Colorado Case Company is going pink in October in observation of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They will donate a portion of the sales price this month if you order in pink.

During the month of October only, you can order any Colorado Case Company branded soft case, case cover or rigid case in pink.

We will then donate 25% of the base case price to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. This money will be used to help find a cure for breast cancer through increased research and awareness.

In addition to this gorgeous pink color, we will be embroidering a pink ribbon on each case at no extra charge.

This offer is only valid through the end of October 2009. Full details online.

Ever since I first started playing bluegrass music 35 years ago, I have been hearing stories of musicians parking their acoustic instruments in front of stereo speakers to help break them in faster. The idea was that music from the speakers – vibrating the instrument when you weren’t playing it – would achieve the same natural “break in” effect as playing it all day long.

I never tried it myself, but know many pickers who swear by the practice, insisting that it helps new instruments open up faster, and offering a more balanced tone and response more quickly.

This is the concept behind ToneRite, a product developed by a trio of stringed instrument-playing engineers to provide a more direct, efficient method for accelerating this process.

The company was founded by Augi Lye, Ryan Frankel, and Hans Yeakel after Lye became frustrated that he didn’t have the time to play his new cello enough to break it in adequately. Augi had a background in acoustical physics, and enlisted Frankel (with his military signal processing expertise) and Yeakel (an industrial engineer) to assist in developing a product that could be demonstrated to deliver the goods.

Their first production model was debuted in 2007, and the new Luthier Model design was introduced at the IBMA convention last week.

The ToneRite sits atop, or rests against, the bridge of your instrument where it delivers a specific set of frequencies to the vibrating surfaces. The company’s testing indicates that a minimum of 72 hours of use on a new instrument generates dramatic results, and recommends 2 or 3 similar 72-hour treatments in the first few weeks.

Regular use for an hour prior to playing a few times each week is also recommended for maintaining the tone and responsiveness of an older instrument.

Grasstowne mandolinist Alan Bibey is a fan…

“The ToneRite supercharged my instruments to their max in volume and tone! One of the most useful new products I’ve seen in a really long time!”

ToneRite models are available for guitar, mandolin, violin, viola, cello and bass. Prices range from $150-$250.

Full details can be found on their web site.

Steve Martin may not have taken home the IBMA Banjo Player of the Year Award, but he is taking his own Deering Goodtime Banjo model with him on the road this month. Deering has created a special headstock brand for these banjos, which will only be offered for sale at Martin’s live appearances with Steep Canyon Rangers during their current tour.

The Goodtimes family of banjos are a budget-minded bunch, built by Deering in their shop near San Diego, CA. 12 different models are available, starting at just under $500.

We’re not sure which model(s) will be available at the Steve Martin concerts, or whether they are likely to hold collectible, limited-edition value over time.

You can find all the tour info online.

Sim Daley has introduced a new mandolin, built to Adam Stefffey’s exact specifications.

Sim hasn’t decided yet whether it will officially be dubbed the Adam Steffey Model, but that is what it will be no matter what its called. It’s the instrument Adam is playing now with The Dan Tyminski Band and you can have one just like it.

• Solid spruce top
• Premium curly maple back sides and neck
• Side and top fully bound with Ivoroid
• Flat fingerboard with small gauge fret-wire.
• 1” neck width (at the nut) with speed neck
• No fingerboard dots or headstock inlay (except “Daley” logo sat straight in headstock)
• Fingerboard abbreviated to the 18th fret
• Solid black face color with Crimean sunburst back, sides, neck and headstock
• Satin lacquer finish
• Waverly tuners and James tailpiece with nickel hardware

The new Steffey will sell for $8500 and orders placed now can be expected for delivery in 10-12 months.

Sim sent along a number of photos of the mandolin, and of Adam when he first came to pick it up.