The pure sound of Sakura
brought out by the urushi finish
Headway, which specializes in making guitars with a “Japanese” theme, is proud to announce the 10th anniversary of the Sakura model, which combines two of Headway’s signature Japanese elements: Japanese cherry blossoms and Urushi lacquer.
With wood from the tree that colors Japanese landscape through they 4 seasons, Sakura, and Urushi, which represents the tradition and culture passed on generation to generation, we bring you this guitar that wholly represents Japan by the hands of the most talented craftsmen in both guitarmaking and urushi lacquer.
The pure sound of Sakura
brought out by the urushi finish
Headway, which specializes in making guitars with a “Japanese” theme, is proud to announce the 10th anniversary of the Sakura model, which combines two of Headway’s signature Japanese elements: Japanese cherry blossoms and Urushi lacquer.
With wood from the tree that colors Japanese landscape through they 4 seasons, Sakura, and Urushi, which represents the tradition and culture passed on generation to generation, we bring you this guitar that wholly represents Japan by the hands of the most talented craftsmen in both guitarmaking and urushi lacquer.
The traditional Japanese techniques passed on through generations
- 『Sai Urushi KOBAYASHI』
Profile
Noboru Kobayashi
Born in the Nagano prefecture in 1964.
Associate member of the Crafts Division of the National Painting Society of Japan and Shinshu Carpenters’ Association.
Has been working with Urushi since 1981.
He is in charge of the production of original urushi accessories and the urushi lacquer finishing of products made by many woodworkers and furniture makers.
With his excellent urushi painting skills and warm personality, he creates works that are full of urushi’s charm.
A crane flapping its wings in the sunsetting sky
The headstock design features a motif of a crane, a bird that has been popular in Japan since ancient times as a symbol of the Japanese spirit. The design depicts a scene of a crane flapping its wings against a background of orange-tinged sunset sky water reflecting underneath it, making this model a fitting one for the 10th anniversary of the Sakura guitar.
Cherry blossoms fluttering down the fingerboard
The fretboard inlay features a design of cherry blossom petals fluttering down, creating a delicate finish that evokes a feeling of elegance.
Coloration reminiscent of dusk
These model feature a “Urushizakura gradation” color scheme, which is reminiscent of the sky at dusk with its gradual orange color gradation.
The coloring beautifully accentuates the texture of the underlying wood grain, which is one of the more attractive and desirable benefits of urushi lacquer finish.
※Due to the characteristics of the urushi lacquer coating, the lacquer has a strong candy color immediately after completion, but over time it mellows out to a lighter gradation of colors.
The characteristics of urushi
01
Urushi lacquer finish
Urushi lacquer finishes have a very thin coating film, consisting of a coating thickness of about 0.05 mm. Although the numbers alone may raise concerns about its resistance and durability, it adheres to wood more firmly than solvent-based paints, resulting in a very sturdy finish.
02
Durability
Due to the thinness of its coating, urushi lacquer coating does not inhibit the vibrations of the body and brings out the rich, natural sound of the wood. Urushi finishes have excellent antiseptic, waterproofing, and mothproofing effects, and it is said urushi lacquer becomes most beautiful a few decades after it’s first applied.
03
Sound Characteristics
The sound is so natural that it can be called “the pure sound of urushi” which preserves the original freshness of the wood, and you can even hear the difference by listening to it without any special equipment. Altogether with its gorgeous visual qualities, its sound quality, and the thinness of the finish itself, everything comes together to give what could be called a more natural experience that is different from that of synthetic conventional solvent-based finishes.
Specs
01
Dovetail Joint
The dovetail joint has a large joint area and produces a rich sound as if the body and neck were made of one piece of wood. The high strength of the joint prevents problems such as the neck from buckling, and it brings a stability that allows the player to continue to play and enjoy the growth of the guitar and its sound sound over the course of a lifetime.
02
Post-process assembly
The body and neck are finished separately and then jointed using the dovetail method. This method of jointing the body and neck after finishing them is called “post-processing assembly”. By using this method, it is possible to fine-tune the joint angle of the body and neck after observing slight shifts of the body and neck caused by the finish and drying processes. This allows the neck to be angled properly in relation to the bridge, which in turn makes it easier to set the proper saddle height and string action, and in turn contributing to improved playability.
Lineup
Traditional craft -Urushi-
The tree that colors thee Japanese landscape through the 4 seasons -Sakura-
HD-URUSHI/SKR’24 SF,S/STD
MSRP・・・JPY 320,000
Shipping starting August
HF-URUSHI/SKR’24 SF,S/STD
MSRP・・・JPY 320,000
Completion starting September
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
-Is there anything I should be careful about taking care of my Urushi guitar?
For everyday maintenance, wiping with a dry cloth is optimal. Polish and abrasive chemical cloths may damage the coating. If there is a noticeable stain, we recommend wiping with a cloth wrung tightly with water.
-How to store and care for urushi guitars?
Storage is the same as for a regular acoustic guitar. After use, loosen the machine heads a little and wipe it down to ensure a long-lasting guitar that will be with you for many years. (Dry wipes are recommended, so please refrain from using solvents, etc.)