Squier Bronco Bass Build

In this video, I take a cheap Squier Bronco Bass and rebuild it from the ground up. This is a fun bass mod video with some helpful tips for working on your bass or guitar.
Sweetwater sponsored this video. Here are affiliate links to the stuff I used to modify this bass:
Bronco Bass:
sweetwater.sjv.io/c/4178498/9...
Lipstick Pickup:
sweetwater.sjv.io/c/4178498/9...
Wiring Harness:
sweetwater.sjv.io/c/4178498/9...
Vintage Tuners:
sweetwater.sjv.io/c/4178498/9...
Short Scale Strings:
sweetwater.sjv.io/c/4178498/9...
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Huge thanks to @designedbyshea for her amazing custom art!
www.designedbyshea.com
My Bass Courses and Link to Private Coaching:
philipconradmusic.teachable.c...
For GUITAR PLAYERS Who Want to Lean Bass:
rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p...

[@philipconradmusic]

If you want your own custom artwork on your instrument, you can reach out to Shea here: www.designedbyshea.com/contact

[@Jill-ni8fe]

Amazing ❤

[@krispykrunkdonut]

i just finished moding my bronco. took me about 10 months. I stripped the finish. routed a second pickup above the bridge. Finished it in a color shift green-purple. and loaded it up with 2 51 p pickups with stacked knobs. Thing Absolutely RIPS

[@bafflingbovine]

I'm thinking of doing a similar thing, how did you get the color shift effect? Spray paint or something else?

[@jasondorsey7110]

Popped a red lace sensor in mine, keeps the single coil vibe but much quieter

[@eugenekotaunightcore]

please make a video on how that sounds PLEASE

[@jessievasser6293]

Painting the headstock would really bring the design together really well. Maybe even black nylon tape wound strings could be cool too.

[@philipconradmusic]

Maybe an update is in order…

[@franzturczynski4693]

What a great MOD. My respect to your wife on that amazing freehand work! And thank you for sharing your tips and knowledge on making that bass so much cooler and better!

[@rome8180]

I bought a Squier Classic Vibe '60s P bass thinking I might modify it. But it turned out I loved it just the way it was. It's actually become my favorite bass. I like it better than basses I have that cost me five times as much.

[@armbarre]

“Well built cheap p-style bass” is my favorite bass. And I’ve played all sorts of basses.

[@RhettShull]

I LOVE Shea’s artwork on that.

[@rafbass]

Dude! That’s inspiring!! Love the result and the coworking space. The dog! It’s so joyful. I hope to see you live one day!

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@eddienothing9610]

Dog was all, "whatchu guys doing in here with your human nonsense?!" Beautiful result, you two! Put the same exact pickup in a Squier Mustang guitar. Love the sound

[@aj81ds]

Wow, that bass looks fantastic. Was never a fan of the original color but now it really pops against all that black. Great job Shea.

[@philipconradmusic]

Agreed. Thanks for watching!

[@iambazii]

I've been wanting to get and mod a Bronco for a while. I bought a Squier Mustang bass (which was my intro to short scale basses), and now I want another short scale!

[@chrisashenberg5188]

My biggest goal with my parts-basses was one of a kind. One body hand painted and one airbrushed by my kids. And I painted headstocks to tie them in to the paint schemes. One is a Musicmaster body and one is a Mustang, both are sporting Bronco necks. They're mine and I love 'em. Plus I learned a TON assembling them. This is great!

[@Tenoken]

Enjoyed this! Love modifying instruments. I've done a lot of upgrades and switching out of parts, mostly for Fender stuff. Highly recommend tinkering! It's a fun way to be creative and develop some new skills.

[@RobVespa]

What a beautiful bass. One of a kind. Truly wonderful. All the best.

[@WhatJeanWants]

Shea’s artwork is perfection!! Digging this mod project for sure!!

[@chrisashenberg5188]

Yes, her artwork is amazing!

[@ksgtrpkr]

Beautiful work and really cool artwork! Sounds great! looks phenomenal!

[@barackmycat9448]

Great job guys!

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you!

[@calebtiede5496]

Love this video! I’ve been debating buying the squire bronco for a while. Very cool mod!

[@shuofengzhao2779]

Sooo cool. Just looking at it makes me feel refreshed. Congrats, guys

[@michaeloverfield7198]

Went to town on my bass with a handful of paint pens, swapped pickups, switched to flats, added a hip shot drop d that doesn't match the other keys, and cut off part of the headstock. Absolutely love the idea of making an instrument like this truly your own

[@gabedestellano]

I ended up keeping the tuners but I painted mine a color shift blue and purple sparkle, cut a custom pick guard and put a mini humbucker in it with 500K pots, an orange drop cap and went fretless with a CA glue fingerboard & flat wound strings. It's pretty dope now. I got the bass (brand new) in trade for a Bruins jersey that I paid like 12 dollars for on Temu. LOL Score!

[@mwsteelworks4596]

Love how that turned out! This will be a project soon!

[@krautfox9818]

This was a joy to watch; well done !

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@leftwrite]

Such a cool looking and sounding bass. The chance to work with your extremely talented wife makes it all the more special. Great job!

[@muskop42]

great job! it turned out much better than i could have imagined it!

[@brettwright7560]

Every bass I acquire gets the exact same neck treatment. I own a few MIM and USA Fenders, but when the phone rings, it's the Squiers that go to the party!

[@mikewolfe9458]

Very cool! Great choices, and that artwork is fantastic. I modded a Squier Tele with a bigsby, custom shop pickups, new wiring, etc. last year. I love it, and it hangs with stuff I’ve spent a lot more money on. I was going to have a hot rod guy pinstripe it, but I may have to send the body down to you all after seeing this!

[@darrylcovinsky6932]

You are all so talented. Gratifying to watch and inspiring.

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you for watching and being here ⚡️

[@MichaelJohnson-mk6jr]

Great video, I like it!

[@shugemery]

Just taking a break from my bass practice to sit and peruse a bass video. You video popped...as that Bronco now does~~! I so enjoyed watching and also you and Shea working together on making this bass a right goodie and something you now feel connected with.

[@neonbridgestudioandrecordi2912]

This is your best video yet in my opinion! I really enjoyed it and my fiance actually watched a guitar video with me lol 😆 nice work dude and your wife is very talented 👌

[@jamesmccallum6770]

I recently finish my first project - Defretting and aging my first bass (Marlin Sidewinder). I really enjoyed the process and have just bought a old 5 strings from ebay, that's in several pieces. Got big plans. I love the process and the ethos of your approach is similar to the feeling I get. Thanks for sharing you project.

[@debhart4302]

I absolutely love this!! Awesome work!! I think for me, I'd put a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickup in it.

[@bronketor1]

oh wow. This inspires me to start something on an old guitar project! thank you

[@AJett35]

Beautiful bass. Its awesome what we can all get from the little things like modding an instrument. Even more so that it was done with your wife which surely added to the sentiment. It turned out wonderfully. Keep it in the family and pass it down one day!

[@bobcongleton3485]

Really cool, Phillip and Shea!

[@FrosTBerQ]

Such an amazing project! She really shows the love and effort you put in. 🤗

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@sagittated]

Very cool project & great result! I'm currently refinishing a Squier Jazzmaster that Fender was selling at big discounts over labor day. It's in pieces now as I'm doing the long process refinish. I filed, sanded, & cleaned the neck the day I got it. Grabbed some bougie pickups. One difference is that I'm going to pay a quality local shop to put it all together for me when it's ready. It's not that I don't know where all the parts go, but I've put in a lot of effort, and I want it done really really well. I'm ready for wallpaper application today, and I'm a bit nervous to get it cut exactly right, but it's that good kind of nervous that comes with making art. This video ramped up my excitement for the rest of the project! Thanks, Philip! I love your new bass. Fabulous artwork!!

[@conorlarkin1111]

Man, such a fun video. It turned out amazing!

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks Conor!!

[@moonride2064]

my friends got me a harley benton telecaster in a beautiful shell pink for my birthday. i was just looking for something new and i was more than okay with a cheap guitar but holy damn, this thing feels just so good for 150 euros. but right after i got it, i felt like making it more "my own". i love a light tasteful relicing so i chapped to paint at some places and aged to built in pickguard (wich was already more of a minty color to make it look more vintage) for some days in a mixture of coffee, black tea and vinegar. had it on for a couple months, then decided to go with a vintage white pearl pickguard. the sparkle fits perfectly with the shell pink colour. speaking of the color, it reminded me so much of japanese cherry trees so i got a pack of fret inlay stickers of that sort. and it sparkles like the pickguard too! it's my pink little beauty now. looking forward to change the pickups one day!

[@SorenJohnsonGuitar]

that is the coolest instrument ive seen all week. awesome video

[@jmccaintx]

Sounds great - and your wife's design and execution is stunning!

[@DamnedIcon]

This is dope as hell, and that bass looks and sounds incredible!

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@samlelowitch]

Wonderful family project! Great job.

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you!

[@ibalrog]

Good video! That bass sounds awesome, and looks quite unique. Shay's work is really impressive.

[@philipconradmusic]

Agreed! Thanks for watching ⚡️

[@MordecaiSoup7]

Very cool Phillip! Having an artist for a wife helped me out as well. I’ve mentioned my build before. My total budget was around $500 for my bronco. Reshaped and refinished the body and headstock Installed all new electronics like what the g&l fallout has with mfd pickup and 3-way toggle. Modded the pick guard And by far the screwdriver trick is almost a must for a neck with rough fret ends. Followed by the soft sanding wedge and 00 steel wool. I will be swapping my bridge to fix intonation issues with the older two saddle bridge that came with my bass. It’s a player and a keeper. Good vibes.

[@4ofwands]

Nice mod! Creating several partscastors and mods for last few years. Learning how to build and set up makes all my guitars sound great 😊

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@2000SkyView]

looks nice

[@ryan_454]

Great project, great sounding bass

[@adriengahery9471]

I've been modifying the basses I own since day 1 basically. Only recently, I've been building my own bass from luthier-grade planks and a plan of course. It's a short scaled bass, and plays like a charm !

[@say_when5988]

Looks outstanding!

[@BadHorsie2]

You guys did a great job. I love true oil on guitar necks. It has a nice smooth feel.

[@ogrecreative]

Nice mods! I’m definitely digging the artwork. It has a minimalist Sarah Ryan vibe.

[@karlvanbeckum9029]

Very cool bass. Well done! 👏 👏 👏

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks! 👍

[@hippoferd]

The work you put on this bass is fantastic ! I have a very cheap squier 51 PB reissue since 2 years ago, I have changed the pickup and she sound fantastic, the neck was fine , no sharp edges .... one day I will perhaps change the electronics but other then that it's one of my favorite bass ...

[@philipconradmusic]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@bassclefconnoisseur]

I have done the same thing with the screwdriver method... works pretty good. Pickguard cut out is not easy without a router and template so nice job, just easier to get that 45 angle by hand using the same 'dremmel' with the sanding barrel to perfect the outline to also do the 45 smoothly...I've done quite a few. I've also angled tuners the same way and looks good IMO...and great vid man

[@billyjay1]

Wow that looks awesome

[@jamesmccallum6770]

Love the angled tunner.

[@DimestoreLiam]

Hey, well done! That turned out beautifully. Your wife’s design work really makes that bass look amazing, and your hardware choices really complement her design aesthetic in a cool way. On paper, your bass modification would have seemed a bit “iffy”, at least to me, but the two of you really pulled off something spectacular...

[@willyplaysbass]

i think ,only if you change the pickup position to the sweet spot near the bridge, then only the bass will be heard in a mix ! ❤ great job...

[@abouc]

Amazing mod! I'm in the process of updating/modding my Squier HM bass after 30+ years of ownership. It'll be getting a Hipshot A-style bridge, Frank Bello signature EMG pickups, and new frets. I'm also considering adding a custom pickguard to break up the body shape a little. The upgrades cost more than it's worth, but this is a bass I'll never sell so it's worth the investment.

[@LucDiGiuseppe]

Super sick man

[@cancelbubble6535]

Your wife absolutely killed it with that illustration. There is absolutely a business model there with just illustrating bodies. Personally, I wouldn't have bothered with the back illustration as that will never be seen unless you flip it over. I also would have woodburned "Liz" on the front of the headstock, especially since you took off the Squier logo. She absolutely killed it.

[@paulocorreia9608]

Needs some headstock art to complement it! By the way, actually loved the tilted tuners, its a vibe! Great video and great execution!

[@are-bass59]

Wow this video was so great!⚜️

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you!!

[@Anonymous99997]

Around 20 years ago, I needed a bass to play at church and I went to a music store that I had patronized for a number of years and asked if he had an affordable bass in stock. He said he had just the thing and went in the back and brought out a brand new/old stock bass that had been lost in his stock room for over a dozen years. He had just uncovered it-a 1987 Mexican Squire P-bass. What a gem, but I have since replaced the pickup, pick guard, the bridge and have completely re-wired it. It plays and sounds like a much more expensive instrument.

[@andrewcarlson4484]

My first and only bass is an old Ibanez that I found at a goodwill for $10. It was in terrible shape and looked like someone tried to modify it and just did a bad job. Me and my friend totally refinished it and I bought all new hardware for it and it’s the bass I’ve played ever since

[@andrekunsch4268]

My last build is a Roadworn Mike Dirnt Pbass Body with an early 90s Samick neck. I also routed a MM style cavity in the Bridge position and added a Multi Coil Pickup. Your definitely right, each Instrument I own needs its specific Tuning,Strings and setup to really come to life.

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for sharing!

[@OsmarOliveira]

Beautiful project right there! Nice bass, nice upgrades, nice partnership with your wife, nice details (your grandpa's symbol got me off guard)... Thanks for sharing.

[@maddoxbruce4621]

the first bass i ever played and learned on i took all of the hardware off to clean it, cleaned the pickup cavity, put new pickups in it, and have beat the crap out of it making it my own over the years. it has evolved with me and i can’t wait for the rest of our journey

[@charlescowan6121]

I picked up a spector legend and swapped out the pups and preamp with an emg set of each. Damn did it make a difference!

[@ZRobertson91]

I built a parts bass last year out of mostly Squier parts. Put the Vintage Modified J neck with the black blocks on a Classic Vibe 70s P in the special edition Sea Foam and one of the VM Duncan Designed pick ups. Greer Amps Super Mass neck plate and Dunlop strap lock strap buttons. Super comfortable to play

[@rngrzulu1275]

I have three matching hollow body 1960s Japanese basses that I have modded. They were basically unplayable when I got them (separately). I had to replace tuners. I had to replace bridges. I changed the wiring to take the selector switch out and wired them VVT. One is set up for flats. One is just a standard passive bass. I had to replace the pick up on one so now it has an active EMG system with a BT 9v preamp, volume and blend. They are so old. Different colors. Now they are unique in looks and their voices and best applications.

[@eviljay545]

Super nice sound after mod🫡

[@rjbrando9616]

I just purchased a Bass VI and have begun ordering replacement items to modify it as well I didn't think about a custom art design, but this may have just been an unexpected inspiration

[@mjolnircarlssen4211]

I didn’t see the lipstick pickup coming. I was sure it would be something like a Fralin split coil… That said, I almost always replace the stock pickups in my basses with high-end pickups. The Radioshop 60s P Bass pickup is the best P Bass pickup I e ever heard (I put one into my Sire P5R). I’ve got Fralin, Lollar, Radioshop, and the Fender Pure Vintage 63 in my basses. All of them sound great.

[@andiebetjemann7920]

Wow, what an cool looking instrument. I used to play in a band with very limited rehearsal space. The Headstock of my bass regularly hit the cymbals in an odd moment. That's why i don't like all-in-line tuner arrangement on bass but also on guitar. During the pandemic i buildt a diy guitar Kit. It is was supposed to be inspired by Rhett's Pink Sparkle, but after chopping of parts of the headstock, it has become something very very different.

[@rome8180]

Sorry for the multiple comments. But I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this video. I didn't expect to find it as interesting as I did. I really enjoyed seeing your interactions with your wife, and how you communicated your thoughts and ideas to each other. I think being able to work on something like this with your partner is awesome. And most importantly, the end result looks great. I imagine Shea will get a lot of work out of this video.

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you so much! I loved the process by her side. Glad to have you here!

[@markanderson9373]

I have modded all but one of my 9 guitars and basses, some of them multiple subsequent mods. It comes from a vision of how that instrument can better suit me. I have never changed the instrument for aesthetic goals - just functional.

[@slimkickens]

The first guitar I ever bought for myself was a $150 Epiphone SG Special. I refinished it in a dark steel blue satin, with gloss stripes going down the center. I threw on grovers, and put on a fine tuning tailpiece. Then I put a Gibson P-94 in the neck, and a Dirty Fingers in the bridge, and wired it up kinda tele style, where the neck pickup went through the tone knob, but the bridge pickup was just straight from the volume to the output. It was an incredibly versatile instrument for only having two pickups, a master volume and tone, and a three way selector. That guitar saw me through many shows with my first band. My main guitar now is a thinline strat that I special ordered the body for (it's hard to find strats with a 69 tele thinline control rout), painted shell pink, and wired with a single P90. Not as versatile, but it's a rock machine

[@soundsofstabbing3627]

that pick guard tip is really useful! I've been wanting to put a pick guard on my Ibanez bass since I play with a pick pretty often, but nobody makes pick guards for them, especially left handed pick guards. Maybe I'll get around to cutting out my own

[@walkercolson765]

Philip is the coolest bassist on KZbin

[@philipconradmusic]

Aww shucks. Thanks for watching!

[@ivanorozco1809]

That bass is amazing in every aspect

[@gibaki-qz8cf]

great video thanks

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you!

[@judih.8754]

I've upgraded the pickups on my Yamaha bass. I also changed the chrome hardware to anodized black. Not sure about graphics but I like the look of that Bronco.

[@gamegod193]

I literally bought that exact bass as my first bass like 2 weeks ago so I guess this is a sign to maybe start modding it

[@philipconradmusic]

Do it!

[@willows5645]

that bass looks plain amazing! my most-modded bass is also named Liz (well, Lizzie) she's a squier jazz that a friend gave me for parts, but eventually I put her back together - I'm not a big fan of the bridge pickup sound, so I cut the foam off the back so it would sit flush with the body & pass only the weakest of signals - I can leave it up for hum canceling or roll it off for basically a little onboard gain boost, but the sound is all neck pickup either way further mods I'm planning include peeling the foam off the back of the neck pickup too & getting springs on the screws (the foams kinda janky and won't expand right so the pickup is stuck a tiny angle off from where I want it), drilling out some string-thru channels, and possibly designing a custom pickguard that hides the recessed bridge pickup (right now it's just covered by some black duct tape lol)

[@drewirvin5620]

I bought a bullet strat with a GC gift card. Bought a baritone conversion neck from warmoth and have plans for more upgrades. My bass is a warmoth parts bass also. Love tinkering around with instrumenta

[@jasondorsey7110]

I had a affinity series bronco that I installed 2 lipsticks in...definitely a 60s vibe with flats...went a different route with the sonic series tho...a single lace sensor and rounds, for a musicmaster feel

[@joemills4663]

Wicked. My first was a Squier bronco!

[@philipconradmusic]

A great first!

[@dchauser4]

I need to dig up the pictures of my P-Bass project (and get back to it). I found it with a custom paint job already done and have since replaced the pick-up, the bridge, and altered the nut to string it BEAD. It's one of my more fun basses to play to be sure.

[@user-wr4vn5gd5x]

The first instrument I ever modified was a Squier Bullet Strat, when I was a teenager. Repainted the body, did a matching headstock, and swapped in an HSS pre-wired pickguard. Now I can't leave any of my guitars or basses stock... Whoops. Love what you did with the Bronco!

[@larsetom1]

Boy, that soundtrack is great!

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@IggyYTube]

that was amazing !

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@bencobass56]

There's nothing like modifying an instrument to make it more personnal et better suiting for you... I started modifying my basses a year ago and I've never liked my instruments more than now (one of my basses became a fretless and another is now my number one 5 strings bass)... Good job to you and Shea!!!

[@philipconradmusic]

Well said! And thanks!

[@calebhooper4266]

I learned so much b about guitar/bass work from my MIM Mustang bass. That poor thing has gone through so many transformations!

[@philipconradmusic]

A great platform. Thanks for watching!

[@cadenbenton6235]

Woah, I’ve played a dano bass and it really does have that sound! I’ve always wanted a mustang or dano bass (im a guitarist and only own a Gretsch short scale bass) and I play one of these every time im in guitar center and so i may pull the trigger on it.

[@philipconradmusic]

Do it!

[@Palindromeater]

My man! Super fun project and it turned out KILLER! Lucky man, what a lovely talented special lady friend you have !

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks dude! I am a lucky guy.

[@handwriting8804]

I just bought a trisonic pickup for my bronco! Gonna put an anodized aluminum guard, gold tuners, and a gold bridge cover on it eventually

[@j-pastel-yellow]

not a bass, but the guitar i first modded was a 2012 affinity stratocaster. her name is daphne, and she’s been my modification testbed for anything i’m interested in trying. when i got it, the decal had been sanded off the headstock, so i’ve added a 70s fender decal (though i’ve kept the squier s/n and have no intention of ever selling it.) the tuners have been replaced with split shaft wilkinsons, i’ve rounded the edges of the fretboard, both the neck and fretboard have been glossed, and i’ve added a cheap ceramic humbucker in the bridge position. the other pickups are stock, but i plan to fully replace the pickups and electronics at some point down the line. i still need to do some work on the frets, but it’s still playable. i’ve thought about stripping off the paint and painting it something a bit more interesting than just simple black, but i’m not entirely sure what direction to go with that. this is absolutely stunning. the paint work looks amazing on the pink-ish color and looks unlike anything i’ve ever seen. huge props to everyone involved in this project, especially shea, that fact that it’s all freehand is astounding

[@MirlitronOne]

Have modded two old Broncos, one red, one black. Fitted one with a huge MM-style humbucker and the other with a red dual-rail HB pickup. Then I ran heat-adhesive white edging tape around the edges of both and fitted both as complementary red / black / white "De Stihl-style" colour schemes. Nothing wrong with those six-pole pickups - they are overwound and will make a very hot replacement Strat pickup. My wife christened them the "Bucking Broncos", without knowing what a humbucker was! I also have one of those Coral Pink Sonic Broncos (now fitted with another dual-rail HB) as a backup to my Capri Orange Squier Mustang. Go for it, they are great value (and I normally play long-scale basses). (PS. Not had any problems with those Sonic tuners btw.)

[@dw7704]

I never modded a bass other than replacing the knobs & removing the pickguard and bridge cover (EB 3 copy) At one time I had major plans to build a new body for it and to use the body for an SG copy. But I changed my mind. I have modded 2 guitars. One was my first electric to use for slide and to mimic other guitars in some fashion (and it had weak pickups, and some broken parts) I modded another guitar I bought used that had been modded already, so I replaced worn out parts and some other changes.