Janek Gwizdala Podcast

You might be a bass player who owns more than one bass, but has had difficulty switching between them. You are not alone! This was me for the longest time. I used to be so tied to one specific instrument that I missed out on a lot of opportunities to play music. I've since shed that security blanket and am sharing the process in today's episode as I highlight how much easier it has become to switch between 4 very different basses.The Vital Information East Coast tour starts tomorrow, all dates are linked below. More soon, Janek

Playing a Thundercat song on SBL wasn't something I had on my bingo card at the beginning of the year, but that's exactly what happened! I had a blast shooting the video and was (in a very rare instance for me) quite happy with the performance. I think it was a product of being surprised by the material, feeling comfortable around the crew, and just letting it happen. Massive thanks to Sharon for doing such a great job of hosting the segment and being open to trying something new with the format, and to the whole crew with Scott and Mattie for our mega day in the studio here in Los Angeles.Check out the new Chordal Harmony Bundle if you want to dig deeper into some of the chords and voicings I'm breaking down in today's episode. More soon, Janek

It all started as a very innocent comment about not being a huge Soundgarden fan. Over 200k views and 1k comments in the first week later, and the dumpster fire that YouTube comments can become has been quite an eye-opening ride. The irony is, I don't hate Soundgarden at all. I've even seen them in concert at the old LA Forum and had a great time. The way in which most of the outraged commenters on Musora's video we shot with Vital Information think it's wrong that I don't choose Soundgarden as my go-to band, is quite astonishing. If I asked them to listen to microtonal ambient clarinet music and they weren't a huge fan, should my response be the same? Should I think any less of them? Of course not. In this episode we break down the Soundgarden controversy, my clinics in Europe with Ian Martin Allison, and one of the worst travel weeks of my 30+ year career.Make sure you check out the new vinyl copies of the Mystery to Me 20th Anniversary release that just arrived while I was on tour in Europe. All pre-orders shipped today, and there are a few copies left that are available in the store while stocks last!More soon, Janek

When life happens and what you actually need to be doing to get ready for recording, performances, or clinics gets put on the back burner, it can feel a little hectic and out of control. I found myself waking up today, the day before leaving for Europe, and feeling very underprepared with my playing. Today's episode takes a look at the idea I'm using to inject some confidence and stamina back into my playing, so I can hit the ground running in Germany and play to the best of my ability. The final few tickets for our Bass Bash event in London on June 1st are AVAILABLE HERE, as is a mint-condition Fairfield Circuitry Randy's Revenge that is flying out of the pedal library this week to make room for something new. I was also given a couple of fun new toys by Tosin Abasi yesterday, so we take a quick look at them towards the end of the episode. More soon, Janek

It's not clickbait, it's not a hack, it's not a shortcut, and there is no avoiding the work. This is literally how you get better faster than you're doing it now. Laser focus on small pieces of information for as much time as you can during your practice sessions, will help give you the freedom to play without thinking when it comes to be onstage.More soon, JanekP.S. There are crazy delays on the Mystery to Me Anniversary Vinyl, and I must apologize to everyone who pre-ordered the album. I was expecting to ship in mid-April, and that is already a month gone. The latest from Discmakers is May 15th-Jun 4th as a delivery window. As soon as they're here, they'll be on the way to you!

In this no-holds-barred episode, we (yes, my wife is finally back on an episode!) react to the recent storm surrounding Danny Sapko's exposé of Giacomo Turra, who's been accused of stealing musical content and passing it off as his own. The controversy triggered widespread conversation across the online music world—drawing in heavyweights like Adam Neely and Rick Beato. But here's the twist: we don't agree with most of what they had to say.

We're into a harmony deep-dive in today's episode that, towards the end of the epsiode, becomes somewhat of an “internet musician” deep rant. Thankfully I'm not 21 anymore, and I think we pose some important and positive questions before the episode is over. Get in the comments below the YouTube video to chime in with your thoughts. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Just a quick note to let you know that, besides today's episode of the podcast dropping, we're getting really close to being able to announce the London clinic with myself and Ian Martin Allison on June 1st.In today's episode, I take a crack at sharing my latest harmonic curiosity: Neo-Riemannian Triadic Theory. It's a bit of a mouthful for something that's essentially just major and minor triads—in all their inversions—and how you can connect them using (amongst others) relative, parallel, and leading-tone transformations.It's fascinating, kind of nerdy, but surprisingly good for your bass playing!You don't ever have to actually play the ideas as chords on the bass—but the information you're armed with, having studied the concept, gives you so many more options when it comes to note-choice and supporting the musicians around you in the band.More soon!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

A quick emergency episode of the podcast to let you know that Bass Day Europe has been cancelled a the last-minute, and that Ian Martin Allison and myself are going to try and do something in London together in its place.Comments on the video with suggestions are already pouring in which I really appreciate, but we can't have too many ideas. So put your thinking caps on and let's see what the best option ends up being. Since posting the video just a few hours ago it's looking totally doable. I have been fielding dozens of questions about whether or not it was happening or was potentially a scam. Now we know. The writing seemed like it might already be on the wall when this was posted a couple of months back, but I was trying to be optimistic and going on the facts not the rumors as I had indeed been booked ad confirmed to play. I'm also really sorry to hear about people who have paid for tickets and haven't had any direct communication from the organizers. That's really not cool and there will be more in-depth video about this when I get back home from touring next week. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I've been looking for the perfect touring pedalboard case my entire career, and even though I think I've come pretty close with this latest setup, only time on the road over the next two weeks will tell. We start our tour here at home in LA for four nights, but once we leave for the airport it's 14 flights in 10 days. I'll be sure to report back on all the wins and losses for the board when the tour is over.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

It's incredible what can be staring you in the face for so long, and you just can't see it no matter how hard you look. My discovery this week, of a function on a pedal I've owned for over 5 years, changed the way I'm able to play, to write, and to enjoy music. The pedalboard has now been cannibalized as a result, and is being totally rebuilt before touring starts next week. As a result, some pedals are on the way out to make room for new stuff.Check them out! I've mentioned in the past that some of the books we get from the factory don't make it to us in perfect condition, and as a result of not being able to sell them, they've been piling up here. We're now offering these units for sale with a massive discount. The defects are purely cosmetic of course, and the content in the books is still 100% sound. There are only a few available, so grab yours now!More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

A bass arrived yesterday that I'm holding onto for a friend before I deliver it to him, and I get to share it with you on the channel while It's in my studio. It's always interesting to see what other builders are doing, and what other people are playing. It's definitely not my particular flavor, but still a fun and challenging exercise to play a strange instrument and try and sound like yourself right away. In today's episode I also get to a new gadget for touring, and an exercise I've been using to get me ready for touring season which starts in just a couple of weeks here on the West Coast of the US.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Today's episode of the podcast takes a quick look into the new "medium" stereo pedalboard build, a dive into the epic 10th anniversary version of the JHS Colorbox, and some lo-fi exploration with the Vibrato Coral from EQ Circuitos.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

As touring season approaches, another rig build is imminent. I've been working on some sounds and figuring out how I'm going to take this massive stereo image on tour with me for both playing live and recording. With tours in the US and Europe with Vital Information, solo clinics, bass days, and several large recording projects scattered around the world, compact and easy to carry is the name of the game with this board. But at the same time, I don't want to sacrifice anything when it comes to sound, and I want it ALL to be in stereo. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I recently hopped on a flight to Boston to meet up with my good friend and bass-hero John Patitucci. We went all the way down the rabbit hole on his entire discography as an artist, his new album Spirit Fall, and so many details of how his career was shaped by Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter, and how it is still taking on new shapes and forms to this day. Be sure to check out tour dates at his WEBSITE! and the new album with Chris Potter and Brian Blade now on all platforms.Enjoy, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Whilst sifting through old drives for B-Roll for another video I found this old overhead shot of me working on a Till Brönner transcription from a few years back. Obviously I don't set up the camera and makes videos like this every time I transcribe something, but I do make a habit of transcribing on a regular basis. As my ear gets stronger, the material I'm transcribing tends to change. It's quite rare these days to be transcribing linear ideas for instance as I've done so much of that over the past three decades. I'm more curious now about harmony and chord voicings, and how those might work for orchestration and arrangement purposes when I'm in writing-mode. As you can hear from this very raw voice note made with my phone, I'm focusing on harmonic development for this new album I'm planning to record in Europe later in the year. I'm working towards recording the trio (possibly Jojo Mayer and Tom Cawley) in the south of Germany, and then hopping over to Sofia to record the New Bulgarian Voices on top of the trio right after. Layering elements of Jazz, European folk music, electronic music, and some of my biggest influences from the classical world like Chopin, Brahms, Messiaen, Mahler, Schubert, Ravel and Rachmaninoff, is something incredibly exciting to me. Knowing I have access to some of the greatest musicians, engineers, and studios out there gives me a lot of hope that no matter what we do in the studio, we will make music we love. And when you add in the possibilities a choir could generate… I start to get a real buzz about the project even when we're so many months away. This is a clip from my daily practice routine that I'm constantly documenting to make sure ideas aren't lost. The one recurring melody throughout this improvised clip could end up being the main theme for a choral arrangement for instance. You just never know. That's why I felt compelled to share these three things today. * The transcription clip represents where I'm coming from and the crazy amount of hours I've put into transcription and ear training over the years. * The audio clip gives you an idea of how I'm constantly making short voice notes of compositional ideas. * And the video clip is looking forward to this year's recording projects as I continue to write as much as possible every day, and get used to a new instrument so I'm in the best place possible when the red light goes on to record. As always, be sure to stream the latest album with Mark Turner, John Ellis, Gretchen Parlato, Jojo Mayer, Elliot Mason, Gregoire Maret, and Tim Miller for free wherever you listen to music. My listening platform of choice happens to be Spotify.If you're a fan of physical media, you can now pre-order vinyl of this latest releaseMore soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

In today's episode I dig into the Wayne Shorter composition Capricorn, take a look at new chord voicings, and explain my process for creating a new challenge in my practice routine. Since the recent video about the dozens of books that got stolen from my porch we've managed to re-stock, so there are 10-Minute Manuals, Scales and Arpeggios, and almost every other book we have in stock right now!Don't forget that the John Patitucci interview is dropping this Friday to celebrate the launch of his new album Spirit Fall. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

As 2025 gets well and truly underway I have so many music-related things to be thankful for and excited about.My latest album, Mystery to Me - 20th Anniversary Edition, is now available for pre-order on vinyl. It's the first album in 20 years of releasing music as an artist that I'm having pressed to vinyl, and I can't wait to share it with you.Two beautiful new instruments have just arrived!One is my limited edition collaboration with RKM, and the other is the evolution of my Mattisson 5-string that is now hollow-body, headless, and passive!Watch and listen to this week's episode on YouTube and get samples of the new instruments, details of the new vinyl release, and a ton of tour dates coming up over the next few months.More soon,Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

In this week's episode we get into Winter NAMM 2025, new basses being delivered, huge interview guest announcement, and a crap load of bass books get stolen from my house.We're also launching merch for the first time in many years. Shop the store for super-soft hoodies, T's, Baseball shirts, caps, and much more!More soon!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I'm doing the full price breakdown of the new stereo pedalboard, and the number at the end of the episode is eye-watering. I'm always astonished at the kinds of prices people think they can get away with charging for gear, but as we run through the cost of each pedal on the new board, scouring Reverb.com for current prices, things get a little out of hand…More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I have some new pieces in the pedal library that are going into the new stereo setup. I'm actually most excited about the one pedal that makes no sound at all: The Walrus Audio Stereo Canvas. More on that in the episode!Could it be the solution to a Stereo/Mono all-in-one board that I've been looking for? If it is, that board might get even crazier with a stereo loop switcher in the end going out to four DI's… Massive thanks to everyone who has streamed the new album. It's by far my most successful release based on Spotify streams in the first week, and it's growing every day. I'm very happy to see this music get a fresh lease of life, and hear your feedback about the new bass tracks I recorded for the album. We also have a massive update to the website that I hope will give way more access to the books across the world. I've been racking my brains about how to solve the issues we've had over the past year with crazy shipping costs, and not having the ability to bundle digital and physical products together. Well… we've solved both of them! And have moved to Shopify for a way more streamlined and smooth user-experience. In some cases shipping is actually going to be free now!Shipping, to so many parts of the world, has been as much as the cost of a book itself. We've set some thresholds for each part of the globe that, if met, shipping will go to zero. That way we end up sharing the cost of the shipping a little, and you get more products for your money rather than burning it all on Fedex. It's the start of a new chapter, and I'm sure there will be a few bumps along the way. I appreciate both your support and your patience as always, and look forward to bringing you much more very soon. Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I know that stereo anything is probably not front and center when you're leaving the house for a gig to play bass, but there is a use-case once in a while for delays and reverbs and they sound amazing in stereo!I'm digging the Del-Verb from UAFX, and will soon add the Golden Reverberator to the signal chain to see if I can get where I want to go with ambient soundscapes.Make sure you get in the comments on YouTube and let me know what you use, how you use it, and if you've ventured into the land of stereo bass yet!Don't miss our last sale of the year: Buy any signed physical book and get any digital book for just $5, and get 25% off all digital book bundles. The sale runs until midnight on NYE, and all discounts are added automatically at checkout.Happy reverberating, and more soon!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Bass tone isn't just in the fingers and the pedals... There's the key ingredient of who you work with, both live and in the studio, and how they capture your sound. In this week's episode we take a deep dive into my journey as a recording artist and highlight some of the engineers and moments along the way that have helped shape my sound to where it is today.Make sure you take advantage of our final sale of the year with digital copies of our books discounted by 80% off when you purchase a signed physical book. Add ANY digital book to your order of a signed physical book and you'll get an automatic 80% discount on the digital version at checkout, up to 10 books in an order. You can also get 25% off any Digital Bundle, including the Complete Library, through December 31st at midnight. Happy practicing, happy holidays, and we'll be back with more soon!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Boutique is an often misused term for our instrument, and in this episode I'm going to try and get to the bottom of what makes something "boutique" in the bass world, and shed some light on the process of choosing the right bass.As mentioned in the episode I have a couple of pedals available for sale at the website. It's something I almost never do, and it's rare for a pedal to be on its way out of the library than on the way in! Brand new and with the original boxes:Hungry Robot Wardenclyffe Dexule GFI Systems Specular Tempus first come first served!Good luck!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Having played the new bass live and spent some time in the studio with it, the verdict is in! It's always interesting getting to know a new instrument and figure out where it sits in the lineup. I've found some cool use cases for it, and am getting more comfortable with the preamp and controls each day. There are minor details that need adjusting, but the prototype plays incredible well and pretty much does exactly what we set out to do with this experiment. I really hope some of you get the chance to play it at the NAMM show, and potentially get your hands on one of the 10 units we'll offer in 2025. I'm super curious to see where they end up in the world, and how you guys use them out in the wild. Make sure you take advantage of all the things on sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday through December 4th at midnight. All discounts are either added at checkout or shown on the product page * eBooks and eBook bundles are buy one, get 50% off another (up to four products per order)* The Complete Library is super discounted and includes the new scales book* Line6 HX Stomp Presets are 35% off * Physical books on Amazon are discounted 20%Happy Practicing and more soon!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

The new bass from RKM is here. At least the first prototype is, and I'm really excited to be able to share it with you in this episode of the podcast. Check out the video on YouTube to get a close-up look at this beautiful instrument, and drop a comment below the video with your thoughts on 5-strings, high C tuning, double reversed P pickups, and all the other stuff we've included in this build that we plan to launch at Winter NAMM 2025. Black Friday is in full-swing with physical books on Amazon discounted worldwide, and our ebooks at the website discounted to get 50% off every other book you purchase. And that's up to four books in each order. Want 3 books? get 3 more 50% off! This also applies to book bundles. Buy one, get 50% off another. All discounts are applied automatically at checkout. And don't forget the pre-sale for the new scale book ends in just a few days on November 26th. This is your last chance to get a signed physical copy bundled with a digital version of the book for this pre-sale price. * Domestic Shipping (USA)* International ShippingWe will have a digital-only version of the new scale book launching this Thursday, and our “Complete Library” bundle will include the new book and will go on sale with the book launch on November 28th. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

It is now my quest, in the most respectful way possible of course, to prove Rick Beato wrong on one of his recent uploads about successful musical output occurring when an artist is in their 20's. I don't actually think Rick is wrong at all, I just hope that I can prove him wrong about me and still make music for the rest of my life that leaves my fulfilled by the process. Watch Rick's video here:* Read the article I reference in today's episode about the volume of music released in 1998 vs 2024. We're only days away from the launch of the the new scale book. Grab yours on Pre-Order discount until November 26th. This gets you both the signed physical and digital copies in this unique bundle. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Today's episode isn't all doom and gloom, although some aspects of our industry do get pretty dark at times. Especially when it comes to the transparency of companies, channels, and gear videos. I'm using an unlikely example to highlight where I'm at in the journey of creating these videos for YouTube, and as part of the episode will be doing a pretty tasty giveaway. Just make sure you leave a comment on the YouTube video to be entered to win, and I'll pick a winner on the next episode of the podcast. It's totally free and I'll ship the giveaway anywhere in the world so anyone can enter!If you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now: Domestic Shipping (USA)International ShippingMore soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Time is something we can't buy any more of, and the better we manage it while we're here, the more productive, fulfilling, and happy a life we can lead as musicians. Just remember, always give the day more credit for the amount of time it offers.If you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now: Domestic Shipping (USA)International ShippingMore soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I've been wanting to make this video for quite sometime, if only to satisfy my own curiosity and fill in some gaps in my memory of pedals I haven't used in a while. Welcome to a walk down the memory lane of bass octave pedals, where I started, how I started, what I use now, and why I even had all these pedals out on the desk in the first place. If you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now: Domestic Shipping (USA)International ShippingMore soon!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I was psyched to dust off a few pedals that have been with me for many years and put them in a signal chain with a pedal that, while not new to the market, is new to me. A friend of mine in Europe who is visiting soon ordered this to my house, so while I wait for him to pick it up I get to put the pedal through its paces and share the results with you. From Stevie Wonder to Nine Inch Nails, the Doom 2 from 3leaf kind of has you covered for fuzz and synth bass sounds. I'm using my original 3leaf Octabvre and a vintage Pearl OC-07 for octaves, the Doom 2 in "Safety Orange", an Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe, the Avalanche Run from Earthquaker Devices, and a pair of Teletronix TDIs to record in stereo.If you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now:Domestic Shipping (USA)International Shipping (Outside of the U.S.)More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I think we all have a range of things on the emotional side of music that could benefit from a little TLC. This week's episode of the podcast takes a look at how I tackle a lack of confidence in my playing ahead of a really special gig. Check out the episode, get some ideas for your practice routine, and if you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now:Domestic Shipping (USA)International Shipping (Outside of the U.S.)More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

When you think about it from sound quality alone there is no question that new bass on my first album from 2004, Mystery To Me, will enhance the listening experience in a lot of ways. The real question is: Do I have a moral obligation to leave it the way it is for the 20th anniversary re-mix/re-master edition we're putting out in a couple of months? Get in the comments wherever you're watching or streaming and let me know your thoughts.And don't forget the pre-sale for the new book, The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios, is happening right now!Get both a signed physical copy and a digital version in this unique pre-sale bundle through November 26th. Click here for domestic shipping in the U.S.Click here for Internationals shipping outside the U.S.More soon, JanekP.S. I know international shipping for the signed copies of the book is sometimes more than the cost of a single book, but that's just the reality of the USPS here in America. They absolutely hammer us on shipping costs overseas. All books are available at Amazon.com, and the new one will be no exception when it launches. Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

This week was quite the whirlwind trip to Germany for the 2024 Guitar Summit in Mannheim. I met some amazing people, was treated to a fantastic audience and set of questions at my clinic, and made some awesome new friends.Big announcement coming in a couple of days, so stay tuned for that!More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

We somehow made it to 300 episodes of the podcast since 2006 or 2007. It's so long ago, I don't actually remember exactly when I hit upload on podbean for the first time. To celebrate, I answered as many questions you all submitted as I could, and it was awesome to hear from you and a challenge to think about the answers. Here's to 300 more!

We get into the weeds on the latest pedalboard build, and talk about what a disaster these projects can start life as. I'm getting ready to go to Europe to give a clinic on pedals, so this board has a little bit more pressure on it as it'll be heavily scrutinized by the audience. If you end up watching this on YouTube, the video cut out a few minutes in and I didn't notice until about the 10 minute mark. I shot some b-roll after the fact to go along with what I was talking about, and I do eventually notice and figure it out in time to save the episode.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I think the short answer to the question is yes! It's totally possible to be a recording artist, but the bigger question is how? As my debut album Mystery To Me turns 20 this year, I have a little bit of experience in this area to share, and today we get into exactly what it means to be a recording artist in 2024 and beyond.I'm very excited to have found the sessions from two decades ago and will be remixing, remastering, and for the first time in my career pressing vinyl for this 20th anniversary release. There will be new artwork and packaging, as well as two bonus tracks of takes we did after the audience had left the studio. Yes, this was a live album! Live in the studio, but live none the less. A small audience assembled on November 4th 2004, and we played the album from top to bottom in one take. Check out the episode, drop some comments on the youtube video to both give me feedback on the vinyl thing, and of course to help the algorithm. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I thought this would be one of the easiest Epsisodes/videos to make. Rock up to my computer, import Ian's presets, play music, talk, done. The reality was actually quite different. There was real pressure to “get it right” for want of a better phrase. This was meant to be my take on the sounds, my opinion for whatever it's worth, and just some fun seeing where the presets would take me. But shortly after hitting the record button I started over-thinking things and realizing I was putting pressure on myself to know what each sound was made up of just by listening, and to try and do the sounds justice. I eventually got the heart rate down a little and settled into simply enjoying the sounds and making music, and hopefully that is ultimately what comes across. If you want to download any of the sounds you hear in the episode you get get Ian's HERE and mine HERE. More soon, JanekShop Now Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

It is both an amazing feeling to find something new in the learning process, and a kick in the gut when you realize you should have been doing it for 30 years already. I recently started exploring a new approach for learning music that seems to be working better than anything I've tried in the past, allowing me to add vocabulary to my language faster than before, and most importantly embed it deep into the muscle memory and sub-conscious so I never forget it.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Bass players of the world, It is with great joy that I get to share my latest round of HX Stomp presets with you, and I cannot wait to hear what you do with them. With options for everything from film score to funk, there's a little something for every player. The biggest challenge in putting them together was trying to take myself out of the equation and think about how people from all walks of the bass world might want to use them. Obviously they're all inspired by things quite personal to me, but at the same time I think they can be easily customized, and I look forward to working with people on ways to bend them into exactly what it is YOU need. Reach out in the comments on YouTube so as many people as possible can share in the information that comes up in our conversations, and I'll post some more sound samples and ideas with the presets soon. JanekP.S. If you don't have the original Janek Gwizdala Signature Sound pack, you can get that and the new release in a single bundle and save 25%! Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Just in case you thought I'd come up with some formula that allows you to spend hardly any time with your instrument and become a monster player… I didn't. By practicing less I mean practicing less ideas at any given time. There is still no substitute for time spent with the instrument, and as I explain what it is I'm working on in this episode, it might come as a surprise to you as to how basic some of the stuff is after all these years of work on the craft. In other news I have to update you on the progress with bringing back the vlog, but that will have to wait until next week. This week however, we could see a live stream for the first time in months to test out a new content concept I'm working on. Maybe tomorrow morning…? Keep your eyes peeled to your email. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

For pedal fans and signal chain nerds, mono vs stereo is going to come up once in a while and it's a tough call to make when you consider the incredible options available today to widen your sound. From reverbs and delays to all kinds of modulation and panning effects, there is an almost infinite library to draw inspiration from. The more real-life questions for gigging musicians are: * Do you really want to carry two sets of cabinets and two amps with you? * Are you willing to use in-ear monitors as a lighter/more portable option? * Maybe you've never even considered some of the benefits of running effects in stereo when you play live, so you're asking yourself “wtf is all this about?!” This episode of the podcast is a nerdy deep dive on a few of the things I'm looking at incorporating into a stereo rig to tour with my own band, that's not going to weigh 800lbs or take three hours to set up every night! We're going to feature some sounds in the HX Stomp throughout the episode and I know I promised the new pack of presets months ago. It is on its way! I just want it to be right before I put it out into the world. In the meantime, the Janek Gwizdala “Signature Pack” is still available, and for everyone who asks about crossover between the old and new: There will be nothing from the old pack in the new one. It will be 100% new sounds. That's probably why it's taking so long. I appreciate your patience. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

This episode of the podcast gives an in-depth look into the new mini touring bass pedalboard for my show in Morocco with the Brecker Brothers next week. It's small but mighty, and ended up being something completely different from what I imagined it would be. The signal chain includes the MXR Vintage Bass Octave, MXR Bass Envelope Filter, Line6 HX Stomp and MXR Bass Preamp. It's all mounted on a small board by Mono, powered by a Cioks 4, and will travel in a Mono Tick 2.0 bag. Enjoy!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

The time has finally come to build the smallest bass pedalboard possible as I need something to stash in my checked luggage for a trip to Morocco in a couple of weeks with The Brecker Brothers Reunion Band. I'll be using the HX Stomp as the brains of the board, but the other pedals that will accompany it are still a mystery right now. I'd love to have a DI and maybe an octave pedal, but beyond that I'm at the drawing board playing Tetris with a mini Mono board and Tick 2.0.This latest miniature venture has me highly motivated to finish the new HX Stomp preset pack I promised a couple of months ago. I'm going to be recreating some of the classic Brecker Brothers bass sounds of Will Lee from those original records in the 70's, and will do my best to get that Mu-Tron sound on “Sponge”, and maybe a little chorus here and there? More than anything I need that in-your-face fatness that those records captured, so pre-amp and EQ will be a big help with that. More soon!JanekP.S. Now I'm home and off the road for a couple of weeks, we have a ton of physical books in the store ready to be signed and shipped out worldwide! Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

It's time for a report on the JHS Colour Box and how it held up for me on tour in Asia for the past few weeks. It was my pick for the touring board after my recent DI shootout video, and I'm excited to share the results with you. I also have some big news on the Teletronix TDI sale that is coming in the next few days, but before we get to that, there is a 10% discount on all signed physical copies of my books through Labor Day (Monday) at midnight. Due to us moving house this week, and me moving into a new studio with all the instruments, pedals, cameras and books, I want to get as many of these physical books out of the house as possible before it's time to start carrying boxes down three flights of stairs to the new place!With almost everything in stock right now, that's great for you, but a disaster for my lower back and legs on moving day. You don't need a discount coupon, it will be applied automatically at checkout!I cannot wait to move into the new space, rebuild the studio, and start working on some of the things I'm discussing in this week's episode of the podcast, as well as bring you footage from the road, and updates on all the exciting new pedals coming into the studio. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

This is an interview from last year with the founder of Noble, Jack Roan. It went up on my separate youtube podcast channel, but that has long since been abandoned, and with the recent release of my DI shootout video, it seemed fitting to release it on the main channel so a wider audience might hear the story behind Noble.Enjoy, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Print media is not dead! Not only isn't it dead, it's actually representing the bass community in very high quality format with the launch of Bass Review Magazine in the UK. I thought the chance of being on the cover of a physical magazine had long since passed, but here we are in 2024 with it happening again. I wish BRM great success in this endeavor, and look forward to reading about our little bass-corner of the music community for many years to come on the pages of their publication. As I mentioned in the episode, I'm leaving on tour in two days for Asia... so if you want signed copies of the massive delivery of bass books that just arrived in my studio, get your order in as soon as you see this, and I'll get them shipped out to you wherever you are in the world before I leave. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Aside from posing the question of whether or not two pedals can be a "pedalboard", I get into what it takes to reboot the system ahead of a grueling international tour schedule.I'll be in China and Taiwan for just over two weeks playing 10 concerts with Steve Smith's Vital information, and that is book-ended by an insane home schedule of filming, recording, and family commitments. I talk all the time about consistency of practice and work, but no matter how I am, there is always the chance things can fall through the cracks for a few days and totally knock me off my game. This episode is all about how I remedy that get my playing back up to where I need it to be. Physical copies of Bass Player's Guide To Pentatonics are back in stock, and shipping worldwide. Grab a signed copy while they last!More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I always find it fascinating as to how long a pedalboard lasts. For the most part in my career, the next board is already being planned before the current one is even fully wired and operational. Things seem to be a little different this time around though, and I'm excited to share with you what makes this one of the most musical builds I've ever completed. Enjoy, JanekP.S. For the first time in the store I have signed physical copies of Ultimate Chop Builder available! Both Minor and Major modes versions, plus a fresh batch of Bass Player's Guide to Pentatonics. Shop Now Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

After a fantastic week on the road and in the studio with Steve Smith and Vital Information, I'm back home in my studio to examine the most insane pedal delivery my collection has ever seen. As you may have heard I'm getting ready to start shoot the biggest Bass DI/Pre Amp video of all time. As you'll see from today's episode, that's not click bait or overselling, it's as accurate a description as I could make considering the companies I reached out to that said yes! So far in the lineup I have Jad Freer, Jule Amps, Noble, Origin Effects, Aguilar, Ampeg, JHS, Caveman Audio, Miura, MXR, REDDI, Sushi FX, DSM & Humbolt, Radial, and there are still more to come.If there's something you'd like to see featured in the video that you don't see on the list, drop it in the comments!For anyone in the Denver area, I'm very excited to be heading to play at Dazzle this coming weekend, Saturday April 20th, with two of my best friends and long-time musical colleagues Gabriel Santiago and Justin Vasquez. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

It's hard to put into words what it means to meet your heroes. To be able hit record 5 minutes later and get to share that conversation with you is one of the prouder moments of my career. With stories about how he started out, practicing in a shed in Steve Smith's backyard, to walking into Electric Ladyland in New York City for a record date where the horn section was Michael and Randy Brecker and Barry Rogers, we cover a lot of ground in this conversation. John Tesh, Tracy Chapman, Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Vince Neal, Billy Cobham, Mike Stern, Vinnie Colaiuta, Frank Gambale, about a thousand other legendary recording artists grace the pages of Tim's career highlights. I hope this is the first of many times I get to pick Tim's brain and share it with you. The man is a treasure chest of knowledge and experience with some of the best music and bass related stories you could hope to hear. Enjoy!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe