I'm so glad I ran across this video. It's refreshing to see a full length video that's uncut and not split up into 5 parts. Super informative and you give some amazing tips. Totally subbed. ✌️😎
Great video as always. Missed seeing the shop kitty.(Meow) I have a stock Bronco, amazing bass for the money. I was going to do the same mods, but for now, it plays and sounds fine. Keep up the good work, and as always, thank you for sharing!!!
I sometimes wonder if it's worth doing these projects. Of course it's what the customer wants so that's good enough. When you weigh up the price of the bass, hardware and strings+ a skilled man to fit it out, you must be well on your way moneywise towards a better model with decent specs. Great video content, thank you for uploading.
Thanks James. You're right; it often isn't 'worth' doing them - except, as you pointed out, the customer wants them done. Many people value being able to 'design' the guitar they want and 'direct' the process - more than they value a branded guitar that will still need setting up anyway...
Instead of scrapping the bridge , just redrill the bridge to accept 4 17mm bridges voila and now you good intonation ability and keep the unique muiscmaster style stock bridge.
Good idea. In this case my customer specified what they wanted so I just went along with that. There are times I might look for another solution whereas my customer's solution is different hardware.
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars I just hate seeing hardware tossed when it can simply be improved negating the need. But yup customer wants a different bridge then thats that.
Thanks Randy - no, I installed it (replacing the 0.047uf original that went with the single coil pickup). It was a 0.022uF to suit the humbucker. I bought a load of those 'orange drops' from China; function absolutely perfectly as well as the same (slightly smaller) orange drops bought over here in the UK for 5 or 6 times the cost.
Just a thought... if you are going to put that much work and money into upgrading this bass, why not just buy a better bass? I think the whole attraction of this instrument is its cheap price. With a little limiter/enhancer pedal, or a nice multi-effects box, you can get a decent sound without spending much money. People spend a ton of money and then end up selling the instrument. Doesn't make much sense??!
Eliot you're both right...and wrong. Right in that, for YOU it doesn't make sense and you'd be inclined to put the money towards a better bass. Having said that, that bass would itself probably need setting up. You're wrong in that Adam is a long-term customer. To him this was about getting a bass + set up and modified by me (his 'go-to' guitar guy). For him that's more than just a bass. It's not easy to see the situation through someone else's eyes but it's useful to try to do that because if nothing else it will stop you sounding like you simply think you're 'right' and they're 'wrong'. If we could all do it more it would lead to world peace and human happiness :-)
I've built a number professional grade short scale bass's from cheaper base models that had excellent body and neck. Wiith care-full planning and consideration into parts selection you can easily end up with a much better instrument for ½ the price and spend the money saved on some nice expensive labella's etc and still gave left over money.
My advice would be this: set your thinking to "Hey, this 100 £ $ (whatever) is going to be spend on learning and gaining experience - regardless of whether or not I get a nice bass out of it..." That's how I started out.
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars Oh thanks Sam...I am just currently having trouble finding a pickup that cheap for the bass. I can't really use too much money on it so I need a good pickup for cheap. Also can you link the products you used? I would appreciate it. Thanks you!!
@@sj3802 I think it was this one www.ebay.co.uk/p/Wilkinson-Mwm4-Bass-Pickup-for-Mm-Type-Electric-Guitars-Black-Humbucker/1366515944?iid=131962681756&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=131962681756&targetid=596596272701&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045304&poi=&campaignid=6619151963&mkgroupid=84510980768&rlsatarget=pla-596596272701&abcId=1140496&merchantid=6995734&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoebsBRCHARIsAC3JP0IrYUc49htC-aZuVqoF34gYwj8fnLI3noda2QtxxnX9-mdXwAoKbukaAjgREALw_wcB
Unfortunately I can't answer that (not being a bass player or having spent any time playing this in its default configuration); all I can say is that Adam loves it with this bridge and pickup upgrade.
Thanks John :-) I had the pleasure of handing this guitar over to its owner last weekend, a rare pleasure to get out and meet a long-time Reloved customer.
Well, that's funny because I just change the bridge on my bronco today. It took about three weeks for it to arrive from China to Canada but it was worth it. Absolutely beautiful bridge with three-way adjustments. www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07B664BP4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Can you advise me about where would be the best place to get an acoustic guitar set up I have a Taylor guitar that the action seems to be a lot higher than when I first had it to the point that it’s not nice to play anymore
Hi - I do acoustic set ups but some things to check on your guitar first to get an idea what's up with it. When the action starts to rise noticeably it can often be the result of the bridge rising up or the neck sinking in to the body. The bridge rising is often caused by the top absorbing moisture which swells the wood. The rigid sides stop the top expanding outwards so it 'bellies' upwards taking the bridge with it. You can determine the degree of this your guitar has by placing a long ruler on its edge behind and parallel to the bridge. If there's a gap between the ruler and the guitar top at both sides then your top isn't flat and is bellied (assuming of course that it's not an archtop!). As the top bellies not only does the bridge rise (causing the action at the last fret to to increase substantially) but it eventually also breaks the joint between the bridge and the guitar top, ultimately causing the bridge to lift at it's back edge until it finally breaks off. If it's a very old guitar, the string loading can also deform the neck / body joint causing a dramatic change in the action. If / when this happens, the only real solution is an expensive and time-consuming neck reset. If the guitar action has increased due to excess humidity in the top (very common in the UK's damp climate for example) then the long-term remedy is to de-humidify the guitar and then keep it in a more controlled ambient environment. This can be done by booking it into a good music shop with the appropriate facilities (a special cabinet) and / or keeping your guitar in a de-humidified environment to dry it out over time. In the short-term I may be able to make some improvements via either Taylor's special neck shims or some adjustment at the saddle (and nut). Either way, that action would need to be adjusted again as / when any improvement was achieved by de-humidification. Drop me an email at samdeeks@gmail.com if you want to discuss further. Cheers!
You need to speak at the same volume and not mutter softly. I had to keep turning the volume up but then you would do something to the bass and the sound would blast my ears off.
I need to do whatever it takes to get the job done - and if it's late at night (with the back end of my shed close to the neighbour's back door) I'll probably mutter. It's how it is. It's pretty obvious that if I was making videos primarily to entertain / inform / please the TH-cam viewer then I would have a camera-person, different lighting, boom mics, speeded up sequences, tons of close-ups and edits - and they'd be 10 minutes long. They're more like 'I'm working and there happens to be a camera on...' :-)
NowI'mMe He does not “need” to do anything that you say because it is his channel. The video was spot on. There is a reason a statue has never been built for a critic.......
Sam, do you recall if there was enough room to drop in true P Bass pickup configuration without having to re-route the cavity? I like the Wilkinson pickup as an option, it's looks like a true gladiator ; ) Cheers
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars was the new Gotoh bridge able to cover the 2 holes at the front of the stock bridge ? I just measured my Bronco and the front base holes are roughly 3/18" wide on the stock bridge, thx as I too want to update the bridge, thx
Hi Sam, I was wondering If I could pick your brain, I have a Chinese telecaster ripoff/ copy (yes, one of them ) and it has a set neck. Everything is fine with the guitar and I`ve done a lot of mods but the neck is about a 14 to 16 inch radius which I dont particularly like. I know a lot of people always want to go flatter and are probably screaming don`t do it but I was wondering if you have ever gone the other way 16 to 12, can you see any problems ?
Hi Karl - yes I've gone the other way and no, I don't foresee any major problems other than if it's a rosewood fingerboard then you'll be thinning it towards the edges, that's all. So long as there's enough wood in the fingerboard then it should be fine. In my experience, it's quite difficult to do precisely by hand because it's difficult to keep the block absolutely on the centre line. But you can get close :-)
I gave up...your voice is too low and the sound isn't clear at all. I wish I could have watched this entire video...I got to the 35 minute mark and that was all I could take. :-(
Try wearing headphones or watching this on a TV. I had no problem hearing him on my phone while wearing headphones 🎧 But I wanted to see everything a bit better and not have to worry about holding my phone for 3 hours so I switched to my TV.
I'm so glad I ran across this video. It's refreshing to see a full length video that's uncut and not split up into 5 parts. Super informative and you give some amazing tips. Totally subbed. ✌️😎
Thanks James!
Thanks! I’ve got a new Bronco Bass coming to me in the Post. It’s going to be my “upgrade” project. 🎻🙂😎
Have a Bronco on the way... just learned a lot about some of the mods I hope to do! Thx Sam!
No joke I have a black bronco and my name is sam...
Great video as always. Missed seeing the shop kitty.(Meow) I have a stock Bronco, amazing bass for the money. I was going to do the same mods, but for now, it plays and sounds fine. Keep up the good work, and as always, thank you for sharing!!!
I sometimes wonder if it's worth doing these projects. Of course it's what the customer wants so that's good enough. When you weigh up the price of the bass, hardware and strings+ a skilled man to fit it out, you must be well on your way moneywise towards a better model with decent specs. Great video content, thank you for uploading.
Thanks James. You're right; it often isn't 'worth' doing them - except, as you pointed out, the customer wants them done. Many people value being able to 'design' the guitar they want and 'direct' the process - more than they value a branded guitar that will still need setting up anyway...
Instead of scrapping the bridge , just redrill the bridge to accept 4 17mm bridges voila and now you good intonation ability and keep the unique muiscmaster style stock bridge.
Good idea. In this case my customer specified what they wanted so I just went along with that. There are times I might look for another solution whereas my customer's solution is different hardware.
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars I just hate seeing hardware tossed when it can simply be improved negating the need. But yup customer wants a different bridge then thats that.
Excellent video, lots of nice tips, thanks
the best video !! thanks for share.
good jop this is tuning bronco bass🐶🤟🎸
nice Video thanks for info.
This could also be done to any P Bass. Thanks.
I like the Bronco Bass from Squier/Fender - in my youtube Chanel you could find a modificated Bronco Bass with sound very nice. 😀
Did this guitar come with the orange drop capacitor or did you install it? Do you remember what size it is? Nice job and video btw
Thanks Randy - no, I installed it (replacing the 0.047uf original that went with the single coil pickup). It was a 0.022uF to suit the humbucker. I bought a load of those 'orange drops' from China; function absolutely perfectly as well as the same (slightly smaller) orange drops bought over here in the UK for 5 or 6 times the cost.
Just a thought... if you are going to put that much work and money into upgrading this bass, why not just buy a better bass? I think the whole attraction of this instrument is its cheap price. With a little limiter/enhancer pedal, or a nice multi-effects box, you can get a decent sound without spending much money. People spend a ton of money and then end up selling the instrument. Doesn't make much sense??!
Eliot you're both right...and wrong. Right in that, for YOU it doesn't make sense and you'd be inclined to put the money towards a better bass. Having said that, that bass would itself probably need setting up. You're wrong in that Adam is a long-term customer. To him this was about getting a bass + set up and modified by me (his 'go-to' guitar guy). For him that's more than just a bass. It's not easy to see the situation through someone else's eyes but it's useful to try to do that because if nothing else it will stop you sounding like you simply think you're 'right' and they're 'wrong'. If we could all do it more it would lead to world peace and human happiness :-)
I've built a number professional grade short scale bass's from cheaper base models that had excellent body and neck. Wiith care-full planning and consideration into parts selection you can easily end up with a much better instrument for ½ the price and spend the money saved on some nice expensive labella's etc and still gave left over money.
I have a squier bronco that I want to mod but Im scared to screw it up. I really don't know what to do...
My advice would be this: set your thinking to "Hey, this 100 £ $ (whatever) is going to be spend on learning and gaining experience - regardless of whether or not I get a nice bass out of it..." That's how I started out.
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars Oh thanks Sam...I am just currently having trouble finding a pickup that cheap for the bass. I can't really use too much money on it so I need a good pickup for cheap. Also can you link the products you used? I would appreciate it. Thanks you!!
@@sj3802 I think it was this one
www.ebay.co.uk/p/Wilkinson-Mwm4-Bass-Pickup-for-Mm-Type-Electric-Guitars-Black-Humbucker/1366515944?iid=131962681756&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=131962681756&targetid=596596272701&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045304&poi=&campaignid=6619151963&mkgroupid=84510980768&rlsatarget=pla-596596272701&abcId=1140496&merchantid=6995734&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoebsBRCHARIsAC3JP0IrYUc49htC-aZuVqoF34gYwj8fnLI3noda2QtxxnX9-mdXwAoKbukaAjgREALw_wcB
How noticeable is the difference in string spacing after installing a bridge with larger specs (19mm vs 17.5)? Thanks.
Unfortunately I can't answer that (not being a bass player or having spent any time playing this in its default configuration); all I can say is that Adam loves it with this bridge and pickup upgrade.
Haven't seen you in a while Sam, hope everything is OK.
Hi Steve, yes - all good thanks :-) Just not been near decent broadband to upload next crop of videos. Should be within the next couple of weeks
Great stuff, don't stop making videos! :-)
Thanks John :-) I had the pleasure of handing this guitar over to its owner last weekend, a rare pleasure to get out and meet a long-time Reloved customer.
Hi Sam! Wich bridge did you put in that Bronco? I'm looking to upgrade mine too.
Thanks!
Hi khatru - apologies, I don't recall. The customer send it down and I just fitted it :-)
Well, that's funny because I just change the bridge on my bronco today. It took about three weeks for it to arrive from China to Canada but it was worth it. Absolutely beautiful bridge with three-way adjustments. www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07B664BP4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Can you advise me about where would be the best place to get an acoustic guitar set up I have a Taylor guitar that the action seems to be a lot higher than when I first had it to the point that it’s not nice to play anymore
Hi - I do acoustic set ups but some things to check on your guitar first to get an idea what's up with it. When the action starts to rise noticeably it can often be the result of the bridge rising up or the neck sinking in to the body. The bridge rising is often caused by the top absorbing moisture which swells the wood. The rigid sides stop the top expanding outwards so it 'bellies' upwards taking the bridge with it. You can determine the degree of this your guitar has by placing a long ruler on its edge behind and parallel to the bridge. If there's a gap between the ruler and the guitar top at both sides then your top isn't flat and is bellied (assuming of course that it's not an archtop!). As the top bellies not only does the bridge rise (causing the action at the last fret to to increase substantially) but it eventually also breaks the joint between the bridge and the guitar top, ultimately causing the bridge to lift at it's back edge until it finally breaks off.
If it's a very old guitar, the string loading can also deform the neck / body joint causing a dramatic change in the action. If / when this happens, the only real solution is an expensive and time-consuming neck reset.
If the guitar action has increased due to excess humidity in the top (very common in the UK's damp climate for example) then the long-term remedy is to de-humidify the guitar and then keep it in a more controlled ambient environment. This can be done by booking it into a good music shop with the appropriate facilities (a special cabinet) and / or keeping your guitar in a de-humidified environment to dry it out over time. In the short-term I may be able to make some improvements via either Taylor's special neck shims or some adjustment at the saddle (and nut). Either way, that action would need to be adjusted again as / when any improvement was achieved by de-humidification.
Drop me an email at samdeeks@gmail.com if you want to discuss further. Cheers!
You need to speak at the same volume and not mutter softly. I had to keep turning the volume up but then you would do something to the bass and the sound would blast my ears off.
I need to do whatever it takes to get the job done - and if it's late at night (with the back end of my shed close to the neighbour's back door) I'll probably mutter. It's how it is. It's pretty obvious that if I was making videos primarily to entertain / inform / please the TH-cam viewer then I would have a camera-person, different lighting, boom mics, speeded up sequences, tons of close-ups and edits - and they'd be 10 minutes long. They're more like 'I'm working and there happens to be a camera on...' :-)
NowI'mMe He does not “need” to do anything that you say because it is his channel. The video was spot on. There is a reason a statue has never been built for a critic.......
Sam, do you recall if there was enough room to drop in true P Bass pickup configuration without having to re-route the cavity? I like the Wilkinson pickup as an option, it's looks like a true gladiator ; ) Cheers
I can't remember Steve... just that everything needed widening :-)
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars thanks Sam
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars was the new Gotoh bridge able to cover the 2 holes at the front of the stock bridge ? I just measured my Bronco and the front base holes are roughly 3/18" wide on the stock bridge, thx as I too want to update the bridge, thx
@@Mr.Steve-O I believe so Steve - I don't recall having to do any fills / paint cover-ups
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars good to know, any chance your customers knows the Gotoh Model number he sent you to install ?
Hi Sam, I was wondering If I could pick your brain, I have a Chinese telecaster ripoff/ copy (yes, one of them ) and it has a set neck. Everything is fine with the guitar and I`ve done a lot of mods but the neck is about a 14 to 16 inch radius which I dont particularly like. I know a lot of people always want to go flatter and are probably screaming don`t do it but I was wondering if you have ever gone the other way 16 to 12, can you see any problems ?
Hi Karl - yes I've gone the other way and no, I don't foresee any major problems other than if it's a rosewood fingerboard then you'll be thinning it towards the edges, that's all. So long as there's enough wood in the fingerboard then it should be fine. In my experience, it's quite difficult to do precisely by hand because it's difficult to keep the block absolutely on the centre line. But you can get close :-)
@@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars thanks
Time stamps please 😊
It's just as easy to scroll along with the video controls (I'm too busy working on guitars to edit, timestamp or annotate these videos, sorry!)
The neck is bowed!!!
And the image is really upside down on the back of your eye... but somehow the brain works it all out :-)
I don't know how you pulled that off. That video was way too long.
Can you do this to my bronco ??
Sure - if you're able to courier it to me. You can email me at samdeeks@gmail.com to discuss if you like.
I gave up...your voice is too low and the sound isn't clear at all. I wish I could have watched this entire video...I got to the 35 minute mark and that was all I could take. :-(
Try wearing headphones or watching this on a TV. I had no problem hearing him on my phone while wearing headphones 🎧
But I wanted to see everything a bit better and not have to worry about holding my phone for 3 hours so I switched to my TV.
Holy moly, talk about a whiner