Show & Tell: Saskia from The Great Emu War Casualties
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Show & Tell: Saskia from The Great Emu War Casualties

What piece of equipment do you have to show us today?

Today I shall be showcasing my Schecter 345 bass guitar which has travelled over four countries in nothing but a soft case for like seven years and is still miraculously alive and kicking because it’s boss.

 

How did you come across this particular item?

I found it in some secondhand store in Ochanomizu, which is a Mecca for any musician in Tokyo, there is so much crazy stuff there on sale over New Year’s. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a total sucker for a sale and it said it was the (cheap version) signature model of one of my favourite bass players, ‘345’ i.e. Miyoko from Ling tosite Sigure, SUCH A BOSS. Obviously I just bought it without even bothering to try it. Don’t try this at home…

 

What is it that you like about it so much?

It actually turned out against all the odds to be an amazing bass. It’s got the most amazing tone thanks to the Seymour Duncan pickups, I really haven’t played anything else that comes close to it. It’s super heavy which is the only downside, but it was the first ‘serious’ bass I ever bought (which is ironic since I bought it so flippantly) and it’s like invincible. Seriously, once someone accidentally dropped it down the stairs and it was totally fine. Plus, they’re really hard to buy now, which makes me feel special. Oh, you like my bass? That’s cool man, yeah you can’t buy it, IT’S ONLY FOR ME (and probably 5000 other people in Japan who are 345 fans…)

 

How do you use it and how has it shaped the way you write music?

I use it badly (see above anecdote) but it’s certainly a warhorse. It’s got a really full low-end tone, so I don’t really need too many effects on it. That being said, I still have a million effects on my pedalboard… but anyway. I usually turn the tone down halfway, unless playing with a pick. There’s no real reason except that I like how it sounds like that. I don’t know if it’s shaped the way I write music aside from that it feels better to play on a good bass than a shit one, but it did inspire me to play and write more than I had been doing. Now it’s been a part of my musical life for so long that I couldn’t imagine not having it.

 

Tell us a bit about what you have coming up?

We’re dropping a new single on Friday called ‘Tight Enough To Tell’ and we’re doing an isolation session with these guys on June 19 which should be fun! And some more on the distant horizon (assuming we all survive the zombie apocalypse…)

 

 

Keep up to date with The Great Emu War Casualties here.