Has anyone modded a Squier Bronco Bass?

[Shorty3]

Dimarzio are indeed great pickups.
I just wish to correct myself about the EMG 35HZ. I just had a new Bronco bass modded by a luthier. Since I already owned this pickup I decided to give it a second chance and now it sounds great. I think it mostly depends on how the pickup and the whole bass is set up. The luthier also said EMG pickups are fine because they are all sealed in epoxy so they are really noiseless and don't need shielding and are quick and easy to install.
Mods have also included Schaller light tuners, Schaller 3D Bridge, 500k pots, Fender strap-locks, and 3-ply B/W/B pickguard. I have put Daddario Flatwound Chromes on my Bronco and it sounds like butter. I already used it for gigging a couple times and it has become my go to bass at rehearsal. We are a power trio, do mainly blues rock and classic 60's and 70's rock, and when I play with a pick it gives that nice vintage short scale vibe I really love.

 

[jonnybass1]

This is what I ended up with after several revisions of mods. I am very happy with the final result.

 

[andknu]

Even if the Wilkinson compensated two-saddle bridge is not for sale anymore, you may keep the stock bridge and add compensated brass or phenolic saddles from Evan Webb (webbteca.musical.industries).

 

[Stellvia]

Here’s my heavily modified Bronco. Started life as a Badtz Maru (Hello Kitty) version with the penguin pickguard. I first changed the strat pickup for a Lace Sensor that I had lying around and it remained like that for a while. I recently decided that short scale was more comfortable to me, so while waiting for a Kiesel Vader to be built for me I decided to upgrade my Bronco with some parts I had lying around. I thinned the top of the body and laminated up a new top from strip of Blackbutt and Sheoak (Aussie timbers), sanded and finished with Tung oil. The pickups are MJS Custom Pickups that I had for another bass I had a while ago and was looking for something to use them in. Hipshot Badass bridge, Sheoak knobs that I made (still need to make a 3rd!) for another bass and Dunlop Straplocks. I sanded off the satin finsh on the back of the neck and refinished with Tung oil. Kept the original tuners as they seem fine but took off the covers they had on the back.

Turned out ok and was a fun project to put together. The bass actually plays quite well now with the Hipshot bridge and the pickups sound great! Not a bad little project bass!

 

[matt-o-]

My favourite Bass in the moment, made my wish for a JMJ Mustang disappear:
a 20th Anniversary Bronco

I love lollypop tuners and lace sensor red's. The bridge will be exchanged with a hipshot vintage bridge soon.
With Thomastik 324 nickel flatwounds = super smooth.

 

[rond]

I love short scale basses, but don't have a lot of $. I have a 1975 Musicmaster Bass Pickup a friend gave me, and the chance to get a used Squier Bronco Bass for $100. Is it worth it to do this, and what other mods would be recommended besides the pickup to make it better?

If anyone has modded a Bronco Bass please post pics. Thanks!

Modifications to my Squier Bronco bass. I bought this one because it's nice and light and helps my back after a few sets with a full size bass (its a short scale bass). I wanted to do a few mods, but do them cheaply, because the bass is only $149 retail. 1) Added Dunlop strap locks 2) Added a couple of abalone knobs (they are push on and look nicer than the stock chrome knobs - I had these already). 3) Last, replaced the "Stratocaster" 6 pole pickup (which hummed like crazy) with a Dragonfire rails pickup. Many people replace with a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickup, but these are $85 on eBay. The Dragonfire was about $20 bucks on Ebay. It fit easily and really has much more output than the stock pickup, plus its humbucking. Someone packed off with my soldering iron so I just bandaged it on for now. Last mod I plan to make is to tint the neck and refinish with high gloss poly. The neck looks unfinished to me. Too pale and not crazy about the satin finish, so waiting for some vintage amber dye, which I will mix with high gloss wipe on poly and hopefully that will work well and change the look and feel. Total cost, less than $50 bucks including future neck refinish.

 

[staurosjohn]

Here’s my ’Broncostang’ project:
Rifin’ed Bronco body (Sonic Blue)
Mustang (P/J) neck
Hipshot HB10 Lollipop tuners
Nordstrand custom (17mm) ‘51 split coil pu
Hipshot ‘B’ style bridge
Fender flat-top knobs
3-ply pg
Mustang wiring harness
Custom shop neckplate
Currently strung with D’Addario half-rounds

 

[mongo2]

My "Mustonco" and "Mikrobronc"...

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Here’s my ’Broncostang’ project:
...
View attachment 3581984

I love that bass! My GAS ignites every time I see it. Beautiful job!

I love short scale basses, but don't have a lot of $. I have a 1975 Musicmaster Bass Pickup a friend gave me, and the chance to get a used Squier Bronco Bass for $100. Is it worth it to do this, and what other mods would be recommended besides the pickup to make it better?

If anyone has modded a Bronco Bass please post pics. Thanks!

At that price, I'd snap it up.

I have a Badtz Maru (Hello Kitty) Bronco, which has the controls back-routed. All I did was put on GHS Short Scale Precision Flats, and add block inlay stickers. The stock (guitar) pickup sounds fine on mine. The routing on my Bronco will fit a mudbucker no problem, but not all Broncos have the "bathtub" routing.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

So...im gonna route my Bronco bass out for a guitar full sized humbucker....i have a bunch of these laying around plus i have lots of different magnets i can swap in & out.

The big thing is i can wire many of these humbuckers in parallel OR series...i already did a 72 Musicmaster bass with a Duncan Hot Rails in parallel and it is stellar.

Anyone else route a Bronco for a full sized humbucker?

 

[WI Short Scaler]

My favourite Bass in the moment....

I love lollypop tuners and lace sensor red's. The bridge will be exchanged with a hipshot vintage bridge soon.
With Thomastik 324 nickel flatwounds = super smooth.

Polka dots are cool, like that.

Can you tell me what kind of tuners you put in there and did you have to drill the headstock for them?

 

[pertyman]

Mine (my daughter’s…)

And the demo

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Mine (my daughter’s....

And the demo

Interesting looking bridge, what is it? I'm looking at assembling one of these and looking for options. Thanks!

 

[matt-o-]

Polka dots are cool, like that.

Can you tell me what kind of tuners you put in there and did you have to drill the headstock for them?

I use hipshot ultralight tuners with 3/8" post. With my musicmaster bass I had to very slightly enlarge the backside of the openings. I cannot remember if this was necessary with the Bronco as well. If you prefer to use the bushings, you definitely have to drill.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I use hipshot ultralight tuners with 3/8" post. With my musicmaster bass I had to very slightly enlarge the backside of the openings. I cannot remember if this was necessary with the Bronco as well. If you prefer to use the bushings, you definitely have to drill.

Ok, thanks.

 

[pertyman]

Interesting looking bridge, what is it? I'm looking at assembling one of these and looking for options. Thanks!

That’s a Badass III bridge

 

[YARAH8]

Just finished last night~
Built out to 34"scale with a *chunky* Fender neck, and an Ulyate Instruments '51 pickup...

HMU for more pics!
YARAH Customs
Link Removed

 

[CBG_Bass]

Bump into 2023! Also wanted to add my Bronco project to this amazing thread. I picked mine up for a song on Craigslist with the intent of keeping the neck, pickup, bridge, pots and swapping the body to a Cigar Box. What I didn't expect was how hard it would be to find a wooden cigar box long enough to support the bridge position from the nut to retain the 30" scale! Who knew cigar boxes generally don't come in a 13" width?? But I eventually found one, and with the help of an amateur carpenter friend, made this. But now I need some help. I can't figure out what to "name" it and put on a decal on the headstock. Any ideas?

 

[Seanmo]

View attachment 2968136 View attachment 2968137

Here’s my heavily modified Bronco. Started life as a Badtz Maru (Hello Kitty) version with the penguin pickguard. I first changed the strat pickup for a Lace Sensor that I had lying around and it remained like that for a while. I recently decided that short scale was more comfortable to me, so while waiting for a Kiesel Vader to be built for me I decided to upgrade my Bronco with some parts I had lying around. I thinned the top of the body and laminated up a new top from strip of Blackbutt and Sheoak (Aussie timbers), sanded and finished with Tung oil. The pickups are MJS Custom Pickups that I had for another bass I had a while ago and was looking for something to use them in. Hipshot Badass bridge, Sheoak knobs that I made (still need to make a 3rd!) for another bass and Dunlop Straplocks. I sanded off the satin finsh on the back of the neck and refinished with Tung oil. Kept the original tuners as they seem fine but took off the covers they had on the back.

Turned out ok and was a fun project to put together. The bass actually plays quite well now with the Hipshot bridge and the pickups sound great! Not a bad little project bass!

You have a beautiful "Bronco", but it is very unfortunate that you chose to destroy a somewhat rare Badtz Maru (Hello Kitty) Bronco to make it. Those go for $500 and up now -- the only one on Reverb is $700 and the last one sold for $681. Even the pickguards have value.

 

[Stellvia]

You have a beautiful "Bronco", but it is very unfortunate that you chose to destroy a somewhat rare Badtz Maru (Hello Kitty) Bronco to make it. Those go for $500 and up now -- the only one on Reverb is $700 and the last one sold for $681. Even the pickguards have value.

Fair enough, not something I was concerned about at the time, for me it was cheap bass with an opportunity to play around with modding!