Bronco Tremolo Rebuild
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:23 pm
I am the proud owner of a 1971 Fender Bronco that I acquired a while back in trade. It's full functional and operates well.
IMG_6587 by Joey, on Flickr
I also have been randomly acquiring Bronco tremolo/vibrato parts and I am close to having enough to have a second functional tremolo.
IMG_1587 by Joey, on Flickr
I took a piece of wood, cut a hole in it and mounted the base plate with pickguard screws. I plan to use Mustang Vibrato mounting screws for installation on a guitar, but the pickguard screws are good enough for function checking. I also used some larger screws to stand in for the screw in Strat posts that I don't currently have.
Prototyping by Joey, on Flickr
I have the spring and the tension screw but was missing the cone spring retainer. I am substituting a Jaguar/JM tension screw and spring retainer. I have a feeling the Bronco OG spring retainer was slightly larger but the Jag spring retainer works. I am kinda curious how it would operate with the thinner and longer Jaguar spring.
Bronco Spring (left) sitting on an inverted AVRI tremolo.
IMG_1377 by Joey, on Flickr
I actually have enough saddles, but unfortunately they are all the same size. Bronco saddles are not height adjustable and come in 3 sizes: short for the E strings, medium for A and B strings and tall for the D and G strings. I have 8 saddles and they are all the medium sizes. My options are to bend 4 saddles to the correct heights or find a viable replacement.
IMG_6577 by Joey, on Flickr
My plan going forward is to:
1) Figure out what Strat posts can be substituted for the original ones
2) Figure out the saddles
3) Test the spring tension
4) Locate a vintage Bronco body (or build a new one)
5) Find a neck, a pickguard and electronics.
It should be a fun project.
IMG_6587 by Joey, on Flickr
I also have been randomly acquiring Bronco tremolo/vibrato parts and I am close to having enough to have a second functional tremolo.
IMG_1587 by Joey, on Flickr
I took a piece of wood, cut a hole in it and mounted the base plate with pickguard screws. I plan to use Mustang Vibrato mounting screws for installation on a guitar, but the pickguard screws are good enough for function checking. I also used some larger screws to stand in for the screw in Strat posts that I don't currently have.
Prototyping by Joey, on Flickr
I have the spring and the tension screw but was missing the cone spring retainer. I am substituting a Jaguar/JM tension screw and spring retainer. I have a feeling the Bronco OG spring retainer was slightly larger but the Jag spring retainer works. I am kinda curious how it would operate with the thinner and longer Jaguar spring.
Bronco Spring (left) sitting on an inverted AVRI tremolo.
IMG_1377 by Joey, on Flickr
I actually have enough saddles, but unfortunately they are all the same size. Bronco saddles are not height adjustable and come in 3 sizes: short for the E strings, medium for A and B strings and tall for the D and G strings. I have 8 saddles and they are all the medium sizes. My options are to bend 4 saddles to the correct heights or find a viable replacement.
IMG_6577 by Joey, on Flickr
My plan going forward is to:
1) Figure out what Strat posts can be substituted for the original ones
2) Figure out the saddles
3) Test the spring tension
4) Locate a vintage Bronco body (or build a new one)
5) Find a neck, a pickguard and electronics.
It should be a fun project.