Below is a video of a modded Squier Bronco Bass. The stock pickup was swapped out for a dual-rail humbucker and a thumb rest was added. In the latter half of the video, the owner of the bass explains that he bought the bass that way and didn’t do the mod himself…
…but does explain a few interesting points about the Bronco Bass.
First, it is probably the cheapest 30-inch short scale bass you can buy.
Second, generally speaking it holds tune and plays fairly well for what it is.
Third – and this is the most important thing – very mod-able. It is ridiculously easy to mod a Bronco Bass. Some have modded the Bronco Bass with a lipstick pickup. Others use a humbucker. Others use a Mustang P-style pickup. Some have even gone so far as to mod it into a “Mini Jazz Bass”.
The Bronco Bass is cheap to acquire, easy to mod and fun to play. It’s also great for aspiring bass builders out there that want a dirt cheap bass they can hack up to experiment with.
Check out how good one of these little Bronco Basses can sound below.
Note: We would be happy to feature a modded Bronco Bass as a Bass of the Week. Whoever gets featured with their modded Bronco Bass would be the first one, so you would have bragging rights. 🙂 Grab one today, mod it and submit it for BOTW here.
I almost bought one of these to mod but went with the short scale jaguar bass instead!
I watched this video because I thought you might have bought the one I sold a couple years ago.
I put a GFS LiL Killer Bridge pickup in mine and had LaBella clear tapewounds on it. It was a screamer!!! Very nice tone, much like yours and it became my favorite bass.
I agree with you completely. They are actually a very nice bass for the money. But the best thing is that the Bronco is a real sleeper instrument. With the Strat pickup to choose from the options are endless for tone and modding.
I’ve been getting the itch to buy one again and redo my old setup. Although I’ve been thinking of trying a lipstick pickup this time around. 🙂
Viva la short scale! I a couple of Mustang PJs, not a Bronco, but I totally get it.
I have a Ronco SX Ursa-1 Bass (a Precision copy) that just kicks booty. Made in China and only cost $115. Free shipping, even. I swapped bridges on it and put on flats. Sounds incredible.
I heard those basses sounds good 4 the money. That headstock was a turn off for me. Sounds ridiculous, but that’s me.
Ronco hahaha xD
I had my tech install a 70’s DiMarzio X2N guitar humbucker in a 2004 Mustang bass. It’s a dual rail as well. Totally brought the bass up to par. It became my go to bass for a lot of gigs last year. Short scale can be a blast to play!
I recently picked up an Ibanez Mikro abd have to say that I am super happy with it. I have smaller hands and after two surgeries to my fretting hand my Fender P-Bass sometimes left my hand sore. I had always liked the Ibanez necks and after playing the Mikro I am having fun again with some of the movements that caused pain in the past.
They are actually not bad at all for the price. I put some stainless steel roundwounds on it to get a little more life out of it. Sounds good.
Re the Mikro — I pulled the frets on mine to make it a short-scale fretless, and it’s been terrific. The process was easier than I expected. I expect the same could be done with the Bronco.
I have one of these, bought it for my kid years ago. Now I use it for recording. I modded it with a Lace Sensor pickup, upgraded the electronics, Jazz bass knobs and a Hipshot bridge. Kept the tuners since it has always stayed in tune. Plays great, sounds great, super inexpensive.
I have always wanted one to just leave out and have in the lounge
Always ready to play
As the expensive basses are to far a way and cased up ( too lazy)
I bought one of these to use the neck on a Strat body. I was quite surprised at how nice the neck is.
What did you with the body
Modded a black one for my (petite) niece (Fender threaded saddle bridge/Seymour Duncan pu/Fender small-plate clover tuners/THX tone pot/D’Addario strings/white strat knobs) and a decent set-up/intonation. Light, easy to play and w/the mods it sounds as good as any (basic single-coil) bass regardless of price. She plays in her HS Jazz band and loves it.
Put a red lace sensor, musicmaster bridge, strung through body, thumb rest. Awesome and easy to do.
I found a tight spaced Hipshot bridge on E Bay for $35 and had a Lace Sensor pickup laying around. Put them in my Bronco that I bought used for $75 off Craigslist. That bass is really fun!
Have a couple old the Squire Broncos short scale 2007 & 2014 Torino Red & Black.
1. 2007 Black changed all Electronics CTS pots, new wiring switchcraft Jack & a Jess Loureiro Hand wound 60’s PBass pickup, fits standard Pickguard. Awesome output. Great low end thump. Runs on D’Addario ProSteels Round Wound
Best Bass feel & sound.
2. 2014 Toronto Red same electronics change as above.
Went with a Tone Emporium Pbass Pickups. That said needed to change pickguard to fit double pickup so had Greasy Groove in NB
route a 3 ply Pearl White pickguard to fit. Runs on LaBella Deep Talkin’ Flat Wound Bass Strings.
Even bigger sound on this Bronco.
Recently bought a red Bronco. Put Gibson style red speed knobs on it. Looking for a red pickup cover. WD Music used to offer white / red / white pickguard material. They don’t anymore. Neither does pickguard heaven. Too bad.
I’m not really interested in modding the electronics. It sounds really good stock. And the neck is amazing. Action at the 19th is 1/16 for the G, and just under 1/8 for the E. Definitely a light touch (fast) instrument with no buzzing.
I really would like to find a red pickup cover and some w/r/w pickguard stock. Any leads?
I did this mod with a Seymour Duncan pickup and I can’t get the tone know to work any help would be appreciated.
Can you send me a pick or two of the wiring from the pickups to the pots? May just be a grounding issue. Jgrowe121@msn.com
This bass is not for everyone!!!
And I’m one of them:)
I put a lipstick pickup and added a black on white pickguard. Lots of fun to play!
ADDENENDUM: I also upgraded the electronics to full size CTS 250 pots, a 47 Orange drop cap and push back wiring. Now it is solid.