Henk Van Zalinge Z-bass

The Henk Van Zalinge Z-bass was a bodiless electric upright double bass manufactured by former Dutch racing driver Henk Van Zalinge (1922-2006). First manufactured in the early 1970s, it was referred to as the "Van Zalinge bass" by Europeans, while the Americans usually called it the "Z-bass". Both of those names for the bass have been combined for this title page.

Sting's Van Zalinge Z-bass
Sting bought his Van Zalinge bass in the Summer of 1980 during recording sessions for the Zenyatta Mondatta album - he was informed of a local (Henk Van Zalinge) who made the instrument, and he decided to investigate and got hold of one. He introduced the bass to the audience during the Milton Keynes concert on 26 July 1980, naming it as "Brian". Although during the 29 November 1980 Capitol Theatre concert, he also referred to it as "Graham" before playing "Shadows In The Rain".

In the studio, Sting occasionally pulled out the Z-bass to record or to usually overdub bass lines, for instance on "Don't Stand So Close To Me", "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", "King Of Pain" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" amongst other numbers. He also played it on a few numbers during concerts, mainly on tours with The Police (between 1980 and 1984) and on his own The Dream Of The Blue Turtles tour (1985-86).

Quotes on the Z-bass
"'It still has a streamlined body, but it doesn't have this great, huge woman-shape that's so cumbersome.' (Musician magazine, December 1981)"

Sting on recording overdubs with the Van Zalinge Z-bass: "'I just love playing the stand-up bass. I'm not as facile with it as I am with the Fender or the Steinberger, but then again my lines are fairly simple. You don't hear the Z-bass on those overdubbed tracks as much as feel it.' (Musician magazine, June 1983)"

"'I also play a few tunes on a Z-bass, made by [Henk Van Zalinge], who's Dutch. He made a bass for Oscar Peterson's bass player, he had the first one and I had about number three. He makes them from standard double-bass necks, and the body, which he designed, is minimal but hollow so it sounds like a real instrument.' (Down Beat, December 1985)"

"'I often use the double bass over the original electric bass lines, because the double bass has overtones that you feel - a big subliminal undercurrent of sound. We used that combination on 'All This Time' on 'The Soul Cages'. Sometimes I use an old Italian bass, but I often use the Z Bass.' (Bass Player, April 1992)"

Stewart's Van Zalinge Z-bass
Stewart Copeland got his Z-bass along with Sting during the Zenyatta Mondatta sessions in 1980. He named his bass "Fred". He would have used this bass for occasional demo recordings, Klark Kent and some of his soundtrack work (e.g. Rumblefish OST).

Further information

 * Website dedicated to the Z-bass
 * Various
 * Police File No. 5