• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Squier Bronco Mods....another thread

Donavan12

Donavan12

Feb 8, 2015
339
769
30
WI, USA
#1
I’ve seen numerous threads on this, but if I’m posting in the wrong place please move to right category. I picked up a used black bronco in good shape(with a huge bow in the neck) I took it home, cleaned it up, new strings and neck is at straight as an arrow with low fast action, sounds and plays good....but now I’m thinking about future upgrades...starting with regular sized tuners(drilling holes..blah blah) and a good pickup that would be a drop and go replacement, seems too much like a guitar pickup but works...suggestions or other mod projects? Drop pictures, let me know thanks! :)
 
#3
Dual rail humbuckers for a Strat will drop right in. You can find "hot" pickups all day long for cheap on eBay, Amazon, Aliexpress, etc.
IMG_20190924_093257.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Beej and Donavan12
#4
Hmmm okay, good suggestions. Are this guitar Pickups? Seems weird to have a pickup you’d find on a strat or strat Clone for a bass, but maybe just me :) the stock PU sounds decent...but how would that dual rail PU compare? What would be a good eBay “search term”
 
#5
abarson said:
Drop and go replacement pickup would be any Stratocaster sized rail humbucker. Wide range of prices if you go that path.
Or a purpose built Sentell Sentell Pickups bass guitar pickups
Lots of people don't like the bridge: it doesn't bother me.
Keep us posted.
Click to expand...
Yes I agree, the stock bridge is okay by me as well and haven’t had any adjustment issues, just a preference I guess? Thanks for input as well! :) I’m usually a J bass or Ric guy myself, so this is an “unusual” instrument for me to have, but so far I’m enjoying it(it was also the same very first bass I ever picked up long ago...except that one was red lol)
 
#6
Donavan12 said:
Hmmm okay, good suggestions. Are this guitar Pickups? Seems weird to have a pickup you’d find on a strat or strat Clone for a bass, but maybe just me :) the stock PU sounds decent...but how would that dual rail PU compare? What would be a good eBay “search term”
Click to expand...

The OEM pickup on the Bronco is a guitar pickup with 6 poles.

I used a dual rail Strat humbucking pickup I bought on Amazon for less than $15 on my Bronco. It works very well for me and I think it has more punch than the stock pickup.

I'm a fan of rosewood fingerboards so I used a MIJ Mustang neck I bought on Ebay to make "Mustonco". The Mustang neck accepts my favorite Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lite tuners so that's a plus.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WillieB and Donavan12
#7
mongo2 said:
I used a dual rail Strat humbucking pickup I bought on Amazon for less than $15 on my Bronco. It works very well for me. I'm a fan of rosewood fingerboards so I used a MIJ Mustang neck I bought on Ebay to make "Mustonco". The Mustang neck accepts my favorite Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lite tuners so that's a plus.
Click to expand...
Wow that’s awesome! Got any pictures of that build? :) I haven’t played much with the mustang basses myself as I’ve never really Owned a short scale
 
#8
Donavan12 said:
Wow that’s awesome! Got any pictures of that build? :) I haven’t played much with the mustang basses myself as I’ve never really Owned a short scale
Click to expand...

The top one is an earlier version. Since that picture was taken I substituted the pickup with the one I bought from Amazon. The bridge is a 4 saddle Musicmaster bridge I bought online and modified to be top loading.

The bottom one is another experiment using a neck and bridge from and Ibanez Mikro. I modded the Bronco pickguard to fit the Mustang control plate. I recently swapped the neck, pickup, and bridge with a Squier Jaguar SS neck, another Amazon pickup and another Musicmaster 4 saddle bridge.

Pair.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doctor Morbius, matt-o-, SpyderX and 5 others
#9
mongo2 said:
The top one is an earlier version. Since that picture was taken I substituted the pickup with the one I bought from Amazon. The bridge is a 4 saddle Musicmaster bridge I bought online and modified to be top loading.

The bottom one is another experiment using a neck and bridge from and Ibanez Mikro. I modded the Bronco pickguard to fit the Mustang control plate.

View attachment 3701600
Click to expand...
Wow digging that “mustang” style top one, not that the other one isn’t cool but the mikro neck really looks odd, sweet idea though, which one did you like better :)
 
#10
Donavan12 said:
Hmmm okay, good suggestions. Are this guitar Pickups? Seems weird to have a pickup you’d find on a strat or strat Clone for a bass, but maybe just me :) the stock PU sounds decent...but how would that dual rail PU compare? What would be a good eBay “search term”
Click to expand...
o_O The stock Bronco pickup is a guitar pickup! A pickup is a pickup. Danelectro uses the same pickups on their guitars and basses. I use a lipstick neck pickup from a Telecaster on my '54 style P, and it sounds great!
 
  • Like
Reactions: matt-o-, JRA, dkelley and 1 other person
#11
Donavan12 said:
Wow digging that “mustang” style top one, not that the other one isn’t cool but the mikro neck really looks odd, sweet idea though, which one did you like better :)
Click to expand...

Check the edit to my previous post.

The Squier Jag SS neck has my favorite neck profile so that one is my current go-to of the three types. I haven't gotten around to taking a picture of it.
 
#12
Volker Kirstein said:
o_O The stock Bronco pickup is a guitar pickup! A pickup is a pickup. Danelectro uses the same pickups on their guitars and basses. I use a lipstick neck pickup from a Telecaster on my '54 style P, and it sounds great!
Click to expand...
You’re right for sure, I sound really dumb haha, I just thought maybe bass pickups were wound differently than a guitar pickup. Lipstick pickup? Not sure I’ve seen that style
 
#16
Here's the pickup I used for my bronco mod.

Seymour Duncan SHR-1 Hot Rails Single-Coil Sized Humbucker Pickup Black Neck

available on amazon. Not cheap, could have shopped ebay or Guitar Fetish. I like it.
The bronco neck I have has upgraded tuners ( stewmac or gotoh not sure) Like them much better than stock.

fender jazz bass knobs.

Waiting on a pearloid pickguard replacement then done.

Leaving the stock bridge on.


Good luck, have fun!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zoobiedood and Donavan12
#17
abarson said:
Daneletro pickups would require resizing the pickguard. If you want a true Strat sized drop-in, use GFS.
Pro-Tube Lipstick Pickups, Chrome - Kwikplug™ Ready
Click to expand...

True. I tried the GFS lipstick pickups in another application and thought they were a bit too mid heavy for my taste and not as chimey as the originals or RIs. But that might work fine for somebody else. It certainly is more convenient not having to mod the guard or get a new one.
 
#19
I have a Nordstrand single coil tele pickup with 17mm spacing, and a Hipshot bridge on my Bronco. I've been very happy with those. Also have two musicmasters, a Squier with the original Vista Tone pup and a Fender with a SD quarter pounder.

It's all very subjective, but I found the original strat pickup in the Fender to be very middy so I replaced it.
 

Attachments

  • 20191224_002515 (2).jpg
    20191224_002515 (2).jpg
    16.6 KB · Views: 346
  • Like
Reactions: WillieB, JRA, staurosjohn and 1 other person
#20
Donavan12 said:
I’m thinking about future upgrades...starting with regular sized tuners(drilling holes..blah blah)
Click to expand...

"Regular" size tuners might be a significant downgrade. You most likely have a light weight bass that balances well. That is a very good thing. Changing to clunky "regular" Fender style tuners will add weight to the neck, making your bass heavier and potentially adding neck dive. Neck dive is never an "upgrade", and having to pay for it adds insult to the significant injury. Don't go there.

If the tuners don't hold tuning well, I'd suggest Hipshot Ultralites. As you're probably in the budget end of the market, the licensed ones are probably what you want.
 
  • Like
Reactions: matt-o-, dkelley, Donavan12 and 1 other person

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back