Change & The Pursuit Of The Japanese Style
As one of Deviser’s 30th-anniversary models, Headway is introducing a guitar with the Japanese national butterfly “Oomurasaki”, or translated, “Great Purple Emperor” as its motif in 2021, with the dual meanings of “pursuit of the Japanese style” and “change”. Butterflies are not born with a beautiful appearance from the start. They start out as larvae, become chrysalises, and finally change into a beautiful butterfly. As lifestyles and society have changed drastically since last year, we adopted the Great Purple Emperor butterfly’s beautiful change as a motif with a positive connotation.
The inlay design incorporated in various places creates an atmosphere as if the butterfly is about to take off. The result is a brilliant piece of craftsmanship suitable for commemorating Deviser’s 30th anniversary.
Limited Production – 12 Units
2021 HD-531 SF,S-ESU/ATB
Limited Production – 18 Units
2021HF-531 SF,S-ESU/ATB
-Great Purple Emperor Butterfly- Motif
Headstock Design
A rosewood veneer with three different materials was used to realize Great Purple Emperor perched on a tree. Black and white acrylic materials are used for the border, and mother of pearl is used for the middle part of the wings. Only the mother of pearl part is colored with a gradation that changes from purple to black, and white spots are drawn in by hand at the end. Depending on how the light hits it and the direction it is viewed, its colors change slightly. Normally, this is a time-consuming method used only in custom models, but for the 30th-anniversary model, we decided that it was justified, so the Aska Team Build team took care of it. Like the body back, the top of the headstock is also made of cherry wood.
Fingerboard Design
The fretboard inlay is a gorgeous representation of the Great Purple Emperor Butterfly flapping its wings, gliding forth. The butterfly is flapping its wings from the low fret and facing the high fret. The smallest parts of the inlay are only a few millimeters in diameter, but they are carefully handcrafted one by one by our craftsmen.
For the inlay on the pickguard, we used a technique where we carved into the bakelite material and poured the paint over it. If the carving is too shallow, the paint will not penetrate well and the design will not look good. On the other hand, if the carving is too deep, the lines will be too thick and the finish will look awkward. This process is more time-consuming than it looks, but the design on the pickguard is a sign that it is a unique limited edition model.
Cherry & Rosewood 3P Back
This guitar is made of cherry wood, which comes from one of the most popular trees in Japan, and rosewood, which is a quintessential material in the making of acoustic guitars, with a 3-piece back.
Adirondack Spruce
The top is made of Adirondack spruce, one of the rarest and finest woods available. Adirondack spruce is native to North America and has been used for acoustic guitars since the old days, making it a very rare and desired material. Adirondack spruce is one of the best woods for guitars, and it has a beautiful look with a tightly packed grain and a clear, rich sound from low to high notes. It is one of the most valuable woods for guitars.
34 Bracing
The bracing we went for on this model is the newly adopted -34 Bracing- developed by Headway master-builder Momose last year. This layout is similar to the “semi-forward shift” layout, in which the X-bracing crosses about 4.6mm closer to the bridge than the forward shift, and it retains the softness and overtones of the forward shift bracing, while also providing stability in terms of strength.
ESU Neck
The extra-slim U-neck is the thinnest in Headway’s history and is very easy to grip and handle. The carbon rod reinforcement inside the neck maintains Headway’s traditional characteristics of robustness and stability. This is a neck grip that we are confident players with small hands will enjoy. The semi-glossy finish gives the neck the look of a neck that has been used for a good while; so that the hand can tightly hold the neck for a good grip.
Special Soundhole Plate
We made a label plate for two models only. This is the first time for us to produce a limited edition label plate. With a Great Purple Emperor Butterfly design and the commemorative text, this comes as our best looking soundhole plate ever made.
Soundhole Cover
This soundhole cover is also only available for this model. It is an optional part that has a great advantage not only in terms of design but also in terms of functions such as humidity control and sound deadening. The front of the cover is decorated with a big Great Purple Emperor Butterfly to create a striking design. If you look carefully at the wings, you may discover something.
Total Production Amount – 30 Units
Coming this March!
