Guitar tone · rock, other

Sting guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 16 Sting songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1957 Fender Precision Bass into Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus.

Guitars Sting used

1957 Fender Precision Bass2 songs
Fender Stratocaster (likely early 1960s, sunburst, maple neck)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, Hiram Bullock session guitar)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1980s/early 1990s, exact model unknown)1 song
Classical nylon-string guitar (exact model unknown, likely Ramirez or similar high-end classical)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1980s American Standard or similar, as used by Dominic Miller on Sting's 1987 studio recordings)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1960s or early 1970s, maple neck, as used by Dominic Miller on Ten Summoner's Tales)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s-early 1980s, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)1 song

Amps Sting used

Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus2 songs
Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, early 1960s/1970s model, studio recording)1 song
Fender-style tube amp (exact model unknown, likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean amp typical for Sting's guitarists in this era)1 song
No guitar amp used; direct mic recording of acoustic guitar1 song
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (likely, based on era, genre, and typical Sting/Dominic Miller studio setup; no direct source for this song, but JC-120 was widely used for clean, chorus-rich tones on 'Nothing Like The Sun')1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, likely studio backline for clean tones in early 1990s Sting recordings)1 song
Unknown studio amp (likely tube combo or DI, see notes)1 song
Unknown studio amp (likely Ampeg B-15 or similar, era-appropriate); possible DI blend1 song

18 Sting tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Shape of My Heart · riff	Riff · clean	Ramirez classical nylon-string guitar	None (recorded direct with microphones, no guitar amp used in studio)	0
All This Time · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely early 1960s, sunburst, maple neck)	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, early 1960s/1970s model, studio recording)	0
Brand New Day · riff	Riff · clean	Roland VG-8 (guitar-synth system, likely using a Roland GK-equipped guitar or Strat-style MIDI guitar)	Roland VG-8 amp/cabinet modeling (no traditional amp used; all tones generated by VG-8 system)	0
Englishman In New York · clean	Clean · clean	1957 Fender Precision Bass	Unknown studio amp (likely Ampeg B-15 or similar, era-appropriate); possible DI blend	0
Englishman In New York · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)	Fender Twin Reverb (silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s model, studio recording)	0
Fields of Gold · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Chet Atkins CE (nylon-string electric classical)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, likely DI or clean amp setting)	0
Fortress Around Your Heart · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, Hiram Bullock session guitar)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Fragile · riff	Riff · clean	Ramírez classical guitar (nylon string, likely 1a model)	None (direct mic'd classical guitar in studio)	0
Fragile (My Songs Version) · riff	Riff · clean	Classical nylon-string guitar (exact model unknown, likely Ramirez or similar high-end classical)	No guitar amp used; direct mic recording of acoustic guitar	0
If I Ever Lose My Faith In You · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1960s or early 1970s, maple neck, as used by Dominic Miller on Ten Summoner's Tales)	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, likely studio backline for clean tones in early 1990s Sting recordings)	0
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s-early 1980s, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Jeremiah Blues, Pt. 1 · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1980s/early 1990s, exact model unknown)	Fender-style tube amp (exact model unknown, likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean amp typical for Sting's guitarists in this era)	4
Little Wing · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1960s reissue or vintage, used by Dominic Miller on Sting's 'Little Wing')	Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface, studio recording)	3
Seven Days · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1980s/early 1990s, maple neck, standard single coils)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface or early reissue, studio recording)	0
Shadows In the Rain · riff	Riff · clean	Gretsch G5135CVT-PS	Unknown (not specified in any source for this recording; likely a clean solid-state or tube combo typical of Sting's 1980s studio sessions, but no explicit evidence)	3
Shape of My Heart · clean	Clean · clean	1957 Fender Precision Bass	Unknown studio amp (likely tube combo or DI, see notes)	0
The Lazarus Heart · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1980s American Standard or similar, as used by Dominic Miller on Sting's 1987 studio recordings)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (likely, based on era, genre, and typical Sting/Dominic Miller studio setup; no direct source for this song, but JC-120 was widely used for clean, chorus-rich tones on 'Nothing Like The Sun')	0
The Soul Cages · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (Dominic Miller, likely 1980s/early 1990s model, maple neck, standard single-coil pickups)	Direct Input (DI) with occasional amp use; specific amp model for studio not confirmed, but likely clean solid-state or tube combo (e.g., Roland JC-120 or Fender Twin Reverb) based on era and genre; live V8 amp used but not confirmed for studio recording	0

Sting songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Sting use?

Across 16 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (2 songs), Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, early 1960s/1970s model, studio recording) (1 song), Fender-style tube amp (exact model unknown, likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean amp typical for Sting's guitarists in this era) (1 song), No guitar amp used; direct mic recording of acoustic guitar (1 song).

What guitar did Sting use?

Most often: 1957 Fender Precision Bass (2 songs), Fender Stratocaster (likely early 1960s, sunburst, maple neck) (1 song), Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, Hiram Bullock session guitar) (1 song), Fender Stratocaster (likely 1980s/early 1990s, exact model unknown) (1 song).

How do I get Sting's tone on my amp?

Open any Sting song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.