Up for sale, a 1974 Hayman 3030 electric guitar in 100% original condition and in perfect working order. A rare UK-made instrument and a direct descendent of the Burns brand, Hayman instruments were originally designed by Mr. James Ormston Burns himself in collaboration with Bob Pearson of Vox. The resulting 3030 model is visually dynamic, incredibly well-built, and sonically supreme, bringing together key elements from classic UK and USA designs. This obeche solid body electric weighs in at a comfortable 7lbs 7oz and has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar.
The maple neck has a slender C shape framed by black binding, with a profile measuring .835” deep at the 1st fret and .930” at the 12th. The neck feels fast and effortless, with smooth, slightly rolled fretboard edges. The original fretwire is intact and retains its full factory height, showing only faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-12. Measured at the zero fret just forward of the traditional nut, the fretboard is 1 5/8" wide. The distinctive headstock retains the original USA-made Pat. Pending Grover Rotomatic tuners which turn very smoothly and provide a superior gear ratio. Four string trees ensure that the strings travel straight and true across the nut, and central to the headstock's zenith, a circular transparent disc with the Hayman "H" is suspended in the maple. The embossed metal serial plate beneath the four-bolt neck plate translates to June, 1974.
All of the stock electronics work as they should, with a straightforward three-way pickup selector switch and Master Volume and Tone knobs to control the pair of original humbuckers. Plugged in, the humbuckers have are quite hot with a powerful, rich, and throaty character. The neck pickup sounds open and airy compared to the honky, snarly bridge, offering a wide range of tonalities between the two. All of the factory hardware is in excellent condition, with aluminum-topped knobs turning with ease, and the plastic three-way selector switch feeling sturdy and looking quite tidy against the brushed aluminum control panel. The string-through body design, with proprietary Hayman bridge system, maximizes intonation, resonance, and sustain. A thick tinted transparent pickguard rounds out the the aesthetics with a distinct layer of class.
Cosmetically, this Hayman is a remarkably well-preserved example. Wear on the body is limited to a few scattered faint nicks and scratches on the warm and vibrant original gloss Sunburst finish, along with minimal buckle rash on the back and light scuffing in the pick path. The neck profile and headstock are incredibly clean, with no visible signs of use, retaining a smooth and shiny transparent finish on the maple.
