Squiers' Playability: Bronco bass VS Jaguar SS

[historyprof]

Hi guys,

I am a avid fan of squier basses, having owned the VM Jazz and CV Precision. Recently, I have become rather interested in owning a short scale bass because of its ease of play and unique sound (i'm a big fan of McCartney and Allen Woody). I'm wondering which will be better, the bronco or Jag SS. I like the looks of the bronco and I am not concerned with its pickups or tuners as I have intentions of modding it.

My only concern is the bronco's playability. I love the smooth neck of the VM Jazz and am quite sure that the Jag SS will have the same quality. The bronco is part of the affinity range and its quality is rather sketchy. I did not have a chance to try both of them (i intend to buy online; the stores near my place don't carry them). I would like to seek your thoughts on the playability and the craftsmanship of the bronco's neck.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Eduardo1990]

I have both. The Jag has better quality overall. better wood, better paint job, better hardware, better pickups.

You could also look into the new Squier Mustang bass.

 

[ponticat]

I have used four Bronco necks on various short scale homebuilts. The model years ranged from 2006 through 2008, all built in Indonesia. I recently bought a 2011 Jag SS, also built in Indonesia, as a donor to harvest the neck and some hardware for my latest effort. The components and assembly of these products has definitely improved over the years in my observation. In the older instruments there were always some poorly drilled holes for the tuners and pickguards, i.e. out of position and/or not perpendicular. The new Jag seems to be flawless in that regard.

Comparing string spacing measurements there are differences that may affect your choice.

Bronco:
At nut - 1.25"
At saddles - 2.00"

Jag:
At nut - 1.15"
At saddles - 2.20"

 

[ghostdog93]

Comparing string spacing measurements there are differences that may affect your choice.

Bronco:
At nut - 1.25"
At saddles - 2.00"

Jag:
At nut - 1.15"
At saddles - 2.20"

Thanks for posting that, Ponticat. I was wondering what the string spacing the Jag SS had; when I played a few of them, they seemed close to "standard" (.75 or 2.25") at the bridge.

Hmmmm. I wonder what you're going to do with that shorty Jag neck. Care to enlighten us?

To the OP: regarding the Bronco neck, it's one of my faves. IMO, it has a good shape, feels great and plays just fine. I especially like the satin finish and the maple board. The fretwork on the many Broncos that I've had in my hands was consistent - not outstanding, but solid, with no major bugaboos with the exception of a few poorly dressed ends. If I had to nitpick, I don't particularly care for the look of the tuners or the headstock.

Personally, I would take the Bronco over the shorty Jag for mods. And if you're going to mod it anyway, finding a used Bronco might be the way to go to keep your cost down.

 

[ponticat]

Hmmmm. I wonder what you're going to do with that shorty Jag neck. Care to enlighten us?

Something that contains aspects of this:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/telemaster-bass-659442/
and aspects of this:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/jazzmaster-body-long-enough-645769/#post8952003
and aspects of this:

But lighter...much lighter.

 

[Orangeclawhammr]

I decided that I am a short scale guy after playing a Bronco, but wasn't impressed with the sound. I wrote Fender suggesting something like the SS Jag. I bought one when it come out. I am as happy as a clam.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

if anyone wants a short jag neck i have one i will be parting with



On topic , I heavily perfer a jag over the broncos , better made , feels more solid and i like 2 pickups

 

[fjadams]

if anyone wants a short jag neck i have one i will be parting with



On topic , I heavily perfer a jag over the broncos , better made , feels more solid and i like 2 pickups

PM Sent.

 

[ghostdog93]

Something that contains aspects of this:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/telemaster-bass-659442/
and aspects of this:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/jazzmaster-body-long-enough-645769/#post8952003
and aspects of this:

But lighter...much lighter.

That is just too cool. You're going to post pics when it's done, right?

 

[PBnJBassist]

Between the two, I'd go with the Jaguar. If I had to choose amongst Squier's short-scales, I'd go with the Mustang.

 

[GeneralElectric]

I've played both and I really like the neck on the bronco. They also weigh about 3lbs!

However the pickup in it is awful. I mean its a squier strat guitar pickup so it can't be that good. Drop in a single coil pbass pickup for sonic bliss.

 

[mongo2]

I've played both and I really like the neck on the bronco. They also weigh about 3lbs!

However the pickup in it is awful. I mean its a squier strat guitar pickup so it can't be that good. Drop in a single coil pbass pickup for sonic bliss.

The pickups on my Bronco work just fine. The Bronco is modeled after the old Musicmaster bass which also used a flat-topped 6 pole pickup. Just dropping in a singlecoil P bass pickup won't work well since the poles of the SCPB pickup won't align with the strings due to the closer string spacing of the Bronco.

 

[Bobster]

Lot of folks recommend Strat humbuckers for Broncos. They drop right in and there are a lot of options.

This one seems to be pretty popular, and inexpensive.

Lil Killer Black Humbucker Rail Pickup for Strats- Three Versions Available

Enjoy!

Bob

 

[notverygood]

I'll contest the idea that the jag is better made. The new $199 long and short jags belong in the affinity line, IMO. There is a $20 difference in price between the bronco and the jag. Being the same manufacurer, how can the quality be that much better? If you have the money, I would go with the Squier mustang. As for the other two, I own the bronco with a duncan rail pu and it's a great ss bass. I've played the jag and other than a weak j pup, it was well worth $169. So you're really not going to make a mistake here.

 

[mazareth]

I used to own a Badtz Mare Bronco. I thought the stock pickup was fine. Fit and finish for the price point were fine. I was OK with the neck profile. It had pretty bad fret sprout though. I ended up selling it because I've come to realize that I don't like maple fretboards.

My new SS Jag has better fretwork than the Bronco. I'm guessing the newer Broncos likely have better fretwork than the one I used to own.

 

[ponticat]

That is just too cool. You're going to post pics when it's done, right?

Thanks! I've been gigging it since June but I'm just now getting around to captioning photos. I'll post the full set in "Luthier's Corner" soon.

 

[ghostdog93]

Just dropping in a singlecoil P bass pickup won't work well since the poles of the SCPB pickup won't align with the strings due to the closer string spacing of the Bronco.

Angled, it will. You'll need a new pickguard, but it will work.

Thanks! I've been gigging it since June but I'm just now getting around to captioning photos. I'll post the full set in "Luthier's Corner" soon.

Sweet. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have both the Bronco and SS Jag, and they both play beautifully. There is no difference in ease of playing, and the finish on the neck is satin poly in both cases.

 

[tnickk]

Jag all the way. Plays better, sounds better.

 

[mongo2]

Angled, it will. You'll need a new pickguard, but it will work.

I know, as I said, the SCPB pickup is not a drop in replacement.

I've had good luck with an EMG SA pickup for the Strat as well as some passive Strat pickups such as the various rail versions that are pretty much a drop in fit (may have to clean up the edges of the original pickup hole in the pickguard).