Dillion DR560

Update to my 7/2003 review...

Put Bill Lawrence pickups on the beast and the sound is KILLER.

Also, thanks to a nice referral from John Dillion, got a sweet deal from TonePros on a locking bridge and nut. Woah! You have to hear and feel the difference to believe it. Kinda like viagra for your axe! Sustain, harmonics, chime, all more than ALIVE with this upgrade.

the three-way switch is getting flaky, but may not be original.

Super responsiveness from Dillion to email and a very friendly, helpful referral to TonePros that saved some $$. Both Dillion and TonePros are GREAT folks, TOP RECOMMENDATION!!!

Late 2002 560X fixed bridge, double cut model from Korea. 24 frets, laminated flame maple over mahogany body. Single vol, tone, 3-way switch. 2H pickups. The factory pups had been pulled and replaced with epi. Not sure this was the greatest choice, but not bad. I would prefer Bill Lawrence or Tom Anderson and may replace.

Passive electronics. Original components were replaced with american parts, ok, but tone control was goofed up with wrong capacitor, which I'll replace.

Neck is mahogany w/rosewood fretboard. Nice cherry burst finish and nice routing at neck/body joint for super easy access to fret24. Nicely set neck.

Tuneomatic bridge. Original tuners repaced w/Sperzel lockers (good move!). Neck is 25" like PRS, medium-thin, very easy playing.

Very basic setup, but nice materials used and excellent workmanship, fit&finish. The frets are set in and really well polished.

Wide range (given the Humb. pups) and will be wider when I fix the tone circuit. Would be good depending on pickup installed for any style, it's easy to play superfast, and the woods and parts and construction give it a nice resonance so there's real tone here for cleaner styles even jazz. I play it through a GNX3 (stereo) into a Carvin X100B 212 and Fender Deluxe90. This setup will make just about any sound you can imagine.

If it had A+ pickups like Lawrence or Anderson I'd probably give it a 9... it needs a little more wood (weight can be good!) to get a true 10 sound IMHO.

I don't know about factory setup because it was clear someone had gone over it and redone it. However, it was close to perfectly intoned and easy to get right on. The workmanship is superb, easily match for any USA Gibson or Fender I own or owned. The action can go really really low without any buzzes or problems. The neck is about as perfect as I think you could make one.

Haven't played out with this yet but don't see a problem. Strap buttons seem fine, but I don't know if they are originals. Never gig without a backup (of anything in your kit!), duh.

No opinion here, bought used but no need to contact factory, no problems.

Playing 30+ yrs. Mostly Fender and Gibson - current group is a USA natural ash strat w/Joe Barden pups, '64 Jazzmaster w/Anderson big hb pups, Yahama early 80s SG style (great guitar!!) w/Bill Lawrence pups.

I needed a 24 fret guitar and this fills the bill really well. If something happened, I would not hesitate to get another.

I looked at PRS and some of the PRS knockoffs before setting on this. My main guitars are the Fenders so I didn't see shelling out for the PRS... especially when this guitar is so good. Kudos to the Koreans.
Don't be afraid of Asian guitars. The nice ones are really really nice. My 80s Yamaha is no-apologies Japan craftmanship and this Dillion is the same thing but from Korea. In the end it's all about wood, workmanship, and pickups - no one has a monopoly on that!

Just purchased this baby today. Beautiful cherry semi-transparent finish with figured maple top over alder. Abalone inlay (like PRS Santana II). Zebra humbuckers X 2. Made in Korea, but the overall quality of this guitar is amazing. Single tone & vol controls.

Sounds superb so far. Playing through a Marshall Master Lead 30 (solid state) with a RealTube pedal (plus Dano Cool Cat chorus). Seems silent unless stummed/picked. Might be a little weak on the low end, but highs are crisp when played clean.

One word: gorgeous. The top is fantansic. Finish seems perfect. Neck is straight as an arrow. Frets are fat and smooth. Almost plays itself. One machine head slightly out of perfect symmetry, but not a noticeable problem.

No experience, but seems totally solid. I would not expect anything to go wrong with it.

This is my 3rd electric guitar. Have sold an Epi Sheraton and traded a Yamaha RGX-121D so that I can buy this guitar. Have been playing acoustic and electric for 23 yrs combined. This guitar is not a PRS, but it's damn close! And for 1/5th the price. You simply cannot go wrong with a Dillion.