I Got a New Bass ???? | The Janek Gwizdala Podcast #309
My new bass from RKM is here! It’s the prototype of something we’ve been talking about and working on for the past 6 months, and it’s an incredible start to the process.
Once I’ve had a chance to seriously put it through its paces over the next week or so, there will be some notes and we’ll start on the build of the final product. The bass should launch at NAMM 2025 here in Southern California, and I can’t wait for some of you to get the chance to try it.
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SBL Interview referenced in the Episode: https://youtu.be/pq0xQnMEQ6M?si=Z9N-GTE2YK6mJsoj
#Bass #Janek #Gwizdala #Podcast
Originally posted by UCd6Y__-1Yjb-89Euc0KAJCA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXtIkafo6rM
Bass Specs
Scale 33”
Body: Mahogany 2 piece solid
Neck: Hard rock Maple with carbon fiber reinforcement (medium profile)
Fretboard: Birdseye maple
24 frets w/zero fret
Pickups: 2 x Nordstrand NP5FA
Preamp: Trickfish IPA 3 band 18V
Tunners: Hipshot Ultralite
Bridge: Hipshot style A
String spacing: 0.069” (17mm)
Lovely bass. A bit of an unrelated question. What chair do you use in your studio? Particularly for playing bass I see it allows the arm rests to be moved out of the way. Any brand/model you can recommend? Thanks.
???? Precision pick ups sounds so good in your hands, darker pick ups and the harmonics string noise of the sweet spot/neck pickup positions that you’ve maybe gravitated towards over the years open such a nice expressive quality to the tone- Compared to the pretty common approach of working off a more modern “refined” jazz bridge sound, approaching this kind of playing from the darker-but-open tone and the unique harmonics / string sound really brings back a sense of the bass being an instrument and not a parlor trick.
I’d love to hear you on Nordstrand Bigrig pickups-they’re basically 2 51’ P (straight single coil) paired together in an offset dual coil. It’s got this hairyness that I’ve never experienced, and it really, really responds vocally and intuitively.. never brittle in the least
Gloss
Grand Moff Tarkin’s favourite choice of bass colour ???? ! I love it ! ????
???? when you say the necks different, do you mean fatter, or just shape wise? also am interested to hear why you went for just 24 frets on this one. I guess its cos you just weren't using the higher frets on your other basses?
With regards to assigning your name to a bass… accept the fact that we love your tone and wish to try and duplicate. SORRY my freind we want to sound like you.
IIWII❤️????????
Minor aesthetic suggestion. Dug the contrasting white pick up covers and relicing on the 4. As you are going for a hybrid of 2 classic layouts, P&J… has it crossed your mind to do a unique take on a pick guard? Maybe something minimal, high contrast, integral thumb rest?
Just random suggestions, good luck with the birthing process
Hello Janek, have you had the time to send out the links for the new book? I am writing to you because as of this moment I haven’t received the downloadable link. Please let me know if I should do something in order to receive the link. Thank you in advance. All the best from Bucharest.
Beautiful Bass❤
They look and sound great. Less hi-fi, more growlly.
JG – "One slap note and I'm thinking, why did you do that, you dumbarse, not my gig"
Me – Yeah!!! Loving this new funky Janek stuff!!!!
Wouldn't a reverse P pickup be a d pickup?
Probably in the minority with this one, but I don't think bassists who have collaborations with numerous companies should really be calling it a "signature" model. This isn't a slight at you Janek, I think the same about all bassists who do it. You have bassists (and guitarists) who have umpteen different "signature" models, and then you have someone like Jack Casady, who has one, and its same the one he plays. Same with the likes of Nathan East, Sting, Marcus Miller (when he was with Fender), Mark Hoppus, MonoNeon, Roscoe Beck, Allen Woody, Chris Squire, Gary Willis etc.
Basically, if the bass model you're putting your name to is a replicated version of your instrument, the one you play and rely on and the source of your musical voice, then by all means call it a signature. Even better if it is an instrument you've personalised by taking it away from the standard model you based it on (I'm thinking of the Roscoe Beck V, which is absolutely unique in its style).
If you're someone who works with numerous companies, then it should probably be called "Designed By" or similar.
EDIT: To be fair, its a great sounding bass though. If the string spacing were maybe 16mm its definitely a bass I'd like to own, its nice and punchy sounding.
Sounds and looks awesome! I've got a question: let's say someone hires you as a sideman, how do you choose which bass you will use? ????????????
Beautiful bass in both sound and look. I would go for gloss varnish.
Hey Janek!! Loving the channel and 10 Minute Warm Up book. So, I have my eye on an RKM five string and a Dingwall Afterburner 5. I’m really leaning towards the RKM just from your videos and the reviews. I love a really low action. I didn’t know if you’ve played a Dingwall and if you could make a recommendation.
Love the tone of this bass! Went to the RKM website and prices are very reasonable too. Any idea how much this one will be? ???????? oh and definitely gloss! That color is terrific too and it’ll look great under stage lights.
Reverse P is cool. Make one in pink and you have a customer
???? Beautiful! Did I hear correctly that this will be sub $1500? Where do I sign up?
Even in reverse, the legend of Leo Fender's P-bass split coil pickup design lives on in modern fashion. How many people can say that? Sounds so good in all the right ways
Congrats Janek!! Sounds great!!
Man, Janek what a beaut… I love the color. A dark olive would look great as well. Thanks for showing it off! Excited for the future builds. ????
Sorry if I missed you saying it but, what kind of wood is the body made of? And how many volts does the preamp run on?
I NEED TO TRY THIS BASS NOW!! hahah
Always an inspiration Janek!
???? Think it looks perfect as is. The blue 4 string relic look is fantastic too.
I'm sitting here with my brain whirring, trying to work out how on earth I can scrape together the cash to get my hands on one of those ????Sounds great, love the unique spec. Really like the colour on the close up camera (eg 24.59) rather than the flat grey appearance on the front, main, camera. Still wouldn't say no though ????
What are the pick-ups?
Beautiful bass????
How much will it cost if I want to buy one?
???????? Lovely bass and sounds as usual. Looking forward to getting my signed copy of the book.
Regarding the 'classical' playing position, I literally found your music. When I(a guitarist) decided to start really trying to learn bass(rather than treating like a big guitar) that position just seemed like the logical, comfortable way to play. When I noticed that most bassists had the bass sitting on their other leg(usually right), I asked on a forum why no one played the way I did. Several people said 'there's a guy named Janek who does, you should check out his stuff…'