With the completion of a new factory in the mid-1960s, Fender lazed past designs and launched Roger Rossmeisl’s electric hollow body models with screwed arms, such as the Coronado. However, the obvious lack of striking innovations did not prevent the company from bringing to market its newest student solid body model, the Fender Bronco, in 1967.
| Type | Solidbody electric |
| Body & Neck | Alder |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Pick-ups | One Fender single-coil pick-up |
Initially sold together with a namesake amplifier, the Dakota Red Bronco had the same body as the previous Mustang model but upgraded the scale length from 22 1⁄2 inches (57 cm) to 24 inches.
The instrument measured 61 cm and had twenty-two frets as well as modifications, including the removal of the neck pick-up, together with the installation of an innovative “steel vibrato” bridge design. After its service ended with the Bronco in 1981, this unit with six adjustable saddles mounted on a spring inside a body cavity featuring a removable arm was discontinued permanently.
Short-scale guitars like the Bronco, together with its Mustang cousin, gained appreciation from select guitar heroes despite being small in both size and importance within Fender’s history. Alex Turner chose this guitar in the early years of the Arctic Monkeys, while Kurt Cobain was so charmed by his Mustangs that he collaborated with Fender to combine one with the Jaguar, resulting in the Jag-Stang.
What Happened to Alex Turner’s Black Fender Bronco?
By 2011 on Suck It and See tour, Alex’s Fender Bronco was stolen in Europe, namely in Stockholm. At the time, this guitar would have been replaced by a Fender Musicmaster, who left much to be desired in his live performances, for example, when they were supporting the Black Keys 2012 tour, ending with Alex Turner abandoning it. Some people believe he gave the Musicmaster to Alexandra Savior.
The Musicmaster is very similar to the Bronco model. At one time, when Alexandra Savior posted a video with one guitar, it raised many questions among fans about whether this would be the famous Fender Bronco that had been stolen. It is important to note, however, that although very similar, there are a few differences between both models: the Bronco only has a single pickup and tremolo system, and the Musicmaster has only one neck pickup and three saddle bridges.
Alexandra Savior with the guitar from Arabella's video, which Alex Turner gifted to her ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kG2P0R9GKb
— effie 🌹 (@Euphem1a) March 4, 2021
What Other Guitars Did Alex Turner Use?
Alex Turner used a white Fender Stratocaster during the recording of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. For the following albums, Favourite Worst Nightmare and Hambug, he picked the Fender Bronco and the Fender Jazzmaster, respectively.
The Ovation Viper also stands out among Alex’s guitars because he first used it during performances with Miles Kane in The Last Shadow Puppets. The guitar became more popular in the music video for “My Propeller” from the Humbug album.
Starting in the early 2010s, Alex Turner began to perform regularly with a Warmoth Jazzmaster. The Warmoth Jazzmaster became renowned when Alex Turner played it during the band’s outstanding Coachella 2012 performance. In Arctic Monekey’s live concerts during this time, Alex Turner also added a black/ebony Gibson Les Paul Custom to his arsenal of guitars. The guitar that Jamie Cook once owned appeared as an essential instrument throughout the AM era.
Alex’s musical inventory includes a vintage guitar from the British brand Vox. Alex Turner obtained this Vox Starstream during the sessions for Suck It and See, but it became integral to the band’s fresh sound during the creation of AM. Producer James Ford disclosed that numerous riffs for the album were composed using this specific guitar, including the song “Do I Wanna Know?”.
Finally, Turner used a black Gretsch Duo in powerful tracks like “Arabella” and “R U Mine?”. Arielle Vandenberg gave him the guitar as a present while they were in the middle of recording AM.
