Headway Session

I originally walked into my local pawn shop looking for a decent neck. Asking for the cheapest guitar in the place, the shopkeeper pulled down a metallic blue monster that looked like a suped up budget Strat. When I got it home and plugged in I was amazed I only paid $60 (Aus) for it. I have no idea when the guitar was made or in fact where as there are no markings and its pretty hard to find info on the thing. With 21 normal nickel frets, an ebony like fret board (grain's not close enough) and binding all around the neck, the guitar certainly looks as good as it sounds; although the neck is a little thick for my shredding. Made from a solid chunk of wood, with a S/S/H configuration and the three control switches (I didnt known what they did until I read the other reviews). The tuners were not in a good way when I got them and were replaced with standard tuners. Despite this and the vintage tremelo, the things still stays in tune for weeks (bearing in mind I live in Queensland Australia, where the temperature and humidity changes at the drop of a goat)

I play mostly heavy, riff based rhythm guitar (Metallica, pre-Black Album) and the guitar can be coaxed to match Hetfield studio sound. I put it through a Peavey bandit 112 Transtube with a zoom 707 for chorus and reverb in the effects channel - for recording you can't tell the difference. The single coils are nice and quiet thanks to the hum cancelling but a bit on the quiet side so they're not really that useful for thick a lead tone. The variety in sounds is otherwise quite good par exemple: clean, with no effects, this baby sounds great (simply by using the neck pickup). It covers all I need and rivals my Ibanez RG in tone... I still hold on to the RG for lead stuff.

Not being straight form the factory, the setup had already been tinkered with a fair bit. To be honest, I haven't played with the intonation as it was fine when I plugged in when I got home. There were of course a bit of fretwear and a missing tone knob, but thats a pawnshop guitar for you. I did take out two of the springs in the tremelo to suit my preferred tension (leaving three, which stll semmed to support 10-46 strings). The last owner seem to have left everything else in order... I used it straight out of shop and it was fine.

Obviously this guitar has been through the wars as the tuners were in pretty bad condition and the paint is scratched more places than I thought guitars had places. These things seem to be built to last (I'm guessing the thing was made about 1990) and I have taken it along to various gigs without a backup.

if the company even exists any more I would like to consult with them about a wiring diagram so that i can improve this guitar further (to get the fill potential of the instument)

This guitar is a great workhorse for anyone seeking a guitar with a distinctive metal tone or a slab of versitility. Anyone in australia or new zealand into guitars should have at least one of these things as a reliable backup for when your pricey JEM or BC Rich packs up (I'm not taking to you Fender crowd... cheap strat copies can be picked up a dime a dozen on ebay)

CJ Pro Series - maple neck, ebanol fretboard, 22 jumbo frets, shark wedge inlays, tipped Charvel style headstock, good tuners (Gotoh?), phase switched Select(SEHG, designed by EMG)humbucker at the bridge position and single Selects at the middle and neck positions. One volume control, one tone control, three toggle switches for PU switching, passive electronics. Rear routed controls (no pick guard). Chrome plated brass Strat style tremolo bridge. No locking nut.

Good sound, fairly hot as the Select humbucker PU is a high output. Flexible tone switching. Good for hard rock/heavy sounds.

Well set-up, intonation is good. Plays moderately fast and the action is about as low as I'd go. Using 10's and it feels good. Finished in metalic blue.

Solid playing guitar. Hardware is of low end variety, except for the tuners. The finish is fair and some of the clear coating has nearly worn through on the top edge. As much as can be expected for a low cost guitar 10 to 15 years old.

Never even heard of this company. I suspect the makers are now out of business or changed names. All I can suggest is that this guitar was distributed in Australia by Electric Factory, according to a 1990 publication while lists several models: Stage Series, Strat* Style, Series II and Session by Headway. List price was AU$299 in 1990 for the CJ1 series, so inexpensive (less than US$200). The CJ Pro Series is not listed in the catalog.

For the money a really great playing and sounding guitar. I would have bought one of these new if I could have found one. I have a Charvel Model 4 (1986) and I'd rate them very similar.

This instrument was bought second hand. I was attrackted by it for it had a ebben toets (sorry I'm dutch). two single coils and one humbucker. It has gotoh tuners steady bridge, it has a strat Look and the head of the neck has this down pointed '80'ths agressive metal look. The instrument is black and serious pieces of wood have been used. The pick ups are selectable trough three switches (also making in and out of phase possible.

Damn fine guitar for only 250 guilders (125 USD(or euro's ?)

because of the ebben used in the neck and the triangle inlay's, it's low action (wich needs a bit of adjustment (someone has been turning in the shop(i'll shop his hands off) and the fine choice of pick up's loads of playstyles are possible including finger picking, and a real eddy van Halen playstyle.

It was well done.

it's probably 10 to 20 years old and looks great.

its nowhere to be found. If u know, let me know on fvdberge@flakkee.net