I sort of had an epiphany today...
For many years I've played with a pretty heavy pick attack to the strings and was starting to get into a real rut. I reached a point where I realized that I wasn't getting any better. So, I tried something a little different today. I eased up quite a bit on my pick attack and very quickly my playing became much smoother, more articulate, and more dynamic. It dawned on me that playing with "gusto" and feeling doesn't necessarily mean "standing on the pick with both feet" when hitting the strings*.
I've also made a conscious effort to play tighter (keeping my fingers closer to the strings while executing a run or a scale). I got this from watching an old CREAM video where Clapton is demonstrating some of his technique to his interviewer.
'Just curious... has anyone else had a similar experience?
*This was a leftover from a friend that I played in a band with many years ago. To him, pounding the strings to death = feeling + virtuosity.