Ace Tone

Also known as: Acetone, Ace Electronic Industries, Ace Electronics

Ace Tone (Ace Electronic Industries Inc.) was a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments founded in 1960 by Ikutaro Kakehashi, with investment from Sakata Shokai. Based in Japan, the company produced combo organs, amplifiers, effects pedals, electronic drums, and rhythm machines, and is widely regarded as the predecessor to Roland Corporation, which Kakehashi went on to establish...

20 Products · Used by 27 Artists

Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-3 Drum Machines

$106.02

1 available store

5.0 (2)

^# 100

in Drum Machines Rank

4 artists using

Ace Tone FR-8L Rhythm Ace Drum Machines

$430.00

1 available store

3 artists using

Ace Tone FR-7L Rhythm Ace 1960s Synthesizers

ACE TONE Rhythm Ace FR-1 Drum Machines

2 artists using

Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-2L Drum Machines

5.0 (1)

2 artists using

Ace Tone Stereo Phasor Phaser Effects Pedals

5.0 (1)

1 artist using

Ace Tone 301 Tube amp MIJ Mini Guitar Amplifiers

5.0 (2)

Ace Tone Solid State Model SA-3 Combo Guitar Amplifiers

5.0 (1)

Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-6 Drum Machines

$399.00

1 available store

5 artists using

Ace Tone FR-20 Rhythm Ace Drum Machines

$1,428.29

1 available store

1 artist using

Ace Tone Top-5 Organs

5.0 (1)

5 artists using

Ace Tone Top-1 Organs

2 artists using

Ace Tone R-1 Rhythm Ace Drum Machines

1 artist using

Ace Tone PS-1000 Synthesizers

5.0 (1)

2 artists using

Ace Tone FM-3 Fuzz Master Fuzz Effects Pedals

5.0 (1)

3 artists using

Ace Tone GT7 Organs

1 artist using

Ace Tone Fuzz Master FM-2 Professional Fuzz Effects Pedals

Ace Tone EC-20 Echo Chamber Effects Processors

2 artists using

Ace Tone Fuzz Master FM-1 Fuzz Effects Pedals

Ace Tone Top-8 Organs

The brand is best known for the Rhythm Ace line of preset drum machines, beginning with the R1 prototype shown at Summer NAMM 1964 and the commercially released FR-1 Rhythm Ace in 1967, which offered sixteen preset patterns and manual trigger buttons. Later rhythm units included the FR-2, FR-3, and FR-6/FR-6P. Ace Tone's combo organ catalog included the TOP series (TOP-1, TOP-3, TOP-5, TOP-7, TOP-8, TOP-9), the GT series (GT-2, GT-5, GT-7), and the X-3/X-3W. On the effects side, the Fuzz Master FM-1, FM-2, and FM-3 remain collectible vintage fuzz pedals.

Ace Tone popularized the use of drum machines in popular music in the late 1960s and laid much of the groundwork for Roland's subsequent rhythm and synthesizer designs. Following the acquisition of Sakata Shokai by Sumitomo Chemical in 1972, Kakehashi departed to found Roland, and the Ace Tone brand wound down. Its instruments remain sought after on the vintage market for their distinctive organ tones, fuzz circuits, and early drum-machine character.

Ace Tone has 20 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Drum Machines, Organs, and Fuzz Effects Pedals. Their gear is featured by 27 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Electronic, and Pop. Notable users include Moby, Mac DeMarco, and James McNew.