police squad

I'm in a Police tribute. We take the whole thing seriously. I look quite a bit like Sting, I try and copy how he moves on stage and play replicas of his basses, matched with the outfit he mainly wore with whatever bass I'm using. Guitarist has a Telecaster that has been 'Andy Summers' by 'The Painted Player' guitar company Drummer has old Tama kit, in one of the colours that Stewart used, octobans too. Live, we play the studio versions but sometimes make them longer, depending on the length of the show. One of our first gigs was at a festival in Crete. Matala. We played to thousands of people with a back drop of caves. I've included a few pics, it was THE most amazing gig of my life. We went on at 1.30am just after some big Greek star. Obviously the guitarist is playing the Red Strat (like Andy's) but not the Tele.

That's me at the front. The guy with the tats ended up drumming with Bernie Torme. This is 1990 and that's Dover Castle at the back

tell them that you knew 5 already, so learnt another 5. It'll show you're keen

My Flea has been my number 1 since I got it. It was from the first batch, nearly 2 years ago. I love it

ha ha. Excellent. I can hear the difference between maple and rosewood boards, maple is more glassy.

#3 for me. pray tell, was it the vintage with the maple neck?

Pretty much this for me. The band I've inherited are very good but I'm sick of one of the 'personalilties' and am thinking of chucking in the towel. For me, it is about entertaining the audience. I play a lot of songs that I wouldn't really listen too because they go down REALLY well. But it's difficult getting like minded people together

Gibson..........Saab. always on the brink of going bust!!!!!! oh, hang on.............................. I always wondered why anyone would buy a Saab. What is the point of them,..................Then I understood and nearly bought one. A bit like Gibson basses but I've bought Gibson basses but not a Saab. Remember folks, I'm only joshing here because I'm gassing for a gold top L/P bass and Saab convertible in cerrulian blue

I'm in south east kent. Most of her band are here but she isn't.

yes. still married to Robert. Her band are friends of mine. All local to me. Her guitar player that was ill was/is in China Crisis. She has a great live band and they are playing in a pub, near me, soon. Looking forward to it.

yep, no pedals here, not even a tuner. That clips onto the headstock

yep great shop and very friendly

I've got the other silver sparkly one!!

I used to play the violin. Played from age 6 till 13. All the theory that I learned back then had helped me throughout my musical life. I still have the violin that my dad bought for himself (he started learning the same time as me, the teacher was a rotary club member) and I am now nearly 50. Shame it wasn't bass guitar we learned!!

I'm sure, if it's a USA it's probably very good because I think Fender were only making reissues at this point

The reissues didn't all have stacked knobs IIRC I have seen both online but they may have been converted from stack knobs. The Jap ones were VVT

Sorry guys it could be a 62 USA vintage reissue from about 1985. The only way to date it is to remove the neck. The 'V' serial number started in 1982 Logo's were always applied over the lacquer on the vintage basses and so they do split, rub off. I think it's genuine. I've looked at a few on line and they all seem to have slightly different decals. I remember selling a brand new reissue strat in 1989 and it didn't look very good. The paint was orange peely and patchy. Brand new, we were fender dealers

yes agreed, I play along with the guitar but I actually start it by myself (I copied the late bass player from the band as I had listened to him play it millions of times)

I was thinking about trying to take my 'upright' Stagg eub. Rock band and double bass. It's gotta work, hasn't it. could I play it with a pick?

by the way starts up high. playing f on the d string and its fifth on the g.

So as you know, I'm in a Police tribute and I have collected basses like Sting used in The Police. I'm currently a bit bored with gigging and decided to use one of my Police basses with my normal pub band. We're called Live 'n' Kickin' and have been around just shy of 31 years. I normally play a Fender 'Flea' jazz in this band but last night decided to do the whole gig on my Fretless 'bitsa' What a great sound and work out for my playing. Songs that were a struggle, By the way by TRHCP as it starts with chords and the middle bit of Allright Now. But I had fun and nobody else really noticed. Now I need to think up something for the next gig.

the money I have spent over the years, not yet worked out Current basses cost me about £11k Current guitars at about £8K To replace them? Difficult to know. My '73 P bass was £450 back in 1990 but I swapped some gear that I couldn't sell for it. I do have a couple of classics in my collection that are worth much more than I paid for them. My '83 Steinberger was £2K but it's almost immaculate but that's not worth much more than that now. I try and use everything now and again but my Aria SBR150 is a bit heavy for me these days If I added in my PA & Desk that's another £4K current bass amp & both cabs about £700 All tax deductible and quite a lot of fun, plus a handy nest egg for when I retire

you need an original Steinberger.