Squier Bronco Mods....another thread

[Donavan12]

"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.

Yeah...I hadn’t thought about that, definitely don’t want neck dive for free let alone pay for it, still just thinking about the tuners I like the lollipop or clover style more than the style that’s on there I’m sure I could find some light tuners with that style key on it. Currently customizing PG and pickup cover will post pictures as soon as I have an update

 

[micguy]

Yeah...I hadn’t thought about that, definitely don’t want neck dive for free let alone pay for it, still just thinking about the tuners I like the lollipop or clover style more than the style that’s on there I’m sure I could find some light tuners with that style key on it. Currently customizing PG and pickup cover will post pictures as soon as I have an update

Hiphot Ultralites are available with clover keys. The other really light tuners (Gotoh resolites) have a..."different" style key.

 

[chicoLow]

I like these pickups on my Bronco: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Much better than stock.

 

[FugaziBomb]

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”

There really isn't a difference between guitar and bass pickups other than the shape and number of pole pieces.

 

[dkelley]

One reason to switch pickups on the bronco though is that the stock pickup apparently actually has 6 poles, designed to be under each guitar string. Although I used to not find that a problem with humbucker pickup alignment, more recently with guitars I have experimented quite a bit with pole-string alignment and found that if it's significantly off, like the pole is between the 2 strings instead of nearly under one, it sounds quieter and different. Which tells me that the closer the bronco pickup is to the strings, the more pronounced tone differences between strings you will hear, depending on pole-string alignment.

So yea, I want a dual rail pickup for my daughter's bronco also.... not only because of pole alignment fix but also so it's humbucking.

 

[dkelley]

I have found the bridge saddles to have a problem on my bronco - the shared E/A saddle can't be intonated properly for both strings with the current strings I have on there.

The E goes waaaaay sharp up high. And you can't rotate them - so the only resolution is a different string guage.

So either I need to replace the bridge with one having 4 saddles for adjustment, or I need a different set of strings with better suited gauges.

What gauges do people use on the bronco to have perfect intonation up high on the neck?

 

[Donavan12]

I have found the bridge saddles to have a problem on my bronco - the shared E/A saddle can't be intonated properly for both strings with the current strings I have on there.

The E goes waaaaay sharp up high. And you can't rotate them - so the only resolution is a different string guage.

So either I need to replace the bridge with one having 4 saddles for adjustment, or I need a different set of strings with better suited gauges.

What gauges do people use on the bronco to have perfect intonation up high on the neck?

I don’t have that problem with mine, action is good and low(preference of course) I’m using 40-100(I’m 99% sure otherwise 45-100 one step below 45-105 standard)

 

[dkelley]

I don’t have that problem with mine, action is good and low(preference of course) I’m using 40-100(I’m 99% sure otherwise 45-100 one step below 45-105 standard)

action is good and low with mine too. it's just tuning up high - intonation. E string gets progressively sharp up high when A string is intonated properly, which means the E string saddle needs to go much further back for E to be intonated properly. A string is fine... I can choose to have either one in tune up high. I play up high a lot, so this needs to be resolved.

String gauge will solve it once I know what is the ideal string gauge.... I'd say lighter is more likely to go less sharp, if I recall correctly? (does that sound right?) so maybe I have too thick an E string on there. I unfortunately don't recall what the gauges are on it currently.

Is yours perfectly in tune up high? harmonics match the pressed pitch up high?

 

[Donavan12]

action is good and low with mine too. it's just tuning up high - intonation. E string gets progressively sharp up high when A string is intonated properly, which means the E string saddle needs to go much further back for E to be intonated properly. A string is fine... I can choose to have either one in tune up high. I play up high a lot, so this needs to be resolved.

String gauge will solve it once I know what is the ideal string gauge.... I'd say lighter is more likely to go less sharp, if I recall correctly? (does that sound right?) so maybe I have too thick an E string on there. I unfortunately don't recall what the gauges are on it currently.

I usually tune standard or very rarely drop tune for my material. Yeah gauge would be helpful, I just use on gauge lighter than what you’d find on a full scale instrument, but yeah let me know what you find out, maybe someone else can solve your dilemma I’m no help sadly (( guess I’m lucky I don’t have that issue but I know what you’re referring to as I’ve had that issue on other instruments I’ve owned in the past

 

[Donavan12]

I usually tune standard or very rarely drop tune for my material. Yeah gauge would be helpful, I just use on gauge lighter than what you’d find on a full scale instrument, but yeah let me know what you find out, maybe someone else can solve your dilemma I’m no help sadly (( guess I’m lucky I don’t have that issue but I know what you’re referring to as I’ve had that issue on other instruments I’ve owned in the past

Also having a 2 saddle bridge the E and A are in completion, maybe get different bridge with individual saddles to solve intonation issue? I’m sure you thought of that though lol

 

[dkelley]

Also having a 2 saddle bridge the E and A are in completion, maybe get different bridge with individual saddles to solve intonation issue? I’m sure you thought of that though lol

yea totally, thanks for trying, appreciate your support.

Between a bridge or strings, strings are cheaper and get replaced once in a while anyhow - and less work to replace ! So I hope just an appropriate set of strings will do the trick - I'm sure it will.

I'll think about 40 to 100... but don't want to spend until I get confirmation of what is best to spend money on.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I have found the bridge saddles to have a problem on my bronco - the shared E/A saddle can't be intonated properly for both strings with the current strings I have on there. ... What gauges do people use on the bronco to have perfect intonation up high on the neck?

I use GHS Short Scale Precision Flats in Light (45-60-75-95). They sound beautiful, and I have no intonation issues with them on my Bronco.

I stay in the money, and don't wander up that way often, but it's good to know that I can without worry.

 

[dkelley]

I use GHS Short Scale Precision Flats in Light (45-60-75-95). They sound beautiful, and have no intonation issues.
View attachment 3702176
I stay in the money, and don't wander up that way often, but it's good to know that I can without worry.

Awesome! Thanks - great to see that range exists... 45 to 95 seems like it would be more likely to resolve this issue for me.

 

[Donavan12]

yea totally, thanks for trying, appreciate your support.

Between a bridge or strings, strings are cheaper and get replaced once in a while anyhow - and less work to replace ! So I hope just an appropriate set of strings will do the trick - I'm sure it will.

I'll think about 40 to 100... but don't want to spend until I get confirmation of what is best to spend money on.

Yes i agree! I don’t care for the 2 saddle design since 2 strings share a saddle and if one is spot on the other may not be...again that’s where a 4 saddle bridge is nice to have..each string has its own saddle with plenty of adjustment. I can vouch for GHS strings I used to buy them but haven’t in awhile, usually go with Rotos or Ernie ball but I play rounds, but good strings

 

[Bass V]

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!

I'm leaning towards getting one very soon and heard the stock PU has it's own positive thing going on but clearly the tendency is to upgrade, and results have generally been excellent. I'm far from opposed to modding but how would you say the stocker is lacking? is the low end weak?

 

[Donavan12]

I'm leaning towards getting one very soon and heard the stock PU has it's own positive thing going on but clearly the tendency is to upgrade, and results have generally been excellent. I'm far from opposed to modding but how would you say the stocker is lacking? is the low end weak?

IMO it’s not bad and to me sounds similar to a precision bass pup...if anyone wants a custom PG I found a guy who cuts them for the bronco there’s like 69 different options

 

[2F/2F]

The pickup (which is actually a six pole guitar pickup, just like the ‘70s Musicmaster Basses on which it is based) is absolutely fine IMO.

The other electronics are good enough to keep for now. Just replace them with better stuff as they crap out (though mine never did).

The frets should be leveled, dressed, and polished. The nut should be properly slotted, and if it can’t be, then a new one made. These are the two things that will really make it feel like a “real” instrument.

The tuners can be replaced, but it isn’t a priority IME. Hipshot HB10 lollipops would be my choice.

They’re cheap enough that you aren’t committing a sin by spraying any color paint you want over the stock finish. Just rough it up first, and put on a dewaxed shellac transitionary coat in between.

 

[staurosjohn]

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.

FWIW- here is the original ‘build’ from this bass- I have since parted out- but was a fun project! You’ll probably not want to do this much to yours- but if you scroll thru the thread you might find a few ‘parts’ of interest!

Broncostang refin/‘build’

 

[alex1fly]

Spend some time with it first. I was hell bent on modding mine until I gigged it and listened back, and also asked for feedback from bandmates and a couple sound techs. Sounds fine and P like. Even does its own thing with the stock pickup and a palm mute + thumb combo technique. VERY boomy and stimulates the house subwoofers like a dance club, very cool. Intonation is great from the 14th fret down. For bar gigs where I am worried it'll get knocked around, and I'm not trying to show off soloing skills, it works perfectly. Or when I know I'll be wanting to make booties move, I'll bring it to do the thumb muting technique. No issues with losing tuning either over the course of 3-hr sets.

GHS short scale strings made a big difference in getting this kind of response from the bass. I tried several sets of regular scale strings, both flat and round, but the bass was very clunky with those strings.

 

[Tom Gallo]

All those mods and you'll still be stuck with that lousy Bronco neck.