Midge Ure

A Tascam DA-88 can be seen in Midge Ure's studio (ninth photo, bottom right, middle of rack).

A Tascam DA-38 can be seen in Midge Ure's studio (ninth photo, bottom right, top of rack).

The "Links" page at Ure's old website states, "Microphones used are the e840 vocal mic, and he also uses a e606 for recording his acoustic guitar on home demos."

The "Links" page at Ure's old website states, "Microphones used are the e840 vocal mic, and he also uses a e606 for recording his acoustic guitar on home demos."

The "Links" page at Ure's old website states, "For the In Ear Monitors we use the G2 system which has proved itself to be totally reliable in difficult conditions, with exceptional fidelity and headroom."

The "Links" page at Ure's old website states, "The type that Midge uses are UE5 which are a two way (ie separate bass and HF speakers) earpieces."

Mentioned in this TalkBass.com forum.

I have a fretless Wal bass that was made in 2000 for Midge Ure, a singer, becasue he wanted to get as close to Mick Karn's sound as possible, Midge and Mick had collaborated in the past...turned out Midge wasnt much of a player

it also happened to be one of the very few Wals witha Mrk II body and Mrk III neck joint, probably the best overall design they ever did.

not really vintage but a good story none the less

The bass is also featured in the Wal Database, which lists a serial number of W20700 (dating it July 20, 2000) and offers three pictures.

lined-fretless Ebony (4 strings, 24 frets) Walnut Facings

The bass can be seen here, here and here.

From 1984 Sound on Sound interview:

"The DX7, on the other hand, I still think is impossible to programme! I can't be bothered with it. It's capable of producing some great sounds I admit, but Casio have now come up with some synthesizer that's just as good I feel - and a lot easier to work. I'm a great advocate of user-friendly instruments you know!"

Then came a crop of songs from the new album, interspersed with a few old favourites. 'Heart of the Country' slid gracefully by (harmony vocals et at) and after a fascinating bridge passage that saw Midge Ure playing DX7 koto sounds from the Roland G707 guitar (thanks to MIDI) over two sequenced OSCars, Billy Currie picked up the main riff from 'Western Promise': during the course of the song, this was played on OSCar, PPG, Yamaha GS1 and finally (during Ure's Roland guitar synth solo) on Prophet T8.

After getting his ideas together, Midge transferred them to his studio, which is as he puts it "everything the budding Popstar needs" comprising a Harrison M3 desk, Studer 24 track (A80) recorder, Studer 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch mastering and F1 digital mastering system. Ultravox's Lament album was in fact recorded at his 'home' studio.

After getting his ideas together, Midge transferred them to his studio, which is as he puts it "everything the budding Popstar needs" comprising a Harrison M3 desk, Studer 24 track (A80) recorder, Studer 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch mastering and F1 digital mastering system. Ultravox's Lament album was in fact recorded at his 'home' studio.

Midge's favourite, ie most used guitar is an Ibanez Roadstar with humbucker pickups. On stage he uses a Yamaha pedal board, Vox Conqueror amps (45w plus 2x12") while in the studio he uses a Rockman. This latter gadget is one he's just discovered.

"It's really knockout. In the studio you can turn the speakers up really loud so you've got the sustain and things, 'cos it doesn't actually feed back through the speakers, it's just like playing through a stack. The louder you've got it, the more the guitar's gonna scream, which is great."

Although he's far from a virtuoso keyboard player, Midge prefers to arrange and perform his own keyboard lines allowing him, "to get it just right." Apart from the aforementioned Yamaha PS6100 keyboard he previously used one of Yamaha's cheap-ish "Portasound things with one speaker and preset rhythms." While using the PS 6100 as a compositional tool (and more recently Casio's CZ101) most of his studio work is carried out on the Emulator II sampling keyboard. With samplers being used on everything from Frankie Goes To Hollywood to Bruce Springsteen (his 'snare' sound) Midge brings in the Emulator only when it has a specific task to fulfil.

Midge also uses a Powertran sampler which he finds particularly useful for sampling percussive sounds. Most recent addition to his collection, though, is the Mirage sampling keyboard, a synth that was the highlight of this years' Frankfurt show. The Mirage will be joining the Emulator and two Yamaha DX7 synths when Midge sets off on his world tour.

Gibson Melody Maker "one pickup — I've always loved its Les Paul shape. Really lightweight, but useless as a guitar because it really screams. I'm not going to change it because it's original."

Played in the music video for “Cold Cold Heart”, this one of one Gordon Smith GS1. Also played a different black GS1 in a live performance of Vienna with Ultravox.

can be seen centerstage on TOTP infront of Midge Ure, it was supposedly also used by Ultravox for the refrain of "Vienna" and at the beginning of "Western Promise" and during the later parts of "Sleepwalk"