Sting’s 8-String Hamer Explorer Fretless bass featured in The Police video for “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” and played live on a few occasions.
8-string basses are typically strung with four pairs of strings, each in the pair a different gauge, set close together and typically played together. The top string of each pair is a light gauge string strung an octave up from the main normal gauge bass string of the pair, creating an octave and chorus effect when played together. Though this is the typical setup, other alternate setups exist including using the heavier gauge bass string as the top string of the pair, with the light gauge string below it.
2 thoughts on “Sting’s 8-String Hamer Explorer Fretless Bass”
The person to ask would be Jol Dantzig, co-founder of Hamer. He might have some info as to the whereabouts.
Excellent! I will try to contact him – thanks for the info!