NAMM: Bootsy's Space Bass Enters Production

(Click for a close-up)

Washburn Guitars announced the signing of the star-bass wielding, party monster, Bootzilla -- Bootsy Collins. Bootsy Collins' infamous Space Bass is now available to the public for the first time through Washburn Guitars. The Space Bass has been created to Bootsy's exact specifications. Only 100 Space Basses will be produced, which makes the Space Bass a true collectors piece that any fan of funk will want.

Bootsy has been gigging since he was 14, but things really set off for him in the mid-60s, when Cincinnati was a hotbed of R&B. That's when Bootsy became the King Records go to rhythm man, at 16 years old. Then, at 17, Bootsy began touring the world with one of soul music's biggest stars, James Brown. "I think Bootsy is one of the greatest bass players that ever was," Mr. Brown says. In the late 60's early 70's Bootsy's need for something wild and freaky and crazy, led him to join forces with George Clinton. "We got with George and freaked out for a couple of years," Bootsy says with a laugh. "It was so different. It was the kind of different that I wanted. We got a chance to really act a fool the way we wanted to, dress the way we wanted to onstage, stay up all night, meet the girls, take the girls with us in the car to the next gig. All the things that a young cat would dream of doing, we did it. That was the best time." In 1975 he formed Bootsy's Rubber Band, soon the hits started coming and he began headlining arenas and festivals. This all became too much for Bootsy and in 1980 he quit. After a few years away from music, he met avant-garde producer Bill Laswell in 1984. The two collaborated on several projects for Bootsy the bassist instead of the star. In 1997, Bootsy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with Funkadelic. Now he's passing on what he's learned to a new generation of players and he has just released a new album, "Play with Bootsy," among all of his commercial and film work.

Features:

• Built in the USA Custom Shop
• Mahogany body with maple cap
• Maple neck
• Birdseye maple fingerboard with pearl star inlays
• Pearl white paint with Swarovski Austrian crystals
• Rhinestone encrusted mirrored pickguard
• Gold Bad Ass II Bridge
• Seymour Duncan STKJ2 JJ humbuckers
• Mirrored star controls/volume, volume, tone, tone
• Brass control cover
• Graphtec nut
• Special white case with gold hardware and cranberry crushed velvet interior
• Grover bass tuners
• Buzz Feiten Tuning System
• Uniquely designed Certificate of Authenticity signed by Bootsy Collins