Aspen Dove Copy

I bought this guitar (Model DH32) in 1975 because (like the old Epiphone ads) I couldn't afford an expensive guitar so I bought a great one. It is a Japanese make (salesman called it a "Japanese Gibson")and was of excellent quality for the price. It is a precision copy of the Gibson Dove. Solid spruce top, cherry sunburst w/plastic "Dove" copy pickguard. Mahogany sides & back, adjustable bridge, decent tuners.

The great sound has improved over the years as the wood has aged. Full, rich bass and clean, sharp highs. After my "John Denver" years I began playing a lot of bluegrass and the bottom end & bass runs are sweet & mellow. I have used a sound hole pickup (currently Dean Markley) and can get a nice electric sound when needed.

I lowered the bridge a bit to improve the action - I use medium gauge strings - and believe the action is every bit as good as my Gibson ES. The finish has held up well over the years - still polishes up well and looks great.

This guitar has been played on stage, on the haywagon, around the campfire, in the bathroom and just about everywhere else over the past 30+ years. Everything has held up well & I've never had to replace or repair any part of it. It has it's nicks & dings but has fared much better than I have over the years.

Never lealt with the manufacturer. I understand they went out of business some time ago.

I have been a guitar player for over 40 years and currently own a Gibson ES135, Oscar Schmidt 12 string and bought my son an Epiphone Les Paul last year. I love this guitar - it has outlasted 2 wives, serenaded 4 babies, and helped me entertain thousands of people over the past 30+ years. The Dove design is a classic and always up-stages the blond Guild & Ovation playing beside me. If this guitar was ever lost or stolen, I would probably spend countless hours on Ebay looking to replace it - but would never be able to. I own or have owned 11 guitars in my life and this one is the trusted friend.

Mid 70's Japan
solid spruce top, cherry sundurst with dove pickguard adjustable bridge
mahogany body and neck
cheap tuners
beautiful playing neck with binding and a gibson open book headstock with an inlaid leaf on it.

The sound is gorgeous.Lots of string defenition with just the right amount of bass response.Nice strumming or finger picking guitar.It has a big body,very similar to the old Yamaha FG series.Same manufacturer??Anyway smaller than a jumbo but bigger then a dreadnaught.

This axe was well made,unfortunately when I got it from a friend,the headstock was broken off.It had been neglected.The neck was convexed pretty bad.But everything else was solid.I glued the headstock back on and strung it up with GHS silk and steel strings because they have less pull then normal bronze strings.Adjusted the neck,reset the nut and shaved the bridge.I was floored by the tone.I played it for a week and then it was leaning against a table outside one day and then BANG!The headstock broke again,but in a different place.Humidity?Structural integrity?I was bummed.I re-glued it 2 weeks later with some industrial strength sealent.It looks and dries like steel.Expensive,but effective.I let it set for 24 hours and strung it up again.It's holding.My daughter walked by it and knocked it over and it landed on the headstock.Still holding.I've got my fingers crossed.The next move would be a new neck I guess.Hopefully not.

I'm hoping I can depend on this guitar with the headstock issue.The rest of the guitar is rock solid.

Out of bizz.I've read Aspen was a Texas based company that imported the guitars from Japan.Anyway, they're rare.

I've been playing 26 years and this is one of the finest playing and sounding acoustics I've come across,and over the years I've played truck loads.This actually sounds better than my buddy's 73 D-28.Which is no small feat.If it was stolen,that would be it.I doubt I would ever find another.It has taken it's place in my rehearsal room along side some other prestigeous guitars.
If you come across one of these old Aspens,buy it.You'll probably get it cheap because it doesn't say Gibson or Martin on it, but it'll play right along side them.