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bass guitar from “every breath you take” by the police | ToneDB

every breath you take

the police

bass guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

A clean and fundamental bass tone with subtle chorus and compression, providing a solid foundation for the song's haunting atmosphere. The sound is deep and round but retains clarity and punch.

Gear

Fender Precision Bassinstrument
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Ampeg SVTamp
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Neumann U47microphone
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Roland Dimension Dprocessing
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Urei 1176compressor
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The Story

Sting's bass on "Every Breath You Take" was recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat by producer/engineer Hugh Padgham. The tone was achieved using a Fender Precision Bass through an Ampeg SVT amplifier, with the signal captured using both a direct input and a Neumann U47 microphone on the amp. A Roland Dimension D chorus unit was applied subtly to add width and depth, while compression helped maintain consistent low-end presence throughout the haunting ballad.

Production Credits

Producer: Hugh Padgham, The Police

Engineer: Hugh Padgham

Recorded at: AIR Studios, Montserrat

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Precision Bass

Amp: Ampeg SVT

Microphone: Neumann U47

Processing: Roland Dimension D

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Fender Precision Bass for its fundamental tone.
  • Use an Ampeg SVT for a clean and powerful bass amp sound.
  • Experiment with a Roland Dimension D or similar chorus effect, keeping the depth subtle.
  • Apply compression to even out the bassline and add sustain.
  • Blend a DI signal with the amp signal to capture both clarity and warmth.

Original Gear

  • Fender Precision Bass(guitar)
  • Ampeg SVT(amp)
  • Neumann U47(mic)
  • Roland Dimension D(pedal)
  • Urei 1176(compressor)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Fender Player Precision Bass$700-$850

Alternative to: Fender Precision Bass

Modern version of the classic P-Bass with the same fundamental split-coil pickup tone that defines this track

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Ampeg SVT-7PRO$1200-$1400

Alternative to: Ampeg SVT

Modern SVT head that delivers the same clean, powerful tube-style bass tone at a more practical weight

ReverbSweetwater
Boss DC-2W Dimension C Waza Craft$150-$180

Alternative to: Roland Dimension D

Faithful recreation of the Roland Dimension D circuit with the same subtle chorus and spatial enhancement

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Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection$150-$300

Alternative to: Urei 1176 Compressor

Accurate plugin emulation of the 1176 compressor used to even out bass dynamics on this recording

ReverbSweetwater
Countryman Type 85 DI$200-$250

Alternative to: Direct Input Box

Professional DI box for capturing the clean bass signal to blend with the mic'd amplifier

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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