Ace Tone

Ace Electronic Industries Inc., or Ace Tone was a manufacturer of musical instruments, including electronic organs and analogue drum machines, and effects pedals. Founded in 1960 by Ikutaro Kakehashi with an investment by Sakata Shokai, Ace Tone can be considered an early incarnation of the Roland Corporation, which was also founded by Kakehashi^[1]. Ace Tone began manufacturing amplifiers in 1963^[1].

1 Products
2 See also
3 References
4 Notes
5 External links

Products

Electronic Keyboards

Clavioline

Main article: Clavioline

Canary Organ S-2 (1962, exhibited on 1964 Summer NAMM, but not released) ^[2]
Canary Organ S-3 (Three legs)　^[3]

Combo Organ

Top-1 Organ (1968)
Top-3 Organ (Phenix) (1965)
Top-4 Organ (Phenix)
Top-5 Organ (c.1969)
Top-6 Organ (
Top-7 Organ
Top-8 Organ
Top-9 Organ
GT-5 Organ (1971) ^{[Note 1]}
GT-7 Organ (1971) ^{[Note 2]}

Home Organ

TO-S1 (ca.1966) ^[3]
A-122 Organ
B-422 Organ ^{[Note 3]}
C-422S Organ

Organs (OEM)

Technitone SX-610 (1963) ^[3]

Synthesizers

Multistrings SY-5
PS-1000 Monosynth (1975)

Effects

Analog Delay EH-50
Analog Delay EH-100
Echo Chamber EC-1
Echo Chamber EC-10 Professional Echo
Echo Chamber EC-20
FUZZ/BOOSTER
Fuzz Master FM-1 (c.1966-67)
Fuzz Master FM-2 (c.1968-70)
Fuzz Master FM-3 (c.1971)
Graphic Equalizer QH-100
Stereo Phasor LH-100
Twin Ace FW-1
Wah Master WM-1

Elka E30 Electronic Organ

Drum Machines

R1 Rhythm Ace (1964) ^[2]^[4]
Rhythm Ace R-3 (1966) ^[3]
Rhythm Ace FR-1 (1967) ^{[Note 4]}^[A][H]
Rhythm Ace FR-2L
Rhythm Ace FR-3 ^[R]
Rhythm Ace FR-3S
Rhythm Ace FR-4 ^[M]
Rhythm Ace FR-6 (1974 ) ^[A][S]
Rhythm Ace FR-6P
Rhythm Ace FR-6M ^[M]
Rhythm Ace FR-7M
Rhythm Producer FR-7L ^[R]
Rhythm Producer FR-8L ^[A][M]
Rhythm Ace FR-13
Rhythm Producer FR-15 (1975)
Rhythm Ace FR-20
Rhythm Ace FR-30
Rhythm Ace FR-60 (Floor type)
Rhythm Ace FR-70 (Floor type)
Rhythm FEVER FR-106 ^[S]

Note: Rhythm Ace series were known to be shipped under multiple brands:

Since 1967, Hammond Organ Company distributed Rhythm Ace under Hammond brand.

[A][H] Also shipped from Hammond.

In 1970s, some models were also supplied to Multivox as OEM products.^{[Note 5]}

[M] Multivox model

[A][M] Also shipped from Multivox

In mid 1970s, “ACE TONE” brand was taken over by Sakata/Nihon Hammond.^{[Note 6]}

[S] Sakata/Nihhon Hammond model

[A][S] Also shipped from Sakata/Nihhon Hammond.

In 1972, Kakehashi left Ace Electronics and established Roland Corporation.

[R] Roland released improved models in 1972 (Roland Rhythm 33 (TR-33) and Roland Rhythm 77 (TR-77))

Amplifiers

Guitar Amplifiers

Mini Ace (Combo)
Solid Ace-1 (Combo)
Solid Ace-2 (Combo)
Solid Ace-3 (Head)
Solid Ace-5 (Combo)
Solid Ace-6 (Head)
Solid Ace-7 (Combo)
Solid Ace-8 (Head)
Solid Ace-10 (Head)
Fighter Amplifier
Friend Ace AR-1
Gut's Ace
Duetta
G-15 Guitar Amplifier (1977)
GA-5S Cabinet

Tube Amplifiers

Mighty-5 50Watt (Head)
Rockey 15Watt 1x12 (Combo)
Model-101 1x8 (Combo)
Model-201 (Combo)
Model-301 (Combo)
Model-601 (Head)

Bass Amplifiers

Bass-3 (Combo) Solid State
Bass-6 (Head) Solid State
Bass-9 (Head)
B-50 ^{[Note 6]}

Vocal Amplifiers/Channel Mixer

VM-4 Solid State Channel Mixer
VM-30 (Combo)
Channel Mixer VM-80 Professional (Powered Mixer)
VM-150 (Powered Mixer)

Other

Tuning Gun (Tuner)

References

^ ^a ^b "Lifetime-Achievement-Award Mr. Ikutaro Kakehashi", Musikmesse International Press Award 2002, 2002, retrieved April 2, 2006
^ ^a ^b Ikutaro Kakehashi (Mar. 2003). I believe in music. Hal Leonald Corp. pp. 41. ISBN 978-0-634-03783-2. http://books.google.co.jp/books?pg=PA41&lpg=PR5&id=09Z8a0lKyPcC&as_brr=3.
In 1964, Canary S-2 and R-1 Rhythm Ace were exhibited on Summer NAMM, but finally not released.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d All About Electronic & Electric Musical Instruments. Seibundo ShinkoSha. 1966. ASIN B000JAAXH6, 電子楽器と電気楽器のすべて. http://www.denhaku.com/mukasi/chomks/allthe.htm.
^ Gordon Reid (Nov. 2004). "The History Of Roland Part 1: 1930-1978". Sound On Sound. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov04/articles/roland.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
Precisely, R-1 was not a drum machine, but a hand-operated electronic percussion.

"Ace Tone Catalog (February 1972)" (in Japanese). Ace Electronic Industry Inc. http://ushigomepan.cool.ne.jp/effect/catalogue/ace7207/00.html.
The Audio Playground Synthesizer Museum: Ace Tone - List of products and some corporate history.
Combo Organ Heaven: Ace Tone - Profiles of organs and corporate history.
Harmony Central: The Effects Database: Acetone - Reviews of Ace Tone effects pedals.
Orgel Wiki: Ace Tone - more pictures of organ models.
VintageSynth.hu: Ace - more pictures of products.

Notes

^ "Ace Tone GT-5". (picture). Orgel Wiki. http://orgelfreaks.wiki.zoho.com/Ace-Tone-GT-5.html.
^ "Ace Tone GT-7". (picture). Orgel Wiki. http://orgelfreaks.wiki.zoho.com/Ace-Tone-GT-7.html.
^ "Ace Tone B 422". (pictures). VintageSynth.hu. http://www.vintagesynth.hu/index.php?m=tipus&gyarto=47&id=2064.
^ In 1967, FR-1 was introduced as option of Hammond organ.
^ "Multivox Archive Page". (pictures). Audio Playground Synthesizer Museum. Archived from the original on May 21, 2003. http://web.archive.org/web/20030521111213/http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/ar/m/multi/multi.html.
In 1970s, some models were also supplied to Multivox, an OEM brand of Ace Tone's general agency in the United States.
^ ^a ^b In mid 1970s, Ace Electronic Industries Inc. was restructured and “ACE TONE” brand was taken over by Nihon Hammond, a joint enterprise of Hammond and Sakata Shokai.

External links

ace-tone lh-100 stereo phasor - LH-100 Stereo Phasor photo and audio examples.
effectsdatabase.com: Ace Tone WM-1 Wah Master.
The Dave Howard Singers PAGE - A band that popularized the sound of the Acetone Top 5.