D. Boyden amp (did one of you guys build this?)

[woodyc]

Somebody dropped this off today with a severe hum problem. They said it was a high end boutique amp from Austin -- but it is an unpleasant mess to work on.

[Raybob]

6L6 under there? Now that's funny.

[Amp Kat]

Is that thing tube rectified ? If so that 1-st cap should be lowered to under at least 33uf and could be a main source of hum however from the looks it seems there couled be many more issues.

[woodyc]

Is that thing tube rectified ? If so that 1-st cap should be lowered to under at least 33uf and could be a main source of hum however from the looks it seems there couled be many more issues.

Yeah, in the picture you're looking at 2 6L6s and a rectifier. The first cap is 47||47, but there are other issues, as you say.

Also I found out its not from Austin -- it was made by "D. Boyden" of Pensacola.

[Chuck H]

Well, I don't think it's a total hack job! But it's less than good. It's nothing anyone here would sell. I'm almost sure of that. Looks like a lot of bundle and daisy chain on the grounding. With a PTP it's really a PITA but you could start there.

[woodyc]

Well, I don't think it's a total hack job! But it's less than good...

Here's another of Mr. Boyden's innovations (same amp)... mount the power transformer so that the most dangerous voltages in the amp (1.8kV peak-to-peak) are easily accessible:

[Chuck H]

Holy $h!t

[JoeM]

Wow! Bad or difficult to deal with layout is one thing, but that's just asking for disaster.

[abbottamps]

Wow, that thing's a real piece of work... look's like it definitely has the potential to be a hum monster.

[Chuck H]

Even though some builders like to facilitate ease of assembly with terminal strips (which is usually a layout nightmare anyway) that power tranny mount is an unforgivable corner cut. The grounds are bundled and daisy chained and the whole mess is just an utter embarrassment. This is NOT a "boutique" amp. This is built by hand in the quickest/easiest way possible with several errors in ideology along the way. I'd take any modern PCB amp over that turd any day of the week. Whatever rep this builder has established is questionable and whatever they're charging for their product is too much. These shouldn't be allowed to be sold.

[dai h.]

appears to be this guy:

Boyden Amps

Guitars: Killer V by Boyden Amplifiers | Harmony Central

[Chuck H]

"Killer" indeed. Just wait until someone goes grab assing under the chassis for some reason while the amps on! And who has the nerve to title their own work "Killer" in any regard? I think I'll change my name to "Super Cool" or "Mr. Awesome Guy".

[tubeswell]

Here's another of Mr. Boyden's innovations (same amp)... mount the power transformer so that the most dangerous voltages in the amp (1.8kV peak-to-peak) are easily accessible:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20058[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20059[/ATTACH]

That's just stupid (and plain lazy). I mean - is making a proper Z-mount PT hole in the chassis so hard?

[Chuck H]

That's just stupid (and plain lazy). I mean - is making a proper Z-mount PT hole in the chassis so hard?

I guess it is when you build by hand and sell a 100W amp head for $1400. So make the hole how it needs to be made and charge $1450. You just can't skimp on the safety issues. This guy is obviously operating as "overlooked" and "under the radar". But that's no excuse to endanger people! So is anyone here willing to snitch this dufus off? Probably not.

[tubeswell]

If it were me, I'd mount the PT properly (and lay the amp out better all round) and sell it for $1350