James Brown once told young Bootsy Collins, Son, you can not come on my stage with that strange guitar. Bootsy had a cheap thirty dollar Silvertone and thought it was great. But James Brown wanted him to look and sound sharp. So the next day he bought Bootsy a Fender Jazz Bass.
That same bass is now going up for auction on December 5 2025.
The bass was first bought in 1970. Back then the body was covered with red and black sticker paper during the group’s disco shows. Later the paper was taken off so now the wood shows again.
he bass has two strap button holes on the lower horn. Bootsy said this was something he used to do with his early James Brown basses.
Bootsy joined the James Brown band in 1970 and stayed until 1972. Even in that short time he played on big songs like Get Up, Sex Machine and Soul Power.
When Bootsy left the band in 1972, another bass player, Fred Thomas, took over the bass. He used this same Fender Jazz on stage and in the studio. He played it on songs like Hot Pants, Make It Funky, Papa Dont Take No Mess, Get on the Good Foot and Pass the Peas.
A note signed by band leader Hollie Farris says James Brown bought this bass in Cincinnati for Bootsy to use on shows and recordings. After Bootsy left, Fred Thomas made it his main bass.
Right now the top bid is five thousand five hundred dollars, but it could go higher.
You can see more at Heritage Auctions.
