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Reasons not to mod a Squier Bronco

#81
jallenbass said:
Couldn't agree more. The stock pickup with GHS flats has a warm, wooly, thick sound. I ordered a GFS Lil Killer rail pickup just to see if I couldn't get a little more clarity on the lower strings and still keep the warmth. I'll post A/B clips if there's enough difference. Bridge is fine but I may change mine to a 4 saddle as well. Why not? They're inexpensive.
Click to expand...

I love the sound of the E string with the stock PU. When I play The Yardbirds "You're A Better Man Than I" with my 60's cover band, I get that nice flump sound on the E string at the beginning of each phrase, much like on the recorded version, and that was a Rivoli (I'm after one of those too).
 
#83
Any consensus on the best pick up mod? After screening the threads I've come up with:
1) Stock pu with new pot and drop capacitator
2) Seymour Duncan Hotrails
3) Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder P-Bass
4) Dimarzio ProTrack
5) GFS Lipstick
6) EMG Select Strat
I'm going to look at prices now. I'm looking for the best bang for the buck. Thanks
 
#84
Just finished mods last week:

Bass Guitars 012.jpg Bass Guitars 014.jpg

> Pickguard art handpainted by a friend. Design is from Poco album Legend.

> Ashtray put on backwards - only way it would fit.

> J Bass knobs.
 
#85
ebonalley said:
Any consensus on the best pick up mod? After screening the threads I've come up with:
1) Stock pu with new pot and drop capacitator
2) Seymour Duncan Hotrails
3) Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder P-Bass
4) Dimarzio ProTrack
5) GFS Lipstick
6) EMG Select Strat
I'm going to look at prices now. I'm looking for the best bang for the buck. Thanks
Click to expand...

I installed a '51 P-bass reissue pickup last weekend and I'm playing around with it. I need to replace the saddles to move the G and E strings outward a bit to get a better line-up with the pole pieces. The e is pretty good, but the G is weak. I need to open up the hole a bit on the E-side of the body (under the pickguard) to let the pickup center up under the strings, too.
 
#87
Diogenes said:
Everyone here on TB knows that it's just plain goofy to spend money modifying an inexpensive bass like a Bronco.

It just makes waaaaay more sense to buy an expensive bass and then spend even more money modifying it.;)
Click to expand...

Especially if that expensive bass is a Fender that may have potential vintage resale value in the future... oh, but I just stripped the finish...

:p
 
#89
slotrod65 said:
I am thinking of adding a new pickup to my Bronco. Aero makes a nice custom pickup sized to pop right in. Just click on the link below and scroll down th the "Musicmasterer 4"

http://www.aeroinstrument.com/pickups.html

Phred
Click to expand...

I think that pickup was mentioned earlier in the thread, and it looks like a really good alternative. I got the '53 P re-issue under there, but the string/pole alignment is quite poor on the G and E. If this one is set up with the proper narrow spacing, it would be a natural!

No pricing info online, though....but a user report on it is found here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=557948
 
#91
I got a stock Sq Bronco Affinity for $75.00.

I put tuners from a Peavey Fury on it, along
with GHS 45-95 round wound and that
improved the playing a lot, and it stays in
tune real well. It came with 40-90 strings.

12-14-4.jpg


I filed and dressed the frets.

I had a B&G Passive F split pole P bass
pickup that was not in use. B&G is an
Indonesian company that makes pickups
for PRS along with others.

The B&G pup has shielded wire on the
hot lead. That along with some shielding
I did makes this Bronco totally quiet

12-28-1.jpg


12-28-2.jpg


In-spite of what others say, the intonation
is not a problem. The only string that is off
is the "E" string. It is good up to the 9th or
10th fret and that is fine because I never
play the "E" string up that high anyway.

Each part of the pickup is centered on the
two assigned strings. Strings all have even
response and it sounds really good.

I bought a black pickguard and made a
pickup collar.

Total cost of mods are pickguard $11.50
plus $20 for strings.

This is one of the most successful mods
I have done.

The results are wonderful,

Tabdog
 
#92
I just got my bronco a couple weeks ago. I've been having a blast playing it but I'm dying to get down to the mods, which is the reason I bought it. I have a hand full of different pickups I want to test in this thing...looks like I may have to do some routing but that's ok, I'm planning to refinish it in some shade of vintage white/cream. I'm going to make a few pick guards for the different configurations...I've got a Duncan hot rails that should drop right in, there is an old set of nice sounding P pickups lying around that I am interested in hearing. The one I am most excited about is a chrome Gibson (guitar) style hum bucker that I want to test in a few different positions...I also recently came across an idea over in the sx owners thread. One of the guys is running a toggle switch with two different capacitor values and one "wide open" position...oh yeah, I'm doin' that! This thread has provided me a ton of inspiration! Lets keep it going!
 
#100
I have owned my bronco for about two and a half months now, and I haven't modded anything yet (This is the only fully stock instrument I own, out of 3 electric guitars and 4 other basses) so I'm pretty impressed with the quality.

When I first got the bass, the E string tuner was shot. At first I played around with the idea of ordering a new set of tuners, but instead I sent Fender an email and they sent me a replacement, absolutely free of charge. Installed the new tuner and never had a hitch afterwards.

Of course, I always thought the bronco pickup would sound terrible, just because of what I've read on TB and elsewhere, and the fact it is a strat pickup. But, the day I plugged it into my amp, I fell in love. It does a very convincing 60's rock sound, and it can also get a pretty good punk sound. Not incredibly versatile, but it has a very useable sound.

I'm not going to be modding my bronco any time soon, the bridge isn't the best, but it is usable. I like how this bass only cost me $170 brand new with a gig-bag , and it paid for itself on the first gig.

I love modding basses, but the bronco is one bass that I think doesn't require a single thing to be a solid instrument. The only thing I'll be doing to mine is sanding the fret edges, as there is a bit of fret spout.

-Ron
 

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