A ca. 2016 cedar/lapacho model no.3 and serial #17 from the Edmonton, Alberta luthier who is quietly building guitars defining ultimate aesthetic minimalism and a powerful, responsive tone - quickly recognized as competing with the luthiery trade's best in class.
Dion has integrated pathbreaking approaches from former Montreal shopmates at Mile End and introduced innovations of his own (check out his website for elaboration) to create a consistently and remarkably LOUD, r e s o n a n t guitar, that very much activates the particular tonal qualities of the woods. The no.3 also distinguishes with a 13th fret join, 25.4" scale, and probably the most smartly designed side soundport in the business. His website and Instagram account detail these innovations, and there is a build thread about this very guitar on the Acoustic Guitar Forum (good hunting) - and the pics there also benefit from the amazing natural light in his workshop.
A hallmark of Dion's design program is the intentional integration of all the components - in this case the call/response and warm visual tone of the cedar top & lapacho b/s, subtle contrast perfling, oxidized/ebonized finish-stain on the cherry neck, brass fretmarkers, ebony tuners - resolving into something with optical and auditory gravity and coherence, without calling anything except its energy and minimalism to attention. Opposite of bling. The lapacho is deeply mineralized - effectively sunken timber from the Panama Canal - and even under the matte finish - you feel the river running. Dion has a real affinity for what the rare lapacho wood offers - in this guitar matching closely to a classic cedar/rosewood warmth and depth. I've never heard a cedar top guitar with this much headroom.
Dion currently has an instr. FS directly from his shop - a spruce/lapacho in his no.4 model - and he currently has instruments at Guitar Gallery, Symphontree, Golden Era and another about to go live on the web. If you are looking for the latest and greatest from this maker - I'd absolutely start there.
The model no.3 offers a more traditional-presenting shape and headstock, visually the guitar body has a Gurian vibe to its curves that a couple of other current luthiers also find/found compelling, and a bit more of a winningly untamed sound than the intentionally focused tone of his current no.4 model. Very responsive around attack. This was one of his first guitars made with the structured sides and braceless, hollow core backs - and in hand you immediately can tell how profound those approaches are. Tremendous volume and sustain, as if there's a knob under the hood that cranks as soon as you pick a note or strum, and overall has a 0 to 60 quotient that competes with the greats of the modern sound. Very lively, energetic bass and trebles that gravitate from the edge toward a fast-developing, middy blend.
Dion took this to several guitar shows ca. 2016 and 2017 and then hung it on insta. I happened to catch it, pulled on its visual alone, and took delivery Sep2017. Letting this one go to fund a Dion Guitars custom commission.
Strings w/ mediums. On a cedar top - you won't believe it. Dion's bracing makes it possible. The cedar has the wood's percussive decay, but stretches in that loud, resonant, endless sustain tonal regime. D-profile carbon-reinforced neck.
In excellent condition. It is a cedar top - and there are two places with very minimal nail/pick exposure - and as the osmo polyx is not a pore-fill finish, there is a subtle tactile moment along the back of the neck at a very small knot behind the second fret, fifth string (see pics). I purchased the instr. in 2017 with these as full-transparency knowns in the sale. Stored in an always environmentally attentive situation. Includes HSC, maker's certificate, and truss rod and neck angle adjustment tools.
Soundclip recorded straight to iPhone mic ~ lo fi is as lo fi does ~ but I think the tonal regime of the kit, note decay and harmonic blend, cut through fine. Maybe I'll churn some of a sale to a pair of Gefells and get my recording game on. Also check out some other clips on my branyoner soundcloud handle for the Dion no.3 in different presentations
