Volume 23 Pork McElhinny Newsletter - June 2011

Back Surgery This Month

Want a FREE hat?

The 1st, 50th & 100th person to reply to this newsletter gets a FREE hat!  Just drop me a short line saying....hey..... hello .....or what ever you'd like!  I'm looking forward to hearing from you.  Ready....Set....Go!!!!

Hello from Max

Blue XL T-Shirts only $5

I'm clearing out the remaining t-shirt inventory of this particular style.  All the black t-shirts sold out last month so get the blue ones while they last!  X-large only.

Tools Of The Trade

This month I'll share my Yamaha apx8a acoustic/electric guitar with you but first let me give you the story of how and why I bought this guitar before I go into technical talk. 

Ten or so years ago when I first started playing solo acoustic gigs, I bought a Yamaha acoustic/electric guitar at Guitar Center in Cleveland, Ohio.  It was a great guitar and I loved the sound of it.  After logging literally hundreds of gigs I had played it so much that I eventually wore a hole in the top big enough for all four fingers to fit down through.  I was never one to be bothered by a "beat up" looking guitar (actually I kinda like em' that way) but this guitar was becoming harder and harder to play with half of your fist falling through the big hole.  To remedy the problem I made a pickguard out of lexan (plexiglass) and installed it over the hole.  This solved the problem but created another by changing the sound of the guitar.  I finally came to the conclusion that it was time to find a replacement.  This is where the guitar pictured below comes into the story.
 
    After a quick search on ebay I had found an exact replacement - same make and model with the same electronics and even the same finish.  When the new guitar arrived I was disappointed to discover that although it may have been identical to my original guitar in appearance, it wasn't really sounding enough like the old one to satisfy my ears.  It seems that I had played so many hours with the original guitar that I had become "attached" to the sound - to the point that I wasn't willing to accept anything else.  Big mistake!  I had lost all confidence in any other guitar and worse yet I was losing confidence in my playing ability (with any other guitar).  Four guitars later (and no exact sound match) I finally came to the conclusion that I was searching for the impossible.  It was time to quit being a big pussy and move on.  I eventually settled with a couple guitars that I liked enough to start a new "relationship" with. 
 
Ok...I was going to give you all the "technical talk" on this guitar now, but after reading what I have written up to this point, I realized that the REAL story has already been told and it wasn't really about this guitar at all. 

Volume 22 Pork McElhinny Newsletter - May 2011

Last Month @ the Hourglass - Brookville, Pa.

T-shirt BLOWOUT SALE !

I'm having a HUGE Clearance sale on the remaining supply of this t-shirt style.  You can choose any size you like.....as long as it's XL and any color as long as it's Blue.    Get em' while supplies last!  Only $5.00 + $1.50 S&H

New Promotional Video

I recently filmed a short 6 minute video to be used for promotional purposes.  The video includes live footage from one of my gigs as well as interviews and some scenes from the road.  Take a look and feel free to pass it along to your friends.

click on picture to watch

New Merch

Tools Of The Trade

Here's another one of my electric Geetarz.  It's a 1998 American Standard Fender Stratocaster.  It is finished in the classic three tone sunburts finish..Cooool!  This guitar (unlike most of my other guitars) is in pretty good shape.  It has a couple of dings and scratches here and there and if you look real close you will notice that I have a big Les Paul tuning key on the high E string because I somehow broke the original one off somewhere alone the way....but for the most part this guitar has never been thrown at me or anyone else as of yet.  It is what I would call "mint" condition.

Volume 21 Pork McElhinny Newsletter - April 2011

New Hats

To everyone that has been asking.... " When ya gonna get some hats? "......They're on the way.  I should have some in time for the Hourglass shows coming up in April - so if you're gonna be there stop by the merch table and check em' out.  I will also have them available through my website soon.
 
Click on the items below to check out everything currently available through my  secure online store.

Photo Tour
 

1.  Max...riding shotgun
2.  At a gig in Logansport, Indiana
3.  16th Avenue South...better known as "Music Row".
4.  The Smoke House in Monteagle, Tennessee.  Cool place with great food.
5.  Hanging out in the hotel room before a gig in Louisiana.

Tools Of The Trade

Here's another classic Fender amp for you geetar players out there.  It's a 1970 Fender Vibrolux.  40 watts, all tube with two 6L6's for power tubes and 12x7's in the preamp section.  It also has the original two 10" (oxford) speakers in it.  There are two seperate channels (Normal and Vibrato) The normal channel has a bright switch, volume, treble, and bass controls while the Vibrato channel has a bright switch, volume, treble, bass and reverb controls as well as speed and intesity controls for the vibrato.  This amp was made in one of the last years before Fender changed their circut designs which would included the (ill recieved) master volume.    
 
This is one of my favorite amps.  It has the classic Fender clean tone at lower volumes but will also break up real nice at higher volumes.  I'm a big fan of amps with 10" speakers - I believe that they seem to have a bit tighter sounding low end as oppossed to 12' speakers.  Of coarse, this is just my opinion.  
 
This amp was also "hot rodded" by its previous owner but I'm not sure of what mods were made.  (Top secret stuff)

Volume 20 Pork McElhinny Newsletter - March 2011

The Story Behind The Name "Pork"

Playing downtown in Nashville has giving me the opportunity to meet and talk with people from all over the world.  As one would expect, I am forever answering the question : " Why do they call you Pork?"  I'm sure some of you out there are wondering the same thing so I've decided to let you all in on the story. 
 
First let me say that I've been called "Pork" for as long as I can remeber and I am totally comfortable with it.  My real name in George but to hear someone call me by my real name seems foreign to me. 
 
When I was a kid my Grandpa use to like picking on me so he started calling me Georgie Porgie.  My sister picked up on what Grandpa was calling me and soon started to do the same.  The only trouble was - when she tried to say the words "Georgie Porgie" it came out "Porky Porky".  Porky was soon shorted to "Pork" and the rest is history. 

Photo Tour

Everyone seemed to enjoy the photos I included in last months newsletter so I thought I would share a few more with you this month.
 
1. Me playing at Rippy's downtown Nashville with my friends Tom & Lyle.
2. Legends Corner - one of many honkytonks on the strip downtown.  I have played here many times.
3. This here is a "Big Ass Boot".
4. This is my co-pilot Max - getting settled in for a road trip.  (Max is at my feet right now as I type these words.)

Tools Of The Trade

Here's a pretty cool amp that I bought from a friend of mine back in Pennsylvania.  I was never a big fan of Peavey amps untill I plugged into this one.  (Thanks Denny!)  This is a Peavey Delta Blues model.  They made this model with the option of two 10 inch speakers or one 15 inch speaker - mine is the one 15" version.  The only two guitar amps that I know of with a 15" speaker is the Delta Blues and the Fender Vibroverb.  (Stevie Ray used to play through 2 Vibroverbs)  This one is covered in tweed tolex and has a cool vintage vibe.  It's plenty loud with 30 watts of all tube power (EL84's in the power section) dual channel w/ boost, treble, mid, bass and reverb controls.  You can get a nice warm clean tone with it or get as dirty as you would like by cranking the pre-amp up.  It also has a tremolo circuit that I think sounds as good as any I've heard in an amp. 
 
As far as bang for your buck goes I find it hard to beat this one.  I'm not sure if they still make this model or not but the last time I checked you could pick one up on the used market for $200-$300.  This ones not for sale.

Volume 19 Pork McElhinny Newsletter - February 2011

4 Shows in April at The Hourglass - Brookville, PA
 
                Thursday - April 7th
                Friday      - April 8th
                Saturday  - April 9th
                Sunday    - April 10th
 
I will be returning to the Hourglass again for 4 consecutive shows in April.   As in the past, to prevent overcrowding tickets will be pre-sale with limited seating. (Only 125 tickets available per show) 
 
Mark your calenders NOW!   Tickets On Sale March 1st at 8am
 
**Get your tickets one of two ways**
 
- Online at www.porkm.com (anytime after 8am March 1st.)
- Or get your tickets in person at the Hourglass (anytime after 8am March 1st.)
 
All show times will be 7pm-10pm
Must be 21 or over
 
 

Thank you for your newsletter ideas

 
Your feedback and input is crucial to keeping this newsletter fresh and exciting.  Sometimes I get caught up in the mess of wearing way too many different hats trying to keep this music business thing going that I may unknowingly overlook the obvious.  If you have any ideas for the newsletter please email me - I wanna hear from you.
 
Here's a few questions to help get the creative juices flowing:
 
- How can I improve the newsletter?
- Do you have any ideas or suggestions to help make the newsletter more fun, exciting or interactive? 
- What would you like to see new or different? 
- Do you like, dislike or don't care about the "Tools of the Trade" section of the newsletter?
 
 
Do you have any ideas?  Email me now.   pork@porkm.com  I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Keep your beer COLD and your hands WARM
 
Click HERE to get em' while they last. 

Tools Of The Trade

This is my 60's reissue Fender Stratocaster (made in Japan).  I bought this guitar brand new back in the 90's with money that I saved from recycling aluminum cans.   No...I wasn't trying to save the world by going green.....I just didn't have any damn money... but I did have access to a steady supply of aluminum cans.....and No... thats not why I didn't have any money.  Or was it??
 
Anyways....since then I've had it refretted and also installed a graphite nut and saddles in place of the originals.  I remember being afraid of changing the tone of the guitar when I was replacing the original saddles but soon forgot all about that after hearing the way it sounded with the graphite replacements.  The result was better tone and sustain as well as the ability to stay in tune better.   It still has the stock pickups which are not really that "hot" but sound ok.  I love the way the "C" shaped neck feels on this guitar.  As you can see, this guitar is pretty well worn and beat up, (like most of my guitars) but it sounds just as good as the "shiny ones" out there.

Volume 18 Pork McElhinny Newsletter - January 2011

2011 Here we come!

 
Happy New Year everyone!  I can't believe it's here already.   I'm looking forward to a fun and exciting 2011.  I plan to continue expanding my fanbase by branching out with my touring schedule again this year - so keep an eye out for me in some of my old haunts as well as some new places as well.  Things will be a little slow at first until everyone recovers from the spending spree of the holiday season, but it will soon pick up and we'll be off!

Wanna help me with the newsletter?

 
Your feedback and input is crucial to keeping this newsletter fresh and exciting.  Sometimes I get caught up in the mess of wearing way too many different hats trying to keep this music business thing going that I may unknowingly overlook the obvious.  If you have any ideas for the newsletter please email me - I wanna hear from you.
 
Here's a few questions to help get the creative juices flowing:
 
- How can I improve the newsletter?
- Do you have any ideas or suggestions to help make the newsletter more fun, exciting or interactive? 
- What would you like to see new or different? 
- Do you like, dislike or don't care about the "Tools of the Trade" section of the newsletter?
 
 
Do you have any ideas?  Email me now.   pork@porkm.com  I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

"Quotes & Notes"
 

You may not know it... but everyone of you has at some point, in some way or another, giving me the strength and courage to keep chasing my dreams in times when I've been unsure of myself, tired, discouraged or just plain felt like giving up.   
From time to time I recieve nice notes, quotes and words of praise and encouragement from fans, friends and club owners.  I have always enjoyed hearing and reading these and thought you all might too. So I decided to include a few in this months newsletter.

Tools Of The Trade

This month I thought I would switch it up a little and talk strings and picks.  I have people ask me all the time what kind of strings and picks I use, so here you go.  For my acoustic I use Martin M540 Phosphor Bronze gauge .012 - .054.  I get a nice bright sound with these and they seen to do a good job of holding their "new string sound."  I do have a habit of breaking the G string alot when I get to bending on it.  This set comes with a wound G string and some guys will swap it out for a plain steel string so they can bend it easier without breaking but I don't like to do that.  I always felt that the bending power a gained (by switching to plain steel string)  wasn't worth the "strumming sound" that I lost without the wound G.  I just bend the piss out of the wound G and keep lots of extras in my case.
 
For my electric I like to use D'Addario EXL 115's.  The gauges on these run .011 - .049.  I use to use .013's on my electric when I was playing more rock/blues style but now I'm playing more country "chicken picken" so I dropped down to the .011's.  They're light enough to do the bending on but heavy enough that I don't "smear" em' all over the place. 
 
Through the years I have experimented with all kinds of different styles and thickness of picks and have come to like the Dunlop tortex picks the best.   I like the feel of the Tortex material and it doesn't become as "slimy" in your hands when your sweating.  The ones I like are pretty thick (1.14mm)  I think I can get a "meatier" sound with a thick pick as opposed to a thinner on.  Everybody is different and it all comes down to what works best for your style of playing.  Keep on picking!