Thompson Twins Here’s To Future Days recording gear

(last updated: 29.08.24)

Thompson Twins Here’s To Future Days gear

Instruments

Drum machines:

• Movement MCS-2 drum computer
• Simmons SDS-7: tom-tom sounds
• Linn 9000 – programmed by Jimmy Bralower, not used

Keyboards, synthesizers & samplers:

• Casio CZ-101: e.g. “Don’t Mess With Dr Dream”
• Casio CZ-5000: played by Tom for occasional bass lines, owned by Nile Rodgers
• E-mu Emulator II: Joe Leeway’s
• Fairlight CMI Series II (retrofitted with MIDI): Tom Bailey’s, Page R used for arrangements & sequencing
• New England Digital Synclavier II system: Nile Rodgers’, used during Skyline sessions for flying in vocals
• Oberheim OB-Xa: Tom Bailey’s main “workhorse” synth, for both pads and basslines
• Yamaha DX7: e.g. MIDI’d marimba on “King For A Day”
• Pianos:
• Yamaha CP-70 acoustic/electric
• Yamaha medium acoustic grand (New York)

Guitars/basses:

• Epiphone Zephyr Regent: Nile Rodgers’, played on “Tokyo”
• ESP The Eclipse Telecaster: played by Tom Bailey and Nile Rodgers
• ESP Mirage 1984 blue – Tom’s
• Fender Telecaster: Tom Bailey’s, later stolen before New York sessions
• Kramer Pacer(?): Steve Stevens, “Roll Over”, “Breakaway”  and “Revolution”
• Tokai (Nile Rodgers’):
• Goldstar Sound (one white, one sunburst & one black)
• Springy Sound (blue, circa 1981)
• Van Zalinge bass – Joe Leeway’s

Guitar rig:

• Marshall JCM-800: Steve Stevens
• Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
• Nile Rodgers:
• Seymour Duncan amp
• Marshall 610
• Music Man 112
• RAT distortion pedal (on "King For A Day")

Percussion:

• Handmade congas – Joe Leeway
• Marimba MIDI’d to Yamaha DX7
• Xylophone
• Castanets

Recording & studio equipment

Microphones:

• AKG C414 EB: vocals
• Shure SM57: Guitars (close)
• Neumann U87: guitar and keyboard ambience (Paris)
• Neumann KM84: percussion (Paris)

Tape machines:

• 3M Digital Mastering System digital 32-track: Marcadet Studios (Paris)
• Sony PCM-3324 digital 24-track (x2): Skyline studios – both machines synchronized for transferring 32 track recordings, controlled by RM-3310 remotes
• Sony PCM-F1 betamax: used for sampling vocals

Outboard gear & effects (partial list)

• Multi-effects:
• AMS DMX 15-80S
• Eventide H949 Harmonizer
• Lexicon Prime Time II
• Lexicon PCM-41
• Misc. Delays:
• Marshall Time Modulator
• Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo
• Reverbs:
• AMS RMX-16 digital
• Quantec QRS digital
• EMT 140 plate
• EMT 240 gold plate
• Lexicon 224x digital
• Compressors:
• A&D Gemini Easy-Rider
• Dbx 160X
• UREI 1176
• Teletronix LA-2A
• Neve
• Other:
• API, Neve, Pultec & UREI EQ
• Drawmer & Kepex II noise gates
• Valley People Trans-amps

Mixing consoles:

• Solid State Logic SL-4000E: both Skyline and Marcadet
• Harrison ‘consolette’ (Skyline)

Sources:

One Two Testing, November 1985

International Musician & Recording World (US), November 1985 (PDF pages 26-27)

International Musician & Recording World, January 1986

Electronics & Music Maker, January 1986

Keyboard 1986 (unknown issue)

Musician, January 1986

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/tom-bailey-live-aid-guitar

Down Beat, September 1985 (Nile Rodgers, PDF page 26)

Recording Engineer/Producer, October 1985

Mix, May 1986 (page 202 of pdf – full list)

Personal info from Stephen Dewey and John ‘Tokes’ Potoker