Ace Tone Explained

Ace Electronic Industries Inc., or Ace Tone, was a manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, including electronic organs, analogue drum machines, and electronic drums, as well as amplifiers 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.

History

Ikutaro Kakehashi began learning practical mechanical engineering as a teenager, and found there was a demand for electronics repair in Japan following the end of World War II. After recovering from tuberculosis in 1954, he opened a goods store in Osaka and began assembling and repairing radios. He attempted to build an electric organ in the late 1950s from spares, including parts of an old reed organ, telephones and electronic components, and started a business in 1960, initially making amplifiers. He subsequently designed an organ that was sold by Matsushita.

In 1964, Kakehashi designed his first hand playing electronic drum, the R1 Rhythm Ace, constructed from transistor circuitry. It was designed to be attached below the manuals on a home organ, and had six buttons that created a variety of percussion sounds. It was presented at that year's NAMM Show. However, it lacked automatic accompaniment and so was unsuccessful.

In 1965, Ace Tone established a US distribution agreement with Sorkin. In 1967, the company introduced the Rhythm Ace FR-1, which allowed a variety of automatically-played popular rhythms with a variable tempo. It was commercially successful and led to partnership with the Hammond Organ Company, who added Ace Tone's rhythm units to its range of instruments. At the end of the 1960s, Ace Tone began manufacturing guitar effects boxes, such as fuzz which was modelled on an earlier Gibson model.^[2]

Products

Electronic Keyboards

Clavioline

See main article: Clavioline.

• Canary S-2 (1962) — Vacuum tube clavioline, exhibited on 1964 Summer NAMM, but not released.^{[3] [4]}
• Canary S-3 (Three legs) — Transistor clavioline^{[5] [6]}

Combo Organ

• TOP-1 (1968 or 1969)
• TOP-3 (Phenix)^[5] (1965)
• TOP-4 (Phenix)
• TOP-5 (c. 1969)
• TOP-6 (c. 1972)
• TOP-7
• TOP-8
• TOP-9^[7] (1968 or 1969)
• GT-2 (c. 1975) — predecessor of Hammond X-2 (c. 1978) and possibly Hammond B-100W (c. 1983)
• GT-5 (c. 1971)^[8] — predecessor of Ace Tone X-3/X-3W (c. 1978) and possibly Hammond B-250W (c. 1983)
• GT-7^[9] (1971) — predecessor of Hammond X-5 (c. 1978) and Hammond B-200 (c. 1980).
• X-3/X-3W (c. 1978) — although model name evokes Hammond X series, it was shipped under Ace Tone brand.

combo organ accessories

• OR-30 Transistorized Bench Amplifier
• PK-2 Organ Bass Pedals^[7]
• Expander/Expression Pedal EXP-4
• HP-10 Headphone (for combo organ)
• HP-20 Headphone

Home Organ

• TO-S1 (c. 1966)^[5]
• A-122
• B-422^[10]
• B-5
• C-422S
• Ace 1000 / 2000 / 3000 (c. 1970s) — designed based on Hammond Cadette series. Ace 3000 has built-in cassette recorder on the lower right.

Organs (OEM)

• National (Panasonic) SX-601 (1963)^[5]
• Hammond VS-300 Cadette (1973–?) — although early Cadettes was built in Japan by Yamaha/Nippon Gakki, later models in the United Kingdom was built by Ace Tone/Nihon Hammond.^[11]
• Hammond F 1000 / 2000 / 3000 (1970s) — these models built in England in the 1970s, were variations of Ace 1000 / 2000 / 3000 designed & built in Japan, based on Hammond Cadette series.

Electronic Piano

• AP-100 Electronic Piano

Synthesizers

• Multistrings SY-5^[12]
• PS-1000 Monosynth^[13] (1975) — similar to Roland SH-3/SH-3A (1974)
• SY-100 Monosynth^[14]

Effects

• Analog Delay EH-50
• Analog Delay EH-100
• Echo Chamber EC-1
• Reverb/Echo Chamber EC-10 Professional Echo
• Echo Chamber EC-20^[15]
• FUZZ/BOOSTER
• Fuzz Master FM-1 (c. 1966–68)
• Fuzz Master FM-2 (c. 1968–)
• Fuzz Master FM-3 (c. 1971–)
• Graphic Equalizer QH-100
• Stereo Phasor LH-100
• Twin Ace FW-1 (Fuzz + Wah)^[16]
• Wah Master WM-1^[17]

Drum Machines

• R1 Rhythm Ace (push-button electronic drum percussion) (1964)^{[3] [18]}
• Rhythm Ace R-3   (1966)^[5]
• Rhythm Ace FR-1 (1967) ^{[19] [A][H]}
• Rhythm Ace FR-2L ^[A][H]
• Auto Rhythm FR-2D ^[S][H]
• Rhythm Ace FR-3 (c. 1967) ^[A][H],[R]
• Rhythm Ace FR-3S ^[M]
• Rhythm Ace FR-4 ^[M]
• Rhythm Ace FR-6/FR-6P (c. 1972 or 1974) ^[A][S]
• Rhythm Ace FR-6M ^[M]
• Rhythm Ace FR-7M
• Rhythm Producer FR-7L ^[R][H]
• Rhythm Producer FR-8L ^[A][M]
• Rhythm Ace FR-13
• Rhythm Producer FR-15 (1975) — partly programmable rhythm machine^{[20] [21]}
• Rhythm Ace FR-20 (Floor type)
• Rhythm Ace FR-30 (Floor type)
• Rhythm Ace FR-60 (Floor type)
• Rhythm Ace FR-70 (Floor type)
• Rhythm FEVER FR-106^{[22] [S]}
• Hammond Auto-Vari 64 (AV-64) ^[A][H]

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

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

[A][H] Ace Tone model also shipped from Hammond.

• Ace Tone FR-2L ⇒ Hammond Auto (1972)

• Ace Tone FR-3   ⇒ Hammond Rhythm 2

[R][H] Hammond shipped far improved model based on Roland's improved model.

• Ace Tone FR-7L ⇒ Roland Rhythm 77 (1972) ⇒ Hammond Auto-Vari 64 (1974)

[S][H] Hammond models manufactured by Nihon Hammond.

In the 1970s, possibly several models were also distributed under Multivox brand by Sorkin Music, an early general agent of Ace Tone in the United States.^[23] On the other hand, late-1970s models such as Multivox FR-3 seem to share several similarities with Korg Minipops.^[24]

[M]     Multivox models

[A][M] Also shipped from Multivox

In the mid-1970s, "ACE TONE" brand was taken over by Sakata/Nihon Hammond.^[25]

[S]     Sakata/Nihhon Hammond models

[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:

• Ace Tone FR-3L ⇒ Roland Rhythm 33 (1972, TR-33)

• Ace Tone FR-7L ⇒ Roland Rhythm 77 (1972, TR-77)

Amplifiers

Guitar Amplifiers

• Mini Ace (Combo)
• Mini-8 (Combo)^[25]
• Solid Ace-1/SA-1 (Combo)
• Solid Ace-2/SA-2 (Combo)
• Solid Ace-3 (Head/Cab), SA-3 (Combo), SA-3C (Combo), SA-3D
• Solid Ace-5/SA-5 (Combo)
• Solid Ace-6/SA-6 (Head/Cab)
• Solid Ace-7 (Combo)
• Solid Ace-8/SA-8 (Head/Cab)
• Solid Ace-9/SA-9 (Head)
• Solid Ace-10/SA-10 (Head/Cab)
• SA-15 (Combo)
• SA-25 (Combo)
• SA-45 (Combo)
• SA-60 (Combo)
• SA-120 (Head/Cab)
• SA-150 (Head/Cab)
• Friend Ace AR-1 (Combo)
• Gut's Ace
• GA-5S Cabinet
• G-15 Guitar Amplifier (Combo) (1977)
• G-35 (Combo)
• G-50 (Combo)
• GH-1 (Preamp + Mixer) (c. 1976)
• GH-600/GH-600S (Combo/Powered Cab) (c. 1976)
• GH-1200/GH-1200S (Combo/Powered Cab) (c.1976)
• L35 (Combo)^[25]

Tube Amplifiers

• A-10 Fighter
• Mighty-5 (Head/Cab) — 50Watt
• Rockey (Combo) — 15 Watt 1× 12"
• Elite (Combo) — 4 Watt, 1× 8" (a.k.a. Model A-1R)
• Duetto (Combo)
• Model-101 (Combo) — 1× 8"
• Model-201 (Combo)
• Model-301 (Combo)
• Model-601 (Head/Cab) (c. 1968)

Bass Amplifiers

• Bass-3/B-3 (Combo) — Solid State
• Bass-6/B-6 (Head/Cab) — Solid State
• B-7 (Head/Cab)
• Bass-9/B-9 (Head/Cab)
• B-50 (Combo)^[25]
• BH-1 (Preamp + Mixer)
• BH-600S (Powered Cab)
• BH-1200S (Powered Cab)

Vocal Amplifiers/Channel Mixer

• VM-4 Solid State Channel Mixer (4ch Powered Mixer)
• VM-6 (6ch Powered Mixer)
• VM-30 (Combo)
  • SL-30 (Powered Cab for VM-30)
• VM-45 (Combo)
• VM-50/VS-50 (Powered Mixer/Cab)
• Channel Mixer VM-80 Professional/VS-80 (6ch Powered Mixer/Cab)
• VM-85/VS-85 (Powered Mixer/Cab)
• VM-150/VS-150 (Powered Mixer/Cab)
• VM-200 (Powered Mixer with Wireless Mic & Cab)
• Echo Mixer MP-4 (4ch Mixer)
• MP-40 (4ch Mixer)
• PH-1 (Mixer)
• PH-2 (Mixer)
• PH-600S (Powered Cab)
• PH-1200S (Powered Cab)

Speaker Systems

• BSP-6 — 2× 12" speakers
• SP-15 — 1× 15" Gold Bond speaker
• SP-30 — 2× 15" Gold Bond speakers
• SP-35 — 2× 15" extra massive speakers
• SP-45 — 3× 15" Gold Bond speakers
• SP-10 — 2× 15" + 2× 8" speakers
• SP-410 — 4× 15" speakers

Other

• AD-171 Dynamic Microphone
• AE-181 Electret Condencer Microphone
• AD-191 Dynamic Microphone
• AD-201 Dynamic Microphone
• Mic Adapter MP-1 (2ch Mic Preamp)
• Multi-Vox EX-100 (Wind Instrument Preamp)
• Psyche Light PL-125
• Tuning Gun AT-32 (Tuner)

See also

• Multivox
• The Dave Howard Singers, a band that popularized the sound of the Acetone Top 5

Notes

Media

Sources

• Ace Tone & Nihon Hammond Catalogs:
  • Book: . Ace Tone Catalog 1969 . 1969 . Sorkin/Ace Tone . (for details, see PDF version)
  • Book: . Ace Tone Professional Amplifiers Catalog 1971 . June 1971 . Sorkin Music Company Inc . May 10, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011818/http://vintageamps.com/plexiboard/viewtopic.php?p=487183#p487183 . May 13, 2014 . dead.
  • Book: . Ace Tone Catalog 1972 . July 1972 . Japanese . Ace Electronic Industry Inc .
  • Book: . Ace Tone Catalog 1975 . July 1975 . Japanese . Nihon Hammond, Ltd .
  • Book: . Ace Tone Guitar Amplifiers Catalog 1976 . 1976 . Japanese . Nihon Hammond, Ltd . May 10, 2014 . May 13, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140513010734/http://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/x227705144/ . dead. (excerpt)
  • Book: . Ace Tone Catalog 1978 . September 1978 . Japanese . Nihon Hammond, Ltd .
  • Book: . Hammond L.M. Catalogue 1983 . 1983 . Japanese . Nihon Hammond, Ltd . May 10, 2014 . November 22, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081122133103/http://brochures.yokochou.com/keyboard-and-effector/hammond/1983/index.html . dead.
• Web site: Stachowiak . Joe . November 2, 2012. ROLAND MUSEUM & COMPANY HISTORY . Absolute Music Solutions Ltd . — a visit report on Roland Corporation Hamamatsu Laboratory where early Ace Tone products are also exhibited.
  Note: the production years seen on their private museum are not reliable. For example, production years of early product/prototype (Canary S-2 (1962), R-1 Rhythm Ace (1964)), and the later mass-production models (Canary S-3 (c. 1965), Rhythm Ace FR-1 (c. 1967)) are mysteriously confused.
• Web site: . Ace Tone . The Audio Playground Synthesizer Museum . https://web.archive.org/web/20080630055250/http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/ar/a/ace/ace.html . June 30, 2008 . dead. — List of products and some corporate history.
• Web site: . Ace Tone . Combo Organ Heaven . — Profiles of organs and corporate history.
• Book: Classic Keys: Keyboard sounds that launched rock music. Alan. Lenhoff. David. Robertson. University of North Texas Press. 2019. 978-1-57441-776-0.
• Harmony Central: Ace Tone: Reviews — Reviews of Ace Tone products.
• Orgel Wiki: Ace Tone — more pictures of organ models.
• VintageSynth.hu: Ace — more pictures of products.

External links

• ace-tone lh-100 stereo phasor – LH-100 Stereo Phasor photo and audio examples.
• effectsdatabase.com: Ace Tone WM-1 Wah Master.

Notes and References

1. http://www1.mipa-award.de/lifetime2002.htm "Lifetime-Achievement-Award Mr. Ikutaro Kakehashi"
2. Book: The Boss Book : The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Popular Compact Effects for Guitar. Hal Leonard. 2001. 69. 978-0-634-04480-9.
3. Book: Ikutaro Kakehashi . March 2003 . I believe in music . 41 . Hal Leonald Corp . 978-0-634-03783-2.
   In 1964, Canary S-2 and R-1 Rhythm Ace were exhibited on Summer NAMM, but finally not released.
4. Ace Tone Canary S-2 . image . organ69.
5. Book: 1966 . All About Electronic & Electric Musical Instruments . . .
6. Ace Tone Canary S-3 . image . organ69.
7. Ace Tone Top-9 Combo Organ . images . EstEcho.
8. Ace Tone GT-5 . image . Orgel Wiki.
9. Ace Tone GT-7 . image . Orgel Wiki.
10. Ace Tone B 422 . image . VintageSynth.hu.
11. Web site: December 20, 2012 . Hammond VS-300 . The Organ Forum . Out of interest, certainly as far as the UK goes, only the very early Cadettes were built by Yamaha. The UK's VS300 was built by Ace Tone, as were all small Hammonds by then. ... You can tell by the cabinet styling and the pedals used. If the cab and pedals look like a B series Yamaha, then that's who made the organ. Otherwise it's an Ace Tone. The plate on the back will either say Yamaha/Nippon Gakki or Nihon Hammond. . May 10, 2014 . May 13, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140513012617/http://www.organforum.com/forums/showthread.php?24349-Hammond-VS-300&p=296838&viewfull=1#post296838 . dead .
12. Ace Tone Multistrings SY-5 . image . Audio Playground Synthesizer Museum . https://web.archive.org/web/20080630161534/http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/ar/a/ace/multi.html . June 30, 2008.
13. Ace Tone PS1000 Monophonic Synth . images . EstEcho.
14. Ace Tone 2 VCOs monophonic synthesizer SY-100 . image . Vintage Synth Explorer forum . https://web.archive.org/web/20201202041529/http://forum.vintagesynth.com/download/file.php?id=1533&mode=view . December 2, 2020 . April 12, 2020 . bot: unknown.
15. Ace Tone EC-20 Echo Chamber . images . EstEcho.
16. Ace Tone Twin Ace (FW-1) . images . effector.hamazo.tv.
17. Ace Tone Wah Master (WM-1) . images . effector.hamazo.tv.
18. Gordon Reid . November 2004 . The History Of Roland Part 1: 1930–1978 . . Nov. 2004 . June 19, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629214447/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov04/articles/roland.htm . June 29, 2011 . live.
    Precisely, R-1 was not a drum machine, but a hand-operated electronic percussion.
19. In 1967, FR-1 was introduced as option of Hammond organ.
20. Ace Tone Rhythm Producer FR-15 . images . EstEcho.
21. Caknobs . [caknobs] RhythmProducer FR-15's instructions (with CMU-810 FaderBoard) ]. December 30, 2011 . video . YouTube . Today's main machine is "ACE TONE RhythmProducer〔FR-15〕". This RhythmBox was born in 1975. This time, I made the system, without sampling FR-15's sound..
22. Ace Tone Rhythm Fever FR-106 . images . EstEcho.
23. Web site: Multivox Archive Page . (images) . Audio Playground Synthesizer Museum . https://web.archive.org/web/20030521111213/http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/ar/m/multi/multi.html . May 21, 2003.
24. Web site: June 3, 2012. MULTIVOX RHYTHM ACE FR-3 – Vintage Rhythm Box 1979 – HD Demo . MatrixSynth . This is a quite rare little analog rhythm box from 1979. ... The mechanical hardware looks to me like old Korg Minipops units. Was Korg involved? ;-).
25. [Nihon Hammond]