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Nicer Alternative To Squier Bronco Bass?

#21
Toadcaster said:
I'm trying to learn to play bass and have two inexpensive bass guitars...a Squier Affinity Jazz bass and a Squier Affinity Bronco bass. I think the Jazz bass sounds better but I keep picking up the Bronco bass. It just fits.
I have picked up other short scale basses, but none of them feel as good as the Bronco bass. I've handled the Mini P and the Mikro, both of which felt too small. I've handled the Sterling short scale and the new 32" Squier Affinity Jaguar, neither of which felt better than the Bronco.
I want to handle a Mustang but I have never seen one at any shop in my area. I have limited funds, so, I have to consider that also.
So, any recommendations for something that has the Bronco vibe but with better hardware and materials or should I just think about upgrading the Bronco at some point? Thanks.
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Have you tried the Gretsch G2220 Jet Jr.? I love the sound and it feels right in my hands.Many on forum agree.I'm also partial to my Epiphone EB-0 SG style bass.Very nice short scale comfort at under $250 last I checked.If it's Mudbucker doesn't deliver enough mid-highs you could buy say an Entwistle J pickup and with installation would still clock in at well under $400.
 
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#24
Toadcaster said:
I wanted to stay around/under what a Mustang costs as far as budget.
The neck of the Bronco is a big part of what I like but the way it feels when sitting is another part.
And, G&L anything is a little tough to come by even though there are two local shops and a GC near me.
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I’m guessing you’re referring to the Classic Vibe Mustang (there are several Mustang models through the Squier-Fender price points.) I’ve enjoyed all the CVs I’ve played from a quality standpoint but personally I don’t like the gloss necks.

I stress the point that you’re on the right track trying out stuff. Especially for a second “upgrade” instrument.

And I hear you on G&L availability. I wanted to try one of there P basses, and took me quite a while to find one!
 
#27
The Squier CV Mustang would be a great no-hassle option for you, the neck should feel the same and the pickup is hum-cancelling. Just have a good setup done and you’re golden. As an owner/player of a modded Bronco, I agree with others that it’s a lot of fun and a good way to both learn to mod if you don’t know how and make something more your own. Third option for you, I’d jump on the Gretsch train as others have mentioned. The neck is a little different profile, so that might take some adjusting, but it’s still a short scale, and comes in plenty of different colors. The neck pickup soloed sounds pretty close to a Bronco as well (especially in a mix), and the extra pickup will give you a little more tonal variety. Unfortunately as we’ve recently learned, the pickups aren’t humbuckers, and are also unfortunately not hum-cancelling it appears (all the photos I’ve seen showed two bridge pickups installed), but some proper shielding would handle most of that issue.
 
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#28
im gonna come out swinging on this and just rattle off all the hot takes immediately. get a fender musicmaster, its the only 70s fender thats cheap, you can get one for 900 bux on a good day, its gonna be CBS era so see it in person before buying it. The musicmaster has a similar 6 pole pickup to the bronco, but the musicmaster is gonna have the old timey alnico, and the pickup in the musicmaster was built to go into an american stratocaster guitar. The neck is gonna be a mustang neck essentially and the thing is going to sound great. also to end this with another hot take, The musicmaster pickup sounds better than any of the other fender pickups and all you gotta do is just put the pickups closer to the strings. basses with the poles situated between the strings have more thump and i feel maybe less sustain, which makes the musicmaster the best sounding in this department. a mustang is gonna be the easiest route though, and they're good basses too


but if youre on a budget why not just keep the bronco if you like the feel of it? or get a mustang i think! i think getting a nicer strat middle pickup to throw in there actually is a better idea than putting in one of those normal 4 pole piece guys, a lot of trial and error with that, but im a crank. i got a fernandes that cost 250 dollars that was my first bass, ive kept it cause the neck feels great! its at my buddies house for whenever i go over there. good necks are hard to come by sometimes!
 
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#31
My first thought was to get a Squier Mustang - either Vintage Modified, or the current Classic Vibe.

But it sounds like you really like the Bronco, and should seriously consider just modding that a bit.

A lot of the other suggestions will have a different neck profile and radius and won't feel or play much like the Bronco.
 
#32
iiipopes said:
HOLD THE BUS!!! Mitchell 30-inch PJ from GC $200. Mitchell is the store brand for Schecter, so it has all the Schecter QC without all the garbage or high price. Their QC leaves Fender/Squier products in the dust as so much firewood. I have one as my travel bass, including several trips to Mexico. And put GHS Balanced Nickels on it. You can read my comments in other threads, but essentially they are God's gift to short scale bass players.
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This is interesting, I haven't given Mitchell much thought,
Although I've tried a few at GC in the past.

But now I'm curious enough to give them a closer look,
especially since I'm in the market for a 5er.
I didn't know they were made by Schecter.

I'm not sure about the statement:
"Fender/Squier products in the dust as so much firewood".

I have both Fender and Squier, and both are on key.
I wouldn't own them if they weren't....057912
 
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#33
Toadcaster said:
I'm trying to learn to play bass and have two inexpensive bass guitars...a Squier Affinity Jazz bass and a Squier Affinity Bronco bass. I think the Jazz bass sounds better but I keep picking up the Bronco bass. It just fits.
I have picked up other short scale basses, but none of them feel as good as the Bronco bass. I've handled the Mini P and the Mikro, both of which felt too small. I've handled the Sterling short scale and the new 32" Squier Affinity Jaguar, neither of which felt better than the Bronco.
I want to handle a Mustang but I have never seen one at any shop in my area. I have limited funds, so, I have to consider that also.
So, any recommendations for something that has the Bronco vibe but with better hardware and materials or should I just think about upgrading the Bronco at some point? Thanks.
Click to expand...

As has been said here a few times already. The Bronco is a great platform to mod. Start with the pickup and bridge if the tuners are working. If the tuners are bad I put Pings in one of my parts-bass Bronco necks and they have been reliable so far.

If you aren't into that the Squier CV Mustang is nice too.
 
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#34
ejaggers said:
This is interesting, I haven't given Mitchell much thought,
Although I've tried a few at GC in the past.

But now I'm curious enough to give them a closer look,
especially since I'm in the market for a 5er.
I didn't know they were made by Schecter.

I'm not sure about the statement:
"Fender/Squier products in the dust as so much firewood".

I have both Fender and Squier, and both are on key.
I wouldn't own them if they weren't....057912
Click to expand...
It has everything to do with quality control. I wouldn't take a Bronco on stage if you paid me, due to the rough finish on the neck, the cheezy tuners that won't hold tune, the two-section bridge instead of individual saddles so you can't intonate, and the stock single coil pickup that hums worse than a hornet's nest. By the time you put a real bridge, tuners, and a rails-style humbucker on a Bronco to get it playable outside a bedroom, you have doubled your investment. But let me tell you how I really feel.... YMMV.
 
#36
funkmaster p said:
+1 on the Ping tuners. They look great, have improved function over the stock tuners and they are inexpensive.
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It was funny because I found out about them from a post on TB that said they were junk. But if you're like me and have no real woodworker skills and don't want your headstock to look like it was gnawed on by rabid beavers than it seemed worth a shot for $50. They do look good too.
20220331_233322.jpg
 
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#37
iiipopes said:
It has everything to do with quality control. I wouldn't take a Bronco on stage if you paid me, due to the rough finish on the neck, the cheezy tuners that won't hold tune, the two-section bridge instead of individual saddles so you can't intonate, and the stock single coil pickup that hums worse than a hornet's nest. By the time you put a real bridge, tuners, and a rails-style humbucker on a Bronco to get it playable outside a bedroom, you have doubled your investment. But let me tell you how I really feel.... YMMV.
Click to expand...
This is the United States Of America which means you can play whatever you want.....057912
 
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