i had dinner with my brother and sister in law tonight. that's always fun. jonny grilled some chicken, using his "kitchen sink" marinade... ragan likes to call it "suicide." (you know like when you used to put a little of everything except diet coke in your drink at mcdonalds back in the day). he's a pro at grilling this chicken. something makes me think if i used the same ingredients, i wouldn't quite be able to replicate the quality of jon's chicken masterpiece.

they had a copy of Sade Lovers Live on DVD. the lead guitar player was really amazing in the most tasteful way... in that way that makes me realize, given the same gear, i probably wouldn't sound a thing like him.

there is an old adage "tone is in the touch." for guitar players, i think this means that it doesn't matter what gear you have... if you ain't touchin the guitar right, you ain't got tone. i read in a guitar magazine that it doesn't matter what Eddie Van Halen plays... he's always going to sound like Eddie Van Halen. so true.

buying up lots of gear is always a big temptation for guitar players chasing the tone rabbit. and i do think that you need to spend money on gear that fits you. you won't really be happy playing a strat if you're a les paul in your heart. there's no need wasting money on a boogie if you bleed marshall plexi. but, until you can make music on a guitar, not just play it, you should probably save your money.

right now, i own a strat that has a tele neck and a bunch of other frankensteined parts on it. i also have a 58 les paul reissue, which is probably the most beautiful guitar i've ever been allowed to touch. i have a fender supersonic and a budda superdrive. and apart from needing a pedal or two, i honestly think my electric guitar gear buying days are over. well, except for that Dr Z Maz 18 i want to buy. and the Diezel Einstein head. and the G&L ASAT Classic S. and the Gibson Flying V. and the 335. and the J200. and the 1987x. but, that gear won't ultimately make me happy. (at least that's what i keep telling myself).

thank you, Jesus, for tone.