Headway Neckgrips
On our national made Headway models, the shape of the neck grip is divided into several patterns.
The grip of the neck is important for the player since it greatly influences the ease of playing. In this article, I would like to go in-depth about the different neck shapes you can find on our different Headway models.
Not counting special one-offs like custom made models, we at Headway have developed three different neck grip designs, and with the newly released -Extra Slim U Grip- that makes it four.
Narrow V
The -Narrow V- grip is used for guitars with traditional designs such as our HD-115 and HF-415 models. Its thickness is about 22 mm near the first fret, and the peak of the grip is relatively sharp. As you can see in the picture, the wood part near the side of the grip has been shaved, so the grip is comfortable, giving it a “V” shape.
U
This is the grip used for our HJ models. A thick shape based on the traditional U shape. Like the Narrow V, the thickness around the 1st fret is 22mm, this time around the wood on the sides of the grip aren’t shaved, so the grip feels a little more voluminous. This shape is a safe choice for players that want to play with a fingerstyle
The slim U grip is the one we are currently using for our 500 series models on the Standard series and Asuka team build series.
Slim U
Compared to the U grip, its 21.5mm on the 1st fret, and even though some people would think that those 0.5mm would only make a small aesthetic difference, it has a big impact on the playing experience.
When we renewed the 500 series during 2019, we adopted this neck shape so that it can be played by players who didn’t enjoy playing Headway guitars due to their necks being too thick. Since then, not only the 500 series models but also the Standard series products are generally employing this grip. This grip is also used for our Cherry wood guitars and Autumn Leaves special models from 2019 onwards.
The New -Extra Slim U- Grip
The 2020 Extra Slim U Grip is a slim reshape of the slim U grip that was added in 2019. The thickness of 20.5mm near the 1st fret is a drastic size change that is hard to compare to any other Headway neck grip thus far. When all craftsmen got the finished product, they felt amazed at the results they got.
This is an unprecedented grip that greatly changes the playability of the guitar.
Products using this shape include the Extra Slim U Grip logo on the back of the head.
