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
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
The Tim Landers Interview
2024-04-07 16:00:00
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
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
Boutique vs Beginner Bass Shootout
2024-04-01 23:15:35
Today I'm shooting out my wife's first $200 bass from when she was 13 years old against my Master-Built $10,000 signature Mattisson. It's such a fun experiment to see where the two are similar and then push the limits to where those similarities evaporate. Get in the comments on YouTube and let me know if you have two basses on opposite ends of the cost spectrum that are closer in actual value than you might like to admit! More Soon, Janek P.S. we have very limited numbers of signed copies of my books that have just come back in stock. Check them out before they’re gone! https://janekgwizdala.com/store Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Today I'm shooting out my wife's first $200 bass from when she was 13 years old against my Master-Built $10,000 signature Mattisson.
It's such a fun experiment to see where the two are similar and then push the limits to where those similarities evaporate.
Get in the comments on YouTube and let me know if you have two basses on opposite ends of the cost spectrum that are closer in actual value than you might like to admit!
More Soon,
Janek
P.S. we have very limited numbers of signed copies of my books that have just come back in stock. Check them out before they’re gone!
https://janekgwizdala.com/store
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Reviewing (almost) All My Flight Cases Ever
2024-03-24 19:25:05
Ranking the best and the worst flights cases and gig bags for basses and pedals from my entire career. I still have at least one example of almost every single style of case I've ever used, and I have them all out of storage for this video to share my thoughts with you, and hopefully help you figure out what might work for you. The bass I mention in the video that is for sale can be found here: https://janekgwizdala.com/store/p/fjr5v0q0momv6tg1awtui3mrjc3mtx Enjoy, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Ranking the best and the worst flights cases and gig bags for basses and pedals from my entire career.
I still have at least one example of almost every single style of case I've ever used, and I have them all out of storage for this video to share my thoughts with you, and hopefully help you figure out what might work for you.
The bass I mention in the video that is for sale can be found here: https://janekgwizdala.com/store/p/fjr5v0q0momv6tg1awtui3mrjc3mtx
Enjoy,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Programming The HX Stomp For Bass
2024-03-18 22:56:29
I'm programming new sounds for my HX Stomp today, and getting into some fundamental and more importantly useful sounds for regular bass players. As much as the YouTube algorithm might feed you some of the more flashy and soloistic moments of my career, the bigger portion of my bass playing life has been spent in the lower register of the instrument holding the band together. With that in mind, I would like to put some more useable presets out into the world, and I just started breaking the ice in today's podcast with the HX Stomp and what might be possible. You can get my existing HX Stomp Preset Pack HERE https://janekgwizdala.com/store/line6-presets And fresh copies of Bass Player’s Guide to Pentatonics just arrived last night. Get a signed copy before they’re sold out again! https://janekgwizdala.com/store More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
I'm programming new sounds for my HX Stomp today, and getting into some fundamental and more importantly useful sounds for regular bass players.
As much as the YouTube algorithm might feed you some of the more flashy and soloistic moments of my career, the bigger portion of my bass playing life has been spent in the lower register of the instrument holding the band together.
With that in mind, I would like to put some more useable presets out into the world, and I just started breaking the ice in today's podcast with the HX Stomp and what might be possible.
You can get my existing HX Stomp Preset Pack HERE https://janekgwizdala.com/store/line6-presets
And fresh copies of Bass Player’s Guide to Pentatonics just arrived last night. Get a signed copy before they’re sold out again! https://janekgwizdala.com/store
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Ian Martin Allison Interview
2024-03-11 17:49:45
In an effort to be all about the in-person interview as much as possible on the podcast, I flew out to Minneapolis to hang with bassist, podcaster and educator Ian Martin Allison this past weekend. We talked about the very contrasting ways in which we use the Line6 HX Stomp, touring as a sideman vs musical director, how being a parent changes everything, and what it's like to transition from freelance musician to artist. This is my wish list for more guests in 2024: Nathan east Larry Klein Lee Sklar Sean Hurley Stefan Lessard Tim Lefebvre Stu Hamm Jimmy Earl Jimmy Haslip Justin chancellor Who else you got? More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
In an effort to be all about the in-person interview as much as possible on the podcast, I flew out to Minneapolis to hang with bassist, podcaster and educator Ian Martin Allison this past weekend.
We talked about the very contrasting ways in which we use the Line6 HX Stomp, touring as a sideman vs musical director, how being a parent changes everything, and what it's like to transition from freelance musician to artist.
This is my wish list for more guests in 2024:
Nathan east
Larry Klein
Lee Sklar
Sean Hurley
Stefan Lessard
Tim Lefebvre
Stu Hamm
Jimmy Earl
Jimmy Haslip
Justin chancellor
Who else you got?
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
New Distortion & Compressor Pedals!
2024-03-05 07:10:43
Does the bass world really need yet another distortion and compression pedal? There are literally 100's of each to choose from at this point, and it is no longer a surprise when a new builder pops up and announces a new one has arrived. I have some of them, but by no means all. I've played a lot of them, but not every single one. In my humble opinion, one that isn't being paid for by anyone, these two pedals from Lusithand have rather a lot of music to offer us. I hope you enjoy the longer podcast format for pedal stuff. Let me know in the comments if you want more of it. Check out Lusithand Devices (not a sponsor and not an affiliate link) Get Bass Books Here More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Does the bass world really need yet another distortion and compression pedal? There are literally 100's of each to choose from at this point, and it is no longer a surprise when a new builder pops up and announces a new one has arrived.
I have some of them, but by no means all. I've played a lot of them, but not every single one. In my humble opinion, one that isn't being paid for by anyone, these two pedals from Lusithand have rather a lot of music to offer us.
I hope you enjoy the longer podcast format for pedal stuff. Let me know in the comments if you want more of it.
Check out Lusithand Devices (not a sponsor and not an affiliate link)
Get Bass Books Here
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Recording Bass At Home
2024-02-28 06:31:30
Get ready to level up your bass recording game! In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on killer home recording setups for every budget. Whether you're rocking a tight wallet or ready to splurge, I've got you covered. We're diving deep, exploring setups from under $500 all the way to the stratosphere of luxury gear. There's something here for every bassist, whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro. And hey, I know I've got a ton of gear, but there's always more out there! If I missed your favorite compressor or pre-amp, drop a comment or contact the company. Who knows? Maybe we'll team up with the builder for a demo on the channel! More soon, Janek P.S. Pentatonics and ii-V-I just came back in stock. Signed physical copies are shipping worldwide. Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Get ready to level up your bass recording game! In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on killer home recording setups for every budget. Whether you're rocking a tight wallet or ready to splurge, I've got you covered.
We're diving deep, exploring setups from under $500 all the way to the stratosphere of luxury gear. There's something here for every bassist, whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro.
And hey, I know I've got a ton of gear, but there's always more out there! If I missed your favorite compressor or pre-amp, drop a comment or contact the company. Who knows? Maybe we'll team up with the builder for a demo on the channel!
More soon,
Janek
P.S. Pentatonics and ii-V-I just came back in stock. Signed physical copies are shipping worldwide.
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
What It Costs To Be a Musician in 2024
2024-02-19 16:05:00
In a continued effort to be as transparent as possible with my process, this episode breaks down some of the financial realities of running several small businesses as a musician. It all started 30 years ago as being "just" a bass player, but it's come a long way and is still evolving. With business interests in online education, content creation around pedals and gear, writing books, making documentaries, producing, writing, recording, and touring as a musician, there is enough subject matter for 50 episodes. This just scrapes the surface and gives you a brief look inside what my day to day looks like. Please jump in the comments and ask questions if there is something major that you think I missed. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
In a continued effort to be as transparent as possible with my process, this episode breaks down some of the financial realities of running several small businesses as a musician.
It all started 30 years ago as being "just" a bass player, but it's come a long way and is still evolving. With business interests in online education, content creation around pedals and gear, writing books, making documentaries, producing, writing, recording, and touring as a musician, there is enough subject matter for 50 episodes.
This just scrapes the surface and gives you a brief look inside what my day to day looks like. Please jump in the comments and ask questions if there is something major that you think I missed.
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe