The Eagle KUROEZOMATSU/STD Type D BK-VGR

Introduction

Black Ezo Spruce & The Eagle

Founded in 1977 and boasting a history spanning over 45 years, Headway released what we call a “Whole New Headway” in 2023, embodying the company’s aspiration to soar into a new era. While retaining the style of Headway’s flagship model, the “HD-115”, this model features a complete overhaul of its specifications and design, developed from the ground up by the artisans of the Aska Team Build in collaboration with Headway’s founder, Yasuo Momose.

Now, “The Eagle” opens a new chapter with the use of the Japanese tonewood “Kuro-Ezo-Matsu” or “Black Ezo Spruce”. By pairing “The Eagle” design with Black Ezo Spruce wood, one of Japan’s premier tonewoods, selected from materials that meet the criteria for use as an acoustic guitar top, a new model has been born that fully realizes both the wood’s inherent potential and “The Eagle’s” sound concept.

The Potential of Black Ezo Spruce as a Tonewood

“Adirondack spruce” is renowned as the premier top wood for acoustic guitars. Black Ezo Spruce boasts a dynamic tone and rich overtones that rival even Adirondack spruce, demonstrating high potential as a tonewood.
Although this material is highly prized and scarce due to the decline of natural forests in its native Hokkaido, this project was made possible by utilizing stock that Aska Workshop had secured and managed in the past.

“Black Vertical Gradation”, Inspired by Black Ezo Spruces
The body top’s coloring is also inspired by Black Ezo Spruces, featuring a gradient of a uniquely formulated “black” with an ink-black base. The exquisite shade, through which the grain of the Black Ezo Spruce shines, creates a finish that combines a chic atmosphere with a sense of luxury. You just proved my point.

The Eagle’s Concept

Models bearing the “Eagle” name share a common design concept featuring the ‘Eagle’ motif, an iconic element of past Headway models, and boast a unique sound character created by the exclusive “Mid Point Shifted X Bracing” system.

Playability and Sound Backed by Technology

New Bracing: Heralding a New Beginning

Based on the standard bracing used by Momose when Headway was founded, custom builders Yasui and Furihata incorporated modern arrangements and took on the challenge of redesigning it, resulting in the first-ever adoption of “Mid Point Shifted X Bracing.” Additionally, the “Shallow Scalloped” specification, which features shallower scalloping of the bracing than usual, had previously been used only in Momose’s Custom Shop models, but has now been incorporated into “The Eagle” for the first time. Featuring a tone with well-defined articulation in every note combined with a resonant body resonance in the low end, all wrapped in harmonics, this well-balanced sound stays true to the traditional Headway sound while hinting at new possibilities for the brand.

A design that symbolizes -The Eagle-

The Eagle Symbol and Crown Logo

The brand logo is inspired by the eagle, the king of the skies, and features the “Headway Crown Logo” design, which symbolizes royalty.
Headway has reimagined the “Eagle”,a symbol the brand has used since its founding. Capturing a moment of the eagle spreading its wings wide and soaring through the vast sky, the design evokes the image of soaring into a new era.

Feather Inlay

The fingerboard features a design depicting eagle feathers in flight. Eagle feathers are said to show the path ahead and help propel one into the future; this design expresses our hope for a fresh start—both for Headway and for everyone who picks up these models.

Soundhole Cover

The soundhole cover helps maintain humidity inside the body and reduces feedback. It features a design symbolic of “The Eagle”, giving it a presence befitting the majestic Eagle.

Soundhole Label

The soundhole label, featuring the distinctive, piercing gaze of an eagle, is also based on the theme color “blue” and inspires a quiet spirit of challenge.