Squier Bronco Bass Mod. New Pickup, Pots, and Capacitor

In this video I go under the pickguard of a brand new Squier Bronco bass. I then mod it with with some new pots, capacitor and pickup.
This is the pickup I used: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
The Pots were from Kaish: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
The orange drop capacitor: www.amazon.com/022uf-200v-Ora...
Bass guitar was bought at Guitar Center.
The filler track used during the speed-up modding clip was a simple composition of my own using the modded bass, a 2002 Squier Bullet Special, and Studio One.

[@Guitarnivore]

Forgive some of the differences in the audio. Circumstances were not quite the same and I'll fix that going forward.

[@EasyHeat]

Awesome mod. I have a 70's MIJ Jazz clone with EMG Select pasive guitar pups in it that I played in a Punk band back in the 90's. I must attempt this mod.

[@richardmerriam7044]

Bought a new red Bronco and ordered CTS 250K pots, Switchcraft jack, Orange Drop cap (Cornell Dubilier copy), and a Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 pickup. Oh, and an aged white pearloid pickguard. I can't wait to hear it when it's done! Almost forgot to mention that I got the black pickup cover and old style Jazz bass knobs to mimic my now long gone Musicmaster bass. Great video!

[@wesleyzimmerman94]

A Hot Rail is literally the only replacement pickup that I've ever know people to use for these basses. One of the most important things I've learned as a guitar player that picked up bass (one full scale and one short scale) is *USE YOUR PINKY*

[@razorback_fan4108]

i put a 8k lipstick pickup in mine

[@inaband428]

Alnico 7.5k lipstick pickups work extremely well in broncos, Our band leader (multiple juno award winning and grammy nominated musician) love that sound and is using a bronco set up like that on next tour.

[@larryn2682]

You can use one of the several reproduction pickups of the original early fifties Precision Bass pickups. They look similar to a Strat pickup, but have only four Alnico polepiece/magnets. There some very low priced Asian made ones, and high dollar models by Lindy Fralin, Seymour Duncan, Fender, etc.

[@decdel77]

Went for Artec hotrail, 500k pots and a 47 cap, much happier, single coil was awful

[@bobsellers1646]

The conductive shielding paint is on the body, outside the cavity, so it makes contact with the shielding tape on the back of the pickguard.

[@Guitarnivore]

I understand that, but it was sloppily done and outside of the pickguard covering.

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

I had an early 70s Jazz Bass pickup in my parts bin that I put in mine. Took a bit of routing, but worth the trouble. Also replaced the tuning machines and pots, and it now stands up nicely to any vintage Fender (or other) bass that I've owned. I also converted another one to an 8 string baritone (or Bass 6/8), of which you can hear and see a short clip on my channel. (It's up for sale right now (7/24) on CL/FB, so I posted a very short demo clip.) It has an original 60s Teisco goldfoil pickup and a Danelectro lipstick in the bridge, and has this very transparent, "3D" sound. The two middle octave strings also give it a bit of jangle which is unusual for a typical baritone.

[@Guitarnivore]

Nice! I moved on to full size basses. This was fun, but it was what was in the budget at the time and I've since sold it. I thought about trying to do some more mods when I had it, but never got around to it before I parted ways with it.

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

@@Guitarnivore Haha, I'm going the other way, having played 34" scale bases professionally for decades, now I'm getting rather old and creaky and I'm finding 30-in scale to be very comfortable. :-) Still I do miss the different tonality of the long scale sometimes.

[@Guitarnivore]

I hear ya. Bass isn't my primary and I just dabble in it, but I have come to really like the slightly shorter scale guitars like an SG or Jaguar.

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

@@Guitarnivore I just picked up a 1963 Martin model 5-16 Terz acoustic guitar which has a scale length of approximately 22 in. Now that is the ultimate sofa guitar. Talk about short scale though, most people don't realize that John Lennon's Rickenbacker model 325 was only about 21.5 in scale if my memory serves... Almost a mandolin. ;-)

[@marcrichey1222]

So stoked to watch this mod! Practically going wild at the sound test

[@marcrichey1222]

Wondering what else may have come of the bronco!

[@Guitarnivore]

@@marcrichey1222 I sold the bronco and ended up getting a nice Jackson Spectra. But I've seen some people go all out on their bronco mods with some really cool things.

[@edizzle445]

I'm in the process of turning my Bronco into a Mustang guitar. It's crazy. Put a strat neck on the body. Strat bridge. Currently working on getting a humbucker on the bridge and moving the single coil to the neck

[@marioharaldklug]

Hi Earl pls look to my Bronco Bass - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2TahIhsaNynabc

[@BassClubKing]

nice sound - I have a Bronco too

[@TheOriginalBraveOne]

After watching this video I bought the same pickup and installed it in my Bronco. The hum that was killing me with the stock pickup is gone! It sounds great! I would have liked it if your video showed how to do the wiring because it was a bit of a pain figuring that out since the old pickup had 2 wires and this one has 4. But anyway, thanks for the video. You solved a really annoying problem for me and it cost almost nothing!

[@zeroedout]

Can you share where the 4 wires go?

[@kevinboor3560]

That guitar suddenly sounds like a bass. What an awesome mod

[@sapphicquartz]

Umm wdym? It is a bass?

[@jonathanhorne6503]

Fralin has a 1952 P-Bass pickup clone that is awesome. I bought a pink Bronco that CME had for a special order limited edition. I put about a $1000 worth of mods on mine. It was a crummy bass that is now really awesome. Near Unlimited tonal pallet.

[@jimobrien9104]

You got a subscriber out of me. Great video :)

[@Guitarnivore]

Thanks!!

[@ascension6699]

Replacing the twin blade in mine with a YJM neck pickup. YJM are double stacked so it’ll be noiseless. Hope it has good tone.

[@jonmatthews4254]

Useful, thanks.

[@vonicrimson3619]

Heck, I’d put a super muddy pickup in there, I love high output bass pickups on both my guitars and my basses

[@Guitarnivore]

I plan on putting some type of humbucker in it eventually. I just need to get the parts and ambition.

[@asherplatts6253]

@@Guitarnivore isn't the hot rail a humbucker?

[@asherplatts6253]

I found this video because I had the thought, "what if I bought a Bronco bass, and then routed it out for a mudbucker at the neck, and a PAF in the bridge... took the guitar pickup out and cut a blank pickguard to fit.."

[@Guitarnivore]

@@asherplatts6253 It was, yes. It was a nice mod that got rid of any 60 cycle hum and made the bass a bit more punchy. I parted with the guitar about 6 months or so ago.

[@emanuelgtzv]

do you think its possible to put a jazz bass plate with the pots en everything and make it like a mini jazz bass or the routing its curve like the pickguard?

[@joelanderson_t]

Fender should make their newer Bronco Bass guitars loaded with hot rail pickups. If they do, there’s one concern, the price might go up because of new pickup features.

[@wesleyzimmerman94]

Shouldn't be *too* much of a problem since a knockoff Hot Rail can be had from Ebay for 15 USD

[@DrummerGrrrl]

@@wesleyzimmerman94 $15? Holy crap!

[@joelanderson_t]

@@wesleyzimmerman94 I got a Korean hot rail over there for a little over $20. It’s better worth it.

[@asherplatts6253]

Fender would never do that. They only install pickups they make in house, even if they are garbage, like the "mini humbucker" single coils in the Gretsch G2220 (Gretsch is a Fender owned company).

[@larryn2682]

​@asherplatts6253 Fender has used Duncan pickups in New guitars.

[@michaelpanik92]

Great video!! About to do the same thing with the same parts. Where did you add the capacitor? Do you have a schematic?

[@Guitarnivore]

I recently changed it, using a Duncan Design alnico pickup from a VM strat and the original pickup cover. It sounds much better. Here is a simple single coil schematic. It works with any pickup, single coil or humbucker. st3.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/305703563?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

[@mccypr]

Thanks! 🙂😎

[@andrewstump6138]

Cool stuff! I'm wondering, is the cavity big enough to fit a P-bass split coil in there if you had a proper pick guard for it? Or might you need to do some routing in order to fit it?

[@Guitarnivore]

You might have to do some routing, but I'm not 100% sure. Search KZbin, there are a few guys that have done some really cool mods to this bass.

[@andrewstump6138]

@@Guitarnivore okay will do; thanks for the reply, and keep rockin’!

[@bobt5778]

I took a different approach. I bought a used fender american strat neck pickup $29.00. The stock pickup had level pole pieces so I made sure the new one did too. Sounded better but not tons. Stock pickup is very useable.

[@Guitarnivore]

I've changed it out a few times. This last go around I took a Duncan Design bridge pickup from a VM strat, flattened the poles and put the original.single coil over it. It sounds much nicer. I think I'll eventually put a Musician style humbucker in it...or just buy a better bass. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@BenjaminIdle]

​@Guitarnivore if you do the musicman style upgrade you should post a video because I was considering that

[@Guitarnivore]

Sorry, I no longer have this bass. I think there is a video online that someone did that mod already and it came out quite nice.

[@flyinggoosefilm]

Great video. You inspired me to do exactly the same. I have the Musiclily hot rail pickup you used. But since this my first time changing a pickup, could you tell me which of the five pickup wires go where? I have the diagram but I want to be sure. I don't want to screw up my first effort.

[@Guitarnivore]

The diagram.is correct. Green/white together, black to ground and since it doesn't have a switch, the hot red goes to the first (left) lug on the volume pot.

[@flyinggoosefilm]

@@Guitarnivore Perfect! Much thanks!

[@drewjames7073]

I know it's probably a dumb question but since these come stock with a guitar pickup, do you think these could be played on Guitar Amps such as the Fender Champion 100?

[@lordimpaler3899]

Yes...those solid state Fender amps sound great with bass anyway, imo

[@larryn2682]

That seemingly inappropriate pickup has literally nothing to do with the choice of proper amplifier to play through.

[@Mr.Steve-O]

cool video, what's the resistance of that pickup ? Looks great, may look at that one for my recent Bronco purchase, thx

[@Guitarnivore]

9k output. It sounds a lot better than in the video. The link is in the video description (it's not an affiliate link). The pickup could probably benefit from being wax-potted.

[@Mr.Steve-O]

@@Guitarnivore is it noisey or getting alot of feedback, is that why you mention needing to be wax potted, I certainly don't want to spend time waxing potting them, maybe there is an alternative out there that is waxed potted in this price range, thx

[@Guitarnivore]

@@Mr.Steve-O Nope. You'd have to turn it up pretty loud with some gain/distortion to get feedback. It's just slightly microphonic if you tap on the guitar. I don't know if there is anything better within the price range of $13. Wax potting is easy though. I'm thinking about dropping a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound in this sometime.

[@Mr.Steve-O]

@@Guitarnivore I just dropped in the $10 Musiclily Dual Hot Rail P/U. Sounds great, but yeah these are not waxed potted. I am getting the microphonic tap when touching the pickguard. Are you dipping the whole P/U with the cover on into the wax ? I may wax pot down the road. Thx

[@rather.b.fishin9704]

G'day mate. I am putting a hotrails PU into my Fender Music Master bass in a similar conversion. It is the same configuration, single volume and single tone. Would you have a wiring diagram to show where the 5 wires of the hotrails go as it has a red, white, black, green and earth whilst the existing PU was only a black and white. Many thanks.

[@witmal99]

here are the instructions, I think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpjGdZpuYtuWeZo

[@tatialo37]

NS here!!! Buying one for my "daughter" soon!!! Then, I'm going to stick a mudbucker near the neck!!!!

[@iliasliakos6692]

youll need to swap the brdge

[@davidacosta9251]

Gracias por el video. Quiero preguntar si se le pueden poner micrófonos de Jazz bass. Gracias

[@Guitarnivore]

I think it would take quite a bit of modifying. If you're specifically looking for a short scale Jazz bass, the Ibanez Mikro bass guitars are a good option at an affordable price.

[@davidacosta9251]

@@Guitarnivore Gracias por tu respuesta. Tengo un bronco y quiero modificarlo, ya tengo un Pbass y me gustaría ponerle micrófonos de Jazz bass. No sé mucho del tema de modificaciones de un bajo por eso pregunto si se puede.

[@iliasliakos6692]

I got one few days ago... the main issue with this instrument is its god wacky bridge...the fist that has to be replaced is the bridge.

[@Guitarnivore]

Totally agree. I replaced the bridge about a month after I made this video with a cheap $10 high mass bridge from Musiclily on Amazon and it improves the sustain, evened out the string spacing and fixed the intonation problem. I had to do some measuring and drill some new holes to make it work, but it was worth it.

[@iliasliakos6692]

@@Guitarnivore how did the linsid oil go? Did it give it a nice dinish? Did you do two hand's?

[@Guitarnivore]

@@iliasliakos6692 I only did a thin coat and it turned out nice. It gave it a nice feel and a slight sheen to it.

[@josealcocer7373]

Is this bass better than squier mini presicion bass?

[@Guitarnivore]

I honestly don't know, but reading reviews of the P-bads mini, if I had to do it again, I'd go for the mini.

[@inaband428]

Broncos dpending on year have narrower string spacing compared to mini p bass. Which is great for smaller hands.

[@Tech215Studios]

Has anybody here ever put a Standard P Bass Pick Up or even 1 or 2 Jazz Bass Pick Ups? I have this bass and it's fun to play, but I would really like to get a more "Pingy" sound from it. Is this possible? Man I miss my 77 Fender P Bass.

[@Guitarnivore]

I've seen a guy mod his into a Rickenbacker style. I don't have this bass anymore. It was fun to play, but I opted for a normal scaled Jackson.

[@Tech215Studios]

@@Guitarnivore Niiice!!! The only reason I have this is that I got it for $30 at the Pawn Shop I work at once a week as a contractor. I'm their IT guy, I fix all the machines at come in and get them ready to be sold. So I get stuff for super cheap. Eventually, I am going to buy a brand new Fender Jazz, P, or a P Bass Special, which has both the P Bass Pick Up and Jazz Bass pick up on the bridge. Def going to play a few before I make a purchase. I wouldn't mind an Ernie Ball Sting Ray either. LOL

[@Guitarnivore]

@@Tech215Studios I work IT as well.and that sounds like a great side job. And $30 for a Bronco, that's awesome.

[@Tech215Studios]

@@Guitarnivore Awww shit a couple of IT nerds!!! :)

[@juanokita4401]

The eye 👁 of iron maiden.full canabis

[@tatialo37]

Oh crap! I'll have to chisel the body!!!

[@Guitarnivore]

Yeah, that might be a tough one. With the right tools, you can make it happen. I'd love to see your progress.

[@TedGahan01]

Hope your eye is doing better!

[@Guitarnivore]

Thanks. This was over two years ago and it's all cleared up. It was a bit crazy looking then. 🧟‍♂

[@TedGahan01]

@@Guitarnivore I’m proudly playing a black Bronco Bass

[@Guitarnivore]

@@TedGahan01 It was a cool started bass for me, but I ended up selling it early last year and have bought two Jackson bass guitars since then.

[@TedGahan01]

@@Guitarnivore I also have a Squier P Bass, which I ended up getting before the Bronco.

[@Guitarnivore]

@@TedGahan01 It's great to have a variety of sound options. At least that's what I tell my wife every time I buy a new guitar. 😆

[@johnmiezejewski81]

You had my interest until you oiled the Polyurethane Finished fretboard. Oil will only penetrate unfinished wood such as rosewood, pau ferro, jatoba, etc. It will just sit on a finished maple fretboard making it feel slick temporarily.

[@Guitarnivore]

The fretboards on these have no poly on them at all. They are unfinished. I wouldn't have done it if it did.

[@aa.p6151]

Name of the amp?

[@Guitarnivore]

I think at that time I was using it through a Peavy Vypyr VIP2 30 watt, which can be used as a guitar/bass/acoustic amp. It didn't sound much different through my Fender Rumble 100.

[@aa.p6151]

@@Guitarnivore thanks, bro! Actually i have a rumble too, but im looking for some amp, who give me more effects than only the options of volume

[@heres2ya]

oiling a maple fretboard................................ LOL

[@Guitarnivore]

Yeah, I thought it was unfinished because it really looks like raw, unfinished maple which you can oil. Found out later it's a really thin coat of satin poly. 🤷‍♂️ The more you know.

[@inaband428]

My bronco was /is raw no finish at all...

[@inaband428]

@@Guitarnivore Woodworker here, nothing wrong with a little oil over poly. The oil will fill any micro pores etc.

[@skybluemarshall]

Everyone has their opinions on shortscale basses. Here's mine: A shortscale bass= flatwound strings, period. Inarguable.

[@paulevans4334]

I take it you're a guitar player and not a bass player?

[@Guitarnivore]

I would barely say I'm even a guitar player. 😁