DR500T handcrafted in Korea. 24 jumbo frets. Solid archtop maple body, quilted maple laminated top. Two Volume knobs and one 3 way selector. H/H pickup configuration. Raul Reed Smith body style (very well done). Double pivoting tremolo. Bird inlays.

I, personally, have to have a deep full tone that Les Pauls provide (Fenders don't cut it) in order to even pick up the guitar. This guitar plays very well for the style of music. I play alternative/hardcore and it plays very well. Gives a great full tone with plenty of bass or switch the pickup selector and get more treble. I play it through a 4x12 half stack with a 100Watt Hot Cabs head. Hot pickups, really pickup great sound (excuse the pun). It really gives a rich full sound that I like for the type of music I play. I'm a rhythm guitarist mostly, but I can get it to cut through for a solo every once in a while if I need too. It sounds just as good as any Les Paul I've ever owned (with maybe the exception of the Slash Signature Custom LP).

The action is really good. Set very low. Plays extremely well in regular tuning. I might have to raise the action a little bit because I do play in lower tunings for my heavier stuff (i.e tuned a whole step down in drop C) I get some string buzz on the lower strings. Not enough to be noticable when I'm using distortion, but just enough to bother me. I'm sure it can be easily adjusted. The pickups sound good and seem to be set very well. She shape of the body is great! The first thing I thought when I got it was "If this guitar didn't say 'Dillion' on the headstock, I would swear it was a Paul Reed Smith". The back is carved very nicely to fit to my body. The carves are very nice and I haven't found any finish flaws.

I've only had it for a month now, but it seems to be built very well. I don't see where I will have a problem, but if I do, I'll let you know. I would certainly gig with this guitar, in fact, that's why I got it! I haven't actually played a show with it, but I look forward to it.

Haven't had to speak to customer support.

I've been playing seriously for about 5 years and gigging for 4 years now. If this guitar was stolen I would buy a Fender because those things are a piece of crap and I would have no problem destroying that guitar by beating the crap out of the guy who stole my Dillion. I loved the way it played from the first strum (I use DR strings in case anybody cares). It really is a great guitar, I would recomend it to anybody who want's a PRS, but can't afford the real deal or anybody who is a Les Paul lover. It looks and feels just like a real PRS. Overall, I give this guitar a 10, hands down.

no clue what year it was made...i bought it in late 2001. made in korea. 24 frets. it has a carved maple top, very pretty quilted maple. One volume, one tone, 3 way rotary selector. stock Dillion passive H/H pickups. I'm not a wood expert, so i won't try to guess what the back and neck are made of. whatever it is, it's good. Extremely beautiful amber sunburst finish. PRS body style. In other words, it's a Korean made PRS clone. Tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, non-locking stock tuners. All the hardware is chrome...looks extremely solid. The neck is awesome, not too fat, not too thin. The frets are fairly big...i'm not sure what exactly the size is.

Excellent features, especially for the price.

The sound is where this guitar stood out to me. It simply sounds awesome. Very warm, fat neck tone. The bridge tone is brighter, and still very thick. Both pickups together is simply incredible. I like the bridge pickup for aggressive heavy stuff, the neck pickup for smooth overdriven leads, and both pickups for clean tone. This guitar is great for anything I can think of - rock, blues, jazz, metal. Extremely versatile.

Oh yeah, it doesn't sound like a strat. If you want a strat, get a strat. Unlike its expensive PRS bretheren, it doesn't have a 5 way pickup selector so it has no coil splitting positions. But it's perfect for what I want, and for the price, it's excellent!

the setup was good in the shop, very low and fast. I imagine it was probably set up by the guys at New Music. However there is a bit of fret buzz, so i raised the bridge a bit. Still buzzes a bit so now i'll probably try adjusting the truss rod. since i raised the bridge, i then also had to raise the pickups. The action is very good, but it could be better. I'm still fighting that fret buzz, but it doesn't get in the way of my playing at all. I'm just obsessive/compulsive.

The top is nothing short of amazing. Almost perfectly bookmatched, beautiful sunburst finish. Very wide and deep quilting. Even more amazing is the fact that this guitar cost less than 500 bucks. I've seen finishes inferior to this on guitars over $1000. I notice a tiny something in the finish - like a piece of grit or something - on the side of the neck and thats the only flaw i've been able to find. The hardware is very solid. The fretwork is immaculate...the fretboard is beautiful. They did not cut corners making this guitar.

Looks extremely durable, very solid feeling and playing. This guitar feels like it could last forever. Hardware is very nice.
The finish is very durable, i think its polyester but i don't know that for a fact.

the strap buttons are solid. you wouldn't need to replace them
unless you're one of those nu metal nut cases who thrashes like a fish out of water...

i would most definitely depend on this guitar. i wouldn't pound on it, but thats because i like taking good care of my instruments. i would use it at a gig without backup because i am unemployed. if i had the choice, i would never gig without backup if i had a choice but thats because sh...i mean stuff... happens. This is one reliable guitar.

i haven't had to deal with them. It has a good warranty, but i forgot to send out the warranty card...but thats ok because this guitar is gonna LAST.

This is the best guitar you could get for under $1500. It simply blows away everything else within its price range, and a lot of guitars that cost way more.

I have been playing for a couple years, but i have played a very wide range of guitars. Believe me, i shopped EVERYWHERE before buying this. Checking out stores...looking at websites...reading reviews...
I've compared this with ibanez, gibson, epiphone, dean, fender, and real PRS guitars. the only better guitar I tried was a PRS singlecut that costs 5 times as much. For the price, this is the best.

I am so glad i got this guitar instead of some "economy" guitar. My rig is pretty simple. I play this guitar into an Ibanez TS7, a DOD grunge, and an Ibanez IBZ10 solid state practice amp. I can only imagine how good this would sound through a REALLY good amp.

Now i'm probably gonna get a strat for a different variety of tones and and then my rig is pretty much set until i have the money for REALLY expensive guitars...

If this guitar was stolen, i would hunt down whoever stole it, smash a squier strat over his head, and the feed him the pieces. if i couldn't find him, i would buy another one without hesitation.

This is the best guitar anywhere for its price.

2001,solid arch top maple body Quilted maple laminated top Set neck and hand polished frets Original style headstock and Dillion pearl inlaid logo
Chrome tulip style die cast machine heads Dillion custom pearl fret markers
Double pivoting tremolo Two open humbucking pickups with cream rings
One volume, one tone, plus 3 way switch

This thing is amazing! If you want a nice full bluezy or jazzy tone, its there...If you want to scream on leads, add distortion, you are there..It's versatile! I use it dry into a peavey black widow, or with a j-station for recording. I have yet to find a dislike with this. I have been Fender guy forever...this just feels more right!

I had this guitar set-up out of the box (it came with the sale)....It has remained in tune for
3 weeks...It looks absoulutly perfect, there were no flaws!

I would not only use it (which I have),but I haven't even needed to replace a string on it! This is solid!

I sent them an e-mail yesterday, and they replied less than 8 hours later! Too often in todays society, we only speak up if something is terrible. I was so blown away by this product, I had to let them (dillion guitars) know about it, and I am not surprised at thier rapid response. Thier products are THAT good, and only through great communication can a company achieve such high quality and standards.

Playing- 17 yrs (12 serious)
I am looking into purchasing another one..different modle (DBB300,DTT72)
This is a great alternative to spending thousands of dollars for great tonality!