Sting The Soul Cages equipment

The Soul Cages is the third studio album by Sting, released in January 1991 to become his second No. 1 album.

This was his first album with Dominic Miller on guitar, who has been his regular guitarist and collaborator since. He got the gig with Sting through producer/engineer Hugh Padgham, whom he worked with previously for session work on Phil Collins' But Seriously.

(Horn players & percussionists' gear isn't included for instrument details for those are scarce)

Sting
Instruments
 * 1962 Fender Jazz bass
 * Van Zalinge bodiless upright electric bass
 * NED Synclavier system
 * mandolin

Manu Katché
Drums (Yamaha Rock Tour custom)
 * 16" x 22" bass drum
 * 10" x 10" rack tom
 * 10" x 12" rack tom
 * 11" x 13" rack tom
 * 16" x 16" floor tom

Cymbals (Zildjian)
 * 14" A New Beat hi-hats (or 13" K/Z hi-hats)
 * 8" A Splash
 * 16" K dark crash
 * 10" A splash
 * 12" K splash
 * 18" K Dark crash (or 18" A Thin Crash)
 * 21" A rock ride
 * 17" K China Boy (Brilliant finish)

Hardware
 * Yamaha

Drum heads
 * Remo coated Ambassadors (batter heads)
 * Remo coated Diplomats (bottom heads)

Source: Modern Drummer, August 1991

Microphones
Drums:
 * Kick: Neumann U47
 * Snare: Shure SM57
 * Hi-hats: AKG 451
 * Toms: Shure SM57's or Sennheiser MD421's
 * Overheads: Coles 4038's
 * Ambience Mikes: Neumann U87's (pair)

Guitars:
 * Sony 800G prototype

Vocals:
 * Sony 800G prototype

Sources: Recording Engineer/Producer June 1990 (Hugh Padgham interview), with some details from Recording Musician May 1993

Mixing consoles

 * SSL G series (The Townhouse)