Aspen A-128S

If anyone has more info on Aspen guitars please let me know! My serial# is 000184. I had an Aspen Les Paul about 20 years ago and it was better than any LP I've owned since. Thats not an exaggeration.
(Ted Nugent used an Aspen LP in one of his old MTV videos) So, if you find an Aspen anywhere, close your eyes and play it. If it needs a little work to get it right, grab it, grab it, grab it.

Top quality all the way. Clearly an HD28 clone right down to the embossed string tension warning on the inside (over the back joint).
I also own a proper HD28 and the main differences on the Martin are the v neck construction, ebony instead of rosewood fretboard, No neck binding whereas the Aspen has a black plastic neck binding, Ebony instead of rosewood bridge, and a slightly difference binding pattern on the back. The Aspen actually has herringbone around the soundhole where the HD does not. The Aspen is slightly lighter and comes with a pickup. The HD does not. The Aspen also has "nicer" fret markers in a snowflake-like design. The HDs are just dots.

I just got one of these last night and even in its current, apparently "modified" condition, plastic bridge, plastic nut (too small), and nasty dirty frets, this guitar sings. I'll put the original (bone) bridge back on tonight and get a proper bone nut as well. I have the feeling that it'll be even more responsive and resonant once its cleaned up and dialed in. You simply cannot go wrong with an Aspen 128s. Unless its completely broken beyond repair.

Great condition given its age. The joint where the neck and fretboard meet the body has the slightest signs of separating but the action and neck angle remains straight and secure. I believe that this could have been the result of a harsh climate change in which the guitar actually fully recovered.

Its built to last. No question. Came with nice Hardshell case!

DNE

With no guitar being a 10, I'll call this a solid 8. I'd also call a new Martin a solid 8 so there you have it. If either guitar came with larger frets, then maybe a 9 but small frets are not for me. In fact, it appears that people are getting more hip to the larger frets. (I use 6100 on everything I play)

I just wanted to write my own review because I was inspired to see other people loving this guitar as much as I have loved mine. My Aspen is actually A 128SE (serial # 000146) I guess the E stands for Electric as the guitar is equipped with Shadow's pickup. The pickup is solid metal and I guess it's piezo or magnetic or something, I'm not that good with technical jargon. But it sure is passive as there's no batteries involved. The pickup aint perfect, but has worked reasonably well in the occasional amped gigs I've done and I have considered rewiring it with an extra mini condenser microphone to satisfy that side as well.

The other features have been through in the previous reviews. I especially like the fretboard. The wood (rosewood I guess) has aged really nicely, it looks expensive and feels really superb.

I have been all around with this guitar and it's my single most important thing I own. I guess there must be a guitar with equal or better quality, but I'm pretty sure I'd have to pay 2000$ or more for it. Then again, if I'd paid that much for this instrument, I probably would have been a bit more protective about it - and it would lack the memories.

Sufficient to say that there may be a time that I'll buy another six-string (probably a Lowden or a Guild) but I'm really happy I've spent the first ten years with this one.

First off I'd like to say that at one time when I realized that I play pretty often and started to take music more seriously I considered buying a "real" guitar as this has been kinda drifted to me from a relative who bought it from a russian sailor. So I went through the basic Martins and Taylors, and although I did some serious studing I couldn't find anything worth spending 1500-2000$ dollars. They all sounded pretty much like the one I already had. So instead of buying a new one, I decided to do some renovation with the old one (it had to be like ten years old at the time). My vocabulary is kinda lacking, but it had the basic stuff fixed, like the frets were changed.

The sound is really good. It has a very clear, big sound and especially with good, a bit thicker strings (I use Elixir strings myself) it sounds like a million bucks. I have played a lot of different stuff over the years and most recently the guitar has been tuned to DADGAD and I've fiddled around with Irish music. I like to sing and use the guitar to accompany music, but I've also done fingerpicking and some solo playing. The guitar is easy to play and gives great dynamics and great response.

I like the overall sound, maybe it's because I've been playing it for years - but then again I usually see and try lots of the regular "upper-end" guitars like Taylor, Martin, Guild and I wouldn't change mine for any I've tryed and many people have complimented my guitar sound and quality. They usually turn their head when asking about my guitar (probably expecting to see something familiar) and look puzzled when they see the Aspen logo.

The guitar sure has had it's fair share of cuts and bruises and I play it every day, but strangely enough the sound has got better (or then maybe, just maybe I've gotten a little better - at picking better strings at least)

I can't say much about how well the guitar was set-up at the factory as it was bough third or fourth hand. The guitar had it's share of wear and tear, but thats probably because it'd already been around the world before I even started travelling with it.

This guitar has been all over and has never failed. The tuning holds even in bad conditions and the sound is better than ever, even after all these years. Especially in live playing the guitar is at it's best. You dont have to worry about accidentally bumping it agains a chair or something, it's really solid. But I guess acoustic guitars are not that delicate instruments anyway.

The things I have had to fix over the past ten years have been (funny that somebody else had this as well) the tuner for the D-string and years later also the plastic that's holding the other end of the D-string also broke, but that was my own fault. Also, it was once broken when the output plugin broke through the wood when it was placed on the floor too fast (not by me though), but it was easily fixed and didn't even stop the gig that night.

I've never had to deal with the customer support, although I have this feeling it doesn't exist anymore. Then again - I havent had the need for it.

It was really nice to see other people using this guitar, I always thought I was the only one. I can't say that this has been a useful review as you're not likely to find one anymore. But it's sure to share some experiences when you're not owning a Taylor or Martin everybody has.

I have been playing the guitar for the past ten years and probably will continue to play for the another ten years. I have been thinking of buying another six-string, so I can use the other one in standard tuning and the other one in DADGAD. I wuoldn't mind having another Aspen - but maybe I'll settle with something else as well.

As I said before I'm considering to equip the guitar with a mini-condenser microphone and a stereo output for the amplified gigs, to have a more dynamic sound. And maybe I'll change the frets after a couple of years as well, but this is probably a guitar I will have til the grave.

If somebody likes to share pictures or something, be sure to send me an email or something.

I'm not sure of the date made. I bought it in Huntsville, Ontario Canada in around 1989. It is a A-128S-1.
21 Frets
Laminated Top.
Neck Easy

Full sound.

Great action.
No flaws

I have never played live. But, my guitar playing friends can't seem to take their hands off it.
All parts in place after years of playing.

Never required support.

I have been playing for 33 years.
I love this guitar.
I spend a lot of time at music stores trying really expensive guitars only to realize that what I have is better.
I don't own another guitar right now. I have enjoyed a Gibson Hummingbird and the ES335.
I wish I had the 1930s acoustic guitar my friend's grandfather left him(NEW Orleans) your fingers fly. The action and sound are outstanding.
The just don't make thm like the used to.

Deinitly a Martin HD28 copy. This guitar has a solid spruce top,two panel rosewood back and sides, rosewood bridge and fretboard,diamond/snowflake fretboard inlay,herringbone trim around guitar and soundhole,aged white binding on front and back of body,old Martin V-Style neck, German made Schaller tuners with M.O.P. style buttons.

This is where this guitar shines. It has unbelievably good sound. I knew nothing of these guitars and saw it in the pawn shop. It was filthy and had three rusted strings on it. I took a chance and purchased it for $ 75.00. (THE BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT ON A GUITAR!!)
I cleaned it up and set everything and Holy S%*t was I amazed at the sound. The action is also very low and no buzzing. I am ashamed to saythat I have purchased three guitars, each over $ 1500.00 that have not sounded this good. Great note clarity on this guitar.

When I got this guitar the truss rod was completely unscrewed. Who knows why. But when I set the neck and adjusted evrything the action is great. Very easy on the fingers and no buzzing. The guitar is in tune all over the neck and is great with barre chords. I am going to leave No Opinion on this one since this was a pawn shop prize and a 20 year old instrument that obviously had not been played for quite some time.

Are you kidding me ??? It's 20 years old and plays better than many new instruments I have played in the music shops. Everything is in perfect working order and it sounds fantastic. This guitar is made to be played live. I would use it all night without a backup. Just give me extra strings and let me go. I highly recommend one if you are lucky enough to find one. I hope that I might come across another one some day but I am sure they are hard to find. It's the first one I have ever seen.

No Opinion on this either since their is not a Aspen guitar company anymore. I believe that they were marketed under American Music Supply or Kaman Music / St. Louis Music.

I have been playing for 20 years and I have owned some really nice guitars but the quality I have got with this one and the price paid makes this the best guitar I've owned yet. I won't be getting rid of this one. It's a great instrument that plays great and sounds fantastic. What else could you ask for. If you read this article then I would recommend watching Ebay for one and getting it. You wont be disatisfied. ALthough the blue book value of this guitar is not much. From a musicians perspective " You just can't go wrong with this guitar."

DEFINATELY A MARTIN COPY. IT WAS A GENEROUS GIFT FROM A LOCAL RADIO STATION. I HAVE BASHED THE CRAP OUT IF THIS UNIT FOR OVER SIXTEEN YEARS - WITH VERY LITTLE MAINTAINENCE - AND IT STILL HOLDS A GREAT TONE EVEN THOUGH IT OBVIOUSLY NEEDS A FRET JOB AND NECK TREATMENT.
IT HAS A SOLID SPRUCE TOP, ROSEWOOD BACK AND SIDES WITH GERMAN TUNERS ( THE "D" TUNER ONLY LASTED 14 YEARS OF VERY ABUSIVE ATTENTION - THE REST ARE GOING FINE )THE FINISH IS TRANSPARENT. EXCELLENT ACTION. THIS GUITARS DURABILITY IS UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!!

HAS A FULL SOUND. NEIL YOUNG / TRACY CHAPMAN / RICHARD CLAPMAN / BOB DYLAN - CAN COPY THEIR CRISP NOTES AND MUCH MORE!

I'VE PLAYED THIS AXE WITH VERY HEAVY STRINGS FOR YEARS,AND IT HANDLES VERY WELL. HOWEVER, IT IS EXCEPTIONAL WITH "MID-RANGE" STRINGS. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WITH THIS CAT !!!!

MAN, IT TOOK ME FOURTEEN YEARS OF EXCESSIVELY ROUGH TREATMENT TO BREAK THE FIRST COMPONENT OF THIS STURDY UNIT ( THE "D" TUNING PEG )
I HAVE HAD THIS AXE FOR WELL OVER SIXTEEN YEARS - IT NEEDS A FRET JOB, BUT APART FROM THE TUNING PEG NO MAINTAINENCE HAS BEEN DONE ON IT

NEVER NEEDED TO ENQUIRE ABOUT WARRANTY

I'VE BEEN PLAYING OVER 20 YEARS, I HAVE A GIBSON 335DOT, IBANEZ ARTIST AS80 335DOT, 1959 FENDER STRAT. I'M LOOKING FOR A HOLLOW-BODY RICKENBAKER. MY A-128S GOES EVERYWHERE WITH ME. IT WAS A KIND GIFT FROM SA-FM. THIS GUITAR HAS BEEN THROUGH HELL AND BACK AND CONTINUES TO "ROCK-ON". MY FAITHFUL COMPANION !!!!!!!

This guitar is a martin copy. I played it in the mid 80's in a guitar
shop and fell in love with it. Solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, german tuners, high quality finish. Aged unbelievably well!
I have been playing for 20 yrs and have only played its equal twice.
Both times $2500.00 plus Martins!

High end sound great, notes just sizzle off this thing!

Easy to play, finish only equalled by Martin HD-28

Over 12 years old and like new

n/a

I will have a hard time replacing this guitar, even with money being
no object!