Aspen D-28

Japanese model - purchased new around late 70's, as I recall. Good solid finish. Has held up fantastically for being around 30 years.

I find the sound quality to be full and rich. I came into a Takemine EG540SSC, which is my other acoustic. I have to say, I like the sound of the cheap ol' Aspen over the Takemine. It does have a larger body, so that may be part of the reason.

This is the most comfortable acoustic I've played (although I've only had a few). Again, comparing to my most recent alternative, the Takemine, it is much smoother of a feel, and a more comfortable fit. Action is medium. Finish is great!

Has held up pretty good, except a few tuners have stripped out of the wood, requiring a slightly larger replacement screw. Other than that, it has held together great

Never a need.

I have an Aspen D 28.I have had it for 32 yrs.I've never had any problems with it.I payed $125.00 for it in 1976.It is still in good condition.The only thing wrong with it is,the nut is chipped off of the high E string.I wonder what this guitar would be worth now?

sounds pretty good.When I bought it,I played mostly Country.Also I play Bluegrass Gospel.

Yes,but it needs the High E string nut.

I have been playing since 1970.I didn't have to ask anything before I bought my guitar.I would buy it again,if I could find it.I like the Sound,the small neck on it and the durability.

Aspen Guitar model D-28, laminated spruce top, rosewood sides, back, bridge and fingerboard, mahogany neck, Shaller (?) tuners

But. . .the guitar was a basket case - it had lots of structural issues.

Since it had one string, a badly lifted bridge and a seriously bellied top, it had no sound when I purchased it. After repairs, it compares favorably with my Taylor 910. And, it was somewhat less expensive.

When I purchased the guitar it was, as stated above, unplayable. I found it at a flea market and after a brief look, told the dealer that "at one time this was a very faithful Martin D-28 copy" I didn't know anything about Aspen at the time. He had a tag of $50.00 on it, and we agreed that it had nice wood, a straight neck and that it would be a nice project guitar for someone. As a walked away, he said how about $30.00? I said, thanks, but I currently have 7 guitars and one more would put a strain on my marriage. Ok, $15.00, he said. . .Even I couldn't walk away for $15.00.

So, I removed the bridge, made a custom version of the Bridge doctor to support the bridge plate and flatten the top, cleaned the fingerboard, polished the frets, replace the plastic tuner bushings with custom turned brass ones that fit much better, made a new "nut" for the strings, refinished the top, sides and back with instrument lacquer, reglued the bridge, and adjusted the neck. I was concerned that installing a bridge support rod would kill the sound, but it absolutely has not - I don't know why.

Based on the condition of the guitar when I purchased it, I'm not sure how well these guitars normally stand up over time. The other reviews seem to indicate that they do OK, so perhaps this one had a very hard life. I know that the bridge had been lifting for years and that caused the top to belly badly. I also don't know how well the guitar will tolerate the bridge reinforcement in the long run. But, in its current configuration, it is a joy to play and has a very clear, clean, loud and amazingly balanced sound. My impression of Martin big-box guitars is that they tend to be excessively boomy and slightly weak in the mid-range. This guitar seems well balanced and with new bronze strings, it has a very sweet sound with a little more twang than my Taylor.

Customer Support - I don't think they are still in business...One

This has proven to be one hell of a guitar for $15.00. I have been very impressed with the general quality of materials and pleased that adding bridge support has not killed the sound. If you can find one really cheap, its a great guitar to develop some repair skills with. The end result could be quite rewarding.

I bought my Aspen D28 in 1975. It was "bootlegged" into the US from Canada. US distributors were being being sued for selling a "Martin D-35" copy. I bought it for 189.00 and had them throw in a soft shell case it also included an Allen wrench.It fit the hex head under the plastic on the headstock. I was ignorant, and if not for other more informed post would have no idea of the materials used in this guitar. This was my first guitar.

It has always been a loud guitar. When the strings are new and you bang the hell out of it, it is clear and buzz free. I play only bar chords and some picking. I put a pickup on it and ran it through an amp, sound quality carried through even with high volume. When I turned on overdrive and played "Back in the USSR" it was awesome.

If you are following along, the "action" set at the factory was perfect. However knowing nothing about guitars I assumed the included Allen wrench was to be used. I experimented and moved the neck forward and back, yes, tightening it tight and loosening it lose. After adjusting the "action" about as close as most "electric" guitars, I assumed it was set just fine. It has been chipped and kicked and dropped and rocked. Still with a little polish gleams as new.

Now after thirty years the neck has slightly "twisted" clockwise. The face of the body of the guitar has an undulation and it looks like the strings are ready to just "POP" off the bottom it plays like new. Others more accomplished than I say "this is a great guitar", that is to say, what am I doing with it. It is solid. It is easy to play, especially for beginners, the "action" is so close it takes little effort to make chords. I have played and entertained with this guitar. It holds its own against ANY brand,"soon or late". It represents the very best of patent and copyright infringement.

It still equals, and exceeds its original design concept. It was purchased new by me and has never failed. I guess it would have been nice to have had an instruction sheet for the included Allen wrench. So I wouldn't have messed with it.

I have been trying to play guitar for 40 years. I have the usual stuff for a wanna be.
I could never replace this guitar it is sublimly deformed.
I love it because it is "twisted" like me, and has lots of surprises.
I learned how to play every bar chord in the world with this guitar and a book, you know the book,"4,400,000,000,000 guitar chords".

I bought my AD-28 around 1976 - 1977, I didn't even have a case for it! My brother bought me a nice hardcase some years later, and paid about half of the $200 or so that I paid for the guitar!

As best that I can tell it has a solid (spruce?) top and mahogany sides & back. Steel truss rod in the neck. Original tuners, etc. (Except I've had the nut replaced once!)

Overall, it has held up really nicely through the last 25 years or so!

I have to give it a big TEN! This guitar has never failed to surprise those that have sampled it! From other amateur players like myself to the folks in the guitar shops!

I use Martin SP lights & extra lights

I had the nut replaced and neck, etc. adjusted after I made a crude atempt ( and failed! ) at a neck adjustment. I played it for years just the way I bought it!

I have used this guitar in live presentations both "unplugged" and using a 'Woody' Soundhole pickup. Again, I have never been disappointed.

Th finish is fine except for the expected bumps and nicks. The end pin pulled out once while I had it on my back, and the only damage was a scar on the 'head' and a small bulged spot in the 'fat' of the body.

I think maybe it is made of titanium!

I assume from the above comments that Aspen Guitar Co. is long gone.

Any work has been done by local shops.

I've been playing since about 1970. The AD28 was my first 'bought' guitar, my earlier one had been given to me.

I really liek the AD28's durability, dependability & booming bass!
Now I own a couple of Martins and Guilds. Anytime I pick up the Aspen (with a decent set of strings on it), I am amazed.

I hope I can save it for my Grandson!

I bought the Aspen when I was 22 yrs old, that's 20 years ago, for $125. It was used, however in perfect condition, much like it is now. I learned how to play on this guitar and have become a somewhat accomplished fingerstyle player. I have always wanted a name brand or high end guitar that has better sound, but I have never found a guitar that played as easy. I have played guitars worth thousands of dollars, and they sound better, but none have played as easy.

With a new pair of Elixir strings, it sounds like the angels built it. However, when the strings become aged, the sound does flatten. It doesn't have the crisp high end sound that I hear in other guitars, thus I wish its sound matched its playability.

In 20 years, I only have had the nut replaced because it chipped off the edge at the high E string. The luthier that replaced it put on a bone nut, and adjusted the action. It is super fast and clean. I play with extra light strings since all I do is fingerpick. The bridge is beginning to raise ever so slightly, and will probably need bracing someday. This guitar has been with me from Wyoming to California, and has shown no wear.

Again, the guitar has held up well, however, I do feel the tuners will eventually go bad on it. I have nothing to base that on, just the fact that they look cheap. The finish is impecable. I am easy on it since all I do is fingerpick in a sitting position. No strum marks on this baby.

I will put this guitars playability next to any guitar, no matter how expensive. I bought this guitar because 'it was there' and it was inexpensive. I feel I found the deal of a lifetime. I will never part with this guitar.

Made in Japan, purchased in 1976. Not sure of year it was made. Demonstrator model for a guitar shop in Toledo, Ohio. Solid top, I believe. Light colored top, dark wood back and sides. Glossy finish. Mahogany body and neck, most probably. Still looks brand new. Original case still holding up.

It has always been wonderful for leading small groups or for individual performances. Rich, resonant sound.

good quality

Very durable, has lasted for almost 30 years, still going strong.

had to have the bridge replaced due to a crack. The new bridge seems to not sink in as deeply as the original, therefore, the strings are not as close to the neck as before. This was replaced when the guitar was 20 years old.

I have been playing guitar since 1970. I have loved this guitar from the very beginning. I tried Martins, Gibsons and Epiphones, and when I played the Aspen demo model in the store, I was impressed. Since Aspen is no longer in business, I would opt for a Taylor.

This is an adjunct to my previous submission. If you want to contact me write to me directly at rmorris@jcc.mepcom.army.mil

I have had difficulty responding to messages sent using Harmony Central message system

I purchased my ASPEN D-28 (Dreadnought style) guitar new in 1978. It has a laminate spruce top, laminate mahogany back and sides with a gloss finish. 20 frets, 14 clear of the body.

It has always been a reliable guitar and has aged gracefully. Considering it's of Japanese origin it sounds remarkably nice. Has a great bottom end but lacks a lively high end. A great strum along guitar that is now used as a TV noodler.

It has always been a reliable guitar and has aged gracefully. It now has a nice patina reflective of a 22 year old guitar.

The ASPEN has traveled with me all over the U.S., to Saudi Arabia, Korea and Germany. It is now starting to show symtoms of sinking bridge/bellying but I switched to light strings and this has helped.

Comapny went out of business before I ever needed anything.

A great strum along guitar that is now used as a TV noodler, having been dethroned by a Taylor 810 and a Larrivee LCJ-10.
I have always enjoyed this guitar. I had a chance to purchase a used D-45 model but I passed it up. Wish now I had bought it.

Dreadnought body with 20 frets. Made in Japan. Gloss finish. This guitar was a pawn shop special at $125 three years ago, so i really don't have any information about it and haven't seen another one anywhere.

The sound could be a little bit more livlier but with a new set of strings on her she sounds pretty mean.

Once again it's a pawn shop guitar, it's finish has lots of battle scars, most of which i've added. I have never touched the truss rod so whoever had it before me had the action set PERFECT. This thing plays so easy it's amazing.

I'm a drunk and i beat this thing up pretty good, it almost never goes out of tune and i never break a string(mediums). the hardware makes me nervous sometimes but seems to be holding up pretty good.

For the money this guitar rules, all my friends have spent $750 to $1250 for their Peavey's Fender's and Chet Atkins but when they come to my place they all pick up the aspen. Each one of them has also been in the shop with their guitar at least once, and most of them had to adjust their action. I wish i had more information about this brand of guitars so if anyone knows anything please contact me.