Another bass id thread...Ray Parker jr

[BASSDROID]

Went in search of an earworm from my youth, and found Ray Parker jr playing (miming) this odd ball looking bass.



The bass appears to have a bolt on neck and rear mounted controls, with the control cavity routed into the back. The headstock appears to be Matsumoku inspired.

Whether or not it was used on the recording, I'm hearing 100% P bass stank. Looks like a DiMarzio P pickup.

Any ideas as to what it might be?

 

[Dang75]

I have looked everywhere for clues ... no luck yet.

 

[BASSDROID]

I'm guessing it's a home brew, possibly with a factory neck of some sort.

The body looks like it was intentionally built as a boxy reverse V. The cutaways meet the body at a sharp angle, so it's hard to envision a modified production instrument with those contours.

It's hard to get a good look at the bridge and pickups but they appear to be Badass and DiMarzio respectively...aftermarket parts that would have been a logical choice for a custom build at that time.

 

[LBS-bass]

Oddly enough, this song has been in my head a lot recently for reasons that remain unknown.

However, I would guess that's a custom build. A lot of R&B players in that era had instruments custom made with odd shapes, ala Bootsy's star-shaped bass. Could be something like that.

 

[BASSDROID]

Oddly enough, this song has been in my head a lot recently for reasons that remain unknown.

However, I would guess that's a custom build. A lot of R&B players in that era had instruments custom made with odd shapes, ala Bootsy's star-shaped bass. Could be something like that.

I have a feeling you may be right about that. It does seem to share a general esthetic with the Space Bass.

Larry Pless built Bootsy's original Space Bass at Gus Zoppi Music store. Gus Zoppi's was a real hot spot for Detroit musicians back in the day.

Since he was born and raised in Detroit, Ray Parker jr would certainly have known about Larry and Gus Zoppi. And, I believe Raydio was on a tour with Bootsy at some point.

All of which makes the idea of a custom build even more plausible.

 

[BASSDROID]

Hmmm...apparently there was a guitar too.

Dig the radio dial fretboard inlays!

Edit:
Found this AB interview clip with Dick Clark where he asks Ray about this guitar. Apparently Ray designed it, and I would guess that he also designed the bass.