Up for sale, a 1965 Flot-A-Tone Model 600 1x12 combo amp, near-mint and in perfect working order, outfitted with a complete vintage tube set. Flot-A-Tone was a relatively obscure Milwaukee, WI-based amp manufacturer that operated from the late ‘40s until 1965, first making amps specifically for accordion use and then branching out into the world of guitar amplification during the explosion of rock and roll. Distributed by the Lo Duca brothers (best known for the EKO line of guitars), these hand-wired amps failed to establish a strong foothold in the industry during the company’s lifetime, but they’ve since garnered a devoted following due to their association with legendary tone purists Ry Cooder and G.E. Smith. This Model 600 was one of the final Flot-A-Tone amps ever produced, crafted in the second to last month of production and featuring a dual-channel, dual-input design. This particular Model 600 is also notable for boasting a rare Reverb circuit, a non-standard modification to the platform made at the factory to the final Flot-A-Tones produced and seen on sparingly few examples. 

Flot-A-Tone amps are renowned for their robust Tweed-style tone, and this Model 600 is warm, thick, and harmonic complex, pushing roughly 25 watts. While the cleans are smooth and atmospheric, cranked up the amp cascades into creamy breakup. The two channels offer marginal differences in power and overall bite: Channel 2 has a rounded punch, while Channel 1 has a dynamic, touch-sensitive dimensionality and a hair more clean headroom. The Tremolo is very musical and natural, subtle for most of the range and getting into wonderfully thick pulsations towards the limits of the Speed and Intensity controls with a pronounced vocal-like effect that is unique to Flot-A-Tone amplifiers. The Reverb has a nice splashy quality, tube-driven with a full-length two-spring tank.

The circuit is largely original and professionally serviced, with a number of modern electrolytics and a few Sprague Orange Drops as well. The original Centralab pots date to 1965, and the original transformers are present. The tube complement comprises a pair of RCA 6L6 power tubes, with vintage valves from RCA and General Electric in the preamp. The original Jensen Concert EM1202 (C12N) 12” speaker is present, professionally reconed, and the date stamp on the edge of the frame translates to the 18th week of 1965.

Cosmetic touches include black tolex, wheat grillcloth, white piping and a rare “Reverb” badge. There are only a few minor marks on the enclosure, and the chrome-plated faceplate is in great shape with clean white silkscreened lettering.