I have no plan for this…..

[Dark Horse]

… but I am going to proceeded anyway!

I just bought this bronco bass for $80. It’s in great shape, light as a feather. My plan is to use it for fly in gigs, which I do quite a few of. I have a metric ton of parts here, so it will get new pick ups, electronics, tuners, Pickguard, basically everything it will need to be a pro level instrument. I will also go through and polish and level the frats, shield it, all that stuff.

That said, still trying to figure out a plan of which pick up, bridge, etc. to use.

What are you guys think?

On tuners, Clover KEYS or Y KEYS? Vintage Music Masters and Mustang have used both over the years, they both look decent. Opinions ?

On bridge, I think I want to use a 4 saddle, bridge…. I have an omega, badass style, vintage style fender threaded saddle, bridges, and a Goto 201 bridge. Unless I use the original bridge, but with Wilkinson compensated 51 style saddles. Thoughts?

Electronics will get CTS parts, orange, drop capacitor, switchcraft jack so that’s taken care of.

I’ll make a new Pickguard . It’s either going to be red tortoiseshell, or three ply black white black. Tortoiseshell looks classier, black white black looks more vintage. What do you think?

Onto pick ups… Here’s where I really have a lot of choices. I have some nickel Thunderbird pick ups. I have some EMG Thunderbird pick ups. Have EMG Precision BASS pickups. I have a Seymour Duncan antiquity II telecaster Bass style pick up. I have a cool rails single coil pick up. I have a Burns Bass pick up. Pretty sure I have an extra G&L MFD pick up. I have Rickenbacker toaster style pick ups. I think that about covers it… What would you put in there?

Anyway, that’s the rundown… No plan, just gonna make a cool instrument. Definitely taking suggestions…

EDIT: I also have a set of Bartolini Jazz pickups that i I could use

 

[swagbotbilly]

If it were me, I'd do the opposite of what you'd see on any bronco bass, so clover keys, badass bridge, and then route a cavity big enough that you could try any of the pickups you have in mind before making a pickguard (with the added benefit of now it is also lighter lol)

Again, personally, if you're taking it as a fly-in "can only take 1" bass... hard to vote against the P pup.

I don't care for tort or white pickguards but I don't think you can go wrong with either.

 

[Neon Blues]

Clover tuners and I reckon Thunderbird for my liking.

Please no tort, you are better than that.

 

[JIO]

I souped-up a Bronco for Beths niece. Seymour Duncan quarter-pound pu, decent Fender bent-plate bridge, and better tuners. Sounded like a P-bass.

 

[Iridescentone]

I'd go with...

Either brown tort, or black 3-ply with cream center layer. But the white stock one looks okay too.
Clovers.
Fender genuine vintage threaded saddle bridge.
All those pickups are nice IMO, especially the MFD. But...if the "nickel T-bird" pickup is an actual 60's tin can.....c'mon put that badboy into something, even a modest little Bronco!
Happy modding!

 

[Iridescentone]

Heck, I might even go crazy while it's all apart and match the headstock black !

 

[RickBlair]

I vote for the clover tuners. As for the pickups, put all of them in

Rick B.

 

[Clark W]

… but I am going to proceeded anyway!

I just bought this bronco bass for $80. It’s in great shape, light as a feather. My plan is to use it for fly in gigs, which I do quite a few of. I have a metric ton of parts here, so it will get new pick ups, electronics, tuners, Pickguard, basically everything it will need to be a pro level instrument. I will also go through and polish and level the frats, shield it, all that stuff.

That said, still trying to figure out a plan of which pick up, bridge, etc. to use.

What are you guys think?

On tuners, Clover KEYS or Y KEYS? Vintage Music Masters and Mustang have used both over the years, they both look decent. Opinions ?

On bridge, I think I want to use a 4 saddle, bridge…. I have an omega, badass style, vintage style fender threaded saddle, bridges, and a Goto 201 bridge. Unless I use the original bridge, but with Wilkinson compensated 51 style saddles. Thoughts?

Electronics will get CTS parts, orange, drop capacitor, switchcraft jack so that’s taken care of.

I’ll make a new Pickguard . It’s either going to be red tortoiseshell, or three ply black white black. Tortoiseshell looks classier, black white black looks more vintage. What do you think?

Onto pick ups… Here’s where I really have a lot of choices. I have some nickel Thunderbird pick ups. I have some EMG Thunderbird pick ups. Have EMG Precision BASS pickups. I have a Seymour Duncan antiquity II telecaster Bass style pick up. I have a cool rails single coil pick up. I have a Burns Bass pick up. Pretty sure I have an extra G&L MFD pick up. I have Rickenbacker toaster style pick ups. I think that about covers it… What would you put in there?

Anyway, that’s the rundown… No plan, just gonna make a cool instrument. Definitely taking suggestions…

View attachment 7008604View attachment 7008605View attachment 7008606

What about a parchment / black / parchment pickguard instead of white?
I picked up a black 1997 Jazz fiver yesterday with that type of guard and think it looks quite stunning.

 

[spiritbass]

… but I am going to proceeded anyway!

I just bought this bronco bass for $80. It’s in great shape, light as a feather. My plan is to use it for fly in gigs, which I do quite a few of. I have a metric ton of parts here, so it will get new pick ups, electronics, tuners, Pickguard, basically everything it will need to be a pro level instrument. I will also go through and polish and level the frats, shield it, all that stuff.

That said, still trying to figure out a plan of which pick up, bridge, etc. to use.

What are you guys think?

On tuners, Clover KEYS or Y KEYS? Vintage Music Masters and Mustang have used both over the years, they both look decent. Opinions ?

On bridge, I think I want to use a 4 saddle, bridge…. I have an omega, badass style, vintage style fender threaded saddle, bridges, and a Goto 201 bridge. Unless I use the original bridge, but with Wilkinson compensated 51 style saddles. Thoughts?

Electronics will get CTS parts, orange, drop capacitor, switchcraft jack so that’s taken care of.

I’ll make a new Pickguard . It’s either going to be red tortoiseshell, or three ply black white black. Tortoiseshell looks classier, black white black looks more vintage. What do you think?

Onto pick ups… Here’s where I really have a lot of choices. I have some nickel Thunderbird pick ups. I have some EMG Thunderbird pick ups. Have EMG Precision BASS pickups. I have a Seymour Duncan antiquity II telecaster Bass style pick up. I have a cool rails single coil pick up. I have a Burns Bass pick up. Pretty sure I have an extra G&L MFD pick up. I have Rickenbacker toaster style pick ups. I think that about covers it… What would you put in there?

Anyway, that’s the rundown… No plan, just gonna make a cool instrument. Definitely taking suggestions…

View attachment 7008604View attachment 7008605View attachment 7008606

Clover keys and the rails single-coil pickup...

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I also want to mod my Sonic Bronco.
Anyone here know who makes Bronco pickguards with no pickup rout?

 

[Dark Horse]

Hi -
I’m not really looking to have to buy more stuff, I have lots here that needs to be used… and moneys already tight. So the pickguard material choices I gave (b/w/b and red tort) are because I have blank material here already. Sorry guys, not gonna go with parchment, pearloid, etc… at least at this time.


I did make a flat black/white/black guard this evening. Obviously I haven’t done a pickup cutout since I haven’t decided on a pickup yet. Here’s what that looks like… (the bridge is just on there for kick up purposes)

 

[Dark Horse]

I also want to mod my Sonic Bronco.
Anyone here know who makes Bronco pickguards with no pickup rout?

Nobody makes one that I know of.
I just made a template for the bronco this evening. I need to tweak the neck pocket a touch, but it’s nearly perfect. But not sure if the “sonic” broncos are the same as the older ones.


Template and original….

Pickguard made from template is in the post above

 

[swagbotbilly]

Oh I didn't realize it would be b/w/b - can't go wrong with black

 

[HowieD72]

Clover Keys
Gotoh 201
BWB Pickguard
Cool Rails single coil

 

[Reedt2000]

Hi -
I’m not really looking to have to buy more stuff, I have lots here that needs to be used… and moneys already tight. So the pickguard material choices I gave (b/w/b and red tort) are because I have blank material here already. Sorry guys, not gonna go with parchment, pearloid, etc… at least at this time.


I did make a flat black/white/black guard this evening. Obviously I haven’t done a pickup cutout since I haven’t decided on a pickup yet. Here’s what that looks like… (the bridge is just on there for kick up purposes)

View attachment 7008712

Sweet, I dig it

Now it needs that chrome T-bird pickup. The BA bridge might cover the marks in the finish from the original. Clover key tuners.

 

[Dark Horse]

Sweet, I dig it

Now it needs that chrome T-bird pickup. The BA bridge might cover the marks in the finish from the original. Clover key tuners.

That’s where I’m leaning as well

 

[cataract]

Please for the love of all that is holy slap that G&L MFD in this sweet thing

 

[Clark W]

Hi -
I’m not really looking to have to buy more stuff, I have lots here that needs to be used… and moneys already tight. So the pickguard material choices I gave (b/w/b and red tort) are because I have blank material here already. Sorry guys, not gonna go with parchment, pearloid, etc… at least at this time.


I did make a flat black/white/black guard this evening. Obviously I haven’t done a pickup cutout since I haven’t decided on a pickup yet. Here’s what that looks like… (the bridge is just on there for kick up purposes)

View attachment 7008712

Don't blame you one bit. Use up what you got and keep that investment down for sure. There's nothing better than a great playing bass that you don't put a lot of money into. And you got the parts lying around to do just that.

So on to the pickups, I'm curious what a P pup with a Thunderbird pup would be like. Can you throw a serial / parallel / single coil switch on the T Bird pup? I don't know squat about T Bird pups other than there are some dual coil T Bird pups on the market. One of the bass designs I keep throwing around in my head, and configurators online, is a P or jazz pup in the middle / neck position with a humbucker in bridge position wired to a series / parallel / single coil switch. I think it would be pretty versatile.

 

[Dark Horse]

Please for the love of all that is holy slap that G&L MFD in this sweet thing

I need to listen to some clips from the G&L Fallout basses and see how the MFD sounds with short scale

 

[Dark Horse]

Don't blame you one bit. Use up what you got and keep that investment down for sure. There's nothing better than a great playing bass that you don't put a lot of money into. And you got the parts lying around to do just that.

So on to the pickups, I'm curious what a P pup with a Thunderbird pup would be like. Can you throw a serial / parallel / single coil switch on the T Bird pup? I don't know squat about T Bird pups other than there are some dual coil T Bird pups on the market.

These TBird pickups aren’t 4 conductor I don’t believe. I’ll have to look , but pretty sure they aren’t