Your opinions on squier bronco bass?

[freedomryder]

If they made a lefty version, I would own one in a heartbeat.

 

[Metallifan101]

I just bought a Bronco a couple of days ago and I'm looking to change the pickup. I've seen a lot of options for replacing the pickup with hotrails and a few others, but has anyone ever tried out the McNeely humbucker pickup made for the Musicmaster/Bronco? Hand made in Canada for $125. Pic from their website. You can choose white or black pickup cover. Thinking about getting one. Also looking to change out the pickguard. Found someone who makes them in Arizona and sells on Reverb but currently out of stock. Messaged and should have more in a few days. Tortoise shell, black, etc.

 

[mongo2]

I've tried, owned and modded several. Some are light it weight, the vast majority of what I tried were heavier. I prefer the lighter ones. IMO the Bronco is a good sounding instrument that's fun to play and mod (if you're thinking of modding).

 

[matt-o-]

I own 2 standard Broncos and a Badtz-Maru (aside of my 2 Musicmaster basses). One Bronco is my current band-bass with flatwounds and a lace sensor red PU. They are the Musicmasters of today in my opinion. While the neck is fine, it does not seem outrageously good to me, just normal, without flaws. Maybe my 2 necks are bit pale and blunt and slightly more chunkier (especially the Badtz-Maru) than those of my Musicmasters. But I like them and if I did not have my Musicmasters, I would as well be completely lucky with them. They just fit to my taste. But modding helps a lot, raising them to a higher level.

 

[amphlett7]

I've been keen on one for a long time!

Jerry Sentell makes two pickups that fit the MusicMaster/Bronco basses, too, so the temptress is real.

Sentell Pickups bass guitar pickups

 

[ThingsAbove]

I've been keen on one for a long time!

Jerry Sentell makes two pickups that fit the MusicMaster/Bronco basses, too, so the temptress is real.

View attachment 3349185

Sentell Pickups bass guitar pickups

They Look great. How do they sound?

 

[Metallifan101]

I saw on an older post that Benson Custom pickups made a set for the Musicmaster/Bronco bass guitar. I went to their website but didn't see anything. I contacted them via their Facebook page and they said that they could do a custom pickup with full wiring kit for $120 plus $8 shipping. $65 for the pickup and $55 for the wiring kit.

 

[amphlett7]

They Look great. How do they sound?

Don't have the pickup or a Bronco so I couldn't tell ya!

I've heard demos of Jerry's other stuff and they sounded great so I can't imagine this being different.

 

[symbolic_acts]

Definitely don't need one but decided to get a used one to mod for fun.

115 used/mint for a black one
got a Lace sensor red (77 dollars) im going to immediately throw in
gunna put tapewounds on it
probably swap out for a tort pickguard (anyone know where i can buy one?)
gunna put the clearly better 4 saddle bridge from my mustang in profile pic on it (swapped that for a babicz, which is killer)
might switch the knobs to a more vintage look and the tuners if they suck, we'll see.

more pix of your guys' mods?

 

[WI Short Scaler]

So can I correctly assume that if I use a musicmaster pickup and this bridge they would line up well?

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I was thinking of the Lil Sis/B23 from Sentell for the pickup

 

[matt-o-]

It appears to me, that the Gotoh Standard Bridge has 19mm (57.4/3mm) string spacing and not 17mm as the Bronco/Musicmaster Bass usually has. The strings will be wider spread over the pickup and possibly not align symmetrically.

 

[Wallace320]

write your thoughts below. I think it is kinda the musicmaster bass of 21st century ( and you can probably put the musicmaster or mustang bass pickguard and they would look alike)

definitely N A Y

my take on fenderish short scale's

An'think that, moddin' wise, I placed a Seymour Duncan Spb3 neck's, an'Sjb1 bridge's, and a Hipshot Bt1 bass extender behind it

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[WI Short Scaler]

It appears to me, that the Gotoh Standard Bridge has 19mm (57.4/3mm) string spacing and not 17mm as the Bronco/Musicmaster Bass usually has. The strings will be wider spread over the pickup and possibly not align symmetrically.

Any recommendations on where the proper bridge could be purchased? I have a string through style on both of my Musicmasters now but that's not a deal breaker. Just would like to have a 4 saddle bridge. Thanks

 

[matt-o-]

I have used the Hipshot Vintage Bridge with 17mm string spacing for my Musicmaster and Bronco Basses:

4 String Vintage Bass Bridge

though it is not string through. The 4 String B Style Bass Bridge has 17mm spacing as well, though aesthetically the Vintage Bridge is more appropriate.

 

[J-Mags]

Fun! You can mod it or leave it alone. Obviously some of them will be better than others. I think the red ones are better than the black ones due to their superior color.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I have used the Hipshot Vintage Bridge with 17mm string spacing for my Musicmaster and Bronco Basses:

4 String Vintage Bass Bridge

though it is not string through. The 4 String B Style Bass Bridge has 17mm spacing as well, though aesthetically the Vintage Bridge is more appropriate.

I'm ok with it not being string through body, thanks for the info.

 

[squarepeg]

We did some recording a couple of months back and the engineer complained that the existing Bronco pickup was microphonic, so I had my friendly local tech swap it out for a DiMarzio Model J neck pickup I had lying around. It didn't change the sound of the bass noticeably, but now there is no discernible buzz or hum.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Love mine! The Artec 7.18 k pick up is DEAD quiet but also low volume. It is easy to dial in a great tone on my Rumble 40. I'm not crazy about the DaD Chromes but hope they "break in" as some say they should. If not, then a set of LaBella LTFs are on tap. Super neck... Great little bass!View attachment 3333279

Original eucerine cream.

Kill those flats

 

[matt-o-]

We did some recording a couple of months back and the engineer complained that the existing Bronco pickup was microphonic...

Sadly the stock Bronco pickup is really not worth mentioning. An ultimate cheapo...

 

[WI Short Scaler]

The neck seems really nice. Considering the thickness of the original '78 Musicmaster neck, and the osteo-arthritis in my hands, I'm considering putting the Bronco neck on the airbrushed Musicmaster body from my avatar. Love the maple board too.

Also considering getting the Sentell Big Sis pickup for this bass. I have a SD pup in there now but the E is not line up too well with that pup so there is not a clean sound on that string like the others. The 8.3 ohm reading is close to the Vista Tone pickup in my Squier Musicmaster which has a great sound.

All ideas I'm tossing around.