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Are any of you familiar with the line of guitars made by Landola, from Finland - the Aspen Luthier / Aspen Landolas?

I'm finding very little information other than they were made in Finland by the Landola company, for a US distributor in the 1980's.

Some of the few listings for them spec solid wood tops. Many have 5-ply laminated necks.

Would you know if they had solid or laminated sides/backs?
Overall build quality?

Thinking about running out to look at one about 30 minutes from here. Wondering if they are worth taking a closer look at.

thanks all

I've had two Acoustics labeled Aspen. I don't recall anything about Finland, but they were sort of an obscure brand. The logo was inlaid shell and they had nice tuners like Mini schaller's or something. Solid top, and I'm pretty sure it was laminated back and sides. One piece neck. Good build quality. I think I might have shaved a little bit more of the scallops on one. One was a church Workhorse for many years that I ended up stabilizing the pick rash with thin CA and the other one I just flipped and sold for around $150.

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Pat

Pmaj7,

Aspen Guitars were imported from Japan in the mid to late 1970s. They were Martin clones. These are probably a distinct brand from the Aspen Landola/Aspen Luthier guitars.

Though the body is the shape of a dreadnought, they are actually jumbo guitars. An Aspen won't fit in a standard dreadnought case.

They had several models ranging from the AD-18 up to an AD-35. As you write, the lower end Aspens had solid tops and laminated sides.

The AD-35 was their top of the line guitar. It featured solid Sitka spruce top and solid Brazilian rosewood sides and back. Like the Martin D-35, the AD-35 has a 3-piece back. It also has an ebony fingerboard and bridge. Here's a couple of pics of my brother's Aspen guitars from the late 1970s.

The one on the left is an 1976 AD-18 and a 1978 AD-35 on the right.



AD-18 head stock


AD-35 head stock

Those headstock logos are classic '70s. Get your flares on to play those. They look like good instruments. If the one for sale is similar quality it would be worth a half-hour drive to check it out.

Dan, my one concern, particularly after seeing those pictures, is assuming it needs a neck reset, can you do it? I would have no qualms about buying a 1970 or 80's guitar with a dovetail joint that I knew I could get apart, I run like hell from all the old Yamies and such that you can't.