Will anyone be upset if I write about gear? Man, I blow speakers. That’s totally cool, isn’t it? NOOOO, it sucks dik. It’s expensive and frustrating, emotionally taxing and stuff. I’m totally panicked right now, trying to find a new kind of speaker, knowing I can’t afford them, but of course knowing that I will somehow afford them before the NW shows. Every time I think I’ve got it figured out, a little bit o’ time goes by, the rig is fryin’ up just nice and everyone’s stoked.. then either BLAM!! followed by the eerie, expensive silence.. or like just happened the other day, this fuckin ominous buzzy bit begins to accompany everything I play. It's ominous because if I keep playing I know it will become so expensive that I’ll remember it all year. This is the thing to know.. when one makes a habit of toying with Satan, one eventually pays. My quandary is that this life is not interesting unless I get to toy with Satan. See, what I’ve found is that Satan cannot hear guitars unless they’re distorted. And even if they’re distorted, he can’t hear that fucking sound unless the equipment making the sound is actually experiencing pain. Physical pain must be felt by the equipment - the “wear items” comprising the equipment must experience a rather steep rate of attrition, is what I’ve found is necessary to get Satan’s attention. And then beyond that, to actually taunt him satisfactorily requires yet more attrition. And so it hath been. And so I am well accustomed to buying tubes for my amp a couple times a year. And it seems like that would be enough, and that was my hope. But no, Satan has apparently decided that I must also buy three (3) sets of loudspeakers per year as well. THIS SUCKS. FUCK YOU SATAN! I just wanted to say that. ~J