Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-3

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-3 in excellent aesthetic condition except for the handle that show little aging signs."

CLICK FOR MORE »

11 21 22 Synton Fenix 2 & 3 + Rhythm Ace X

video upload by batchas

ACE TONE CANARY S-3 One of the few remaining units on the planet

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

This appears to be the same one listed back in September. You can find a small handful of posts mentioning the Canary here. "One of the very few remaining Ace Tone Canary S-3 on the planet. Despite being a 60 years old machine, this unit works like a charm and it's in spectacular cosmetic conditions -- it looks much better than the unit exhibited at the Roland Museum, actually.

History Designed and built by Ikutaro Kakehashi (founder of Ace Tone, Roland and Boss) in 1962 during the Pre-Roland era, the Ace Tone Canary S-3 is an early monophonic synthesizer inspired by the Clavioline, a forerunner to the analog synthesizer invented in 1947, but implementing several technical improvements and revisions that make it a unique instrument. In 1964, Ikutaro Kakehashi decided to take the Canary S-3 along to the NAMM show in Chicago but, despite receiving interest, he did not receive any distribution deals. So the Canary S-3 ended up being distributed in Japan only and quickly became a rare instrument even at that time.

Sound When you listen to this machine, the reason of that unsuccessful mission at NAMM quickly stands out: the sound of the Canary S-3 had nothing to do with 60's music, it was not a simulation of classical instruments. The Canary S-3 sound was quite agressive, warm and extremely rich in armonics, totally in line with nowadays electronic music standards and so far away from the 60's vibes. It's pure electricity generated by military-grade germanium transistor oscillators and filters, a machine that can easily be used as main/only instrument in modern music productions.

Germanium Instead of using a vacuum tube oscillator as the Clavioline, the Canary S-3 implements a solid state circuitry totally based on germanium transistors. Widely implemented in vintage guitar fuzzboxes and amplification and exceptionally in synthesizer circuitry (such as the VCA section of the EMS VCS3/Synthi A), these transistors have a warmth and a granulity as pleasant as the tube sound, without being the same. The sonic grain of germanium is generally a bit rougher than the tube grain, and radically less flat and plain than classic silicon transistors. -- As far as I know the Canary S-3 is the only synthesizer ever built using germanium transistors as sound generators.

Architecture The Canary S-3 can be organized in 3 main sections: Sound Generator - Tone Color - Controls. The Sound Generator features 4 parallel octave dividers that output super fat saw waveforms in 4 different octaves (Bass - Tenor - Alto - Soprano) ranging from F0 to F4. Then the resulting waveform is passed through a germanium filter bank that separates the input signal into 5 components, each one carrying a frequency sub-band of the original signal. The 5 bands (obtained using HP and LP filters) are controlled by 5 combinable switches under the Tone Control section (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5). The mix of the 4 Sound Generators and the 5 Tone Colors delivers a total of 496 different settings/sounds ranging from fat basses to rich organ and raw lead sounds. In addition to the main sounds the Canary S-3 features also two noise generators controlled by two unusual momentary push buttons designed to perform abstract rhythms in real time. The sounds can be modified using the knobs and the bizarre knee lever designed to perform volume variations in real time. The Control Section includes also two knobs for (pitch) Vibrato Speed and Depth, the global Tuning knob (+/- 2 semitones) and a master Volume knob used also tu on/off the instrument. Lastly there is the Rhythm Volume knob to set the volume of the two noises.

The Ace Tone Canary S-3 is undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind instrument, an amazing piece of retro tecnology, an avant-garde machine born six decades ago that still has something exclusive and unique to say."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Hillwood HR-30 analog rhythm machine 2022/11

video upload by Ohm.Studio

"Quick demo of a recently serviced Hillwood HR30 drum machine. Recorded through a custom built spring reverb. No other treatment or editing.

Fully analog sounds in the like of the Ace Tone FR1 / FR2, Roland TR33 / TR66 and other units of the 70s."

Note this appears to be the first post to feature the Hillwood HR-30.

Incredibly rare Ace Tone CANARY S-3 transistor based vintage analog synthesizer from 1965! SN 28440

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Extremely rare Ace Tone CANARY S-3 transistor based vintage analog synthesizer produced in few exemplars around 1965.
It come in great conditions and Works! Sound particularly vintage, very hot character, exotic tones with tonic color. Vca is light opto controlled, the large knob ...like car gear ;-)
Funny are the two upper white push buttons (white and coloured noise) made for make manual rhythm, awesome. *This wonderful (ad-hoc) yellow travel case is included in this sale lot, in order to preserve well this beautiful jewel. Please check my others listed vintage stuff"

See this post for additional info on the Ace Tone Canary.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Strange Synthesizers of Japan by Hiromichi Oohashi - Synth Book w/ CD

Hiromichi Oohashi wrote in to let us know about his new synth book featuring rare and somewhat strange synthesizers from Japan. The book features synths from his collection along with a CD of audio/music. You can find the book via the publisher Rittor Music (Japan) (published Nov.2021), and on Amazon JP here.

You can find a list of the synths featured by chapter further below.

Details on the book from Hiromichi Oohashi follow.

"This art book introduces many of Japanese most rare and strange electronic musical instruments (1960s~1980s) from author's private collection for long years.

Contains over 130 synthesizers, rhythm machines, organs, toy instruments, speech synths, etc most of these rare instruments will be the first public release. All color pages, lot of beautiful photo of these unique instruments with simple and detailed text, all photos and book design by author himself.

Contribution from Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO)

Foreword by Eric Schneider (author of TOY INSTRUMENTS/MBP)

Attached CD has original music using these strange instruments so you can hear what these synth sounds like.

CD's music made by author's band KINO-MODERNO (world-renowned electronic music duo)



Hiromichi Oohashi is an artist born in Tokyo 1961
after studied art & design at Kuwazawa Design School in Tokyo
works as an artist and producer for Art, Design and Music
also known as collector of rare electronic musical instruments
in 1990 released groundbreaking [ VIDEO DRUG2/Phuture ] and get noticed
member of electronic music duo KINO-MODERNO since 1984
president of DAT PLANET PRODUKT"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Scrotum Lab - Rhythm Ace X

video upload by batchas

Scrotum Lab modified Rhythm Ace.

Farfisa Partner 415 Analog Drum Machine

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

See the demo here.

"One-of-a-kind drum machine. It"s a rhythm unit ripped from a 70s farfisa spinet organ and built in a custom case (trying to remain faithful to the original look). Classic analog drum sounds like the ones you get out of the many boxes of that area (Roland TR77, Ace Tone FR-1 FR-2 FR-8, Hammond Auto Vari etc etc)

15 rhythms, controls for tempo, volume and balance Mono jack output and running on 12v DC (power supply is not provided. It works with any 12v DC positive center power suppl)."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Vintage Roland & Ace Tone Rhythm / Drum Machines

video uploads by Check Equipment

Playlist:
1. Ace Tone FR-6 579258
2. Roland TR-66 × Yamaha SPX50 Fusion of Analog and Digital
3. Roland CR-68 Demo
4. Roland TR-77 Demo
5. Roland TR-66 Check

Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-7L

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

You can find demos in previous posts here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

07 30 21 Rhythm Ace, Minimoog & Fenix

video upload by batchas

"I took out my Musonics Minimoog to calibrate it and jammed a bit with the Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-6 I modified and the Synton Fenix 2 & 3."

Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-6 Vintage Analog Drum Machine SN AA204073

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Dreadbox Komorebi Analog Flanger Pedal deeper Review (Korg MS20m, SCHMIDT 8-Voice, Ace Tone FR-8L)

video by Knobs & Switches

"Deeper review about the Komorebi from Dreadbox together with an Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-8L, a Korg MS20m and a SCHMIDT 8-Voice Synthesizer

https://www.dreadbox-fx.com/komorebi/

00:00​​ Intro
00:14​​ Title Track
00:36​​ Komorebi Epilogue and closer look
03:12​​ Ace Tone FR-8L and Komorebi
05:59​​ Korg MS20mini + FR-8L and Komorebi
13:37​​ Schmidt and 2 x Komorebi (Stereo)
21:07​​ Conclusion
23:50​​ Outro track

Used Equipment: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple iPad Air2, Sony HDR-CX625, Universal Audio Apollo Twin Solo, Steinberg Cubase 10.5 and Apple iMovie"

RHYTHM ACE FR-7L (1972)

video by Synthesizer Home

You can find additional demos in previous posts here.

Batchas Modified Rhythm Ace FR-6

"Trying different presets... The modified Rhythm Ace is now ready!"

Listhen through the 2nd video at 1:03. Damn.

Follow-up to this post. You can find addtional Rhythm Ace FR-6 posts here.

Rhythm Ace FR-7L 1960s Reborn - 02.14.2021

video by Ουροβόρος όφις Lydian7th

Rhythm Ace FR-7L posts

Vintage Rhythm Ace Fr-2L Full Auto Analog Rhythm Machine

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Almost looks like it's built into the amp.

"Vintage Rythm Ace Fr-2L Full Auto Analog Drum Machine roland synth Mij.

This is an awesome drum box, full of vintage goodness.

It is functioning normally, and has that rad retro analog sound. Add a slap back, and you have the magic.

The sides are boogered up a bit, but I can glue and clamp them if you need that sort of thing in your life..."

Funny.

CLICK FOR MORE »

06 01 21 Ace Tone - Rhythm Ace FR-6

batchas

"I finished to repair, modify and clean the FR-6.
Next step will be to replace the grey panel I took as prototype."

06 01 21 Rhythm Ace FR-6 with BugBrand Modular [02]
batchas

"First test after repairing and modifying the FR-6.
Next step will be to clean it and mount the knobs.
In a further stage I'll replace the grey prototype panel."

Part 1 here

Vintage 1972 Ace Electronic Industries (Japan) Rhythm Ace FR6 (P) Black Drum Computer SN 003077

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Ace Tone FR-6 P

Ace Electronic Industries Rhythm (1972)

"Vintage Analog preset drum machine, it sounds similar to more famous ROLAND TR-55.
Later ACE TONE society became part of the ROLAND group"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Vintage Ace Tone Rhythm Fever FR-106 Analog Drum Machine SN 8518009

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Note the two videos above are not for the listing.

CLICK FOR MORE »