Legend was that Bootsy Collins joined the James Brown band playing bass on a danelectro guitar strung up with bass strings. And that James Brown took him aside one day and said "Son, you cannot be in the James brown band playing that ruler on a cornflake box, now why don't we get out and get you some proper equipment. What kind of instrument do you want to have?" to which the young bassplayer replied "One of them Fender basses with pearls in the neck and two of them Ampeg bass amps that look like big refrigerators." expecting Brown to laugh in his face but Brown smiled and said "Son, I like your style, let's go out and get you them things."
I guess that we all have to thank James Brown for being so generous to his young pupil in those days.