Back to Bonsai - Trident Maple

[Bumarell]

I'm just getting back into bonsai after several years away from the practice. I used to have a small collection of a handful of "finished" trees and several other trees in various stages of earlier development. I'm now starting from scratch and this trident maple is a bareroot stock that I recently purchased. I potted this maple in a training pot and it looks like it’ll begin to put out new growth quite soon. I plan on focusing this first season on establishing a healthy root system and making sure I can help it thrive.
That said I would love to hear people's thoughts and opinions on which direction to take this tree. I'm particularly confused about what to do with the top 1/3 of the tree.

Thanks in advance

 

[Gabler]

Eventually, those branches will all need to be pruned back hard to get rid of those knobs. For now, you're right to get it growing vigorously, so it will backbud profusely when you chop the branches.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Looks like great 2nd start material! 2D pics would make me want to consider taking out that thick apex.

 

[elijah_moncrieff]

Something to consider, since the top has the unsightly bulge, is that you could thread graft or approach graft a branch (one you have allowed to grow long and vigorously this year) next spring to replace the apex. And could even replace the second largest branch from top in the same way. It can be daunting, but isn’t as difficult as it sounds in concept. Check out YouTube, there are some good videos on how to do it.

 

[Shibui]

Looks like you have purchased a few problems.
@Hack Yeah! has already picked out the inverse taper in the 2 top branches. All the lower branches grow from almost the same level on the trunk so that area is also likely to thicken and develop more inverse taper.
At least half of the lower branches need to go as well as drastic chops in the top branches. I agree with the chop on the upper vertical but think that Hack's proposed chop on the left branch is only going to cause more problems. I think I'd go further back on that branch - just not sure exactly where without a closer look at the tree.

 

[Bumarell]

Thanks for all the tips. I definitely agree with the idea of taking out the current apex. The temptation to do it now is very noticeable

Yes, the grafting idea sounds a bit daunting but also interesting enough that I’ll keep thinking about it. About fifteen years have passed since I last worked on a tree. Don’t even get me started on the “what ifs” of what I could have in my collection if I had been active all this time . I have to say that, while I still very much appreciate printed information, I do love how much easier it is to access knowledge and information now compared to only fifteen years ago. I’ll see if I can get super cheap stock that I can practice grafting with this year.
In any case, I’ll probably update this thread along the way while I see what kind of contribution I have to offer in other threads.
Thanks again!