So Flo Smart Aleck

TONE HEAVEN HAS BEEN FOUND IN SOUTH FLORIDA ! The So Flo Smart Aleck guitar amplifier is an amazing and wonderful amplifier. Controls are as follows; Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, Master, On/Off Switch, Ground Switch, Bright Switch,and a 2 Button Foot Switch. 2 inputs for high & low and the output transformers are set up for 4, 8, & 16 ohms. Extremely simple and straight forward. This amp is PURE CLASS A with 3 NOS 6V6 tubes, point to point wiring on a phenolic eyelet board. All caps, potentiometers, transformers, etc., are all 'off the shelf' parts to insure simplicity for service if needed. The cabinet is solid wood construction with a choice of black, blonde, or brown tolex. Custom configurations, cabinet/combo, and coverings are available at extra cost.

The designer and builder says "This amp was designed to fill the gaps between the vintage tweed Champ, Deluxe, and Bassman amps". When I first played this amp about 6 months ago, I couldn't believe my ears. Using a '62 reissue Strat and a ? inch cable as my only means of signal processing, I was absolutely floored. To date, I have yet to play an amp that remained clean when cranked to 10. That's right, clean at full booty! It'll make your short hairs stand on end. This amp never, ever goes into Class AB or limited Class A mode. It remains in pure Class A mode at all times, no matter what you throw at it. This means that you are hearing even order harmonics. When you think of tone heaven, think of even order harmonics. Pressing button 1 on the supplied foot switch, drives the pre-amp section into gain that will make you cry from joy. By boosting the pre-amp, the amp turns into the most wonderful grind box you ever heard. Warn, controlled, round, defined, and tight, best describes the tone that is produced. You become the Blues G-d you knew you could be in this mode. Pressing button 2 applies a power boost to the amp section. All I can say here is 'look out!' Full booty gain that is hog wild, but never out of control. Full warm distortion with amazing sustain, definition, and harmonics. Where mode 1 makes you cry from joy, mode 2 will send you into a uncontrolled fit of jubilation! You are rock & roll in this mode. Please note this is not a shredder's amp. Power output is between 15 watts clean and 28 watts in boost mode. In my humble opinion, it would be best suited for a Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock, or Studio player.

I have no doubts in the reliability of this amp. Its construction, and design are no different from the great vintage amps of the 30's, 40's & 50's. Simplicity is reliability.

So Flo amps are made by Paul Markwalter in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Paul is a friendly and personable fellow. His knowledge of tube amplifiers is vast as is his experience with said devices. His warranty is plain and simple. 48 hours to audition the amp upon arrival. 2 years parts & labor on the amp, and 90 days on the tubes. Check out his web site at www.soflotubeamps.com.

The So Flo Smart Aleck is one truly amazing piece of guitar gear. It must be heard to be appreciated. If you're one that thinks a guitar amp has to have 100 watts to be heard, you are mistaken. True Class A amps do not need to be watt monsters to sound great. The Smart Aleck is proof of that. If you have been left cold by the bevy of amps promising tone heaven, you must get a Smart Aleck. It will not disappoint you. A great guitar amp is as much a musical instrument as your guitar is. The tones that are evoked from this little beast will delight your senses and wow your audience. I play this amp with the following enclosures. 1 Eminence 15 in a sealed enclosure, and 2 x12 EV SRO's in a ported enclosure. Both of these enclosures provide a wide pallet of colors to paint with. So Flo will build the amp in any configuration you desire at extra cost. Take a long look at your gear, your playing style, and yourself. Then give Paul Markwalter a call and have him build you the last amp you'll ever buy or ever need. There are plenty of 'boutique' amps out there. None offer the value and the tone for the money like the So Flo Smart Aleck. I guarantee it.