Sting's fretless P-Bass

[Marc PG]

Which fretless electric bass is Sting playing on this photo?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Skullie]

Which fretless electric bass is Sting playing on this photo?

Thanks a lot!

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That’s a late 70’s Fender Precision that Sting purchased at Manny’s music in NYC. Police drummer Stewart Copeland bought a matching Fender Strat. The bass originally had a natural finished body. At some point Sting changed the tuners and had the body refinished in red.

 

[Marc PG]

That’s a late 70’s Fender Precision that Sting purchased at Manny’s music in NYC. Police drummer Stewart Copeland bought a matching Fender Strat. The bass originally had a natural finished body. At some point Sting changed the tuners and had the body refinished in red.

Really interesting. Do you know exactly what the year is it from? A 1978 bass? Just guessing.

 

[Skullie]

Really interesting. Do you know exactly what the year is it from? A 1978 bass? Just guessing.

I think you're right, it's always been referenced as a 1978. From what I've read, he purchased it new on their first tour of the U.S. and played it that night.

Here's a Police gear wiki page. I'm not sure where the info comes from.
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[80jazz]

That’s a late 70’s Fender Precision that Sting purchased at Manny’s music in NYC. Police drummer Stewart Copeland bought a matching Fender Strat. The bass originally had a natural finished body. At some point Sting changed the tuners and had the body refinished in red.

He appears to have had this refinished in the summer of 1980, as it came back out for their tour of mostly France in August 1980.

The pic above comes from a performance at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA on November 28, 1980.