3 Custom Shop Basses
Born in Poland and based internationally, Janek Gwizdala is one of the most prolific electric bassists working in modern jazz and fusion today. Over two decades, he has performed and recorded with Mike Stern, Carlos Santana, Pat Metheny, Randy Brecker, Marcus Miller, Jojo Mayer, Billy Cobham, Gretchen Parlato, Peter Erskine, and John Patitucci, among many others. Bass Player Magazine called him "the hardest working man in bass business."
As a bandleader, he has released over 20 albums — from the orchestral ambition of Theatre By The Sea to the raw solo bass of Alone and Clear. He runs one of the most-followed bass education channels on YouTube and has authored more than 20 instructional books. He is the kind of player who has heard everything, played with everyone, and still demands more from his instrument.
When he stopped at our booth at NAMM 2024, we had no idea it would turn into three basses. Contact us for availability on any of these instruments.
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The bass that started everything. At NAMM 2024, Janek walked past our booth, saw the instruments, and immediately connected with this one. He came back after an interview, played it, and we decided to gift it to him in exchange for an honest review. He liked it so much that he began creating content about it on his YouTube channel — and from that moment, two more collaborations followed. This is where the RKM × Janek Gwizdala story began.
| Configuration | Custom Shop — Double P IV |
| Construction | Bolt-On |
| Strings | 4 |
| Scale | 34" |
| Nut Width | 1.5" |
| Nut Material | Bone Unbleached |
| Body | Mahogany |
| Neck | Hard Rock Maple + Carbon Fiber |
| Fingerboard | Birdseye Maple — 22 frets |
| Pickups | Lindy Fralin P-Bass (×2) |
| Preamp | Sadowsky VTC 9V |
| Bridge | Hipshot Kickass 4 |
| Tuners | Hipshot Ultralite Licensed ½" |
| Finish | Polyurethane Relic |
| String Spacing | 19mm |
| Serial Number | #018 |
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The first bass fully designed in collaboration with Janek. Where Bass 1 was a gift, the JG5 is a co-creation — every specification discussed, refined, and agreed together. A 33" scale 5-string built for the demands of jazz at the highest level, with a shorter scale that brings comfort to extended playing without losing the tension and clarity Janek needs. Available only in Dark Blue Metallic JG, a color created exclusively for this instrument. Tuned EADGC — with a high C instead of a low B, giving the instrument a range that extends toward the upper register. The Bass Xtender on the low E string drops it to D on demand, without retuning.
| Configuration | Custom Shop JG5 — Collab |
| Construction | Bolt-On |
| Strings | 5 |
| Scale | 33" |
| Nut Width | 1.75" |
| Nut Material | Bone Unbleached |
| Body | Mahogany — P-style |
| Neck | Hard Rock Maple + Carbon Fiber |
| Fingerboard | Birdseye Maple — 24 frets |
| Pickups | Nordstrand NP5F + NP5Fa |
| Preamp | Trickfish IPA — 3-band, 18V |
| Bridge | Hipshot Style A |
| Tuners | Hipshot Ultralite ½" + Bass Xtender on low E (drops to D) |
| Finish | Polyurethane Gloss |
| Color | Dark Blue Metallic JG (exclusive collab color, 1 option only) |
| String Spacing | 17mm |
This was a limited run of 10 instruments. All units have been delivered. Contact us for a similar Custom Shop build.
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The third chapter of the Janek Gwizdala collaboration takes the JG5 design — already proven and refined through the first two instruments — and opens it up. This version expands the configurability: three exclusive colors developed with Janek, a choice between a fretted Birdseye Maple fingerboard, a fretted Macassar Ebony fingerboard or a Macassar Ebony fretless board (with or without Maple lines), and two tuning options. Everything else stays the same as the JG5. This is the most versatile instrument in the collaboration — the one designed to adapt to any context Janek faces on stage or in the studio. The Bass Xtender is always included, and its function adjusts based on the tuning chosen.
| Configuration | Custom Shop JG5 — Extended |
| Construction | Bolt-On |
| Strings | 5 |
| Scale | 33" |
| Nut Width | 1.75" |
| Nut Material | Ebony / Bone Unbleached |
| Body | Mahogany — P-style |
| Neck | Hard Rock Maple + Carbon Fiber |
| Fingerboard |
A: Birdseye Maple — fretted, 24 frets B: Macassar Ebony — fretted, 24 frets C: Macassar Ebony — fretless, no lines D: Macassar Ebony — fretless, Maple lines |
| Pickups | Nordstrand NP5F + NP5Fa |
| Preamp | Trickfish IPA — 3-band, 18V |
| Bridge | Hipshot Style A |
| Tuners | Hipshot Ultralite ½" + Bass Xtender (always included) |
| Finish | Polyurethane Gloss |
| Color |
Dark Green Metallic JG Dark Gray Metallic JG Surf Blue JG |
| Tuning |
EADGC — Bass Xtender: E→D BEADG — Bass Xtender: B→A |
| String Spacing | 17mm |
Limited production of 15 instruments. Orders are open — contact us to reserve yours.
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