• About Us

Founded in 2006 by John Littler in Oxfordshire, England, Headway Music Audio Ltd rose from former company, Headway Electronics Partners. In two short years, Headway has launched the superbly received Shire King Acoustic Combo amplifiers, SK60 and SK120, and has redesigned the pickup range alongside Oxfordshire’s John East (E-Pro Audio/ ex-SSL).

Shire King amplifiers have been a key addition in the broadening of Headway products, a range which will continue to expand and will shortly include the unique Equalizer Direct Blend or EDB-1.

Headway Music Audio Ltd is the UK’s top supplier of pickup systems for hand-made and production workshop guitars and the second largest supplier of retrofit pickups for after market pro installation. Internationally, dedicated distribution reaches at least 20 territories, plus assorted dealers and makers. Sales continue to grow, led by the High End HE2 Active Under saddle Pickups, plus Shire King Amplifiers and The Band "instant fit" pickups for Violin family instruments.

Headway's Snake3 & HE2 Under saddle active pickups utilise a unique European made Co-axial Piezo sensor cable as primary pickup material. This new cable senses 360 around degrees, picking up a more natural image of the instrument than flat pickups and is the first to be designed for a music audio application. Headway's Piezo cable features a tighter weave and a conductive carbon layer, with a unique screened tip, resulting in absolutely zero hum as on the new UK-made HE2 range.

The HE2's noise figure of 98dB is lower than much pro audio equipment and it's inherent low resonant frequency avoids the harsh, glassy and trebly peaks from which other piezo materials suffer, as well as a slower more natural response. 4) after above add, Sheer Acoustic SA2 is Headway's revised, easier to fit active on board system offering exceptional sound quality and maximum control via 4 Band Slider EQ and rotary volume, fast battery access and low battery indicator. With a simple to understand housing, designed by the award winning 3T in Warwickshire, SA2 is being pre-installed on production Guitars, fitted in the Czech Republic, China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Headway pickup systems incorporate pre-amps that have been designed to fit the dynamic ranges of specific instruments, such as Acoustic Guitar, Nylon Strung Guitars, Acoustic Bass, Double Bass, Mandolin/Uke, Celtic Bouzouki, Dobro, Harp, etc. 

Other planned developments include the re-release of the highly acclaimed VL3 in an expanded form, with models for Violin and Viola. A totally professional, uncompromised, integral bridge pickup based active system, with Rosewood Clamp socket and Equalizer Direct box.

The pickups are continually acclaimed as being more natural in tone and response, and easier to use, than the alternatives.

The list of top pro musicians using Headway continues to grow and includes:

Richie Blackmore
Robert Plant
Bob Dylan
Seth Lakeman
KT Tunstall
Dave Pegg

The ex Taylor UK demo guitar player, Pete Smith, has recently chosen the Headway Shire King 120 as his favourite amp and has started to demo Headway amps and pickups, with his favourite Larrivee Guitar line, at various events, including Guitar and Music Trade shows.