Chris Seldon Scout 434

[HeadlessBassist]

I was idly perusing the Gear pages of 'No Treble' yesterday morning and stumbled on this very different creation by Chris Seldon, a Toronto-based Luthier. What caught my eye was the Scout 434's absolutely mahoosive Gordo Single Coil pickup, which he says produces a either a clean bell-like tone if played subtly, or an 'aggressive grind' when digging in, rather like a Rickenbacker. As for looks, I like instruments that deliberately look a little different, and the seemingly cut-off headstock just says, "we're not Fender, okay?!" to me. I have made contact with Chris to see what one of these would potentially set me back. (Prepared for a large Canadian Dollar number in response...)

 

https://www.chrisseldon.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

[prowla]

Looks like someone had a Tele and saw a pic of a Ric somebody'd drawn with a crayon.

The headstock is probably the ugliest piece of guitar work I've ever seen.

[White Cloud]

I have been friends with Chris for some years on Facebook (which doesn't make us friends, obviously) after happening upon his work by accident. I haven't been able to get my hands on one of his basses, however really dig his designs, craftsmanship and overall ethos. He seems like a good guy who does what he says and says what he does. A very talented musician and vocalist too by all accounts. 

[W1_Pro]

I think its pretty...

 

[Bassbooksbikes]

47 minutes ago, prowla said:

Looks like someone had a Tele and saw a pic of a Ric somebody'd drawn with a crayon.

The headstock is probably the ugliest piece of guitar work I've ever seen.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂

[madshadows]

Quite like the body shape but the end of the headstock needs to be rounded in my opinion !!  

 

John 😎  

[NancyJohnson]

1 hour ago, prowla said:

Looks like someone had a Tele and saw a pic of a Ric somebody'd drawn with a crayon.

The headstock is probably the ugliest piece of guitar work I've ever seen.

 

We live in times where we're afraid to be frank, brutal and honest with social posts, for fear of reprisals/replies in the form of if you can't say anything nice... but this is 100% spot on.

 

It's an absolute munter of a bass.  You have to have some love for an instrument you're going to pick up and play, but not this one.  The headstock looks like Lego.

[alittlebitrobot]

That is weird as hell and I love it. 

 

Actually, there is one thing I hate about it and that's the tortoiseshell guard. Big fan of everything else.

Edited 11 hours ago by alittlebitrobot

[Bassbooksbikes]

5 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

We live in times where we're afraid to be frank, brutal and honest with social posts, for fear of reprisals/replies in the form of if you can't say anything nice... but this is 100% spot on.

 

It's an absolute munter of a bass.  You have to have some love for an instrument you're going to pick up and play, but not this one.  The headstock looks like Lego.

Very true, both your comment on social attitudes and the headstock. 

[HeadlessBassist]

26 minutes ago, madshadows said:

Quite like the body shape but the end of the headstock needs to be rounded in my opinion !!  

 

John 😎  

 

Nah, you only knock that end bit on mic stands and walls. Better without it! 🤣

[Skybone]

Some of those Seldon basses look really cool, sort of a modern Grabber vibe.

[miles'tone]

Begone fell beast!

[simisker]

5 hours ago, madshadows said:

Quite like the body shape but the end of the headstock needs to be rounded in my opinion !!  

 

 

Agreed; by the looks of it, the curves from the lower horn could be echoed on the headstock for greater visual harmony.

 

I really sympathise with any small luthier/designer who has to come up with a novel and pleasing headstock silhouette - particularly in the face of 70 years of engrained 'tradition' - but I think this shape lets the side down on an otherwise interesting looking instrument.

Edited 9 hours ago by simisker

[alittlebitrobot]

For me, this is so much more balanced and aesthetically pleasing than a Rickenbacker, though, and plenty of people love those things, so I do think there's an audience for the Scout. ...but not in this thread 😁 

Poor Scout.

[W1_Pro]

Theres a variant of the 434 that looks like an Ibanez Musician. Very nice.

[LukeFRC]

Reminds me slightly of a Attila Balogh Odyssey bass - might be the Canadian link.

Edited 5 hours ago by LukeFRC

[Cato]

I quite like it, but then I like a lot of those odd looking Soviet Union era guitars and basses.

 

This looks like it could be a Danelectro Longhorn copy made in Yugoslavia circa 1974.

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Cato

[W1_Pro]

45 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

Reminds me slightly of a Attila Balogh Odyssey bass - might be the Canadian link.

A Balogh. Now theres a fine looking instrument...There was one for sale on here a while back. Lovely it was.

[BassApprentice]

I've followed Seldon on Instagram for a good while and really like his designs, even the weird headstock! 

 

For those that don't like it, he can do a more traditional 2+2 for you...

[LukeFRC]

1 hour ago, W1_Pro said:

A Balogh. Now theres a fine looking instrument...There was one for sale on here a while back. Lovely it was.

I missed that!