Squier Bronco bass mods Ep.8: EMG Geezer Butler precision pickups GZR-P

[@paulv8453]

Thanks Jonathan for the suggestions that you put a lot of time into writing for me. Your next cup of coffee ☕️ or beverage of choice is on me 😀

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!!

[@LMaia14]

Those pickups sound amazing, definitely sounds like a whole new bass.

[@jonathanwong458music]

Takes on a whole new character!! Thanks for watching!

[@fbluedevil]

This continues to be a very informative series. Much appreciated!

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks so much!!

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@jonathanwong458musicIndeed...less than a week ago, I installed a GZR pj set in my '95 jackson jpb-7, which was originally equipped with a lousy active preamp, now it's passive and ironically even more powerful...and the jackson has a reverse-p pickup so it has slightly smoother lows on the higher strings with the tone rolled off like what you were talking about

[@jonathanwong458music]

@@jasondorsey7110 that's awesome! Output is HOT!

[@JMK-kb1yq]

I really liked the tone of that EMG. All the others you tried in that bass seemed anemic in comparison. Love your channel eh!!

[@jonathanwong458music]

I really appreciate the encouragement! Thank you! The recording almost doesn’t do it justice. In the room, it sounds huge! Thanks for watching!

[@sync1216]

Another great addition to the series, well done! My first thought was how one would change the cavity, to fit the new pickup - mistery solved. And so simple, the idea with that mustang player series pickguard is very practical. Even someone with two left hands like me can do that. And while this particular sound isn't really something I would go for, it's nice to know that it can be done. The attention to detail you show in this project is greatly appreciated, thank you. Looking forward to what comes next! 👍

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks so much for watching!! The encouragement is much appreciated!

[@jamesbird2231]

Wow, that sounds great! Custom bass maker!!

[@jonathanwong458music]

I'm not sure about the maker part! It is a relentless pursuit of tone, though! Thanks for watching!

[@jimk9839]

So cool, you turned that bronco into beast! Really enjoying this series, thanks!

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@Natey_Potatey]

Thanks!

[@jonathanwong458music]

So generous of you! Thank you! Much appreciated!!

[@blindfury285]

Thank you! I am blind and I have been looking for the perfect pick up for my 80s Memphis short scale! I think I just found while I’m by myself for Christmas! sound mean so much to me thank you keep rockin brother

[@jonathanwong458music]

I’m glad you found the right sound for your tonal goals!! I hope the pickup shells are the same size and that you enjoy the outcome! Thanks for watching!

[@blindfury285]

@@jonathanwong458music thank you! Nothing that a little patience and a file will not fix if they do not sell right I will put them in my 80s for Mako ! It is made of walnut

[@jonathanwong458music]

Right on! Best of luck!

[@alrightythen214]

Thanks again Jonathan. Id love it if you could compare this modded bronco to the squire mini P. Both are options for players looking for something more lightweight

[@jonathanwong458music]

For sure! The next planned series will be modding the Squier Mini P! I have several pickups lined up for it already! I'll try to make a direct comparison video - maybe comparing the best of both mods. Thanks for asking and watching!

[@georgeraindog]

@@jonathanwong458music I really like your videos. I wonder also, unless you are into mods in general and you like it, if its worth converting a bronco to a P when you can get the mini P? Does the small diff in the scale (28.6'' vs 30'') makes a big difference?

[@jonathanwong458music]

@@georgeraindog thanks so much! The scale length difference may only be 1.4” by it’s a big difference in terms of feel. I could gig with the mini P, but I’m more comfortable on a 30” scale, purely in terms of feel. So I think it really depends on what you like.

[@josephbania4564]

I dropped an EMG active P bass pickup in mine along with a battery box and made a pearloid pickguard. I also recarved the neck and refinished the neck. Furthermore, I shaved about 3/32 inch off the back of the neck where is fits in the neck pocket to lower the neck slightly. Also to better see the neck in clubs, I replaced the side dots with some slightly larger 1/8 inch dot made out of plastic welding rod. Finally I replaced the bridge with a more robust one I got from Stew Mac a while ago (not sure of the brand). It's light, sounds great and is easy to play. I'm glad to see you're doing this, its a great mod platform. The P bass pickup really makes a huge difference. One last thing, I like to use flatwounds and recently discovered Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds not sure of the gauge but they are around 50 to 110 and feel more like a 34 inch scale when tuned to standard tuning. Nice job.

[@jonathanwong458music]

Wow! Extensive modding! So cool. I'm hoping to feature some different string options on a future episode. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!!

[@josephbania4564]

@@jonathanwong458music If I can help, let me know. I live in Buffalo NY.

[@MrSparks54]

The EMG sounds similar to the Aguilar 4P-60 that I put in my Aerodyne. Good stuff Jonathon! Cheers from Utah

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks so much for watching!!

[@BassGuitarInstrumental]

Another great video.

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks for watching and commenting!!

[@eliakuiper4266]

This series is excellent work, thanks. I'm no expert but I really like the stock sound 🤷‍♂️

[@jonathanwong458music]

In the end, it's all taste and what one is looking for! I like the grindy, lo-fi tone from the stock pickup too! But the single coil hum makes it less-ideal for what I do, and sonically, the noise drives me nuts. But we are all after different goals and sonic outcomes. Thanks for watching!

[@MC-qe5qb]

Cool video, enjoy your projects and comparisons

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks so much for watching and for the encouragement!

[@scribemike]

I'd take the EMG in a heartbeat. I didn't have a problem with the mids myself, but if I did I'd drop them with the amp EQ and rock those Geezer Butlers any genre all day long. AWESOME tone! Thanks.

[@jonathanwong458music]

Right on!! Thanks for watching and commenting! They do sound huge

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

I've got set of GZR pickups in my Jaguar SS. The P bass sounds really lovely but the output on the J coil is very, very low. I believe that there was a faulty batch of the bridge pickups in the early run. Unfortunately I bought the set 2nd hand so I'll need to see if I can get a replacement from EMG

[@jonathanwong458music]

Could it be the pot? I’m sure there’s someone who would go 50/50 on a PJ set, who would only want the P! EMG has sent me replacement pots before (as you can’t just buy them in a store off the rack). Nice folks. Thanks for watching!

[@MrDanalaimo]

I'm following. At the end, I'd like a comparison video to demonstrate which mods were the most cost-effective at making it better than a comparable, but more expensive bass guitar. The CV Mustang, for example, or something like it

[@jonathanwong458music]

Yes! There will be a finale / conclusion video. It’s in the works! Thanks for following!

[@jamesbird2231]

Thanks for alll these mods. I am older with an arthritic shoulder so have switched to a short scale. Curious what the weight range on a basic Bronco is?

[@jonathanwong458music]

I got into playing short scales for medical reasons (autoimmune joint and muscle disease). The Sonic series Broncos are usually in the 7.5 to 8 lb range. Weights can vary depending on the factory and the wood supply. Of the several I've tried out, the Squiers tend to be lighter than the Harley Benton Mustang style models. Thanks for watching!

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

Impressive Mod, I agree that the Poplar Body is limiting . . .

[@jonathanwong458music]

This particular poplar body is mid-heavy and focused, frequency wise. You can hear it acoustically too (in comparison to alder) and with the stock pickup. I'm firmly in the 'tonewoods matter' camp, coming from the classical music world, and if a particular wood doesn't want to sound a certain way, it becomes trickier to voice it with electronics, albeit possible to a certain degree. I think this EMG geezer accentuates the mid heavy-ness of the wood, but it sounds HUGE! Thanks for watching!

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

I too am in the tonewoods matter camp! @@jonathanwong458music

[@jonathanwong458music]

Had a feeling you would be! Right on!

[@Natey_Potatey]

Hi Jonathan! I messaged you about the Lace Blue pickup earlier but my daughter decided she likes this GZR PJ set from EMG so that's what we're going to do. My question is with the mounting of the pickups. It looks like you put a piece of black foam underneath the pickups to bring them up to the correct height. Can you tell me where you got that foam from and if you remember how you came up with the correct thickness for it in order to provide the right height? Thanks for your help, these videos are really great

[@jonathanwong458music]

Yes - pickups that do not mount/screw directly onto the pickguard itself will need foam or springs of some sort in order to be able to adjust pickup height. How much you need will depend on how deep the cavity is and where you like the pickup height. There are generally 3 ways to go about this, with 3 different prices: i) The most expensive way is to buy specific to the pickup shape foam with a spring in the middle cutout. You can get these from Amazon and Stewmac and other parts sites. But they're expensive. The search term is 'pickup height foam with internal springs' ii) The best and easiest way (in my mind) is to use 'pickup height foam' without the springs. I think this is best because there is no metal for any pickup part to potentially ground out on and it likely won't damage the underside of the pickup. Pickup height is still adjustable from the compressibility and springy-ness of the foam itself. iii) The cheapest way (but potentially a bit of of crapshoot) is to hunt around your basement/packages/shipment boxes for similarly sized foam and sponge that came from parcels. Cut to size. Use multiple layers if needed. The problem is the hassle required to cut accurately and you if you don't, the pickup might not sit straight. The bigger issue is that once you compress it, it doesn't always spring back up. This is the crapshoot part - it really depends on what you have lying around. If you put 'pickup height foam stewmac' into google, it should point you in the right direction! Are you crafting a custom pickguard?

[@paulv8453]

Hey Jonathan 👋 I want a 30” scale P Bass for home use. I can either mod the HB Shorty & install the Fender Yosemite, do what you did to the Bronco bass, or just pay a lot more money and get something equivalent to the Schecter Banshee but I really want the Fender P Bass body. Which route would you take?

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks for watching! If you are really set on a P body....and you are handy and like building things (which I am assuming if you're considering routing a Bronco!) would you consider building a Warmoth? They have a short scale P shape, J shape, a Zeta style shape and a more modern looking Ibanez-esque shape. Then you could really make it look however you want in terms of colour, body woods, knob layout etc. I'm really considering another Warmoth build... Harley Bentons are hit and miss in terms of quality. I've recorded several and for the price they're great. But the last one had a few issues, and they've tended to be on the heavier side. Also more expensive if you live in North American. I haven't tried a Banshee yet. But you've really hit on a topic that I hope manufacturers are listening to: There are very few affordable 30" precision style basses. More mustang styles and Fender Japan has a jazz. If Fender made a 30" P, I think it would sell. But I don't have data to back that up. I just know I'd probably buy one if Fender Japan made one! PS. Maruszczyk makes a 30" P that looks killer. But not exactly in the affordable bracket.

[@paulv8453]

Hey Jonathan! 👋 just bought you a coffee ☕️ Enjoy 😉

[@jonathanwong458music]

You’re awesome! Thanks for your support and generosity!! Much appreciated!

[@paulv8453]

@@jonathanwong458music I forgot to tell you I went to Warwicks site and by the time I added a body and neck, the price was way up there unless you were referring to me buy their body to use my Mustang neck on? 🤔 I would be willing to pay $1k a a 30” p bass

[@jonathanwong458music]

The short scale warmoth bodies will only fit their neck. The mustang neck pocket won’t fit properly unfortunately. This is unlike their full scale fender style parts which are more interchangeable. If you get raw body and neck without finish, it’s cheaper, but if you spec out full paint/finish, it can get pricey, unfortunately. But the quality of the parts is pretty solid.

[@jamesreynolds4487]

I think you should put the fender high mass bridge with the geezer butlers and let’s see how that sounds. That would be cool.

[@jonathanwong458music]

I think you’re likely right! It would be very cool! Unfortunately, this bronco and those EMGs now reside with a friend. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesreynolds4487]

@@jonathanwong458music 😂😂😂 darn

[@ersanshine]

Nice tone

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks for watching!

[@michellaudinat7107]

Great job !!! It would be interesting to compare the sound with the Squier mini precision. By the way why do you wear a glove on your left hand (is it for tone improvement) ?

[@jonathanwong458music]

Thanks for watching! The next series I’m planning is modding the mini P, so I’ll get some comparisons in there! Re glove. I have an autoimmune skin, joint and muscle disease (a form of dermatomyositis) that has shredded apart my fingers and fingertips. The glove helps with pain control from string contact. If anything it sucks away tone! Here’s a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYLGh2uBebqkosksi=uJZpOskx6AdDtMhV

[@michellaudinat7107]

Sorry to hear that, I didn't mean to be indiscreet. I asked the question because a few years ago I saw here in France a bassist who played with gloves ; he said that it gave him a more subdued sound. Despite this health problem you are playing really well and that is the main thing. I'm impatiently waiting for the series on the Squier mini

[@jonathanwong458music]

@@michellaudinat7107 It's all good! I'm pretty open with my illness. Really affected my life, however. I first saw Etienne M'Bappe, then Scott Devine wear gloves and thought, I can maybe play again! And here we are a few years later! The glove does change the tone though, which is why I don't wear one on my RH. It subdues the tone too much. I just need to be really careful how long I play and definitely how hard I pluck. And there are somedays where I just can't play at all. Also forced me to go on yet another string journey. $$....

[@xzivriel]

where did you get the pickguard? you made it?

[@jonathanwong458music]

The brown one? I made that out of fibreboard from Home Depot. It was really only to hold the pots and output jack in place! In episode 9 though, I feature a custom white pearloid pickguard I had made by an eBay seller. Thanks for watching!

[@あーくん-l2u]

ブロンコベース持っているんだけど、これと同じような事考えてた😊 でも結局改造せずにそのまま使って、ムスタングベースを買い足して使い分けてます

[@jonathanwong458music]

Cool! There’s a lot of potential in this bronco bass! Thanks for watching!

[@trappenweisseguy27]

For you it would be a quandary because you already have a full scale P. I actually prefer the sound over your Fender. But then again you’ve lost the uniqueness of the single coil tone vibe 🤷‍♂️.

[@jonathanwong458music]

Yes, the single coil vibe is a great alternative to the usual. The purpose of this series is tonal exploration and to allow friends and viewers on KZbin to hear the sonic potential of an entry level bass. Or hear that some things don't really make a huge difference in the big picture! But everyone's tonal preferences are unique to them and the beauty of today's world is that there are so many different options and approaches to achieve one's target tone.

[@trappenweisseguy27]

My local L&M supposedly has the coral coloured one in stock. I might go out there next week when the crazy hot temperatures here have subsided. They have upgraded the tuners and bridge for sure, but I remember when these were $100 😕. I have both type of P’s, as well as a few J’s, but nothing short scale. I’m 60 but my fingers are only just starting to give me troubles now. I find a 10-15 minute light warmup helps a lot for the hands.

[@jonathanwong458music]

It was autoimmune arthritis that got me into short scales, and it has been a game changer for me. I'm still no where close to where I once was, but I can still kinda play, so I'll take it. Good luck at L&M!

[@trappenweisseguy27]

Autoimmune disorders run in my family unfortunately. My sister has had very bad Crohns for almost 50 years and I unfortunately have Sarcoidosis (which unfortunately can be affecting me internally in any organ without my knowledge).

[@jonathanwong458music]

Ah man. I’m sorry to read that. It’s a tough grind. Hopefully music helps to take your mind off of things, at least for a bit.