HF-SHIKIZAKURA’24 SF,S-ESU/ATB

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 many special models with the hope that it will take another leap forward and spread its wings to the world.

Cranes descending from the sky at the end of an autumn day and the gradation of gorgeous autumn tones

Celebrating its 10th autumn, this year’s Sakura Guitar Autumn Model was created with the motif of for-season cherry blossom trees, or Shikizakura, which are at their best in autumn. The body back depicts a crane coming to welcome the 10th anniversary descending from the evening sky. The “Slanted Gradation” coloring incorporates the feel of the mountains woven with autumn leaves and seasonal cherry blossoms.

Designed to commemorate the 10th anniversary

A combination of autumn leaves and cherry blossoms is depicted throughout

The four-season cherry blossoms, which bloom while overlapping with the season of autumn leaves, create a vivid landscape of contrasting red and pink during the peak of the season. The head of the model expresses the concept of this model in a playful way with the design of a crane hidden among the autumn leaves.

The fretboard also joins the colorful celebration with autumn leaves and blooming cherry blossoms, which adds to the gorgeous appearance and makes the Shikizakura model stand out for its uniqueness.

The pickguard, shaped like a cherry blossom petal, is decorated with a design resembling autumn leaves and inlays of blossoming cherry blossoms. The soundhole cover is decorated with a large design of autumn leaves, while the cherry blossoms in full bloom in the background evoke a scene from the Four-seasons Cherry Blossom Festival, making this a model worthy of being named after the Four-seasons Cherry Blossoms

Yamazakura x Kaede 3-piece back body backside

The side backs are made of yamazakura (mountain sakura wood). It is very hard and has a rich low and midrange, but also has a sweet tone characteristic of sakura wood. The center section is made of kaede, or Japanese maple, which gives the sound a crisp and clear character.

Made using the ATB series’ latest techniques and designs

”Extra Slim U Neck” the thinnest in Headway history

The “Extra Slim U Neck” is a thin neck that defies the preconception of the conventional Headway neck, and while of course taking into consideration the durability that is a characteristic of the Headway necks, the “high-strength neck” specification that includes carbon bars further enhances rigidity. The carbon bars not only provide stability but also suppress unnecessary neck flexing, allowing string vibrations to be transmitted smoothly to the top of the body, thereby improving the expressive power of the upper register.

34 semi-forward shifting bracing

Headway master builder Yasuo Momose studied the bracing of a 1934 vintage guitar and developed his own bracing, which is a semi-forward shift with the X cross position close to the soundhole, which gives the guitar more bass response and volume than when new. The X cross position is 5mm closer to the bridge than the forward shift, which is designed for improved stability of the top board.

A special website for Sakura Guitar’s 10th anniversary is now available at the link above!