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
Can You Practice Less & Learn More?
2024-07-18 15:05:00
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
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
Should We Play Bass in Stereo?
2024-07-06 15:05:00
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
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
The Smallest Pedalboard I've Ever Made
2024-06-23 00:36:37
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
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
Designing the Smallest Bass Pedalboard Possible
2024-06-15 07:28:22
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! Janek P.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
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!
Janek
P.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
JHS Colour Box On Tour!
2024-05-25 15:05:00
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
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
Interviewing Jack Roan, Founder of The Noble Amplifier Company
2024-05-13 15:05:00
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
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
There's a New Bass Magazine
2024-05-05 21:27:27
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
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
Is This Even a Bass "Pedalboard"?
2024-04-28 20:48:56
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
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
Is This The Best Bass Pedalboard Ever?
2024-04-23 20:07:10
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, Janek P.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
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,
Janek
P.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.
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Epic New Pedal Delivery
2024-04-15 14:05:00
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
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