Sting's "Soul Cages" Fretless

[nofretz]

Here are some info/pics/brochure scans of a very special bass in my collection.

It is a 1983 Ibanez Roadstar II RB888MB.

I had it modified from a rosewood/fretted to ebony/fretless fingerboard.

Those two knobs shown inside the case compartment came on the bass. I'm assuming they are the factory knobs, but they were so ugly that I replaced them with black metal ones. I kept them just incase I ever found out they were original. The pics of my bass on the brochures below is too small to help me with this.

Here are the brochure scans:

NOTE: 3 basses are shown on this pamphlet, but look for the pics/info about "RB888MB" for info on Sting's bass (pictured in bottom right of both scans).

Here are a couple of video caps with Sting playing the bass:

Sting playing "Mad About You" on SNL...

and "Mad About You" on the Soul Cages Concert. Note the shiny glare on the fretboard. His mod must have had a laquer coat over it.

I hope this thread helps someone, or at lest entertains someone.

Please post or PM any comments or questions.

Thanks for looking/reading!

 

[kcolyar]

I owned one of these in the 80's. One of those "why did I sell it" moments. The thing played great and mwahed for days. A little heavy if I remember right. Not as bad as some basses but, I think I had GAS for a Yamaha and sold it. Then got the Yamaha fretless, modded it and was never quite happy again.

 

[bassteban]

Fingerboard. And nice bass.

 

[nofretz]

kcolyar:
was yours a factory fretless? i've always wanted to know if this model was offered that way.

bassteban:
thanks! a fretless bass with a "fret"board. ha!

 

[bassteban]

...a fretless bass with a "fret"board. ha!

Well, w/your username I wasn't about to let that one slide.

 

[nofretz]

"slide"? keep em coming!

 

[vanscoy]

thanks... I am a Sting fan and had wondered about that bass!

 

[nofretz]

glad to help!

 

[bassteban]

"slide"? keep em coming!

Completely inadvertant, but I'll take the credit.
On topic, I love the little bridge saddle-as-string retainer- clever.

 

[garp]

Thanks very much for posting this. I’ve always loved the look of the RB888 and RB999.

 

[nofretz]

On topic, I love the little bridge saddle-as-string retainer- clever.

thanks. the tuners are very nice on this little bass too. i like the strap buttons, too. really neat hardware, all around.

Thanks very much for posting this. I’ve always loved the look of the RB888 and RB999.

you're welcome, garp. glad you like it.

i also want to point out that it is a full 34" scale, as the brochure states. i thought it was short scale at first, but it isn't.

 

[nofretz]

i'm thinking of having this bass "THORed" to get the look and sound of the epoxy board:

http://www.woodwiz.com/epoxy/

i see that a couple of you have used this guy before. anyone else have a better recommendation?

 

[andreaska]

I am happy to say I have one (fretted) too!
I got it on ebay this month and it's easy to play on it, great neck. The search for it has finally an end.

@nofretz
At first, thank you for the scans. After 15 years now I know it's a RB888...
How do you changed the fingerboard, yourself or by a luthier? How much was it?

Greetings from Germany
Andreas

 

[nofretz]

greeting from texas USA, andreas.

i got the bass from daddy's junky music after a 2 year search, which was pretty tough in pre-internet times. this was in 95 or 96. i paid $300 for it with the original case. a local guitar tech put an ebony FINGERboard (@bassteban ) for $150. i got my money's worth, but it needs some attention, hence the "thor" post above. if you wanna make yours fretless, you should check out the woodwiz link above.

could you post a pic of yours? or is the ebay link still available?

btw - i got the brochure on ebay a couple of years ago for $10, i think. this was the first time i knew the true identity of the guitar, as the RB888BM appears in no ibanez catalogs from 82-85 that i've ever seen.

 

[andreaska]

The ebay link is not longer available. I try to make some pictures and show them here in a few days.
Sadly the mine was without the original case. Maybe I find one one day... I've paid around $120 with an unsuitable case.

I've checked all Ibanez catalogues the last years and thought it have to be a special RB999. The first "really one" I've seen was Sting's in the Soul Cages concert back in 1991 or 1992. Then a few years later as fretted version at the Frankfurt Musikmesse (the German NAMM show) as a historic exhibit at the Ibanez booth.

I have too an MC 924 Musician Bass from 1979, a made fretless by the former owner.

 

[nofretz]

cool!

here's a good vid of the bass (ad first, i think )

http://www.freeegg.com/contents/movie_view.egg?contentsIdx=76737

much more bass guitar in the mix on this vid than the soul cages vhs, imo.

and better intonation from sting.

 

[andreaska]

Thank for the vid link. I have one too, it's in Germany:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41SHrIpI1HE

I just remember following: after the concert there are offered the possibility to get professionel pictures of the show. I ordered some! Nice pics of the basses. I gonna scan some and show them also here.

 

[John Bassist]

That one in Germany is just great.

Although I've never cared about Sting and his band... I really love his fretless bass! Something unique!

 

[nofretz]

fantastic view of the bass in that one! thanks for posting the link.

i'm very anxious to see your pics and scans.

 

[andreaska]

For my opinion this was Sting's best band formation.

Damn, I've sold my Boss Octaver last year...

Okay for now, I'm gonna answer in a few days with the pics and scans.