Aspen AD26-0

Bought off Ebay for AU$200
Used.
Made in Japan, Serial no. 26780384, maybe the 26 is the model and the 78 is the year made (speculation) and the 384th one made, (god knows ?).
Laminated spruce top.
Laminated mahogony back and sides.
Mahogony neck.
Finish-transparent, full gloss and as hard as nails, in near new condition.
Appears to be a copy of a dreadnought, with exact Martin scale, maybe neck slightly wider (cool). The tuners weren't original, they are gold Grovers or Gottohs, the guitar holds its' tune very well. The bridge is either ebony, or black stained rosewood, either way, it is as black as the ace of spades. The same applies for the fretboard, it is that dark I can't really tell. Interesting thing, though, the pegs that push into the bridge, to hold the strings, are wood (not plastic), NOW YOU DON'T SEE THAT VERY OFTEN !
I took a chance with this guitar without first handling before I bought it. It came with a electronic tuner, a guitar stand and also, a sheet music stand, all for $200. I unpacked it hoping it might at least have a solid top , but no ! I scraped the rust off the strings,
( all steel, for electric guitar) and tuned it up. great !

After playing this guitar for a couple of seconds with old , rusty electric guitar strings, I realised that this guitar sounds good and played it for the rest of the day, and it got smoother and better, but I wanted to know how it really sounded. I ripped a near new set of Tomastiks' off another guitar and was very pleased with this Aspen.
It is as smooth and as even (notationally) as anything I have ever played. For a non solid wood constucted guitar, it is very, very good, and if this is any indication of Aspens' solid topped and backed guitars, then they must be amazing, and I WANT ONE !
I can certainly relate to the sound it produces, it is crisp and clean in the highs, and also mellow in the highs with a rich warmthness about them. the mids lose some strenghth and the lows are weaker again, but it all evens itself out, it just lacks the boom and depth of solid timber, it is still good for what it is. If I had to rate this guitar for sound for a non solid, I would definately give it 10 out 10, but I can't.

I am not going to touch the action on this guitar, ( if something is not broke, then don't try to fix it) it is as smooth as silk ! your hand and fingers just fit straight into it, What can I say ? It is a pleasure to play ! and very easy to play, the type of action you always wanted, but never could afford !
The neck along the fret board was as straight as an arrow, haleluya !
It's got some fret and fretboard wear, (mainly first three frets) up to the fifth fret, but the frets aren't a worry, at this stage !
I think, at one stage, this instrument must of been set up, properly by somebody,unless Aspen sent them out professionally set up ?

This guitar is without doubt, the most solid accoustic guitar I have ever picked up. It is the only way you can decribe this guitar, it feels, solid ! hard and strong !
The finish is almost 30 years old and it looks in new condition, with no sign of crazing on the soundboard. It looks and feels, very scratch resistant.
There is no sign of joints letting go, anywhere. The bridge is solid with no warping around the soundboard and all the binding is in as new condition.

None, who would you deal with ?

I have now been playing for 33 years and own various instruments , accousic and electric, and sold, or given away quite a few aswell. I play a lot (at times) and I like this Aspen ! Overall, I think this guitar is great. I would like to muck around with different string combinations to see what I can get out of it. It may be plywood, But it does feel like and play like a high quality guitar with an overall sound that is almost there, it is a good sound, but it is not a (truly) complete sound, but it is worth a lot more than I paid for it in comparison to what is out there, so I am quite happy !
Would I buy another Aspen ? I would most definately buy another Aspen ! To be fair, probably a D28 or a D35 all solid construction.
There is nothing I dislike about the Aspen AD26-0.
Its' best feature is its' ease of playing, with a very nice, even sound.
If there was anything I wished it had, I could only say solid wood constuction as opposed to plywood and then it would be complete and I wouldn't want any thing else, but I do, I want a top of the range 1970s Aspen in good condition and then I would be a happy chappy !
I wished the original Aspen luthiers were still making them so they were more available and I can understand Martin wanting to sue companies like Aspen.