BassApprentice Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Sitting listening to The Police and remember trying one of the Sting signature models years ago when I was too young to appreciate it. Can't remember seeing one for sale or anyone posting about them so just wondering what the general opinion of them is. Are they just a simple 50's P Bass with his signature slapped on the 12th fret? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Pretty much yes, but with the 54 contouring which makes them comfortable to play instead of the way the slab 51 reissue can be uncomfortable to many. If only it wasn't for that aesthetically jarring inlay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloke_zero Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Ouch - yes - jarring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 @police squad knows lots about them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 yep I had one. It was a lovely bass. Fantastic neck and I loved the glass like finish. It sort of purrred when you played it. Not a sound I've ever really heard again from a bass. I sold it when i took delivery of my Bravewood (gratuitous pic opportunity) 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Ooh! The thumb rest's moved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 1 minute ago, Mickeyboro said: Ooh! The thumb rest's moved one is the fender Sting bass The other is a Bravewood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 That Bravewood is absolutely exceptional! This is very high on my list to get at some point. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 4 hours ago, police squad said: one is the fender Sting bass The other is a Bravewood The wink obviously wasn't ironic enough... So here's a tale. I have just re-bought the first album Outlandos D'Amour as part of the latest Police box. My diary tells me I first bought it on (blue) vinyl in early 1979. I was a major fan at that point and had got Cant Stand Losing You on its first time round as a single (25p in Woolies bargain box). Persuaded my band to play it, and we played it well, but when it was a hit we dropped it like a stone. Come a gig at the Moonlight Club where we supported Furniture (remember them?), we were so whizzed off with their shoddy treatment of us - a mic went missing and we had hired the PA - we encored against their will with said song. It brought the house down! So gawd bless you Sting, for about a year you were my idol. PS A BBC camera crew filmed us. Wonder what happened to the footage...? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Mickeyboro said: The wink obviously wasn't ironic enough... So here's a tale. I have just re-bought the first album Outlandos D'Amour as part of the latest Police box. My diary tells me I first bought it on (blue) vinyl in early 1979. I was a major fan at that point and had got Cant Stand Losing You on its first time round as a single (25p in Woolies bargain box). Persuaded my band to play it, and we played it well, but when it was a hit we dropped it like a stone. Come a gig at the Moonlight Club where we supported Furniture (remember them?), we were so whizzed off with their shoddy treatment of us - a mic went missing and we had hired the PA - we encored against their will with said song. It brought the house down! So gawd bless you Sting, for about a year you were my idol. PS A BBC camera crew filmed us. Wonder what happened to the footage...? There's lots of repeats on at the moment, your day may come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Sting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 I could live with that inlay no problem, if it was a good bass. I think they look fantastic basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 3 hours ago, Mickeyboro said: The wink obviously wasn't ironic enough... So here's a tale. I have just re-bought the first album Outlandos D'Amour as part of the latest Police box. My diary tells me I first bought it on (blue) vinyl in early 1979. I was a major fan at that point and had got Cant Stand Losing You on its first time round as a single (25p in Woolies bargain box). Persuaded my band to play it, and we played it well, but when it was a hit we dropped it like a stone. Come a gig at the Moonlight Club where we supported Furniture (remember them?), we were so whizzed off with their shoddy treatment of us - a mic went missing and we had hired the PA - we encored against their will with said song. It brought the house down! So gawd bless you Sting, for about a year you were my idol. PS A BBC camera crew filmed us. Wonder what happened to the footage...? Driving away from home ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 17 hours ago, yorks5stringer said: There's lots of repeats on at the moment, your day may come! I’ll...er...keep em peeled Keith!😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadillabama Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Didn't that bass have reverse-direction machines ? I played one with a big neck and tiny frets. It had a different tone than any Fender I have. Oh well, ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 On 02/04/2020 at 21:13, bassbiscuits said: I could live with that inlay no problem, if it was a good bass. I think they look fantastic basses. They are good basses Same as 51s but with body contours making them more comfortable and less weight due to there being less wood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 54 minutes ago, gareth said: They are good basses Same as 51s but with body contours making them more comfortable and less weight due to there being less wood I love the 51s, there’s something special about them, never tried the Sting but am sure that those contours must make them a lot easier to play/wear. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 3 hours ago, gareth said: They are good basses Same as 51s but with body contours making them more comfortable and less weight due to there being less wood I played a custom shop 55 P I think it was a while ago. I really really wanted to like it but it felt really like quite an antiquated design. I play a P and a Mustang so I’m into a fairly retro approach, but the old style P was just a bit too far into the past for my tastes. Which is a shame because I think they are among the coolest looking basses on the planet (alongside the late 50s maple/sunburst/gold pick guard Precisions and 1960s Thunderbird IV) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 Had one, great sound from a surprisingly versatile pup. Wasn't fond of the bridge but the fat neck blew it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 (edited) Never owned a Sting model but had a couple of the '51 reissues in both 2 tone sunburst and colonel mustard finishes. They do have a completely different sound to a regular split coil precision. When I decided to have Warmoth build me something I went with the '54 shape with contours as the '51 shape was a bit uncomfortable. I went for the vintage look including a Lollar pickup, single screw tug bar and Gotoh reverse lightweight tuners but that's a Gotoh 201 under the bridge cover as I wanted to have the full range of adjustment. I also specced a jazz width neck. I think that I also had a set of Optima chrome roundwound strings on it. It sounded so amazing through my Trace V-type combo Edited April 6, 2020 by Delberthot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merello Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 On 02/04/2020 at 13:36, police squad said: yep I had one. It was a lovely bass. Fantastic neck and I loved the glass like finish. It sort of purrred when you played it. Not a sound I've ever really heard again from a bass. I sold it when i took delivery of my Bravewood (gratuitous pic opportunity) Beautiful. Dare one ask how much Bravewood charge for their services? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 1 hour ago, merello said: Beautiful. Dare one ask how much Bravewood charge for their services? the Bravewood was £1500. I think I've had it 7 years 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 I have one, the contours and the reverse tuners are the only drawbacks. LOVE the single coil I don’t mind the inlay. it did inspire me to build a slabside. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merello Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 On 09/04/2020 at 08:15, police squad said: the Bravewood was £1500. I think I've had it 7 years Thank you. Their site is eclectic.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 15 hours ago, merello said: Thank you. Their site is eclectic.... he builds lovely guitars My wife has a daphne blue 63 P bass, non relic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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