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

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

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 Shipping

We 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

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

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 Shipping

More soon,

Janek

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 Shipping

More soon,

Janek

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 Shipping

More soon!

Janek

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

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

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,

Janek

P.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.