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Post subject: Help! problems with Bronco Bass (long)
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:05 pm
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I hope someone can offer a couple tips. I bought a Bronco Bass last September from Guitar Center. I just wanted an inexpensive bass to learn with, and I've been playing guitar for years. Before that I played viola, and done my share of restringing and minor repairs on guitars and violas, so I'm not unfamiliar with stringed instruments, but new to the bass.

This weekend I finally got around to getting an instruction book, and the young lad at GC talked me into some fresh strings. Hey, why not? So I bought some Ernie Ball roundwounds, 50-105 gauge. Took the E string off, and started putting the new one on, but the tapered part of the string seemed to start way beyond the tuner. I took some outer windings off the string to fit in the slot, started tuning it up, and as I got close to being in tune... CLICK. The tuner gears seem to be stripped. Well, it did seem to be easy to bind up as I was loosening the string, so I figured it's just a cheapo tuner.

I used a flat screwdriver to "help" the tuner past the bad spot and got it in tune. The D string tuner seemed to have the same problem. But wait, I remembered I bought the 2-year replacement coverage from GC, so they should take care of it, right?

I walked in, explained the situation, showed the guy what strings I used, and he said "oh, you used long scale strings on a short scale bass, didn't you?". Well, clearly I didn't know there were different lengths, but said that explains why the tapered part of the string wasn't in the right place. At that point, he disappeared to get someone else. Somebody else came by, and explained it again. This guy noted that the neck was bowed significantly, apparently because of really stout strings. OK, I hadn't noticed that, so he grabs an allen wrench and starts messing with the truss rod. Um, hello? The tuners are stripped, the truss rod is not my concern right now. So he messes with it, loosens the tuners, tightens the truss rod, and THEN discovers that he can't tune it up because two of the tuners are stripped. Well, duh, isn't that what I said when I first brought it in?

So, he says they can't do anything about it there, I'll have to call their number for warranty replacement. When I said I think I was sold the wrong strings, the new guy says "why do you think you have the wrong strings?". Because the first guy said so! So he gives me the brochure they (meaning he, since he was the one who sold me the bass back in September) forgot to give me which covered all the details of their replacement coverage.

Sigh... So I call their number today, and they say it's still under Fender's warranty, so I'll have to call Fender, but I'll need a return authorization first. While I'm on the phone, the guy says if it's OK to e-mail me the shipping label. OK, e-mail it to me. He gives me the number for Fender, and all is well, right?

I call Fender, explain the saga up to this point, and they say "You're in Ohio? Do you live near Barberton?". Yes, actually, I'm only about 20 minutes away. So, he says "Just take it over to our service center in Barberton, and they'll take care of you." Great! I look at the shipping label the GC folks sent me, thinking this has the RMA number which the service center will need. Nope! It's a shipping label to Garland Texas with the severely underweight figure of 3 pounds. Yeah, right, no chance of having a 9 pound bass with a couple pounds of box and padding being returned by UPS for being well over the stated weight. :evil:

Now I'm really puzzled as to what to do. I'm inclined to call the Fender service center tomorrow since they are open until 8, which would give me plenty of time to drop it off. I'd much rather take it there then have to find a box big enough to ship it. I don't care whether it gets fixed or replaced at this point, but I'm also afraid somebody's going to point the finger and say I put the wrong strings on and stripped the tuners. Yes, they did strip while I was turning the knobs, but I sure as heck had no idea that they were wrong. I figure if Fender declines to fix it then I'll go give heck to GC and make them live up to their replacement warranty.

Are Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Bass roundwounds in 50, 70, 85, and 105 the wrong strings?

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Post subject: Re: Help! problems with Bronco Bass (long)
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 1:36 pm
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I know this is an old thread, but I have one of these basses, and the title caught my eye.
sparkydave wrote:
Yes, they did strip while I was turning the knobs, but I sure as heck had no idea that they were wrong.
... snip ...
Are Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Bass roundwounds in 50, 70, 85, and 105 the wrong strings?

For what it's worth, http://www.squierguitars.com/basses/oth ... ard-black/ at the bottom of the Specs tab says:
Quote:
Strings: Fender® USA Bass 5250XL Short-Scale NPS, (.040-.095 Gauges)

Those, presumably, are what were installed at the factory, but don't really imply any warning about installing regular length strings.
I also am unable to find any Squier Bronco user manual or instruction sheet on the Squier or Fender support sites. Given that the majority of purchasers are probably beginners, you would think that they would provide at least a basic owners' guide or manual (whether on paper or on the 'net), or even just a warning sticker on the pick guard.
I mean, look at how many cars still come with warning labels on the gas cap that says "Use unleaded fuel only" or some such.

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