"This Man builds instruments that are literally Magic."

Dion James makes one hell of a guitar. The tolerances and precision is unparalleled, the attention to detail is just on a whole other level compared to other guitars I've held, and the sample size is very large and about as high end as you can get. But that's only half of the story. Beauty and perfection is one thing, but when you can back that up with the awesome sound these things make, as a guitar player who has personally played with some of the greatest Luthier's guitars all across Canada, you are not ready for the kind of sound that will come out of this. I promise.

"Stellar Guitar in every way!"

I'm an older player working hard to get started in fingerpicking. I wanted to acquire a new guitar to work with, in particular one with good spacing at the bridge and easy to play. In these different times, getting to go to a guitar store to try a specific guitar is difficult. I started a dialogue with Dion and became interested in his #4 model. Dion put me in touch with the Guitar Gallery and I ended up ordering a #4 built with Lutz Spruce and Mahogany.

This guitar has amazed me in every way. Dion's unique technology, attention to detail, and craftsmanship are off the charts. The tone of my guitar is the best I have ever heard. The sound just leaps from it so easily! I've tried several guitars over the past few years. This one won't be going anywhere. Thanks, again, to both Dion and Robin at Guitar Gallery!

"A fascinating blend of elegance and innovation"

Designing a guitar with its own visual identity must be so difficult. So many acoustic guitars already exist and every visual trick in the book has been used to make them stand out. From selecting jaw dropping wood, adding bling, custom purfling, complex rosettes, fingerboard inlays, the list goes on and on. Dion’s approach is the polar opposite, his designs leave him with nowhere to hide. There are no blingy distractions, the tiniest mistake would scream at you, but there are no mistakes. It’s just a simple perfect line, executed with precision skill.

This simplicity is almost impossible to achieve. Perfect minimalist architecture costs significantly more to build than a house constructed with base boards, architrave and door frames to hide all the joints. I marvel at how Dion has managed to achieve such elegant simplicity.

My No4 doesn’t sound like any of my other guitars. The day I got it I emailed Dion and told him it’s bonkers. It makes sounds my other guitars just don’t make, can’t make. In altered tunings it becomes another guitar altogether. It is the most fascinating, interesting, technically advanced most wonderful guitar I have.

For someone so normal and nice his guitars are a real surprise.

"Elegant craftsmanship and a sublime six string experience."

Having previously owned some higher end guitars, Taylors, Martins, and a Santa Cruz OM PW, I recently decided to take the plunge into the world of the handmade. After much research, I found Dion through some glowing word-of-mouth testimonials from mutual acquaintances in the guitar world. Let me say, it has been a genuine pleasure from the get-go:

Following an informative and pleasant back-and-forth exchange with Dion (a very likeable and knowledgeable individual), we decided on a Dion #4 for me, with a Honduran mahogany neck, Italian spruce top, and flamed maple back and sides. Anticipation grew over the coming while, with incoming photos of the build and his beautiful and immaculate shop. I finally received the guitar recently, and had to sit down to write the review that it deserves. To say that I am happy is an understatement.

I can honestly say that this guitar is a noticeable and substantial improvement on each aforementioned guitar I have owned. First of all, it is a gorgeous thing to behold, in a very elegant and understated way. Most handmade guitars at this price point tend to be overtly "showy" and at times over-the-top, thankfully not the case here. (Speaking of cases, the Mainstage custom case provided is also a joy to behold, much nicer than any of my previous guitar cases). This guitar exudes humble opulence, and feels to me like it would feel right at home hanging on the inside of a boutique Japanese art gallery. Dion is as much of an artist as he is a craftsman, and the melding of the two worlds is seamless here, and I've spent a fair amount of time poring over the technical details and minutiae of the result. Dion and I have emailed back and forth fairly regularly since, and with each email a new detail comes to light. The juxtaposition of the maple/spruce/mahogany is really something to behold. The mahogany neck feels perfectly balanced, robust and "woodsy", and just begs to be cradled. The body gleams and the Birdseye maple in particular is just stunning. The side sound port is a lovely feature, and also emits a subtle lovely aroma of the rare woods used in this unique body.

Most importantly, the playability and sound of this guitar have evoked new, unexpected, and seemingly endless bouts of spontaneous creativity in my playing. The sustain is just sweetly sublime, and each note is well articulated and chimes with such clarity that it surprises me at times. The volume of this guitar is generous and full, and I find it to be a more "present" guitar than my others, in a very compact and comfortable package.

The best part of my day is the way I start my morning: this gem in my lap, a coffee on the side, and a ridiculous grin on my face as my fingers settle into a playful six stringed dance. For moments like these I am incredibly grateful to have found Dion, and humbled to be a "Dion" owner. Thank you kindly, good sir. Keep on keeping on.

"Dion No. 4 Birds Eye Maple/Italian Spruce"

On a flier I bought one of Dion's guitars from Dream guitars figuring I had 3 days to send it back if it didn't work for me. It's a No. 4 in birds eye maple and Italian spruce top with a birds eye maple fingerboard. I have quite a collection of high end acoustic guitars, many of the legendary builders that we all know and read about, so I originally had some doubts of how well this guitar would fit in my collection. I kept trying to figure out ways to send it back, but the more I played it the more I fell in love with it and my doubts were quickly erased.

The guitar is very unique visually, but the tone and playability is what made my decision to keep the guitar quite an easy one. First of all it's such a fun guitar to play, very resonant, balanced with great volume and sustain. The knock on maple guitars of being too bright is completely unfounded with this guitar.

I believe that Dion is one of the off the radar up and coming young builders. I can't recommend his guitars highly enough. If you get a chance to play one you will understand how fabulous a builder that he is. Thank you Dion, I'm extremely happy that I gave your No. 4 a chance and look forward to many years of enjoyment playing it.

"I've purchased a guitar from Dion after…"

I've purchased a guitar from Dion after it paid its dues on a year of guitar show rounds - and since worked on a custom commission with him. Extremely generous and attentive. His work is truly non pareil - of the millions of guitars out there, none have the singular energetic response of his kits. He's combined innovations shared among the makers of Montreal's Mile End Guitar Coop - where Dion was a plankowner - with hard won insights of his own, and his integrative, minimalist aesthetic is field-defining. Pleasure to work with, accurate quotes and timelines.

"World Class Luthier/Person"

In short, Dion is a world class luthier and an honourable, class act individual.

I first met Dion & experienced his guitars at the 2018 Sonore Montreal Guitar Show. His work was one of only two builders that stood out for me personally. He was very passionate about his craft and was excited to explain every detail of his guitars. I wanted to buy both guitars on display but I some how managed to exercise some restraint and made the tough call of just buying one. They were both fantastic instruments.

So there was no surprise when I saw Dion again at the 2019 Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, where he had more extraordinary pieces. He was part of an elite group of luthiers showing in the Boutique Guitar Showcase, which was by invitation only through NAMM. Luthiers were unable to simply buy a space. I believe he has been invited back for a second straight year.

After purchasing his guitar in Montreal he was so generous in many ways. He agreed to buy back the case that came with the guitar because it was way too extraordinary for my needs. He was always willing to lend advice, answer questions about the guitar and continues to be in regular communication to this day. Beyond the call of duty he was even willing to share methods and materials used with another luthier I had commissioned a couple of 12 string acoustics with before I met Dion. Given the extraordinary feel of the neck on my Dion guitar I insisted it was replicated on the two 12 string acoustics.

Dion and I plan on him building me another 12 string acoustic as well. The cool thing is, he seems just as excited about it as I am.

"Simply an amazing guitar"

To put it simply: I've never loved a guitar like I love this one.

This is a stylish and beautiful steel string, it's comfortable and extremely fun to play. Sometimes I leave it lying around the house just to spruce up the place (Engelmann spruce to be exact, matched with a nicely complementary cocobolo). Most importantly, the sound is amazing: incredibly responsive and versatile and honestly I can't imagine going back to my previous acoustic.

Dion is also truly a great person to deal with, he's been reliable and conscientious and given me good advice on care. I've had the opportunity to talk over the design of this guitar at length with him, to see and play some of his other work (all amazing), and to get a glimpse into how he approaches the process of building. I'd say his passion and skill are obvious in the finished product, but it's a real pleasure to talk things over with him. I love owning an instrument built by someone so dedicated to his craft!

"One of the finest luthiers working today"

I first had the pleasure of meeting Dion and his incredible instruments back when I was the store manager for Rudy's Music in NYC. He came in with two examples to see if we would be interested in selling them, and I fell in love instantly. We sold both of the guitars in a shockingly fast time period, and since then I had dreamed of owning one of these instruments for myself.

Two years ago I finally had the opportunity to claim one for myself, and it is unquestionably the best acoustic guitar I have ever owned. Dion's attention to details, his innovative methods, and his love for the craft shines through in all aspects of the instruments he creates. On top of that, he is a pleasure to deal with, and puts a lot of thought and effort into every aspect of the instrument.

I'm currently planning my second instrument with him, and couldn't more strongly recommend adding one of his pieces to your collection.

"Solid gold (mahogany)"

Love Dion, love my Dion guitar! I'm currently strumming an all mahogany number, can't put it down. Looks great, sounds and plays even better. It literally feels like I'm playing a different instrument than my Norman acoustic; sonic ideas are simply pouring out of me -- I'm over the moon about it.

Dion clearly has serious skills but my favourite thing about my guitar, and Dion's work more generally, is that he isn't showy or self-indulgent. Simple, elegant choices in woods and shapes -- reminds me of Japanese architecture or something (admittedly not my area of expertise).

Beyond all that, happy to support such a stand-up guy -- privilege to get to know him.