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.

Here’s an update on story about the electric bass ban in the campground at Galax which we posted yesterday.

Officials at the 2009 Old Fiddler’s Convention shut down jams on Monday night which included an electric bass (and amplifier) in response to some campers’ complaints. Electric bass has never been allowed in the band competitions, but we had not heard of them being banned in the campground before this week.

Tracy Burcham, who first alerted us to the incidents on Monday  contacted us again today with some further information about the situation, one which caused great consternation amongst a number of participants this past two days.

Yesterday evening, a prominent member of the Moose Lodge graciously visited our campsite to discuss the matter. He was very understanding and helpful. He expressed regret about the way the situation had been handled. He also asked for us to understand and respect the position of the patrons who complained. He advised us to continue to do as we had been doing, but to be conscious of the volume at all times, and that we should be aware to tone it down even further during the late-night sessions. In the end, we all agreed that we would work with each other in such a way to maintain the spirit of the event for all.

I still don’t know what the future holds in regard to amplifiers. I guess we’ll have to wait and read the rules when they are published for the 2010 Convention. My hope is that nothing will change and this time-honored event will continue to be strongly attended by all musicians, who, by the way, comprise the very reason that there is such an event at all.

On behalf of all bluegrass bass players who choose to use an amplifier, thanks to The Bluegrass Blog for publishing the story, and to the many friends who immediately stepped up to show support for us during this mini-ordeal

Letters in support of continuing to allow the use of amplifiers at campsites in the park can be sent to:

Old Fiddler’s Convention
P.O. Box 655
Galax, VA 24333

It sounds as though cooler heads have prevailed. In truth, an acoustic band with an electric bass isn’t really notably louder than one with an upright, and some of the large old time jams can include dozens of players sawing away in a group. Besides, who goes to Galax to sleep?

Tracy especially wanted to make that everyone understands that his motive in bringing these incidents to light were based on his deep love for The Old Fiddlers Convention and the people who attend and camp in Felts Park each year.

“I think it is important to note that my primary purpose in bringing the incident to public attention was not an attempt to demean any person, event, or organization. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite is true. My intent was to bring realization to the Moose Lodge that future attendance at this event would would be greatly reduced if amplifiers were to ever be completely banned from campsites.This event is too precious to me (and many, many other bass players who use amps) in many ways, and I would hate to see it dissolve due to a lack of musician participation.”

This week marks the 74th annual Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, VA. Held each year on the week leading up to the second weekend of August, the festival is one of few that offer no stage show of any kind, consisting entirely of amateur competitions in banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, dulcimer, autoharp, vocal and dance.

Brance and I have attended many times, and have a great many friends there this week. It’s a festival where you will find a fascinating mix of both old time and bluegrass musicians, with top artists regularly involved in the legendary late night jams.

While the event is primarily marked by fellowship and harmony, the one bit of tension that exists is sometimes found between the Galax Moose Lodge that runs the festival and the attendees who feel as though their dozens of years of consecutive camping and competition gives them a quasi-ownership stake in the annual festival. The old timers will grouse each year about rules changes, and “how it was done back when,” but we’ve just received word about some unpleasantness that occurred on Monday night (8/3) that I don’t think has happened in the past.

Here is a report from Tracy Burcham, a friend of both Brance and mine, who is a bluegrass musician of long standing in southwest Virginia and a 21 year veteran of the Galax fest. He tells a story that really set a lot of folks in the campground on edge.

About 11:30 p.m., I began a jam session with three friends, each of whom is a current member of a headlining bluegrass band. I was playing my electric bass, which means, of course, that I was using an amplifier. About 8 or 9 songs into the jam, we were approached by two members of the Galax Moose Lodge #733 who advised that the rules stated that amplifiers were not allowed in the park, and that if I didn’t cut mine off, they would not only escort me out of the park, but would cut off the electricity to our entire campsite (several friends had gone in together purchase 18 consecutive sites, as we have done every year).

I have been playing this same electric bass and also my acoustic bass, both through an amplifier for each of the 21 years I have attended. I’ve never encountered a problem or received a complaint from anyone. I honestly thought one of my “devious” friends was pulling a prank on me, and continued on with the jam session. The Moose members left the area only to come back later with two police officers. He repeated the same demand to cut off the amp and advised me that there would be no refund if I refused to cooperate and was booted our of the park. (more…)

Zak McLamb, bass player with Kenny & Amanda Smith, and his wife Karen are celebrating the birth of their first child.

Luke McLamb was born last night (7/27) at 8:50 p.m. (EDT). Zak reports that he weighed in at 7 lbs., 10 oz. and “stands” 21 1/2” tall.

Needless to say, Zak is awfully excited about the whole thing.

Congratulations to all the McLambs!