Bronco vs Musicmaster

markarkark · Post by **markarkark** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:15 am

i have a late 70's MM and i really like it. the pickup sounds great and i like the neck a lot, though it seems like quite a heavy guitar for the size. i've not played a bronco but for me part of the charm of the MM is the hardtail bridge - if i wanted this style of guitar with trem i'd probably get a mustang. they do look cool though.

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:47 am

I don't think you can go on neck comparisons unless you narrow it down to specific instruments. I've got a really thin narrow shouldered C profile mid 70s neck, and a really chunky U shaped mid 60s neck. My '71 is a somewhat chunky C - not nearly as thick as the '65 neck, but not as slim as the '75.

Fender used the same necks across the line - Bronco, Musicmaster, Duo Sonic and Mustang. You'll usually see the date code starting with 16 (or 49) on all of those models from about '67 onwards... so there's no real difference between a "Musicmaster neck" and a "Bronco neck" except for the decal, and of course, the wide variations in terms of profile and shape from neck to neck and year to year.

As far as sound, stock, I think the Musicmaster is a fuller sounding guitar. The bridge pickup location isn't really an ideal place to put a pickup on these shorter scale guitars unless you put something in there with a bit more beef. A stock Musicmaster neck pickup is usually a really cool sound. Almost like a Strat neck pickup, but a little different. I tend to either run both pickups together or the neck pickup by itself a lot more frequently on my Duo Sonic II and Mustang than I use the bridge pickup by itself.

Another consideration is rarity. There are fewer Broncos floating around out there than Musicmasters. That's a dual edged sword. It may mean the Bronco is going to be worth more over time (don't bet the farm on any student model becoming a huge collector's item), and there's a certain cool factor to the Bronco, although the 78-81 Musicmasters share similar cosmetics... but on the downside, some of the parts, such as bridge parts (and I'm not a big fan of the Bronco bridge / vibrato) can be a PITB to try to track down, so if anything ever wears out, gets lost or needs replacement for whatever reason, it's going to be more of a challenge with the Bronco than the Music Master.

Ultimately it comes down to what appeals to you. Personally I prefer Musicmasters. YMMV.

DasBeef · Post by **DasBeef** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:17 pm

Thanks again guys. I'm starting to get a bit of an idea which I should start hunting for.
Collect-ability does appeal to me a little, but what guitar would suit me better is really what it will come down to. Collect-ability just allows me to pass it off to my good lady as 'an investment I can enjoy'.
I've found one of each that I'm interested in. The MM has had a pickgaurd change, and I'm waiting to hear if the Bronco case is original (I don't even know if they originally came with cases?).
Would either of these facts sway anyone?

Johnny Noir · Post by **Johnny Noir** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 1:48 pm

DasBeef wrote:Thanks again guys. I'm starting to get a bit of an idea which I should start hunting for.
Collect-ability does appeal to me a little, but what guitar would suit me better is really what it will come down to. Collect-ability just allows me to pass it off to my good lady as 'an investment I can enjoy'.
I've found one of each that I'm interested in. The MM has had a pickgaurd change, and I'm waiting to hear if the Bronco case is original (I don't even know if they originally came with cases?).
Would either of these facts sway anyone?

that MM is from what year? apparently there are big differences between 60's, early 70's and late 70's.

Pacafeliz · Post by **Pacafeliz** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:09 pm

bronco ALL THE WAY!!!

haz vibrato.
need vibrato.

plus, my bronco has a wide ranger in it.
BroncoBlaster ROCKS!!!

Post by **dots** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:58 pm

having never owned either, my expert opinion is to get a bronco.

MattK · Post by **MattK** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:17 am

Pacafeliz wrote:bronco ALL THE WAY!!!

C'mon Pat, you are just jealous because I have your Musicmaster. Which is beautiful in its basic way.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:38 am

Pacafeliz wrote:bronco ALL THE WAY!!!

haz vibrato.
need vibrato.

plus, my bronco has a wide ranger in it.
BroncoBlaster ROCKS!!!

The idea of a Bronco with a wideranger.. well, err... me lo paro.

Lemme see it.

bottom rung · Post by **bottom rung** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 6:21 am

Hey Das, don't know if you've seen it but Moon Guitars in Glasgow have a 75 MM available. I've no affiliation with them, apart from once having a play on a Moon in a shop in Shetland. He makes some good guitars, but also has a page on his website with vintage guitars for sale.

DasBeef · Post by **DasBeef** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:03 am

Forgot to say cheers for that bottom rung. Anyway.....

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:53 pm

I have never played a Bronco, but I love my Musicmaster. I was worried because I am normally a bridge pickup guy, but the Musicmaster has a great tone and depending on where you strike the strings while playing, you can get a lot of different sound out of it. (Right over the pickup or more toward the bridge.) Mine is very light and the neck is great.

DasBeef · Post by **DasBeef** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:44 pm

The neck on this one seems really nice. Needs a proper setup, and I'm not even touching that complicated ass bridge. To the shop!

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:16 pm

taylornutt wrote:I loved my 78 Musicmaster when I had it, but didn't get along with the baseball bat neck and traded it for a Fender Silverface Vibro Champ. I miss it cause it looked so cool, but it just sat on the wall. The neck pickup (80s Red strat pickup) in that guitar had a lot of attitude and better than both my Mustangs I currently have.

It's tough call on which is better since I have not played a Bronco yet, and I tend to use both pickups equally. A good Musicmaster is a great guitar though.

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I recently got a Bronco and I am so in love with it. The Tremolo is the best and very responsive. The neck profile could be the best neck I own. Right between my AVRI Jaguar and Vintage Mustang neck.

I am really digging the sound and the feel. I think everyone should have one.

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 1:36 am

Answer: both.

I have owned several of each and kept the 72 MM. An iPhone camera is small and does a nice job. For great photos, you probably need a DSLR, but who wants to carry it?

There is a GLUT of MMs and Duos on ebay right now. There will never be a glut on Broncos, so bargains are harder to come by. Also the Bronco will invariably be missing the trem bar. No big, but fact.

A 60s to early 70s model will have two pickup slots like a Duo or Mustang. That means you can have either neck or bridge pickup, sans trem. In that way, the MM is more versatile. You can always swap back the original guard. MMs are undervalued because of the single pickup. Fat neck, get 70s; thinner neck, 60s. Tiny neck 22.5A pre-CBS. Maple neck is less common, but both are fine. Prefer later bridge style to mini Telecaster thing. You can find a single pickup for them all day long, and tuners, too. Any seller can tire of relisting. Find one you like and offer less. Harder to do where you are, I guess.

Broncos are cooler. I love the Bronco trem design. But I also prefer the plastic and metal pick guard setup of the MM for the look and shielding (okay--the look). Broncos had white or black guards only.

75 body $159 OBO

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 2:49 am

My Bronco trem are is actually a bent Strat arm but the trem still works really well. Definitely my favorite trem right now. I still want an original arm for my Bronco and Coronado II.

sollophonic · Post by **sollophonic** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 10:08 pm

Wish I still had my old Musicmaster, I modded it and gigged it solid.

I have turned a Cyclone into a version of it, just for old times sake.

Mind you with its vibrato, its sort of a cross between the two;-)