New RKM Road Worn Double-P | The Janek Gwizdala Podcast #275

I'm at a very fortunate point in my career where I have access to not just the most incredible instruments, but the most incredible people.
While at the NAMM show convention lat month I met the folks at RKM basses and had an immediate connection with the instrument featured in this video.
Besides the incredibly kind gesture of gifting me this bass, RKM are not paying me to make this video or to say any of the things I have about the instrument. I just feel compelled to share the bass with you, and how I am slowly working some new tools back into my studio having sold off a lot of instruments over the past 6 months.
You can check out the exact specs of this bass here: rkmbasses.shop/products/rkm-23-018-double-precision-bass-iv
This is the latest bass lesson on my channel featuring this bass: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXKrhHerod6cptU
You can get Bass Books Here: janekgwizdala.com/store
Join my Newsletter if you want more free content like this: janekgwizdala.substack.com/
#bassguitar #rkmbasses

[@davedixon2167]

Hey Janek! Dave from The Bass Channel here - I have to say we were honored enough to get to play that bass at NAMM - it's in our video showcasing about a dozen and a half great basses (with some Iron Maiden as played by our own Beast, Josh Dubois). I remember saying "wait, we can play Janek's bass?" ... We loved it, and lots of commenters loved its sound in our vid as well. RKM were very nice and again, wow what a bass. You always seem like a player who does his own thing; all your videos feel like a fresh take on the instrument IMHO. Good stuff!

[@hoot7588]

What a lovely comment!

[@jonathonmcmillan9410]

I saw that video and this bass was my favorite out of all 17.

[@janekgwizdala]

It was totally unexpected. Maybe as all great moments are. The connection was immediate, I've been playing it a bunch at home since, and I'm looking forward to the first gig with it in a couple of days. Lots more interesting things to come from RKM I think.

[@rkm.basses]

Nice to meet you guys at NAMM!

[@pearsoninstruments]

Hey Janek the reason there is no center detent on the eq pots is because they are boost only. Sadowsky preamps are most commonly configured that way. Sounds great as always man! Thanks for all the hard work and great music!

[@rkm.basses]

Awesome video! Thank you for playing our instruments at NAMM, it was an honor to meet you.

[@wolfwarren6376]

Beautiful instrument, great episode! Looking forward to a 2024 bass tour after this. Also really love the final thoughts from this episode, especially what you were saying about hard work. Not enough people talk about working hard, and moreover, how to work hard. This is really wonderful information. Thank you for sharing.

[@Belman5]

Really love that bass. Congrats on being such an amazing bass player and a wonderful person. Looking forward to some fantastic music on the double P.

[@Ilovereharm]

Thanks for the honesty, that's the part I loved the most in this video, it's really inspiring to see someone not necessarily going for random attention and going for pure emotion and if you think about it, that is what your music and approach is all about in the end, so it is a really true message again. Sometimes you question the position you occupy as an artist, and these kind of words make you think about how to grow as a musician By the way... You're my biggest inspiration since a year or so... I'm having myself RKM Double P V... (by the way x2) Thanks again Janek have a good day !

[@Wally55223]

Lindy Fralin makes some killer pickups. Definitely considering for my next bass 👌

[@yakdothan]

Very inspiring talk at the end! I’ve been listening your channel on my way to gigs. Grateful for what you are putting out there🙏

[@klaymeister]

I just saw the Bass Channel demo this from Namm and it was the best sounding bass in the video.

[@facade87]

Yeah i agree

[@Fynn.Clements_music]

that looks amazing. I love the double p, and I can't wait to see it in action !!

[@bassnsax]

That bass looks as fantastic as it sounds! I love P-Basses, but have never played a Double-P - the 2nd P pickup in the bridge position sounds fantastic, especially with the preamp. I can't wait to hear more music you create with this bass!

[@alke_mx]

@rkm.basses are formidable in their work... I am always amazed by the sound I perceive 💖💖more than excellent.

[@JamesHartBassist]

I had a double reverse P pickup Ibanez in the late 80s... great combo! Glad you did this vid, I was impressed with the tone on the VW video.

[@SupRec]

I always thought how would sound a double P bass. Thanks to bring it up Sir!

[@jazzpunkt40]

You've heard the configuration before thanks to all the studio work Leland Sklar has done. His old main bass has this configuration and he's used it on thousands of recordings. Such a cool combo.

[@Energy_from.the_Sun]

Was wondering about that bass from the last vid. She’s a beauty. Thanks for sharing the details.

[@briansong7137]

Tales is one of my favorite records and I concur it's tragically underappreciated it. It was on heavy rotation for me for so long. Totally agree with you.

[@bjdurrett]

Lindy Fralin pickups are great. I put them in the first bass I built and they are the best thing about the instrument. Working toward a second instrument and will go with Fralin again. That sound is in your bass. So rich and versatile.

[@charlarge3555]

Beautiful! Amazing sounds!

[@ruhaidai]

People that comment on you selling all your basses are just jelly. Music is a journey. Shedding some basses to get different one's that inspire you in a different way, is often a great thing.

[@ivyxhazel]

I don’t think it’s jealousy, we were all very excited when the mayones, the jaguar, mattison, the first 6 stringer and all of those basses came into the picture… I think it’s more a keeping it real kind of thing… like he said not long ago there was a video where the bottom line was keeping it the bass stock at its minimum… even considering getting rid of a bass that made the cut because it passed the target number… now that video just feels like a click bait

[@ruhaidai]

@@ivyxhazel I know, i was saying it in jest. As I said, it's a journey. People can choose to change path or direction. Also, keeping it real, who wouldn't be jealous of someone selling what, to many, are their grail basses. Motivation to work harder IMO.

[@IvanovBR]

Amazing!!!!!! Beautiful instrument!

[@kgamaseg]

You make that bass sound AWESOME!

[@samkeen]

Wow, that sounds REALLY nice

[@angelrocks4u]

Wow! crazy I saw THAT specific bass at NAMM and spoke to those guys from Monterrey Mexico, they were really nice and cool (no AS cool as to YOU lol) and seeing the bass on youtube is really cool. awesome looking and sounding bass. Kudos to RKM VIVA MEXICO! :)

[@mattrudybass]

The bass is beautiful and sounds great.

[@royvogt5086]

I'm definitely a fan of the double P. When Kiesel approached me about doing a Signature 6 string bass we used a body blank and tested double P pickups, inverted double P pickups and the "smile configuration" with one regular and one inverted. For my ear the two regular P pickups won out. The neck pickup has a great tone by itself and bringing in the back pickup to even almost brings out a Yamaha TRB type tone. The bridge pickup works well by itself, with plenty of bite for harmonics and that bridge pickup tone. One thing I added was a midrange frequency and boost/cut control, which helps with recording. I'm really impressed by the RKM bass, they did a great job with it. Best regards from Nashville!

[@EricRunquistBass]

Yeah! Love this bass. Need to buy one

[@Ulloy777]

Sounds sweet with the passive tone control rolled off a bit… and both pickups on what a surprise!

[@xquesmuah]

Bass sounds great!

[@robertbradshaw8140]

Hi Janek, Tales is on SPOTIFY, Great bass by the way. keep up the great work mate.

[@janekgwizdala]

Not in the US unfortunately. I’ve heard it’s available in the UK and some other places, but not 🇺🇸. 😢

[@hbassnos]

What a bass!! Amazing!

[@ringthane69]

That's the color of my very first bass, a Kramer (Striker?) P-bass copy. Love that white pup look -- total 80s!!! The loop jam at 30:30 sounds so, so wicked good. Also -- just realized those are reverse-P pups!

[@richshields6692]

Love that bass. Sooo cool

[@wallace_nelson]

The Pentatonic book was the first one I purchased. I love the books and the videos.

[@billyjay1]

What a great sounding bass. Rkm just awesome basses

[@reisselpud]

Thanks Janek !

[@simonmurray8220]

Love it, music trade shows are a perfect place to make major business decisions under duress. Good for networking undoubtedly!

[@christophercheney1006]

"Tales" and "The Sun Don't Lie" aren't on streaming, agreed it's a damn crime!! I want a 5 string one of those basses, damn, their stuff looks tremendous. And that bass sounds really great. I'm such a "P-Bass" guy at heart. Double P pickups is such a cool idea

[@ewadge]

The Sadowsky preamp is boost only. So if you have the tone controls all the way down it ought to have a similar tone as the preamp bypassed. You don’t cut bass or treble. Only boost those.

[@ctodd122]

Wow what a beast!

[@TwoBadBassist]

It has a beautiful “concert” tone! Almost classical in nature.

[@Wally55223]

Just sitting and listening to these ideas of getting out there every day and working like this makes me wish I had more time and energy to make real music. Working my first music teaching job right now with a whole range of kids, and unfortunately not too many genuinely care about the music. It really makes it tough. But I’m giving my best.

[@lauriebluesguy]

You don't get too many 2 x split coil configurations on a Bass - I always liked that option - nice to see it on this Bass - and the Sadowsky preamp is something I love (got one myself). - Great looking and sounding Bass.

[@dubmoth76]

Great bass!

[@Mike_Vallis_Bass]

I've always referred to it as The Soundtrack of NAMM: Bpbpbpbpbpbpblblblblbbpbpbpb. Haven't been since 2019, but glad that the show was productive for you!

[@ivyxhazel]

That looks like an awesome bass, congrats… I do have to say, rkm was an awesome builder years ago and the go to guy in Monterrey, then by the time I ordered one I had a TERRIBLE experience… the quality wasn’t the same, delivery time was always “two more weeks” that extended to almost 2 years, “Rickman” for an awesome person he is, was unreachable and the customer service was non existent… for what I can see with their rebranding, they fixed those issues but sadly their prices sky rocketed… It’s a bittersweet feeling, Great to see you have a bass that was made in my home town but it also reminds me of the not so great history I have with them. Either way, looking forward to hear and see more of that bass

[@PV184bass]

Im from Monterrey too! The business was bought by a guy named Humberto, thats why everything changed. Now he is in charge. We have close friends together and he’s the one leading the company since a year ago.

[@EddieG1888]

I have to ask; what happened to getting rid of them all?🤨 (Edit: ANSWERED!) On the bass, it looks great, and its good to see a company that reverses the stupid mistake by Fender to have the lower half of the pickups closer to the bridge. I could never understand why they wanted to make the thin strings sound thinner, and the thick strings sound thicker. The tonal qualities of the strings sound much more even and balanced when the pickups are orientated that way.

[@Barry101er]

Bass sounds great.

[@flogginga_dead_horse4022]

I just got your Iconic Lines book and it's fantastic...

[@XxBigguy3xX]

I think the bridge on the RKM is variable string spacing. The saddles move and can be swapped for different materials. I think Hipshot sell both steel and brass saddles for the kick-ass bridge.

[@mdspman000]

"putting in the hard work" is #1, #2, and #3 on my priority list. Gear is fun but it's just like furniture unless you put in the time to make the instruments sing. At your level I think you have figured out how to really pull out the nuances hidden in each instrument and I'm looking forward to hearing what you do with them.

[@juataca7493]

How this man Doesn't have a million Subscribers I don't understand Cause less talented Dudes Have more

[@thomaskiesel8652]

Love the shout out to the Tales album by Marcus Miller. It's got one of my top 3 bass solos ever on it (the other two are yours, hah) on the tune "Infatuation" Much like you mentioned the other day in a video, it's a bass solo where the dance floor is not evacuated. Groovy and lyrical. Most of it would work fantastically sung by voice as opposed to played on an instrument.. a thing which I think is fantastic for solos.

[@anthonyilkiw3500]

Janek, I love you. As I said you talk a lot. Did I mention, that whatever bass you play, you always sound like you? I have to do sessions . I have to sound like everyone. You sound like you. Respect. ❤️

[@anthonyilkiw3500]

I had a double P westone bass. It was great! At the time I wasn’t! 😂

[@iksajotien]

I recently also got a pbas, only a single p, but I love the neck: the width it's like a jazz bass (38mm) but it's thick as vintage p pbass and it's an awesome combination, it looks like you have something similar here. The color is awesome, you sound great on it. And with the instruments, it's the only constant thing that you always sell some and buy some. Omg, you are slaping in this video, this is something you don't see frequently, you should make a clickbait video (minature with wide opened eyes) YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT! JANEK SLAPPED IT! And since you mentioned Meshell Ndegeocello (last album is great as her every one), maybe a good candidate for a cover video? Cheers!

[@evenseb7574]

Great review of that beautiful 2xP bass :) Ps About "full low end buffer" as you pointed out: Your vocal microphone sounds a bit wooly & bass heavy, would probably work better and more open soundig with more distance from your mouth. Sayin' this with a lot of respect for your good work 🤹

[@mingustheduck]

Cool bass

[@MeatballCereal]

Love the bass! Never heard of RKM, so i checked out their website. I'm too broke for those! 😟

[@pushin68Hz]

Lindy Fralin!! Richmond Va. !!!

[@mikefredbass]

The Sadowsky preamp, if you don’t already know, is boost only. So All the way anti-clockwise is its “flat” setting.

[@krzychood]

"Tales" is on KZbin Music.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

This sounds so good! I’m not much of a town down guy but this one sounds incredible! In every position too! Have you ever enjoyed a Warwick thumb?

[@ianwhitehead4756]

Tales is on Apple Music in the UK! X

[@perrysar5954]

Hello Janek good to see you again,!.... I've never heard a bass do it ALL ...FANTASTIC!... where can I purchase one?

[@janekgwizdala]

Directly from RKM. Link is in the description.

[@sleepy_andy444]

For me , the PB pickups are preferable than the other ones jazz , etc ,,,

[@jeffmcinnis4355]

Never mind I'll look them up

[@darkadore]

Can you use this in more videos from now, it's very beautiful

[@janekgwizdala]

💯

[@ericplummer4089]

Reverse P's!!!! Regular P's sound to ckackity! Sweet tone.

[@theduppykillah]

Turned on to your channel after catching the profile interview on SBL, I’m not particularly interested in bass soloing I like sub bass/dub/reggae but I dig YOU man! You are fucking cool and I like what you do. No pretension and no artifice, I pick up some chops /gear/ theory every time, more importantly you are plugged in. The content has streetwise gravitas. ..not nerd chop…thanks for doing this. But that bass tho! Omgosh. Looks better for you than the fancy wood types. Sounds so good. That front set sounds wonderful. How far forward is it in relation to the standard P setup, or a Jazz neck pickup? Or is the rear set the only change?

[@captainchunk4078]

Janek the snippets of music you played, say 38:51, was just heavenly . What genre is that? I absolutely love it and would love to explore that style more

[@janekgwizdala]

Those notes aren't really a genre, just more of an exercise. I would say that I take a lot of information and vocabulary from classical music when I practice, so maybe you're hearing undertones of that genre.

[@DavidOakesMusic]

The P P Bass.

[@LukasVlcek]

I am really interested in hearing your experiences with a true temperament fret bass. I never understood why players like Henrik are using it (actually saw a recent video of Henrik where he was asked about it and he was like: Hey, I like it but don’t ask me about any theory behind it). I might be wrong but why would a bass player pick a true temperament instrument if other band members play equal temperament? As an individual solo performance it can make sense, but as a fundamental harmony base instrument you have to know what to do.

[@janekgwizdala]

The idea could well be to use the instrument completely solo...

[@ajtullo174]

What is in your signal path. There seems to be a touch of reverb or chorus and I would really love to get the same or similar tone. Which pedal or preset are you using?

[@_B_E_A_D_G_C]

I think he’s using his HX Stomp for some verb, if I’m not mistaken

[@janekgwizdala]

The reverb you hear is from the Line6 HX Rack. But it's the same effect block whether I'm using the rack or the stomp. Other than that, it's completely clean into the board, and I didn't use any compression in post.

[@ajtullo174]

@@janekgwizdala Thank you. I just picked up one of your Mattison Signature Master builds. They are in a league of there own.

[@janekgwizdala]

@@ajtullo174 beautiful instruments. It's the one I just couldn't get away from no matter how hard I tried. 🤣 It really is the complete connection to the music when it comes to my own solo career.

[@jm879]

This is a better set up but i miss the old pedal studio days Ps when are the vlogs coming back😁

[@janekgwizdala]

No Vlogs! Was way too much work. But more regular uploads are here to stay.

[@hoot7588]

I loved the vlogs! Maybe a very occasional one now and then, without the commitment to upload regularly?@@janekgwizdala

[@julianpischler9378]

Janek is there a possibility on the horizon of you releasing any of your albums on Vinyl? I’ve got a small vinyl collection consisting of one from each of my favourite bands/artists and it always looks incomplete without ‘American Elm’ up there. If not, all good. Appreciate your content as always.

[@janekgwizdala]

I really want to. It’s in the list. But the amount of time and money it takes to have the albums remastered for vinyl puts the idea firmly in the category of passion project right now. It will be possible at some point and I might even start making one album a year specifically for vinyl…

[@billthebass3252]

Why not get your tech to install a Zero Glide ZS17F replacement nut ? - works well on a P-Bass I have 👍

[@markfoster_mkfbass]

What a nice sounding instrument! Is the action a touch lower than your normal set-up? ETA You answered that question, sorry!

[@craigsi16]

Why not do preorders for the books so you can order more at a time?

[@jeffmcinnis4355]

How much does it cost?

[@framemotion]

mammoth bone!

[@MrMorkev]

What is the scale length of the base?

[@janekgwizdala]

34 inch

[@collegeofcool8109]

Just visited their website. Pretty pricey for essentially a parts bass.

[@janekgwizdala]

A "parts" bass? I'm not sure I follow. What are the "parts"? These basses are about 30% CNC for the neck and body, and then 70% hand finished. I think this is a pretty great price for an instrument of this quality. Having played many 100's of basses in my life, there are maybe 5 that I've had this kind of instant connection with, and the level of craftsmanship has a lot to do with that. That is of course completely subjective, and not everyone will have the same experience. But objectively... Take a Mike Lull or any other great builder in that world and I believe the percentage of the build of the bass that is CNC'd is far higher, as is the price tag for stock models. Beautiful instruments and incredible quality, but price tags that don't really support your argument for this RKM being expensive. Again, RKM aren't paying me for my opinion or to defend the instrument. My thoughts are my own.

[@JorgeGarcia-ej3vy]

Cubans have a saying, "No escupes para arriba, no digas que de esas aguas no bebere." Dont spit up, never say from these waters I will not drink. Its in my mind a funnier version of never say never

[@baldbassclef]

$nice$

[@1GueroBass1]

Double P is such an unfortunately underused configuration, it really sounds great. Many people don't know that thats whats in the soapbar housing of MTD basses!

[@donvape336]

Have to say, I love the character of this better than your 5 strings.

[@sampowellmusic]

Mammoth bone

[@russellzauner]

cannot go wrong with a double p just can't

[@aidantalbot9495]

Tales is on Spotify afaik

[@janekgwizdala]

Wish it was. Maybe people in other countries have access to if, but it’s not available in the US. Luckily I still own the album.

[@cienciegos]

Beautiful bass! 🤩 And it was a revelation to know that most of your basses are 4 strings 😳 Now I don’t feel that bad of not making the jump to 5 yet 😏 Thanks for the constant inspiration!

[@aidantalbot9495]

@@janekgwizdala lsitening to it now here in the UK, shame and weird it's not available in US

[@simondavid3546]

What’s RKM ? The meaning

[@AlexandarShmex]

Alright, I know that death metal ain't happening... But it's a double P bass, you gotta hit some Iron Maiden!

[@Ansis99]

:)

[@carlitoscuba16]

It’s actually a reversed double P

[@romeou4965]

How’s a bass made in Mexico priced US$3,850!?!?

[@PV184bass]

I went to namm. Those where the best basses I tryed in there, the quiality and sound they have is awesome. The country doesn’t matter if the quality and sound is good. You can compare them to any sadowsky or other boutique brand with no problem.

[@chrisbardolph]

The double P pickup configuration is underrated. Kinda jazz bassy and kinda not.

[@federicorivera5093]

Janek's PP if you will

[@casireimold9447]

Promo_SM