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John Boy Tube Amplifiers??

Cotton Mouth

Member
Mar 8, 2007
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2
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I came across a site that claims the John Boy Tube Amps are the best quality tube Amps, I'm curious as to what anyone can tell me about these amps as I have never heard of them before period.

The pictures here I'm going to post are of the John Boy Tube Amp for the Mobile it says and has 3CX3000 Mobile tube Amp for $4500.00.

Someone please educate me on this particular box as I have no clue.

As always thanks in advance,

Cotton mouth/Darrin.
 

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The tube in the posted photos looks like a 4-1000. I know several people who have John Boy amps and they really like them. I've seen several and the build looks good also. It is not just thrown together like some of them.
 
I came across a site that claims the John Boy Tube Amps are the best quality tube Amps, I'm curious as to what anyone can tell me about these amps as I have never heard of them before period.

The pictures here I'm going to post are of the John Boy Tube Amp for the Mobile it says and has 3CX3000 Mobile tube Amp for $4500.00.

Someone please educate me on this particular box as I have no clue.

As always thanks in advance,

Cotton mouth/Darrin.

linkie pleasie?
 
John, the builder was working for MACO a long time ago. He designed and built alot of the maco tube amps you see still floating around. He left maco back around 1979-1980 and went out on his own. The man knows his stuff when it comes to tubes. Been to his shop a few years back about the time maco closed the doors for good. He bought 3 semis full of stuff when everything went up for sale. I was lucky enough to buy the last few maco amp assemblies. Just the cases and printed circuit boards. For both 2 and 4 transistor amps.
 
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Reactions: Shadetree Mechanic
I came across a site that claims the John Boy Tube Amps are the best quality tube Amps, I'm curious as to what anyone can tell me about these amps as I have never heard of them before period.

The pictures here I'm going to post are of the John Boy Tube Amp for the Mobile it says and has 3CX3000 Mobile tube Amp for $4500.00.

Someone please educate me on this particular box as I have no clue.

As always thanks in advance,

Cotton mouth/Darrin.


Biggest bunch of thrown together junk ive ever seen,friend of mine paid 1800.00 for a 2 /4cx250b amplifier brand new and was nothing but junk. all the internal wiring was a total laugh will components hanging in mid air,the power supply doubler was laid out on a scrap piece of plexiglass all scratched and crooked on one end. a dayton blower was mounted on the end(trimmed to fit with what looked like a hammer and chisel) and was so loud your mic would pick up the noise if the amp were in the next room. cathode compartment sealed with clear shipping tape,absolute junk. when the pos quit working he brought it to me and i found the b+ over 1000 volts over max ratings.i gave the pos back and told him to take it somewhere else.beware
 
Biggest bunch of thrown together junk ive ever seen,friend of mine paid 1800.00 for a 2 /4cx250b amplifier brand new and was nothing but junk. all the internal wiring was a total laugh will components hanging in mid air,the power supply doubler was laid out on a scrap piece of plexiglass all scratched and crooked on one end. a dayton blower was mounted on the end(trimmed to fit with what looked like a hammer and chisel) and was so loud your mic would pick up the noise if the amp were in the next room. cathode compartment sealed with clear shipping tape,absolute junk. when the pos quit working he brought it to me and i found the b+ over 1000 volts over max ratings.i gave the pos back and told him to take it somewhere else.beware


I guess there are bad ones in every bunch then. The John Boy 3 X 3-500Z amp I saw was a real clean and thought out build. Everything was laid out well and rated with enough headroom to not overstress the components. I haven't seen a 250B amp so they may be different.

BC
 
They sure don't impress me at all. What are are those terminals on the back of the deck for? Looks like you have to hook up each wire from the power supply, why not a modular plug?. Tune and load look cheap too.
Rich
 
JOHN BOY

I have one. A 4 tube 4cx250b 2 piece model. Had read good things about them, but in reality, a real POS. I will just ditto everything the other poster said about it.
Another poster said that he would just buy a HAM hi-power amp. Hmmmm maybe a henry 8k or alpha 77sx? but amps like that are in the $10k range. Peace
 
there is a local here who has a tube in his amp, similar to that tube in the picture.
 
Last edited:
Junk...i would go into why but i've had these arguments elsewhere and i'll just keep the reasons to myself...but compare the insides of one of his amps to a QUALITY amp built on sound RF theory and youll see the difference in the details
 
there a good starting point if you can or have some else thats good with amps tighten up the lose ends someone to make it a finished product. i've seen several that lack refined finishing when delivered just minor crap but they work great once finished.
 
Although you are speaking of a Tube amp..
At that money..

I would pick up am Icom amp for slightly more..
But you know those are Excellent amps..
Although only 1000 watts...but more then enough to get the job done..

Just my 2 cents..
 

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