Fender Bronco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fender Bronco | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Manufacturer | Fender |
| Period | 1967-1981 |
| Woods | |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood |
| Colors available | |
| Black, White, Red | |
- For the amplifier of the same name see, Fender Bronco Amp
The Fender Bronco was an electric guitar model produced by the Fender company from mid 1967 until 1981. It used the body and neck from the Fender Mustang, but had only one pickup and a different tremolo arm mechanism. Unlike the other Mustang variants, it was offered only with a 24" scale length and a two-piece maple neck featuring a "round-lam" rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets and pearloid dot inlays.
The Bronco, like the rest of the Mustang family, was intended as a student model. Its shorter scale length also suited players with smaller hands. It was initially sold as a "package" with the Fender Bronco Amp, a small amplifier also created for students.
Its single pickup was mounted in the bridge position, unlike the Musicmaster which had a neck pickup only and the Mustang and Duo-Sonic, which both had two pickups. The unique tremolo arm was Leo Fender's fourth and least popular design, and appeared only on the Bronco. It is sometimes unofficially known as the Fender steel vibrato, and colloquially as the Bronco trem. It has its admirers, but only few guitarists, such as Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, use it as their main guitar.
The Bronco was usually produced with a rosewood fingerboard and standard Dakota Red finish. Only a very small batch of late '70s Broncos featured an unusual maple fingerboard. The Bronco, like the Music Master and the Mustang, was discontinued in 1981 and replaced by the Fender Lead Series. The last colours available were Dakota Red, Black, Olympic White and Midnight Wine. Unlike its older and more popular cousin, the Mustang, as of 2008 it has not seen a re-issue. The Bronco name is continued only in the Squier-branded Bronco Bass.
[edit] Sightings
- Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor is seen strumming a Bronco for their promotional video for "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)".
- Andy Partridge guitarist and vocalist for XTC plays a Fender Bronco in the promotional videos for "Making Plans For Nigel" and "Life Begins At The Hop".
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, guitarist for The Mars Volta and guitarist of former band At the Drive-In, was spotted with a Bronco on the front cover of the At the Drive-In CD Acrobatic Tenement.
- Kasper Eistrup from Kashmir played a Bronco during his performance at the Skanderborg Festival of 2004.
- Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner plays a black Fender Bronco since early 2007. It can be seen in the video for "Brianstorm" and during their performance at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival.
- The rhythm guitarist for Australian band Icehouse can be seen playing a Red Bronco on their 1987 hit "Electric Blue"
- Bradford Cox, of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound is often seen playing a natural finish Bronco w/ a Black pickguard.
[edit] External links
- shortscale.org great shortscale guitar forum
- Fender Bronco at Jason's Mustang and Bronco Page.
- Pictures of Broncos.
