It’s a trope, a cliche, an idiom even, that expensive tools don’t make the work better by themselves, but in the hands of a pro—read: experienced, or ‘master’—they can work wonders. I can think of few groups where the argument over the worth or quality of the tools is fiercer and more divisive than among guitarists. Pricey gear doesn’t mean better music, but arguments rage over brands, year of manufacture, and even factory location.

In a great player’s hands, though, even a cheap or lower-grade instrument can produce good music. So it seemed to me while I watched Zakk Wylde glide through Black Sabbath’s “N.I.B.” on a Hello Kitty themed, mini acoustic guitar. And it’s more than just his playing skill, he’s bringing thoughtful musicianship to the task. The sotto voce delivery was the perfect complement to his careful, quiet strumming. Almost like he’s singing to himself. The original isn’t diminished by the smaller scale, it’s evoked, memorialized, honored.

Zakk Wylde – “N.I.B.”
https://youtu.be/rwhvFLHIlBs

This humbled me a little bit. Zakk (can I call him Zakk? He seems like the type to eschew formality), despite a well-documented penchant for goofballery, takes the task seriously. He doesn’t play it for laughs. Sure, the situation as a whole is silly, but by approaching it sincerely, he elevates both the music and the means of making it.