Aspen D-3512

I don't know too much about Aspens, but after playing this one, I can't believe there isn't more info on them. It is a Martin D3512 (12 string) copy, with a three piece Brazilian (beautiful marbled Brazilian)Rosewood back and sides, and solid Sitka spruce top. It is an awesome piece of work!! It was made in Japan, but I don't know the time frame. It's been illegal to import Brazilian Rosewood since 1991, so it was probably made in the 70's when the Brazian Rosewood Martin D3512 was famous. I traded even for it, at a local Pawn shop, with a Samick acoustic bass guitar that I had bought for $180.00. I had been looking at this guitar, for about two years, but could not afford it because it was priced at over $500.00 (without a case). All I knew about it was that it was Japanese and it played terrific.

When I took it home from the Pawn shop where it had hung for two years, I couldn't stop playing it, because it had such great sound and it kept perfect tune. The Brazilian Rosewood three piece back gave it a huge bass sound with re-sounding sustain. The manufacturers of this Aspen didn't skimp on the fret board either. The fret board is ebony with abalony inlay exactly like it's Martin counterpart. Even the letters "ASPEN" were mother of pearl inlayed, with a mother of pearl leaf inlayed below the letters. The action was as low as you could get it, without hitting the frets (very nice). The keys were twelve individually enclosed, gold plated mechanisms. The keys (and this is where it differed from it's famous counterpart) were not slotted. Now, this is the good part: After playing it for awhile, I started examining it and I noticed a wire inside the the guitar under the bridge. I said to myself; "No Way"!! But you guessed it "WAY"!! This guitar was wired for sound (from the factory). I found the plug-in hole, in the strap post, and I immediately plugged it in to my amp (hoping that I wouldn't need a Pre-amp) and "Lo and Behold", I was in heaven. My new (after 20 plus years, it still looks new) 12 string Martin D3512 copy, not only looked like a Martin, felt like a Martin, but it played like a Martin and "Oh Momma" it was electric too.

There didn't seem to have any indication that it had been re-worked so the action, pick-up etc, was evidently set-up at the factory. It must have a Piezo transducer under the bridge. I once installed a tranducer under the bridge of one of my guitars and was pleasantly surprised how it picked up the acoustic characteristics of the guitar (the tone of a magnetic pickup is not a replication of the audible acoustic sound of the instrument). After 20 plus years, this guitar had no flaws, top quality wood, tight keys, beautifully crafted back, sides, top, headstock and fret boards. When amplified, the sound is as pure as it is unamplified (the guitar plays very load without an amp).

This guitar has withstood over 20 years of life on this planet (12 strings pull a lot of guitar necks out of wack) and looks like it just came off the shelf ready to play (no warpage). The black pick-guard has not warped, even though many Martin pickguards do after several years. Although it must have been pampered, it looks and feel like it will last another 20 years.

Too bad they don't still make this guitar. I will have to treat it right, because I probably won't be able to get new parts for it.

I've been playing for over 35 years and I own two Martin Guitars (a 1971 D35 and a 1983 HD2832 Shenandoah). I wish that I could buy a dozen of these guitars and spread them around for others to enjoy. This is a smooth, easy playing guitar, with a tremendous bass sound and a strong sound projection. This is a professional instrument at a descent price. I would have payed the Pawn shop $500.00 for this guitar if I would have had it, because it would have cost me several thousand dollars to buy a Martin of the same quality. Somebody please find out more about this Aspen brand guitar, and about the Master Luthiers that made them, and put it on the internet for all to enjoy.