HOFC-THE 4000th

Introduction

Headway Sakura Guitar’s 10 Year Anniversary Culmination – Aska Team Build Series’ 4000th unit

The Aska Team Build Series, Headway’s flagship lineup that began production in 2011, has now surpassed 4,000 units produced. This ambitious work has culminated in the 4000th unit, with a Sakura model, which has become synonymous with Headway. Aiming to embody “making a guitar with a story”, the craftsmen of the Aska Team Build Series have put their utmost care into every detail of the guitar, incorporating the colorful expressions of the four seasons that have been cultivated by Sakura Guitars.

Design

Headastock design That marks the beginning of a story

On a mild spring day, when you open the sliding door, cherry blossoms dance into the air all at once. This authentically Japanese design, which foreshadows the beginning of a story and is truly worthy of the phrase “spring in full bloom”, is expressed entirely through inlay work done by hand by craftsmen.

Fingerboard inlay with many types of shells to represent the four seasons

One of the most important elements of the Sakura guitar is the expression of the “four seasons”. We have created many impressive designs in the past with the aim of reproducing the changing seasons unique to Japan on our guitars. By using four different types of shells in this model, we have gathered the fluttering cherry blossoms for spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Custom pickguard designed by master builder Furihata Arata

The pickguard is designed to be sharper than those usually used on cherry guitars. This style was invented by Arata Furuhata, a Custom Shop builder, and has been used on his own Custom Shop models. The inlay is decorated with cherry blossom petals fluttering on the fingerboard.

Coloring created by painters who know Sakura wood inside and out

One of the features of Sakura guitars is the coloring, which takes advantage of the wood grain and gorgeousness of Sakura wood. Aska Factory’s paint craftsman Fukada, who has painted many Sakura guitars based on the theme of the season and the story behind the design, is in charge of this model as well. He not only brought out the flamed grain of the cherry wood, but also sought to create an exquisite gradation of color with the vividness that is typical of Sakura models.

This is our first attempt at a three-dimensional design from three angles, a large reproduction of a woman with a Japanese umbrella in the background with careful attention to the texture of the kimono, and other challenges worthy of marking the history of the Sakura Guitar are incorporated throughout the design.

Soundhole Cover

A special soundhole cover with the anniversary logo commemorating the 10th anniversary of Sakura Guitar on the front and surrounded by beautiful inlays made of natural shells is included.

Materials & Features

HOFC Shape

This model uses the HOFC shape with Headway’s new innovation, the Florentine cutaway. Not only the playability at high frets, but also the high tone is beautiful, refined, and clear, making you feel the dawn of a new Headway!

Selected Yamazakura

The back & sides of the body are made of carefully selected Yamazakur (wild cherry) wood with beautiful grains, selected from our workshop’s stock. The strong gran that stands out in combination with the coloring makes it a valuable material among the many sakura woods we have handled.

High-grade Adirondack Spruce

The top material is the highest grade Adirondack spruce, and from a sound standpoint, the clear, sweet tone of the sakura wood is conveyed well.

『Extra Slim U』Neck

The new model features an extra-slim U-neck that is the thinnest in Headway’s history and is shaped for easy gripping. Not only is the neck thinner, but it also retains Headway’s traditional characteristics of solidity and stability by adding carbon support reinforcement to the inside of the neck. This is a trustwhorthy neck grip that women and players with small hands should try. The semi-gloss finish, which resembles a neck after it has been used for a while, gives the neck a good grip that allows the hand to be absorbed by the neck. In addition, the carbon support increases rigidity and leads to better response.

Demo Video