Ace Tone FM-2: A Deadstock Miracle! Awakening from a 50-Year Slumber

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 of music, having even released an album in Japan in the past.

And 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 brightly colored box that looked as if it were from the time of their original release. They were in perfect condition, as if they had just been shipped from the factory yesterday.
“No way, that can’t be…”

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, which 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 “hiss-hiss” character that epitomizes vintage Japanese fuzz. Combined with a melancholic upper octave, this creates a lustrous, deep sound that goes beyond mere violent distortion.When you play 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- and treble-emphasized “thump-sharp” tone, spewing out an astonishingly metallic and aggressive sound.

This is not just a Effector. It is a time capsule packed with the passion of Japanese craftsmanship.

・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 character and a boomy quality, delivering a sound that relies on sheer volume.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 fuzz and booster unit.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 sound exploration.

Now, in Indonesia—far from here—the FM-2s have awakened from their long slumber. These Japanese-made vintage fuzz pedals, which have 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 Mr. Ikutaro Hashigo transcends time and borders, continuing to stir our hearts and ignite our creativity to this day.
We sincerely hope that these miraculous fuzz pedals, arriving from Jakarta, will produce wonderful sounds at the feet of their new owners and brightly illuminate the future of the endless journey that is music.