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Is this bass worth the trouble?

autodidact

autodidact

Mar 13, 2011
2,054
101
#1
There's a Squier Bronco bass listed on my local Craigslist for $50 and its listed in "non-working" condition. There's not much to the bass so finding the problem shouldn't be too hard. Do y'all think its worth the effort. I'm not sure if its worth flipping since I wont get much for it but on the other hand...its a bass! Any input?
 
#5
SoonerMatt said:
The replacement electronics will cost more than the bass :p
Click to expand...

Very likely, especially if you do it right.

I've got a Bronco that I routed out a neck pickup area and put two Guitar Fetish Hot Rails with Series/Parallel switching as well as new pickguard and pots/jack. I also replaced the tuners and bridge.

It's sweet and I really love it, but it definitely cost more than what I paid for the bass.

Bob
 
#8
Alright...I'm officially getting it. For free! I'm trading a pedal that I haven't used in years and literally forgot about straight up for it tomorrow morning.

Thinking this may be the first upgrade:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I might look into those GuitarFetish pups too.
 
#9
autodidact said:
There's a Squier Bronco bass listed on my local Craigslist for $50 and its listed in "non-working" condition. There's not much to the bass so finding the problem shouldn't be too hard. Do y'all think its worth the effort. I'm not sure if its worth flipping since I wont get much for it but on the other hand...its a bass! Any input?
Click to expand...

If your goal is to have fun with it then go for it.
 
#11
autodidact said:
Alright...I'm officially getting it. For free! I'm trading a pedal that I haven't used in years and literally forgot about straight up for it tomorrow morning.

Thinking this may be the first upgrade:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I might look into those GuitarFetish pups too.
Click to expand...

I suggest you read the very, very, long thread on Bronco bass mods here. It's full of good ideas and comments about various kinds of pickups.
 
#13
Look at it this way if the neck is good you bough a neck for $50 This could be a great learning platform and test bed for parts and such. Say you scour ads and shops only to find some obscure parts you always wanted to try. Perfect place to start snce the body can be cut up and modded for anything. Hell if you find a combo you really like work on your refinishing skills.
 
#15
I bought a used Bronco for $70.

I already had wire, pots and cap.
I had been given a B&G Passive
F split pole P bass pickup. B&G
is an Indonesian company that
makes pickups for PRS and others.

I put Peavey tuners on it.

I bought a pickguard to make a
pickup ring out of that cost $11.50.

So I've got $81.50 invested in it,

12-28-1.jpg


His name is Petey. Named after
Our Gang TV star,

peteydog2.jpg


12-19-4b.jpg


I filed fret ends and dressed the
frets. I made that maple thumb
rest out of some scrap I had.

It sounds and plays real nice. It's
my first short scale and I'm really
diggin it,

Tabdog
 
#16
Update: Its a Chinese made Affinity Bronco...the neck feels steady, tuners are pretty solid and its got a little weight to it which I like. Lots of roadrash (mojo?) so I'm not worried about keeping it pretty. Also it looks like someone drew sharpie dots behind the bridge, possible they were planning a string through mod? This thing needs a THOROUGH cleaning. Seller failed to mention that she hadn't cleaned the thing EVER and possibly rolled it around in dirt? E and A strings are flats and D and G are rounds (all standard scale mind you) so that the actually thick part of the string is wrapped around the posts.

However amongst all the problems with this bass I see potential. This could make one hell of a punk bass by the time I'm done with it.
 

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