The Police - Message in a Bottle

[ggvicviper]

So I was listening to Message in a Bottle, and wondering for years which bass Sting played on this.

I have been told it was his fretless Fender Precision, but I know he also played a fretless Ibanez Musician at this time. Sometimes it sounds very Precision-y, but then other times it sounds like there might be a little too much snap in the playing, which might suggest a bridge pickup, thus the Musician. It could also be him playing with a pick closer to the bridge, so I am a little confused. Anyone know what bass it is?

[NGJBeaner]

i always thought he played that '51 p. guess not?

[ggvicviper]

Originally Posted by NGJBeaner

i always thought he played that '51 p. guess not?

Nah, he didn't get that bass until later. His bass sound has completely changed since his days with the Police. He used to play with flats and a pick, often on fretless bass, though not always. Now he plays DR rounds on a fretted old Precision with his thumb.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by NGJBeaner

i always thought he played that '51 p. guess not?

Far from it. He has used Jazz basses, split Precisions, single coil Precisions, Ibanezes, Steinergers, Spectors, and a few others.

[bigbajo60]

FWIW, I used to own an Ibanez Musician just like the one Sting had back then, and when covering MIAB, that bass' neck pickup nailed the tone!

[jumbodbassman]

saw them on tour day after album release. fretless ibanez on the tour.