Your opinions on squier bronco bass?

[Dimension]

This is good scenario of "it is what you make it". Either by modding or finding the right EQ (pedals, amps, etc) to give it the sound you require. If it fits your hands then grab one! Most people in the audience don't care what bass you play and when asked how it sounds they will most likely tell you it sounds like a bass

I have one of these arriving today and I plan on putting a passive EMG Musicman pickup in it and calling it good. More or most importantly, have fun with it!

 

[squarepeg]

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

It's ok for live performance, but noisy and dirty for recording. The neck and body are really quite good, but I had the serviceman replace all the electronics, and I lined the control cavity with shielding tape, and now the bass is very good (it's not mine, but our bassist allows me to tinker with it).

 

[squarepeg]

Bronco and big brother:

The Jazz Bass is mine, and the Bronco belongs to our bass player. We did a comparison at rehearsal last night. The Jazz Bass sounds deeper, but the Bronco is slightly punchier sounding, probably because of the lighter body. The difference is quite minor, though. We were all a bit pleasantly surprised at how good the Bronco sounds, played back to back with the Fender.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I love my Badtz Maru (Hello Kitty) Bronco strung with GHS Short Scale Precision Flats! The neck is one of the most comfortable I've ever held in my hand. The block inlays give it that touch of class.

 

[13bass]

So how does the Ibanez Talman TMB30 compare to the Bronco?

 

[Dimension]

So how does the Ibanez Talman TMB30 compare to the Bronco?

I currently own both the TMB30 and Bronco. There are many differences between the two. Pickup config, bridge, tuners, # of frets, etc. The Bronco has smaller neck dimensions. The TMB30 has a Fender p bass feel while the Bronco has a Mustang feel to it. The TMB30 has a bigger body which also weighs more and has different body woods depending on the year it was made (Mahogany or Popular). Additionally, the Bronco's neck and fret board are one. Meaning they are not separate pieces of wood. The TMB30 has a Jatoba fret board and a Maple neck. Overall, my opinion is the TMB30 is a better product out of the box and has a much brighter sound than the Bronco. The TMB30 would have a much better sound with a high quality pot upgrade and of course new strings. Message me if you want more specifics.

 

[13bass]

I currently own both the TMB30 and Bronco. There are many differences between the two. Pickup config, bridge, tuners, # of frets, etc. The Bronco has smaller neck dimensions. The TMB30 has a Fender p bass feel while the Bronco has a Mustang feel to it. The TMB30 has a bigger body which also weighs more and has different body woods depending on the year it was made (Mahogany or Popular). Additionally, the Bronco's neck and fret board are one. Meaning they are not separate pieces of wood. The TMB30 has a Jatoba fret board and a Maple neck. Overall, my opinion is the TMB30 is a better product out of the box and has a much brighter sound than the Bronco. The TMB30 would have a much better sound with a high quality pot upgrade and of course new strings. Message me if you want more specifics.

Sounds good, thinking a bit more band for the buck with the Ibanez. for only another $30. I want a short scale, and looking for an inexpensive first bass. Been playing guitar for about 10 years, and been itching to learn bass for a number of years.

 

[13bass]

I guess I'll be looking for any possible Black Friday sales on either.

 

[Gringo Basso]

I guess I'll be looking for any possible Black Friday sales on either.

With my arthritis finally affecting my hands and fingers - I'll try a Bronco, and thanks for the idea about waiting a week for a possible sale price - we could see 120 dollar Broncos, and I'll be happy with that. Plus they do mod well - just off this post I have a few ideas for pups and bridges.

 

[Dimension]

Sounds good, thinking a bit more band for the buck with the Ibanez. for only another $30. I want a short scale, and looking for an inexpensive first bass. Been playing guitar for about 10 years, and been itching to learn bass for a number of years.

It is definitely a good bass for the money. I will emphasize that the neck is a bit chunky for a short scale. A Squier Jaguar short scale might be more comfortable as it has more of a jazz bass neck profile.

 

[Dimension]

With my arthritis finally affecting my hands and fingers - I'll try a Bronco, and thanks for the idea about waiting a week for a possible sale price - we could see 120 dollar Broncos, and I'll be happy with that. Plus they do mod well - just off this post I have a few ideas for pups and bridges.

Arthritis is one of the main reasons I am going short scale as well. I recommend the Bronco. For me, the neck on the TMB30 is a bit too big at the first position for comfort. Just my .02

 

[Night Sailor]

My mods. Hipshot bridge, Rail humbucker, silver knobs, gray pearl pickguard. CTS Pots with coil split but I'm not sure it was worth doing that. I have some Labella flats I was planning to put on with a Tusq XL nut but it's a bit too narrow, so I may make one from a blank.

 

[abarson]

I got mine from a thrift shop. Once I cleaned off the years of yuck I started to see its potential. Fret sprout and sharp ends are being addressed, but I think some of that is attributable to the neck becoming a bit dried out. I agree with everyone else that the neck is a pleasure to play.
If I decide to keep it, a pickup swap is absolutely essential. With light dimmers throughout my house this is easily the noisiest bass I've owned: it picks up everything. A Strat-sized rail humbucker is the usual drop-in, but I might get inspired to use something else and make a custom pickguard.

I'm still on the fence. I could flip it and make a little or upgrade it and have a "grab 'n go" bass. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Night Sailor]

I sanded my fret ends some also. Really easy to do with a sanding block. The neck is smooth as glass now.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I bought a black Bronco at a thrift for like $35....it was dinged all over the headstock.

So, i sanded the whole neck, did Tru Oil all over, fret dress, rolled edges and painted the front of the headstock black and installed a Lawrence blade L250 pickup...sounds and plays great, dead quiet too (wish i could post pics).

Finally it will get GHS flats....i want a satiny worn patina on the black body and headstock, no gloss and wouldnt mind tinting the white guard very slight mint green which ive done before...i want it to look older like me!! Absolutely love the bass only wish it was a bit lighter but its not bad at around 8 or less lbs.

 

[J-Mags]

On guitar, it's a confirmed fact that the best-sounding player in town usually plays a guitar of indeterminate origin through a Hot Rod DeVille or a Peavey. Aside from having a decent amp, I've not seen much correlation between the cost of the gear that people are playing and how good they sound.

 

[S.F.Sorrow]

In my opinion they are useless for anything except practise at home. At least the current version.

I purchased one for fun a couple of months ago. I've tried to like it but it's simply not a good instrument.

The fretwork was extremely bad with severe buzzing all over the place. I pulled all the frets out and refretted it myself. It's fine now but I had expected better from a bass that says Fender on the headstock, even if it's just in fine print.

The bridge was downright faulty. Each of the two double-saddles had the notches for the strings too close together. This cause a huge spacing between A-D and much narrower spacing between E-A and D-G. I've now seen the same faulty bridge saddles on several other current Broncos too so I can only assume an entire batch must be affected. There was obviously no way to adjust this. Virtually unplayable IMO. Luckily I had a spare older Bronco bridge that was a direct replacement. The older bridge was made from much sturdier/thicker metal too. And when I say older I mean less than 10 years, not "vintage". Fender really went for the bottom of the barrel with the current Bronco version.

The pickup was useless due to excessive noise/hum whenever it was in a 10 mile vicinity of anything electrical. It didn't sound particularly nice either. So I replaced it with one of the most recommended upgrades, the Seymour Duncan Cool Rails. This got rid of the hum but I'm not impressed by the sound. There's no real lows and the highs are somewhat dull. There's no way I would ever use this sound for neither gigs nor recording.

I love the comfortable neck and the size for some lazy unplugged noodling on the coach though. And that's all it's ever gonna be for me. Modding it with the SD pickup was really just a waste of money.

I've currently got Pyramid Golds on it. They're one of my favourite sounding strings and I love how they feel under the fingers but the boomy E-string in the Gold set was a really bad match for this bass. I love the Pyramid Golds on other short scales but with no real lows coming out of the Bronco the boomy Gold E-string just kinda disappears. No big deal as I'll probably never plug this bass into anything ever again and the Golds feel great for a lazy day on the coach.

I should also mention that unless you have a VERY soft touch it's impossible to play fingerstyle close to the neck without slamming the strings into the pickup. At least without lowering the pickup to where it sounds (even more) anemic.

The small step up to an Affinity P-bass will get you a MASSIVELY better bass IMO. Or to put it another way: An Affinity P-bass is a proper instrument. The Bronco is not IMO. Or maybe I just got an exceptionally poor one. Some people seem to like them and based on my Bronco I honestly can't understand why???

 

[DavidEdenAria]

In my opinion they are useless for anything except practise at home. At least the current version.

I purchased one for fun a couple of months ago. I've tried to like it but it's simply not a good instrument.

The fretwork was extremely bad with severe buzzing all over the place. I pulled all the frets out and refretted it myself. It's fine now but I had expected better from a bass that says Fender on the headstock, even if it's just in fine print.

The bridge was downright faulty. Each of the two double-saddles had the notches for the strings too close together. This cause a huge spacing between A-D and much narrower spacing between E-A and D-G. I've now seen the same faulty bridge saddles on several other current Broncos too so I can only assume an entire batch must be affected. There was obviously no way to adjust this. Virtually unplayable IMO. Luckily I had a spare older Bronco bridge that was a direct replacement. The older bridge was made from much sturdier/thicker metal too. And when I say older I mean less than 10 years, not "vintage". Fender really went for the bottom of the barrel with the current Bronco version.

The pickup was useless due to excessive noise/hum whenever it was in a 10 mile vicinity of anything electrical. It didn't sound particularly nice either. So I replaced it with one of the most recommended upgrades, the Seymour Duncan Cool Rails. This got rid of the hum but I'm not impressed by the sound. There's no real lows and the highs are somewhat dull. There's no way I would ever use this sound for neither gigs nor recording.

I love the comfortable neck and the size for some lazy unplugged noodling on the coach though. And that's all it's ever gonna be for me. Modding it with the SD pickup was really just a waste of money.

I've currently got Pyramid Golds on it. They're one of my favourite sounding strings and I love how they feel under the fingers but the boomy E-string in the Gold set was a really bad match for this bass. I love the Pyramid Golds on other short scales but with no real lows coming out of the Bronco the boomy Gold E-string just kinda disappears. No big deal as I'll probably never plug this bass into anything ever again and the Golds feel great for a lazy day on the coach.

I should also mention that unless you have a VERY soft touch it's impossible to play fingerstyle close to the neck without slamming the strings into the pickup. At least without lowering the pickup to where it sounds (even more) anemic.

The small step up to an Affinity P-bass will get you a MASSIVELY better bass IMO. Or to put it another way: An Affinity P-bass is a proper instrument. The Bronco is not IMO. Or maybe I just got an exceptionally poor one. Some people seem to like them and based on my Bronco I honestly can't understand why???

The Duncan Cool Rails is not the best pickup for that bass...ive used a Hot Rails and a Lawrence L250 both supplied plenty of punch....Cool Rails is a typical weaker Strat sound and no better imo....a strong magnet (or magnets) in an overwound Strat type yields better results...put that Cool Rail in a Strat guitar where it can shine!

My Bronco bass is older and no issues with the bridge or tuners....fret sprout? yes, which i corrected....but i like the bigger neck, the pots and jack cleaned up fine.

Buyer beware as in any instrument....know what to look for.....i always look at several examples of the same model if possible

 

[S.F.Sorrow]

The Duncan Cool Rails is not the best pickup for that bass...ive used a Hot Rails and a Lawrence L250 both supplied plenty of punch....Cool Rails is a typical weaker Strat sound and no better imo....a strong magnet (or magnets) in an overwound Strat type yields better results...put that Cool Rail in a Strat guitar where it can shine!

My Bronco bass is older and no issues with the bridge or tuners....fret sprout? yes, which i corrected....but i like the bigger neck, the pots and jack cleaned up fine.

Buyer beware as in any instrument....know what to look for.....i always look at several examples of the same model if possible

Very interesting. I chose the Cool Rails because people here on Talkbass (and/or possibly the Seymour Duncan forum) recommended it for the Bronco and also specifically warned against the Hot Rails because it was "too hot" for bass. But after hearing the Cool Rails in my Bronco I don't think those people can possibly have heard the Cool Rails inside a Bronco. People on the internet recommending stuff they've never tried, nothing new there I guess.

What you're saying makes a lot of sense to me after actually testing Bronco+CoolRails. It sounds anemic. Will the low frequency response improve with the Hot Rails too or will it just be generally... hotter? Because the low frequency extension with the CoolRails is pretty useless with my Bronco, no matter how I set the pickup height. I actually liked the sound better with the stock cheapo ceramic strat pickup. Unfortunately it picked up far too much noise to be even remotely usable and I don't think I can be bothered with the full copper foil treatment here. It will have to be a noise cancelling pickup or nothing.

Honestly, the ONLY use can see for my Bronco except unlugged noodling is playing the upper register muted pick style as a kinda baritone for tic-tac doubling. But it's lacking a bit of clarity in the attack for this and I don't really need it as I've already got a baritone + several far better short scales. I was probably an idiot to buy the Bronco. Impulse buy online to reach the free shipping limit from Thomann, lol. I figured it could be a fun mod project but unfortunately it turned out to be a waste of time and money.

BUT, if I can improve it with another quick pickup change I might just do it.

 

[pcake]

i've owned 2 - i sold the first one, but can't remember why.

after i sold my jag ss, i realized i really missed having a 30" scale bass, so i picked up a red bronco. intonation is good, and the neck really is very comfortable. i've been enjoying it a lot. on and off i think about replacing the pickup, but the current pickup doesn't sound bad at all through my rumble 40. it's a little noisy if i turn up, but overall it's fine. i got a mustang bridge for it, but it hasn't actually been installed