Squier Bronco

GC has the Fender Squire Bronco for about $139.
Plugged it in and it sounded great, just needed a setup. any thoughts on these?
I like the short scale Fenders especially for home recording.

Buy 2, right now!!!

I will reply in more detail to this post later. I'm at work right now and the boss wants me to do some work (go figure).

Tim

I play a Musicmaster Bass (functionally the same as the Bronco) as my main instrument, and I love it.

Cheers, Tim

Someone gave me one for my son. He never plays it so I have it in my room.
Not bad at all. I did change the pickup out for an SD Cool rail, which really helped the sound immensely and I shielded it. I also replaced the pots and jack, but only because it was cutting out and I could not figure out where the problem was.

I liked it stock and I like it now too!

GC has the Fender Squire Bronco for about $139.
Plugged it in and it sounded great, just needed a setup. any thoughts on these?
I like the short scale Fenders especially for home recording.

What is an "agathis body"? per the website: http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0310902558

I had one of those. Liked it at first but didn't hang onto it for very long. I don't like those new Squier necks at all. Fret buzz and dull sound no matter what you do. Still, a bargain with today's prices.

I had a musicmaster-necked mustang parts bass for awhile and it was light years better.

If you like the neck on yours you're all set but if I ever buy a Squier Bronco again, it'll be to fit a proper Fender Musicmaster neck on it. That would be a good bass.

I don't like those new Squier necks at all. Fret buzz no matter what you do. Still, a bargain with today's prices.

I think they're normally about $150, so it's a deal, but not one you have to freak out about if you can't get there right now. The ones I've tried definitely needed a setup to the point that I've wondered if what Oster says might be the case, and I haven't been able to get myself to buy one--yet.

Plus, that Mustang seems like a lot better instrument. But it's 400 bucks more, and I don't play that much bass, so I think I'm eventually going for the Bronco.

What is an "agathis body"? per the website: http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0310902558


Agathis is a species of evergreen also known as dammar. This is wood that originates in the South Pacific. It's soft, somewhat like yellow pine. I've had a couple of Agathis bodied Fenders - it's fine. The tough polyester finish on the low end instruments protects it pretty well. Tonally it's a little dark, more in the alder family than ash tonally...

This rather lengthy post is, of course, just my opinion/experience. Hope it helps.

Squier Bronco basses are a good buy. They sound okay, look good, are nice and light, and are priced right. I have one now (see my avatar) and have owned a couple more. They are great basses to snag the neck from and put on something else (again, see my avatar). The 6-pole pickup doesn't sound too bad and an upgrade to a Seymour/Duncan SCPB-3 is a cheap and easy upgrade. That being said, here are some things to look out for and to do, to make it a much better bass;
-Tighten neck plate screws and replace the short/skinny bridge mount screws with matching head, longer/thicker wood or machine screws (helps tone and sustain)
-Loctite the input jack nut
-Check wiring for cold solder joints
-Dress the fret edges (this has been a problem on every Bronco I've had)
-Adjust the neck relief and saddle height to your liking(generally they come with too much relief and mile high string height)
- These little tweaks are not a slam on Broncos, almost everything you buy nowadays require some looking over and TLC.

I personally like short scale basses and am willing to give up some tone and bottom end for the ease of playing and lighter weight of short scale basses.

To qualify my opinion of broncos, here is a list of what I have owned and have played in the way of shortscales;

-Broncocaster - custom - still have it - $$

-Bronco - very good value - $

-SX J-bass copy - good value - $

-Epi violin bass - good bass - $$$

-Epi Allen Woody rumblekat -very good bass- didn't like the way felt - $$$

-Gretsch G2202- personal favorite-very good bass- stiil have it - $$

-Dean EVO XM - the most tonally versatile bass I have - great feeling neck- still have it - $$

-Jay Turser JTB134 - POS/tone/quality -$$

-Regal resonator bass - POS/tone - $$$

- Have played two different Mustang Basses, no offense meant to anyone,
but not impressed, I'd rather have 4 Broncos for the money - $$$$

Since GC has the Broncos on sale, I may get another. Maybe strip it down and laminate a piece of Spalted maple on top and stick a couple of J-bass pickups in it.

Tim

I got one of these for my wife to start out on, it was a little 'thin' sounding for my tastes, but thats just me.

I put a Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 in it as suggested above, changed out the pots, new cap, wiring, shielded it, got a good setup done on it. Now its quiet as can be (had a slight buzz from the factory) and I LOVE it... all total with the setup i put about $100 into it, on top of the $149 I paid for it and ended up with a cool looking instrument with a great sound.

http://www.bugsville.org/bugsmedia/gitter/bass.jpg

If you like the neck on yours you're all set but if I ever buy a Squier Bronco again, it'll be to fit a proper Fender Musicmaster neck on it. That would be a good bass.

Yep, the '73 Musicmaster Bass neck on my bass is absolutely wonderful...

Cheers, Tim

l8HOdq6dZq0

I'm not sure just how much this will help, but it's fun to watch.