Janek Gwizdala Podcast
Dive deep into the music universe with the podcast that unveils the journey of one of the most influential bass players in the music industry – Janek Gwizdala. Designed for bass enthusiasts and musicians alike, each episode is a sonic exploration into the world of groove, gear. technique, and artistic evolution.
Janek Gwizdala, renowned for his mastery of the bass, shares his life's narrative – from the early days as a budding musician to his current status as a sought-after sideman and solo artist. Whether you're a seasoned bassist or simply appreciate the magic of live music, join us as we unravel the layers of Janek's experiences, revealing the secrets behind his signature sound.
Expect in-depth conversations with Janek and special guests, offering unique perspectives on music, composition, and the art of creating an unforgettable groove. Explore the challenges and triumphs of a professional bass player, gain insights into the creative process, and discover the stories behind some of Janek's most iconic performances.
Whether you're looking for inspiration for your own musical journey or simply want to bask in the rich tones of the bass, "The Janek Gwizdala Podcast" is your backstage pass to the world of bass and music.
Subscribe now for an intimate look at the life and legacy of Janek Gwizdala's bass-centric career.
janekgwizdala.substack.com
What I’m Building in 2026
2026-02-17 15:03:00
The podcast returns to its own channel with a 2026 reset: a clearer lane for each part of my output so the main YouTube channel can stay focused on harmony/theory-based lessons, while the podcast and live/performance content live on their own separate channels. I outline six recording projects I'm aiming to track across the year, share a packed touring schedule (US, Japan, Europe, Asia), and talk through a more realistic approach to tour gear —from compact boards to MIDI control, flight cases, and what I actually use on gigs. In this episode Why the podcast is back on the podcast-dedicated YouTube channel The 3-lane restructure for 2026: Main channel = harmony/bass lesson content Podcast channel = long-form conversation + gear talk Clips channel = live performance, studio, behind-the-scenes The “why” behind the shift: reduce stress, increase clarity, serve each audience better The six album/projects Janek is planning to track in 2026 Touring: how the volume is increasing in 2026 and what that means with family life A candid look at saying “yes” vs “no” as a working musician, and how that advice changes by age/career stage Gear logistics: what’s realistic to fly with, compact boards, and why “small but powerful” wins on the road Compact rig idea: Walrus Mantle + HX Stomp Testing rigs on warm-up gigs before international runs New Gator / Vertex case system and a compact board build plan MIDI control with a Morningstar MC4 The honest truth: on many gigs, only a fraction of the pedalboard gets used How the harmony/triads videos unexpectedly clicked, and why that success triggered the restructure The role of Substack: the hub where people can choose what to watch/listen to Links Mentioned in the Episode - Main Channel Triad Video 0 and Triad Video 1 - Clips Channel - Podcast Channel - SBL MIchael Jackson Cover Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
The podcast returns to its own channel with a 2026 reset: a clearer lane for each part of my output so the main YouTube channel can stay focused on harmony/theory-based lessons, while the podcast and live/performance content live on their own separate channels. I outline six recording projects I'm aiming to track across the year, share a packed touring schedule (US, Japan, Europe, Asia), and talk through a more realistic approach to tour gear—from compact boards to MIDI control, flight cases, and what I actually use on gigs.
In this episode
Why the podcast is back on the podcast-dedicated YouTube channel
The 3-lane restructure for 2026:
Main channel = harmony/bass lesson content
Podcast channel = long-form conversation + gear talk
Clips channel = live performance, studio, behind-the-scenes
The “why” behind the shift: reduce stress, increase clarity, serve each audience better
The six album/projects Janek is planning to track in 2026
Touring: how the volume is increasing in 2026 and what that means with family life
A candid look at saying “yes” vs “no” as a working musician, and how that advice changes by age/career stage
Gear logistics: what’s realistic to fly with, compact boards, and why “small but powerful” wins on the road
Compact rig idea: Walrus Mantle + HX Stomp
Testing rigs on warm-up gigs before international runs
New Gator / Vertex case system and a compact board build plan
MIDI control with a Morningstar MC4
The honest truth: on many gigs, only a fraction of the pedalboard gets used
How the harmony/triads videos unexpectedly clicked, and why that success triggered the restructure
The role of Substack: the hub where people can choose what to watch/listen to
Links Mentioned in the Episode
- Main Channel Triad Video 0 and Triad Video 1
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
New Fretless Bass!
2026-01-29 23:43:08
The latest short run of basses with RKM, in three new colors, is here! Check out all the specs below and use the contact email at the bottom of the description to enquire about ordering one today. We also get into triads on dominants chords and a recap of the comments section of the now infamous Mantle video from a couple of weeks ago. RKM CUSTOM 5JG Collab 2Scale: 33”No. Frets: 24No. Strings: 5Distance between strings: 17mmBody wood: Mahogany selected 2 pieceNeck: Hard rock Maple w/ carbon fiber reinforcementFretboard: Birdseye maple / Gaboon Ebony (fretted / fretless)Position markers: Luminlay Side dotsPickups: Nordstrand NP5F/NP5Fa (bridge/neck)Preamp: TRICKFISH IPA 3 band 18VTuners: Hipshot Ultralite w/ Bass XtenderBridge: Hipshot Style A 17mm brassStrap buttons: Dunlop StraplokGigbag: MONO Stealth blackOptions available:Body color:Dark Green / Dark gray / Surf BlueStyle:Fretted / Fretless with reference lines / Fretless clean fretboardTuningEADGC / BEADGOrder via email here: batch2@rkmbasses.com More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
The latest short run of basses with RKM, in three new colors, is here! Check out all the specs below and use the contact email at the bottom of the description to enquire about ordering one today.
We also get into triads on dominants chords and a recap of the comments section of the now infamous Mantle video from a couple of weeks ago.
RKM CUSTOM 5JG Collab 2Scale: 33”No. Frets: 24No. Strings: 5Distance between strings: 17mmBody wood: Mahogany selected 2 pieceNeck: Hard rock Maple w/ carbon fiber reinforcementFretboard: Birdseye maple / Gaboon Ebony (fretted / fretless)Position markers: Luminlay Side dotsPickups: Nordstrand NP5F/NP5Fa (bridge/neck)Preamp: TRICKFISH IPA 3 band 18VTuners: Hipshot Ultralite w/ Bass XtenderBridge: Hipshot Style A 17mm brassStrap buttons: Dunlop StraplokGigbag: MONO Stealth blackOptions available:Body color:Dark Green / Dark gray / Surf BlueStyle:Fretted / Fretless with reference lines / Fretless clean fretboardTuningEADGC / BEADGOrder via email here: batch2@rkmbasses.com
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
$749 For a Bass Preamp?!
2026-01-17 08:21:56
We're taking a look into the new Bass DI and preamp from Walrus audio in collaboration with Ian Martin Allison. Spoiler alert... It's a beautiful piece of gear, and the minor meltdowns about the price happening in the comments below the launch video are a little puzzling. For the most part though, the feedback is hugely supportive and positive which is both great, and greatly deserved. Hopefully this Episode gives you some perspective, some sounds, and a few things to think about when choosing the right gear for you. Besides sending me the unit to try, Walrus Audio are not a sponsor in any other way. I’m never paid for my opinion, and Walrus have no say in what I present to you. As you well know, I just like to make cool sounds with cool stuff. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
We're taking a look into the new Bass DI and preamp from Walrus audio in collaboration with Ian Martin Allison. Spoiler alert... It's a beautiful piece of gear, and the minor meltdowns about the price happening in the comments below the launch video are a little puzzling.
For the most part though, the feedback is hugely supportive and positive which is both great, and greatly deserved.
Hopefully this Episode gives you some perspective, some sounds, and a few things to think about when choosing the right gear for you.
Besides sending me the unit to try, Walrus Audio are not a sponsor in any other way. I’m never paid for my opinion, and Walrus have no say in what I present to you. As you well know, I just like to make cool sounds with cool stuff.
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
The Ethics of Streaming (And Why it Matters)
2026-01-07 23:25:59
Following on from our most recent discussion on the subject, I get a little deeper into the weeds on the state of streaming, the music industry as a whole, and some of the ethical decisions we face when considering how to release our music and share it with the world. I have gone back and forth on the subject for many years, and endeavor to update my thinking on it as and when the information changes. It’s currently less of a negative thing than a positive thing for what my long-term goals are as an artist, and that’s what I get deeper into detail about in this episode. Far more so than the latest article published in my newsletter. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Following on from our most recent discussion on the subject, I get a little deeper into the weeds on the state of streaming, the music industry as a whole, and some of the ethical decisions we face when considering how to release our music and share it with the world.
I have gone back and forth on the subject for many years, and endeavor to update my thinking on it as and when the information changes.
It’s currently less of a negative thing than a positive thing for what my long-term goals are as an artist, and that’s what I get deeper into detail about in this episode. Far more so than the latest article published in my newsletter.
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Revealing My 2025 YouTube Revenue
2025-12-31 00:51:12
To close out the year I’m counting down my top ten YouTube shorts for 2025 and revealing all the numbers from both 2024 and 2025 for comparison. It won’t buy me any beachfront property, but it’s not all doom and gloom, and it doesn’t signal the end by any stretch of the imagination. Don’t forget, that for the next 24hrs only, the entire store is on a 20% holiday sale, with all discounts added automatically at checkout. See you in 2026! Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
To close out the year I’m counting down my top ten YouTube shorts for 2025 and revealing all the numbers from both 2024 and 2025 for comparison.
It won’t buy me any beachfront property, but it’s not all doom and gloom, and it doesn’t signal the end by any stretch of the imagination.
Don’t forget, that for the next 24hrs only, the entire store is on a 20% holiday sale, with all discounts added automatically at checkout.
See you in 2026!
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Mike Stern Tour Recap
2025-12-22 22:41:44
Looking back on two emotional weeks on the road with Mike Stern's band featuring Dennis Chambers on drums. I'm diving deep into how the new pedalboard held up on tour, how the past creeps into my present sometimes, and what the future holds. More soon, Janek Our year-end holiday sale is now on! Get 20% off storewide with discounts added automatically at checkout: https://janekgwizdala.myshopify.com/ Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Looking back on two emotional weeks on the road with Mike Stern's band featuring Dennis Chambers on drums. I'm diving deep into how the new pedalboard held up on tour, how the past creeps into my present sometimes, and what the future holds.
More soon,
Janek
Our year-end holiday sale is now on! Get 20% off storewide with discounts added automatically at checkout: https://janekgwizdala.myshopify.com/
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
How I'm Getting the Best Clean Tone I've Ever Had
2025-12-04 23:14:15
I can’t believe I haven’t utilized this function on any of the pedals or amps I’ve owned. I’ve been getting so deep into the clean signal of my bass lately, especially with the addition of the Wetter Box from GigRig, and this week’s episode of the podcast takes a look at the latest mission to clean up the signal chain even more! More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
I can’t believe I haven’t utilized this function on any of the pedals or amps I’ve owned.
I’ve been getting so deep into the clean signal of my bass lately, especially with the addition of the Wetter Box from GigRig, and this week’s episode of the podcast takes a look at the latest mission to clean up the signal chain even more!
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Chord Melodies For Bass Players
2025-11-20 22:00:13
With a rare trio gig tonight that doesn’t have a chordal instrument besides me in the band, I’m re-booting the partition of my brain that gives me access to a ton of harmony, melody, and comping. All on the bass! In this episode we’ll take a look at both an extended range 5-string with a high C string, and a standard 4-string tuning. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
With a rare trio gig tonight that doesn’t have a chordal instrument besides me in the band, I’m re-booting the partition of my brain that gives me access to a ton of harmony, melody, and comping. All on the bass!
In this episode we’ll take a look at both an extended range 5-string with a high C string, and a standard 4-string tuning.
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Can One Tiny Pedal Make the Difference?
2025-11-11 15:03:00
I just built a brand new pedalboard from scratch and share the signal chain and some of the sounds with you in this episode. We also get into some much more important topics on the subject of our health and mental well-being as musicians. As I mention in the episode, I want to hear from you in the comments, get feedback on what you would like to hear more about, and moving forward it would be great to include elements of the behind the scenes of daily musician life. A life that doesn’t have to be sedentary and unhealthy, and that can lead to you being around way longer to make way more music. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
I just built a brand new pedalboard from scratch and share the signal chain and some of the sounds with you in this episode. We also get into some much more important topics on the subject of our health and mental well-being as musicians.
As I mention in the episode, I want to hear from you in the comments, get feedback on what you would like to hear more about, and moving forward it would be great to include elements of the behind the scenes of daily musician life. A life that doesn’t have to be sedentary and unhealthy, and that can lead to you being around way longer to make way more music.
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Is the Wetter Box The Greatest Pedal Ever?
2025-10-30 21:27:22
It’s incredible that a pedal which creates literally no sound at all, can be so sonically life-changing when it comes to my pedalboard and signal chain. The Wetter Box by Gigrig is by no means a new release, and it’s something I wish I’d tried many years ago. Kudos to Dan and the gang (not a sponsor of the podcast) for getting it so right when many others failed. Here are some other videos I mention in the episode for your reference. Earthquaker Devices Swiss Things was something I used for a long time when my board was in mono. Check out Josh Scott from JHS explaining parallel signal routing. And hear from the creator of the Wetter Box himself, Dan of That Pedal Show fame, talk about exaclty how you might use it. Again, none of these people are sponsors of the podcast, but it’s nice to have the best references when you have questions that go way beyond my security clearance. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
It’s incredible that a pedal which creates literally no sound at all, can be so sonically life-changing when it comes to my pedalboard and signal chain.
The Wetter Box by Gigrig is by no means a new release, and it’s something I wish I’d tried many years ago.
Kudos to Dan and the gang (not a sponsor of the podcast) for getting it so right when many others failed.
Here are some other videos I mention in the episode for your reference.
Earthquaker Devices Swiss Things was something I used for a long time when my board was in mono.
Check out Josh Scott from JHS explaining parallel signal routing.
And hear from the creator of the Wetter Box himself, Dan of That Pedal Show fame, talk about exaclty how you might use it.
Again, none of these people are sponsors of the podcast, but it’s nice to have the best references when you have questions that go way beyond my security clearance.
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe