HD-URUSHI/SKR’24 SF,S/STD

Introduction

Headway’s Cherry Blossom Guitars celebrate their 10th anniversary

Our Sakura (Japanese Cherry Tree) wood guitar history began with a single ukulele built in 2014. Headway has been working with this wood material, which has a different sound and quality than imported wood, with the knowledge and skills we have gained over the years of making guitars. This year, Headway celebrates its 10th anniversary and has created a special model with the hope that it will take another leap forward and spread its wings to the world.

Urushi Guitar meets a Sakura Model

The ever-evolving “Urushi Guitar” from Headway and Japanese lacquer craftsmen is now available in a special, limited edition model. We aim to express the beauty of both of these Japanese materials. Continuing from last year, the urushi coating will be finished by “Sai Urushi KOBAYASHI”, whose workshop is located in Nagano Prefecture, the same prefecture as Deviser. We hope you have a moment to appreciate the many traditional Japanese techniques that have been passed down through the generations to the craftsmen working on these models.

Design

A crane flaps its wings against a background of dusk sky and the reflecting water underneath. It is a fitting model for the 10th anniversary of the Sakura Guitar.

The fretboard inlay features a design of falling cherry blossom petals, creating a delicate finish that evokes a feeling of elegance.

Body

To embody the Japanese guitar, the body back & sides are made of Japanese cherry wood, also known as Sakura.
It has a very hard character with a peak in the low midrange, but also produces a sweet sound characteristic of cherry wood.

This model features 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.

10th Anniversary Logo

The back of the headstock will be engraved with the anniversary logo, inspired by the “woman with the Japanese umbrella” that symbolizes Headway’s cherry blossom model, and exclusive to the 10th anniversary model.

Urushi, it’s applciation, and guitars

Excellent durability

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. Lacquer coating also has excellent antiseptic, waterproofing, and mothproofing effects, and it is said that urushi lacquer becomes most beautiful a few decades after it’s first applied.

A sound that develops as the guitar is played

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.

Q&A Aubout urushi guitars

—Q. Is there anything I should be careful about when taking care of my urushi guitar?
A. 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.

—Q. How to store and care for urushi guitars?
A. 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.)