Headway HD-305 1979 D-18style Momose-Era Japan Vintage MIJ

Headway HD-305 1979 D-18 style model Momose Era MIJ Japan

【About This item and Sound】
The Headway HD-305 is a Martin D-18 style acoustic guitar with a solid spruce top and carefully selected tonewoods.
This guitar was made in 1979, often considered the golden era of Headway. The serial number is in the 1700 range. Among the original Headway lineup, only two models used a mahogany body, the HD-305 and the HD-308. Production numbers were limited at the time, making this a hard to find guitar today.

One of the first things you notice is the volume. It produces a rich and open tone that carries well, with the elegance expected from a vintage instrument. Even though it is a dreadnought, the sound is tight and sweet. The aged wood gives a strong low end, while the solid spruce top responds quickly and clearly.
The mahogany neck has a solid and comfortable feel, which also contributes to the overall tone.

With a pick, the mahogany body delivers a bright and clear sound that naturally supports rhythm playing. With fingerpicking, the warm and sweet midrange stands out, creating a very expressive tone.

Playing this guitar, you’ll easily understand why so many great players have continued to use the mahogany-bodied “D-18” guitar. And, as you know, countless wonderful albums and legendary performances have been born from it.

The final guitar crafted by master luthier Yasuo Momose was a mahogany D-18 style model.
I had the opportunity to play it, and the sound was truly remarkable.
It made me feel that this style might be both the origin and the ultimate form.

　TOP：Selected Solid Spruce
　Side&Back：Selected Mahogany
　Neck：Mahogany
　Bridge＆F.board：Rosewood
　Special Features：G-Gotoh Rotomatics tuner
　Other：With Hard Case

【 About "HEADWAY"  】
Headway Inc. was founded in 1977 in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan, with Momose, one of Japan's leading luthiers, as technical director. To launch Headway, they purchased a Martin：D-28 in the US for 1 million yen (about $11,500 today), disassembled it, and studied it thoroughly. Initially, guitar production started with three people, but Momose initially produced all of the necks for Headway's original acoustic guitars.

The “Original Headway” was manufactured from 1977 to 1983, and at that time, Headway was considered to be the pinnacle of Japanese-made guitars. It is said that only about 5,000 “Original Headway” brand guitars were produced between 1977 and 1983.
In 1983, the factory and materials were destroyed by arson twice. Acoustic guitar production ceased (in 1999, high-quality acoustic guitar materials became available and a New Headway was born again).

One day, when I was talking in the workshop, I felt something resonating? I could feel it. I turned around and saw this HD-305 standing there, and I was surprised that the body was resonating with my voice.

Please don't miss it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The overall condition of the instrument is very good.

There are some traces of past usage and aging, including dents.

NOTE:
*Our guitars ship tracked and insured.
*Any import duties or taxes are buyer’s responsibility.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us! Message us now to check availability.

ARIGATO!!