Limited Edition
2025
Heralding Spring
Are the 2025 Headway Sakura models
Starting in 2014, Sakura Guitars began a new chapter in their history, which has now been over a decade in the making.
In its 10-year history, Headway has taken on numerous challenges while producing Sakura guitars, creating guitars with a story to tell and weaving a tale in their designs. And now, to usher in the spring of 2025, a new page in our history, new limited edition Headway models with Swallows as their motif.
Swallows also visit the Aska workshop. Headway master builder Yasuo Momose, who sadly passed away last year, also looked forward to the swallows that visited every year.
The Sakura gutiars created by the Headway team, have entered its 11th year, which much like the migrating swallows, have embarked in another long journey this year.
Heralding Spring
Are the 2025 Headway Sakura models
Starting in 2014, Sakura Guitars began a new chapter in their history, which has now been over a decade in the making.
In its 10-year history, Headway has taken on numerous challenges while producing Sakura guitars, creating guitars with a story to tell and weaving a tale in their designs. And now, to usher in the spring of 2025, a new page in our history, new limited edition Headway models with Swallows as their motif.
Swallows also visit the Aska workshop. Headway master builder Yasuo Momose, who sadly passed away last year, also looked forward to the swallows that visited every year.
The Sakura gutiars created by the Headway team, have entered its 11th year, which much like the migrating swallows, have embarked in another long journey this year.
Aska Team Build Series
Production limited to 15 units
HD-SAKURA’25/ATB
MSRP・・・JPY 400,000
Production limited to 15 units
HF-SAKURA’25/ATB
MSRP・・・JPY 400,000
Design
Design
Fluttering swallows and cherry blossom petals
The head inlay depicts a swallow taking flight from a Japanese cherry tree branch and soaring lightly through the fluttering cherry blossoms.
Neck inlay that tells the story of the swallow
The inlays decorating the ebony fretboard beautifully depict the flight path of a swallow as it connects the petals of a cherry tree in full bloom.
Soundhole cover with two swallows cuddling together
The soundhole cover has an adorable design of two swallows nestled on a cherry blossom branch, and the pickguard inlay features the silhouette of a swallow with a cherry blossom to acompany it, as well as being shaped like a cherry blossom petal itself.
Pink body binding and color that expresses the pale cherry blossoms of spring
The color used on these models is a light pink, reminiscent of cherry blossoms in spring. Inspired by the first cherry blossoms of the year, the 2025 Headway Sakura Model brings the Japanese spring spirit.
The body binding is made of a stone-grained pink resin material, which, combined with the color, creates an elegant yet distinctive atmosphere unique to Sakura guitars.
Material
Yamazakura (wild cherry) & Indian rosewood
The sides and back are made of yamazakura (mountain cherry) wood, which has a sweet tone and flame grain. The back is made of Indian rosewood for the centerpiece, for an even more gorgeous finish. On the top of the body, an inlay depicts a family of swallows and a woman with a Japanese umbrella looking up at them, a beautiful scene that seems to have been captured on a spring day.
Extra Slim 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.
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.
High-precision neck joint
Headway uses the traditional dovetail joint method. While in recent years there have been an increasing number of models with simpler bolted joints, the dovetail joint has a larger joint area, and when finished precisely, the neck and body produce a rich sound as if they were a single piece of wood. The joint’s protrusion, called a “dovetail” is made larger than a standard joint, and a special jig is used to join them together. Adjustment of the neck angle and other parts at this point greatly affects playability and sound, and is a process that requires a high level of skill to pull-off.
VIDEOS
Standard Series
Design
Design
Headstock top swallows parent and fletching inlay
The swallows, a familiar migratory bird of spring to the Japanese, were chosen as the motif for the design, as they are associated with Headway, and the late master builder Yasuo Momose looked forward to seeing them come to his workshop every spring. The design focuses on the memory of Mr. Momose and the profound Japanese landscape, creating a story that runs throughout the guitar.
Cherry blossom inlays adorn the fretboard
Inlays in the shape of cherry blossom petals decorate the fretboard beautifully. The design was also considered for playability so that the guitar would not feel uncomfortable when coming from guitars with regular position marks.
Pearl finish with various expressions (SAKURA)
With a natural color base, the guitar is then finished with a pale pink pearl coating, which is reminiscent of cherry blossom petals. The hue changes depending on the angle you view the guitar from, giving it a different appearance depending on your perspective.
Pearl finish with various expressions (YOZAKURA)
The “Nightly Cherry Blossom” purple color is one of the most popular Sakura guitar colors. The pearl finish gives it a different hue and appearance depending on the angle you view it from.
Cherry blossom petal-shaped pickguard
The cherry blossom-shaped pickguard is made of purple heart wood, the symbol of the cherry blossom guitar. It is proof of Headway’s Sakura guitars, unchanged since the first one was made.
Material
High-precision neck joint
Headway uses the traditional dovetail joint method. While in recent years there have been an increasing number of models with simpler bolted joints, the dovetail joint has a larger joint area, and when finished precisely, the neck and body produce a rich sound as if they were a single piece of wood. The joint’s protrusion, called a “dovetail” is made larger than a standard joint, and a special jig is used to join them together. Adjustment of the neck angle and other parts at this point greatly affects playability and sound, and is a process that requires a high level of skill to pull-off.
Sakura Wood Material
Yamazakura cherry wood collected in Japan is used for the back & sides. It is quite hard and has a rich low and midrange, but also has a sweet sound characteristic of Sakura wood. The center of the body is decorated with a centerline made of purple heart, the same material used for the pickguard.
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