The Police Reggatta De Blanc (1979) gear

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(last updated: 19/8/24)

Musical gear

Drums:

  • TAMA Imperialstar Metallic Blue (February 1979 sessions):
    • 22” x 14” bass drum
    • 14” x 5” King Beat snare
    • 12” x 7” rack tom
    • 13” x 8” rack tom
    • 16” x 15” floor tom
  • TAMA Imperialstar Midnight Blue
    • Same as above, with extra 8” x 10” tom-tom
  • Cymbals (Zildjian hollow logo A's and/or Paiste):
    • 14" hi-hat
    • 22” heavy ride
    • 16” crash (x2)
    • 18” crash
  • Other:
    • Roland Chorus Echo RE-301 tape delay - echo effects on drums

Guitars (Andy Summers, except where noted):

  • Hamer Sunburst (late 70s, Cherry Red)
  • Fender Stratocaster (1978, black): Sting's, for octave guitar on bass lines and (allegedly guitar solo on "Bring On The Night"
  • Fender Stratocaster (1978, natural): Stewart Copeland's, likely rhythm guitars on "It's Alright For You" and "On Any Other Day" through Fender Champ Tweed amplifier
  • Fender Telecaster (1961/63 custom, sunburst) /w Gibson PAF Humbucker & overdrive switch - Andy's main
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom (1958)


Guitar rig (Andy Summers):
  • Amplifiers:
    • Fender Twin Reverb (1960s, blackface)(?)
    • Marshall 1959 JMP 100-watt amp head
    • Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinets
    • Music Man 212 HD
  • Effects:
    • Pete Cornish custom pedalboard:
      • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger
      • Musitronics Mutron III envelope filter
      • MXR Dyna-Comp compressor
      • MXR MX-104 Distortion+
      • MXR MX-101 Phase 90
      • Pete Cornish custom fuzz (later replaced with MXR MX-118 Analog Delay)
    • Maestro Echoplex EP-2 tape delay - e.g. "Deathwish", "Walking On The Moon"
    • Note: "Walking On The Moon" guitar flanging effects were created with a SCAMP S24 ADT module (see Recording & Studio equipment section for more details)
  • Other:
    • Roland GR500 guitar synthesizer /w GS-500 controller: “Walking On The Moon” faint bubbling sounds, possibly "On Any Other Day" solo (blended with guitar)
Basses (Sting, except where noted):
  • Fender Precision fretless (1978, natural)
  • Fender Telecaster bass (late 1960s, natural): Stewart Copeland's, likely bass parts on "It's Alright For You" and "On Any Other Day"
  • Ibanez Musician MC900DS (1979, modified to fretless)
Amplification (Sting):
  • Ampeg SVT head
  • Ampeg SVT-810E 8x10 cabinets (x2) - Summer 1979 sessions
  • Marshall 100-watt
  • Marshall 4"x12" basscabinets
Pianos, keyboards & synthesizers:
  • Broadwood grand piano: e.g. "Walking On The Moon" (doubling the bass part)
  • W.H. Barnes upright piano: "Does Everyone Stare" introduction, taken from Stewart Copeland's home demo
  • Moog Minimoog Model D: Sting's, synth bass on "Contact"
  • Roland RS-505 Paraphonic(?): synth strings on "Walking On The Moon", "Does Everyone Stare"

Studio & Recording gear

Microphones:

  • AKG: 
    • D12: bass drum
    • C451: hi-hat, overheads
  • Beyerdynamic:
    • M260N: snare
    • M201: tom-toms
    • Soundstar X1N: tom-toms, guitars, guide vocals
  • Neumann:
    • U67: vocals
    • U87: guitar ambience, placed 3 ft away
  • Shure SM58: guitars

Outboard gear (partial list):

  • Audio & Design Recording SCAMP units:
    • F300 Expander/Gate: used for noise gating drums & guitars (or S100 Dual Gate)
    • S01 Compex compressor/limiter(s)
    • S24 ADT module: "Walking On The Moon" guitar flange
    • S100 Dual Gate(?)
  • AMS DMX 15-80S digital delay/harmonizer: guitars, vocals
  • Dbx 162 stereo compressor
  • EMT 140 plate (“Bring On The Night”)
  • Rebis RA402 Dual Parametric EQ

Recording:

  • MCI JH-400B console /w automation
  • MCI JH-24 24-track tape machine
  • Ampex AG-440 2-track
  • Revox A77 mk. III (x2) - e.g. bass drum echo on "Walking On The Moon"
  • Tannoy Reds in Lockwood or Electrovoice Sentry III monitors

Sources

http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/summers/6534#

Studio Sound August 1978 (Surrey Sound info)

The Policewiki & Jeff Seitz (cymbals)

Chris Gray (assistant engineer)

Various photos

International Musician & Recording World July 1979 (Andy’s FX)

Guitar player September 1982 (GR500)

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/police-ghosts-machine

Guitar Player June 2007

Music Week June 10, 1978 (Surrey Sound info)

Studio Sound November 1984 (Surrey Sound info)

Walking On The Moon: The untold story of The Police and the Rise of New Wave Rock by Chris Campion (Revox and "Walking On The Moon" guitar effects info)

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