Ace Tone FM-2
Ace Tone FM-2: A Deadstock Miracle! Awakening from a 50-Year Slumber
One sunny afternoon, a brief inquiry arrived in the shop’s inbox.
It came from a distant, unfamiliar country across the sea.
“Would you be willing to buy this pedal?”
When I saw the photo attached to the message, I couldn’t help but gasp. Pictured there was Japan’s pride and joy—the vintage fuzz treasure, the Ace Tone FM-2 FUZZ MASTER. And there were more of them than I had ever seen before.
The FM-2 is a legendary model that stands out as one of the most popular among Ace Tone’s many fuzz pedals, having captivated countless guitarists with its intense yet sensual sound.
“This might be too good to be true…”
That was my immediate instinct. Imagining it might be a message from an enthusiastic collector overseas, I sent a reply right away.
Prologue: The Unbelievable Truth Revealed by a Single Photo
As I exchanged messages with the sender, one surprising fact after another came to light. He lived in Jakarta, Indonesia, and was the drummer for a well-known local rock band. He was someone who shared our love for music—someone who had even released an album in Japan in the past.
Then he shared a crucial piece of information with me.
“All of these FM-2s are ‘unused dead stock.’”
When I saw the additional photos sent along with those words, I was speechless once again. A mountain of FM-2s. Each and every one was encased in a vibrant, pristine box that looked as if it were from the time of release. They were in perfect condition, as if they had just been shipped from the factory yesterday.
“No way, that can’t be…”
It was a scene that was hard to believe at first glance. After decades had passed, why did such a massive amount of dead stock exist in faraway Indonesia?
According to him, all of these had been lying dormant for decades in the warehouse of “Irama Megah,” a music store that once existed in Jakarta, unknown to anyone. The moment I heard those words, a strange sensation—a mix of calm and excitement—rushed through my entire body. I felt as though I might be witnessing a historic discovery.
Chapter 1: An Indonesian Music Store and the Spirit of Japanese Craftsmanship
We began our investigation to unravel the story behind this miracle.
"Irama Megah" was a music store that opened in 1970 on Gajah Mada Street in Jakarta. Surprisingly, the store did not carry local instruments but reportedly specialized in selling imports from Japan and China.In Indonesia at that time, alongside Yamaha Electones and Hammond products, this Ace Tone Effector likely adorned the store’s display windows as the latest musical equipment to arrive from across the sea. The site of the store is now a shopping mall, but in the dim light of its underground warehouse, the FM-2s continued to wait quietly for their moment to shine.
So, who exactly was Ace Tone, the company behind these instruments?
Ace Tone is a Japanese electronic instrument manufacturer founded in the early 1960s by Ikutaro Kakehashi, the genius who would later establish Roland and fundamentally transform the global music scene with innovative products like the TR-808 and JUNO series. At a time when the term “Effector” wasn’t even common, he was already exploring the possibilities of guitar sound.In the late 1960s, as foreign-made fuzz pedals like the Maestro FZ-1 and Tone Bender began to take the world by storm, it was Ace Tone’s fuzz series that first emerged from a garage in Japan.
The fact that these rare early Japanese fuzz pedals were even exported as far as Indonesia at the time. And the rock bands that existed in Jakarta back then.
“Perhaps the local guitarists, too, had their hearts racing at the radical sound produced by this black box.”
When I thought of that, I felt my heart tremble at the invisible historical connections woven by the universal language of music.
An advertisement for “Irama Megah” from that era
“Irama Megah” today
Chapter 2: A Roar That Transcends Time: Unraveling the Sound of the Ace Tone FM-2
And finally, after a long journey, the FM-2s that had been sleeping in Jakarta arrived at our doorstep. The moment we opened the box, the distinctive scent of old paper and electronic components filled the air. The black chassis, featuring a heavy embossed finish, exudes a dignity reminiscent of Maestro’s fuzz pedals.
With trembling hands, I plug in the cable and flip the amp’s switch. Breaking decades of silence, this is the moment the FM-2 unleashes its sound for the first time.
“BEEEEE!!”
What burst from the speakers was a fierce yet beautiful distortion, containing upper octaves that sent shivers down my spine.
- Controls: The ‘VOLUME’ knob, which also serves as the power switch; ‘FUZZ ADJ.’, which controls the distortion; and the tone selector switch that defines the sound character. Even at its lowest setting, the FUZZ ADJ. produces distortion powerful enough to shake the earth, and as you turn it up, the harmonics saturate, overflowing with a growling sustain.
- Sound: It features that raw, “beep-beep” and “zzzz” sound that epitomizes vintage Japanese fuzz. Combined with a melancholic upper octave, it creates a lustrous, deep sound that goes beyond mere violent distortion.When you strum a chord, the sound crushes pleasantly and pushes forward with bold intensity. And the tone selector deserves special mention. When switched to ON, the sound transforms instantly into a bass-heavy, treble-sharp tone, spewing out an astonishingly metallic and aggressive sound.
This is not just another Effector. It is a time capsule packed with the passion of Japanese craftsmanship.
Chapter 3: The Lineage of the Ace Tone FUZZ MASTER — FM-1 and FM-3
To gain a deeper understanding of this miraculous FM-2, let’s also take a look at its siblings.
・Ace Tone FM-1 FUZZ MASTER: The predecessor to the FM-2 and Ace Tone’s first fuzz pedal. It features a chassis strikingly similar to the Maestro FZ-1A, right down to its power requirements—two AA batteries. However, the sound is entirely different. In contrast to the slender FZ-1A, it has a strong gated quality and a boomy, high-pressure sound.As a side note, it is said that when developing this fuzz, Mr. Hashigo actually based the sound on the traditional Japanese instrument, the “shamisen.” It is precisely this original concept that forms the core of the Ace Tone sound.
・Ace Tone FM-3 FUZZ MASTER: The successor to the FM-2. This model has evolved into a 2-in-1 design combining a fuzz and a booster.While it possesses a thick, raw sound reminiscent of the BIG MUFF, it feels more refined than the FM-2. Its enclosure design and specifications hint at a lineage leading to the later Roland BeeBaa, making it a fascinating unit that seems to tell the story of Mr. Hashigo’s journey in pursuit of sound.
Epilogue: Toward a New Musical Journey
Now, in Indonesia—far from here—the FM-2s have awakened from their long slumber. These Japanese-made vintage fuzz pedals, which quietly passed the years unknown to anyone, are about to shine once again in the hands of music lovers.
This is not merely the “discovery of old equipment.” It is the moment when a small life—one that might have been buried in history without ever making a sound—begins to beat strongly once again after decades have passed.
The spirit of craftsmanship forged by Ace Tone and Ikutaro Hashigo transcends time and borders, continuing to stir our hearts and inspire our creativity to this day.
We sincerely hope that these miraculous fuzz pedals, arriving from Jakarta, will produce wonderful sounds at their new owners’ feet and brightly illuminate the future of the endless journey that is music.
Written by: TCGAKKI Sano, Assistant Store Manager - Effector Expert Appraiser
Known as one of the industry’s foremost record enthusiasts, he specializes in ’70s hard rock and progressive rock. His favorite instrument is the Gibson Flying V. He is also well-known in the retro gaming community as a collector.
TCGAKKI is the undisputed Effector specialist, a Effector master who appraises and inspects over 2,000 Effector units annually.
Qualifications & Experience: 20 years as a musical instrument appraiser; contributor and consultant for publications such as Guitar Magazine
A few words: Ace Tone was a brand I’ve always admired. Every model here really brings home the raw power of the Japanese pedal industry’s early days. I received an unexpected purchase offer from overseas, and I’m thrilled to be able to share this story—one that might otherwise have remained buried—with all of you.
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