Message In a Bottle amp settings — Boss Katana-110 Bass
The The Police guitar tone for “Message In a Bottle”, dialed in for a Boss Katana-110 Bass with a Fender Performer Precision Bass. Studio cut, Reggatta de Blanc (1979)
Fretless Ibanez Musician (or fretless Fender P-Bass) with pick into studio DI / clean British tube amp (Marshall/Ampeg)
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 5 |
The Katana-110 Bass 'Vintage' amp type captures the warm, tube-rectified midrange response of the late-70s studio track without unnecessary preamp distortion. Sting famously played this track with a heavy pick on a fretless bass, so mid is pushed to 7 to deliver that vocal, nasal 'mwah' and pick articulation while the low-mids keep the reggae-rock bounce solid. Treble sits at 6 to retain the transient string attack without bringing out excessive fret buzz on your fretted Performer P-Bass.
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These settings are for a Boss Katana-110 Bass. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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