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| Aspen AD18 |
During the 1980’s my wife decided she wanted to learn to play guitar. We were shopping at a local department store and in their audio department, and I spotted a guitar for only $80. This was odd as it was there among the stereos, and speakers.
However the store was Swallens in Cincinnati, Ohio which sold a number of unusual items, including Gretsch guitars in the store's furniture section.
I decided to experiment on that guitar. First, I took it to a music store and had a brass nut and saddle cut and installed. This gave the guitar a very bright voice. I sanded down the top to bare wood and then put stain on it. I thought it would change the color to a faux mahogany finish. However, the wood soaked in the stain giving the guitar a very rustic look. It was a nice instrument, never my favorite but nice.
I later learned that Aspen Guitars was a trademark of a distribution company called International Music Corporation that was located in Fort Worth, Texas. The guitars were built by the Tokai Company of Japan and branded with the Aspen logo.
From 1970 to 1973, Tokai also produced the Conn line of acoustic guitars under contract with C.G. Conn. Conn was an American musical instrument company known mostly for their horns and saxophones. One of my instructors at my college owned a Conn guitar that he loved. He said it sounded better than a similar Martin.
In 1975, Tokai launched its own Cat's Eyes line of acoustic guitars, which were replicas of C.F. Martin guitars. International Music Corporation contracted with Tokai to supply guitars already branded with their trademarked Aspen logo. The original Aspen guitars were offered in two tiers.
The A series featured laminated tops and bodies, and had a retail price range between $200 and $570. Aspen's high end Aspen Luthier (or AL) series had solid wood tops, and a retail new price range between $790 and $1,500. Aspen A-Series guitars carry a used price between $100 and $150, depending on condition; the AL-Series rates a bit higher, between $300 and $500.
Initially Tokai built instruments in Japan. Later production move to Korea. Instruments previously produced in Korea between 1987 and 1991. International Music Corporation discontinued Aspen in 1978 when they began importing electric guitars under the Hondo brand name. These instruments were also built by Tokai.
The $80 guitar even included a soft case. I picked it up, played it, and thought yeah, she would probably like this guitar. So, I bought it.
The brand name on the headstock said Aspen. It was a knock off version of a Martin D-18. The soundboard looked solid, but was probably laminate. The back and sides were definitely laminate. The neck was probably maple. The tuners were basic, but they worked just fine.
I tried to teach my wife a few chords, but she lost interest. But heck, it was only $80.
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| Brass Nut & Saddle |
When my daughter was in her teens, she picked it up and played this guitar for a while. I was happy to give it to her. However she gave it to her boyfriend, and I never saw that guitar again.
Over the years I have always wondered about Aspen Guitars. At the time I purchased the guitar I came across some literature regarding Aspen. They did offer several very nice instruments. These were mostly copies of Martin guitars.
At the time I assumed the guitars were built in Asia. But there was not much information back in the 1980’s.
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| International Music Corporation |
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| Conn F-100 Acoustic |
In fact in 1972, Tokai entered a joint venture with C. F. Martin & Company to supply acoustic guitar parts and build Martin's Sigma electric guitars.
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| Tokai Cats Eye CE-500 |
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| Dealer's List |
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| Hondo Guitars |
IMC later imported electric guitars under the Tokai brand name. In 1981 IMC imported guitars under the Robin trademark. Robin later became a boutique guitar company.
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