Aspen DH30

I am guessing from the serial number that this guitar was made in March of 1976. The label inside says Model AD-30, Made in Japan. It looks to have a solid spruce top, mahogany sides, back and neck, rosewood fretboard. The headstock has an inlayed Aspen logo and Aspen leaf which looks vintage 70's and very cool. The neck has 20 frets and rectangular inlays that sort of look like plastic MOP. The tuners are chrome non sealed but covered, again vintage looking. The finish on the guitar is simply beautiful, some scratches and dings that add to it's character. It has the hummingbird pickguard, although the hummingbird is worn off.

I also have an 2004 Epiphone Hummingbird and this one sounds better. The sound is similar to the Epiphone, but a richer, sweeter tone. It has plenty of bass, the highs could be a little crisper. I have extra light Elixir Polyweb strings on it now in a attempt to put less strain on the bridge which is lifting slightly.

The set-up was good when I received the guitar, I have not had to readjust it. I don't see any manufacturing flaws at all, just normal wear and tear for a 30 year old guitar. I did remove, disassemble, clean and lube the tuners. They are very smooth now. I also replaced the bridge pins with Gibson rosewood pins. One of MOP dots (they cover screw heads) on the bridge is missing, I plan to replace. The top is a little wavy due to age, but it does not effect sound or playability.

The guitar looks like it has been played alot in 30 years, the upper frets show some wear. With some care this guitar has many more years of playing left. The bridge is lifting and rolling slightly, it seems to be bolted in place as well as glued, so I don't think it will be going anywhere. Will extra light strings help? I hope so. I can't find any cracks and the high gloss finish seems very durable. There is a chrome strap button on the neck and plastic strap pin on the bottom.

From what I have read the company is long gone.

I love that this is vintage 70's guitar, it has the look of a well played guitar that gives it the character that you do not get with a new guitar. It did not cost an arm and leg but it sounds great and looks great. My other guitars are fairly new, Epi Hummingbird, Fender Strat and Tele, Line 6 Variax, Rogue D-18 copy. This one is just fun and that's what it is all about, at least for me.

I purchased this guitar new in 1975 or 1976 at PickNGrin in Knoxville, TN. It is a lovely copy of the Gibson Hummingbird. Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back, sides, and fretboard. The recall paying around $180. It has the nice cosmetic features of the Hummingbird to include the pearl inlays. The finish as a high gloss.

Over the years, this instrument as aged gracefully. It sounds better today than it did 20+ years ago. Clearly the age of the wood benefits this guitar. The bass sounds are rich and the high notes crisp.

Here is where the age is catching up. The bridge is raising up a bit and it has a crack extending along the pegs. It doesnt effect the tone or playablity but it will eventually need to be replaced. The action is a little high making Barr chords on the 1st frett a little difficult. Beyond that, this instruments finish as held up exceptionally.

This is a well travelled and not always appreciated guitar and has survived many years. I play it on a regular basis and would rely on it for any occassion. It has taken a lot of abuse and continues to had a new appearance. No worries here.

Never needed to deal with the company. Not sure when the went out of business.

I have been playing for as long as I have owned this guitar. A long time. If it were stolen, I couldn't replace it. I would probably buy a Sheryl Crow model Gibson or a Taylor.

Japanese, very close replica of a dreadnought Gibson Hummingbird, right down to square shoulders, bright red-to-sun yellow sunburst, solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back, sides, and fretboard, gloss finish overall, head stock style, large fretboard markers, and SOUND. Probably made in 1975, purchased new in a music shop in Littleton, CO, in July 1976 for $180 and well cared for ever since.

This guitar has aged incredibly well in the 24 years (!) I have owned it. The sound is rich with deep bass and bright, clear, bell-like treble. There's a complexity to the sound that only comes from well aged wood. I have a Taylor 514CE which I treasure for its great playability and clear well defined sound. But the Aspen is much richer and louder. The Taylor however is brand new, started in January 2000, only 6 months before I write this.

I did all the setup work on this axe years ago and can't remember how it was out of the factory. It started to rise up at the bridge so I went to extra light strings in the late 70's and have only used those ever since (.10-.47). It's really good now and with Elixir extra lights it is slick to play.

Never used on stage but the history says it all: bought in '76 in Colorado, brought back to my ship USS Reeves in Hawaii, travelled to Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, Africa, Pakistan, Mauritius, Kamchatka, back to Hawaii. Later to Texas in a car trunk, back to San Diego, many camping trips, hundreds of times to the beach, back home to N. California, many more camping trips, 15 different apartments, three different houses, 6 different towns, hundred more beaches. And there are only two small scratches and some pickguard wear.

Went out of business I think because the brand is so rare. I hope to hear from anyone with one of these.

Been playing acoustic rock/jazz since I was 14, about 32 years.
This particular guitar can never be replaced; it's part of me. If lost or stolen I would buy a Martin HD-28 and feel like I got something about as good. But it would take YEARS to catch up on the sound.