Tony Levin

Tony Levin can be seen playing a Music Man Sting Ray 5 in this picture. The official Music Man website also lists this as a guitar used by Tony.

"The bass I played the Gabriel track "Sledgehammer" with was a black Music Man Sabre bass (the only non-Stingray I've had) which I played on that track with a lot of compression, a pick, and an octaver. Sometime in it's lifetime, the neck warped and I replaced it with a carbon graphite one."

Tony levin is shown playing a music man stingray bass at a King Crimson concert in 1982

"I probably got my first fretless in the 1970’s. My first bass guitar (I had started as an upright player) was a Fender Precision, and it was only years after getting that that I decided to try a fretless."

"Ovation Magnum ! Don't ask why, but long ago I decided I should have this bass. My thinking was that it would be just right for some Gabriel tracks. Took it on the plane with me to his studio in England. As I entered and put the bass down, the engineer said "What are you doing with Peter's bass?" Turns out Peter, who doesn't even play bass and only has one, had the exact same bass. Didn't use it."

"Gibson Ripper - played it on many of the Paul Simon tracks I did in 70's, including the movie "one trick pony" because it had that warm sound engineer Phil Ramone liked."

“The Funk Fingers have had a long and interesting history. After having them made here in Woodstock for a year, when the idea was new, I ceased producing them, thinking there were enough out there in the world. But last year, when Kevin introduced his improvements to the design, I was excited about how much better they are now to play bass with, and have given him my blessing to produce them with his design improvements. These are the Funk Fingers I'm using, and I think other players could do some wild things with them too.”

Tony Levin

April 2013

"I have a wonderful Epiphone Rivoli and, with the same sound, a Gibson EB2 (that one I found in Austin, painted like a confederate flag, so I refer to it as "Billie Bob Bass") which are very useful for certain types of tracks. I don't remember every instance I've used them, but a bit on Paula Cole's album, KMax's album, Peter Gabriel's upcoming (if those tracks make it to the record) and on a couple of tracks on my new "Pieces" cd."

"I have a wonderful Epiphone Rivoli and, with the same sound, a Gibson EB2 (that one I found in Austin, painted like a confederate flag, so I refer to it as "Billie Bob Bass") which are very useful for certain types of tracks. I don't remember every instance I've used them, but a bit on Paula Cole's album, KMax's album, Peter Gabriel's upcoming (if those tracks make it to the record) and on a couple of tracks on my new "Pieces" cd."

"A Guild Ashbory -little plastic thing. I first came across one when I saw David Gilmore sitting in a hotel coffee shop, practicing on the little thing. He suggested I get one. I've actually used this on a few albums: "Lovetown" which was Peter Gabriel's track for "Philadelphia Story", and one of the Bozzio/Levin/Stevens tracks."

Throughout the video Levin talks about the item and plays it.

Tony showcases this bass and its capabilities in this video.