Kasuga SG Bass Copy

Probably made in the early 70s. There's an almost identical one in the Ibanez chapter of Michael Wright's book guitar Stories Vol. 1 and it's dated 1971. Basically it's a bolt neck copy of a Gibson EB-3 with a three-way switch instead of the four-way rotary and single coil pickups instead of humbuckers. It also doesn't have individual bridge saddles, just a straight piece of pressed alumnium, so you can't intonate it properly, but it seemed to play in tune below about the seventh fret, and I never used the upper frets anyway since I was just learning. I don't know what kind of wood it was made out of, probably plywood. I liked the fact that it was a short scale (30") because it was easier to jump around.

I was playing in a punk band (Ramones, Pistols, New York Dolls) and it sounded good for that type of stuff, real fat and distorted, but I was also playing through a cheap amp. Don't really know how it sounded with other types of music, and I only used in the studio once.

It played pretty well when I got it at the pawnshop, but eventually I replaced the nut because it buzzed. The action was fine for me, but like I said you couldn't intonate it properly.

It was pretty sturdy. It was 15 years old when I got it and it didn't have any major scratches or damage. The tuners and hardware were cheap but solid. I don't think I ever adjusted the truss rod. I played it at a variety of parties and bars and it never gave me any trouble. I rarely used a backup, but that was because I usiually didn't have one or was too lazy too bring it.

I replaced the nut myself and eventually repalced the knobs with a set of speed knobs from a Les Paul copy. There was nothing you could do about the bridge except completely replace it and I didn't reaaly care.

I've been playing 17 years and own a variety of basses, including a Fender Jazz and a Dearmond Starfire. After I moved away from home my brother loaned the Kasuga to someone and we never saw it again. If I found another for the same price I might buy it for sentimental reasons. It was a fun little bass and thinking about it brings back memories of good times (and some really fucked-up times) I had in my late teens/early twenties.

This beast is a late 60's early 70's 22 fret short scale bass made in Japan in a factory from what I have read later went on to produce Ibanez instruments. It has a Badass bridge and a two pick up configuration with tone and volume for each and a selector switch. the switch doesnt work and I've grown to love the tone of the treble pick up.

I play instrumental rock with another bass player so it does well not to sound like your average bass. It's not much on sustain but the sound of the initial attack is what i love about it. Through a big muff and into a Ampeg B-25 on top of a Sunn 2x15 you won't know what hit you

The volume control is really scratchy so I find were it works and turn up the amp. I stepped on the cord one day after a few many PBR's and destroyed the whole pickguard. I replaced it with some clear plexiglass so now you can see what's going on (or what isn't) on the inside.

With a little upkeep this thing has lasted me a good while through a couple of states and severe punishment.

I've never seen a Kasuga anywhere else. I've looked.

My favorite feature is the sound the pickup makes when you tap on it with a pick in repeat/hold delay. Put that in hold and make noise over that. It's great. It looks like a warrior too, that SG shape. I mean the bridge says Badass on it that's why I thinkI bought it in the first place