Bass of the Week: Chris Seldon Guitars Alchemist 534
Luthier Chris Seldon has shared one of his latest creations with us, and it’s absolutely stunning. This five-string Alchemist 534 is crafted with an African Mahogany body and a maple burl top that has us drooling.
Seldon built the neck with Big Leaf Maple, wenge, and roasted maple, all reinforced with carbon fiber rods. The fretboard is East Indian rosewood, which is mirrored in the bass’s head plate and backstrap.
As good as it looks, it has to sound great, too. The Alchemist has a pair of Norstrand FS5 pickups matched to a Nordstrand 18-volt 3B preamp.
Hear bassist Mitch Starkman laying down a slick groove to show off the bass’s tone:
Chris Seldon Guitars Alchemist 534 Bass Specs:
| Strings: | 5 |
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | African Mahogany with accent line |
| Top: | Epoxy stabilized Maple burl |
| Neck: | Big Leaf Maple, Wenge, Roasted Maple w/ Carbon Fiber Rods |
| Fretboard: | East Indian Rosewood |
| Frets: | 24 |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 16″ Radius |
| Headplate and Backstrap: | East Indian Rosewood |
| Control Cavity cover: | Big Leaf Maple |
| Position Marker: | Brass side dot |
| Nut Width: | 1 3/4″ |
| Width at 24th fret: | 3″ |
| Neck Profile: | Slim D |
| Pickups: | Nordstrand FS5 |
| Electronics: | Nordstrand 3B (18V) |
| Controls: | Volume, Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble |
| Knobs: | Kilo |
| Bridge: | Hipshot A Series 19mm |
| Tuners: | Hipshot Ultralite |
| Weight: | 8.8lbs |
| Case: | Gator TSA flight case |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
