Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The most recent issue of Bass Player has a nice article covering the history of Parliament/Funkadelic bassists. I am a HUGE P-Funk fan and no slight on Bootsy, but there were many bassists who contributed to the P-Funk sound. One in particular being Cordell "Boogie" Mosson.

They list his main bass as a Rickenbacker 4002 (?!), yet he's pictured with a jetglo 4001.

He is quoted as saying "The band didn't want me to play a Rickenbacker because they said it was a rock bass with a thin sound, but I did anyway. Rick James started playing Rickenbacker because he saw me with one."

Further proof that Rickenbackers ARE funk machines!!!!

Rick basses have had to fight a lot of predjudices about their sound over the years, at least in my experience. I think they've come a long way in the last ten years.

I wish I had experimented more with the sounds in my 4003 or I would have never traded it. I have become a lot more groove-oriented in my playing as opposed to the all-out assault of the post-hardcore I did when I was younger. (My RIC was PERFECT for that!) As a result, my bass was traded for a Spector in quest of the elusive big bottom.

Now I have a chance to atone for that sin when my '77 4001 arrives... mission #1 will be sending a certain capacitor into outer space!

But I also learned over the course of my time with my basses that 99% of the funk feel and sound comes from your hands anyway. Some instruments might be better for certain styles, but if the feel for that style isn't in you it doesn't matter what bass you're playing, it isn't going to happen.

Bob, you are right about the 'hands' part of the equation. Good luck with the Rick!!

Cordell Mosson was definitely the most important bassist of the P-Funk crew besides Bootsy and original Funkadelic bassist Bill "Billy Bass" Nelson. He was the primary bassist with Funkadelic 1974-1978, and contributed to Parliament's albums during that period, as well as guesting on several later P-Funk releases (after being replaced as primary bassist by "Skeet" Curtis).

He had many great bass lines, like "Cosmic Slop", and the Funkadelic version of "Red Hot Mama". Extra-cool to find out he was a Ric player! (I may have to pick up a copy of that issue of BP, thanks for the tip.)

I once saw flautist Bobbie Humphries in a NYC club, and her bass player (don't know his name) -
did some incredible slapping and finger funk with a 4001. With eyes closed, one would not be able to tell what brand instrument he was playing.

I just bought Betty Davis' album "This Is It!" today and it has songs off her first three albums. The first has Larry Graham and Doug Rauch but the second (They Say I'm Different) and the third (Nasty Gal) has Larry Johnson on bass and he apparently played a 4001. Classic capped Rick sound on for example "Nasty Gal" and "Funk".
Great stuff.

It's wild re-reading my old post in this one... thanks Pekka!!!

Somewhere along the line I owe Lindsay a beer, or 2, or 20...

My name and beer in the same sentence...I'm all for it! Actually, if my life ever settles down I may have some recording questions for you, so it will even out. Or we'll just drink beer.

How 'bout we drink beer AND talk recording?

If you're ever in NY... you're welcome to come check out my setup ANYTIME!!!!

Is this a private party..... or can anyone join in?

The more, the merrier!!!

I just saw the documentary on P-Funk last night on PBS' Independent Lens...outstanding!

...and it was a 4001-fest, as well...

GC plays a hole in the wall here in town often...

Though I'm not going to make the erroneous statement that slap = funk, Rics can definitely be serious slap machines and with that PHAT bass, they can give the big funky bottom.