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Beginning with Rock Band 3, all instrument peripherals (except for the Squier Strat real guitar controller being made by Fender) are being manufactured by Mad Catz. I've referred to Mad Catz as "Mad Crapz" more than once for the low quality of some of their accessories, though fortunately both the new guitar and the new keyboard seem to work well enough. But even though the new RB guitar is quite functional, I can't give it more than 3 stars.
The major emphasis on this revision of the guitar controller seems to be quieter fret buttons. The fret buttons on this guitar are definitely quieter than the frets on my old Rock Band 2 Strat, but the trade-off is in the tactile feedback of the buttons the buttons on this guitar are VERY squishy and don't depress much when pressed. Comparatively, the frets on my old RB2 Strat feel reassuringly crisp and the buttons depress noticeably. (I guess you'd say the RB2 Strat has higher action, to use the proper guitar term.)
Outside of the feel of the fret buttons, there is very little difference between this model and the older ones. The strum bar feels the same, as does the tremolo bar. The one other change is that the 5-way effects switch has been removed, but I certainly won't miss it.
Now, I understand my complaint is primarily a "feel" thing and undoubtedly some users will appreciate the new fret buttons' feel. But I kind of wish I'd spent my $60 on an RB2 Strat, though the trouble there is actually finding one.
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This guitar controller is almost identical to the Rock Band 2 wireless guitar save for aesthetics. Like its predecessor, it is an improvement over the Rock Band 1 model in several areas:The fret buttons are noticeably quieter and less "clicky".
The strum bar is also nearly silent. It still has a bit of that "mushy" feeling that some people complained about when comparing it to Guitar Hero controllers. Personally, I have always preferred the Rock Band strummer as it felt more natural compared to the Guitar Hero model. If you didn't like it before, this won't change your mind. After moderate use my strum bar sometimes makes a creaking noise if I move it slowly (like it needs to be oiled).
The battery compartment on the back is also much easier to get into thanks to the change from having to unscrew tiny screws in the Rock Band 1 guitar to a simple tab release.
One thing that hasn't changed is that, for the PlayStation 3, the guitar requires use of a USB "dongle" which hangs off the PS3. Not a big deal, and it's better than having a wire, but I'm hoping eventually we can see a true bluetooth model that connects to the PS3 like regular controllers do.
Also worth noting is that the 5-way effects switch has been removed. When playing a game such as Rock Band 1 there is no way to change effects at all, and the default setting is set to "echo" instead of "off" which means that whenever you use overdrive or enter a guitar solo you are forced to hear the notes in the "echo" setting. Not a big deal but certainly annoying. The switch must have been removed to cut costs.
Finally, the only two color choices for PS3 users are "cherry" red and a rather pale shade of blue. These are rather unexciting.
Overall, this is worth picking up if you plan on jumping into Rock Band or are considering getting a new guitar controller. From what I've heard, the Rock Band 2 guitar is actually the best of the bunch but is harder to find. Good luck and good shredding!
Buy Rock Band 3 - Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller for PlayStation 3 Now
The Fender Stratocaster guitar controllers are a MUST replacement over OEM Rock Band guitars. Original guitars drove me NUTS with the clicking of the strum bar, sometimes interfering with my concentration, causing errors. The Fender Strat's strum bar is COMPLETELY SILENT, no clicking at all!!! The whammy bar is a bit out of place from what I was used to before, but I think I will adjust to it in time. The silent strumming took a while to acclimate to also, you don't feel or hear a click, so you aren't sure you did it hard enough, resulting occasionally in a double-strum. I am adjusting to it though, and am VERY happy with the purchase.The strum bar is completely silent. The previous version was good, and I actually used the click of the strum bar to keep time. This one is so quiet that you don't hear yourself playing, so if you have a series of fast notes, you have to pay attention so that you don't strum an extra note at the end. The fret buttons are probably the same as the last one, very quiet and responsive. This guitar is the best choice for the new generation, even better than the more expensive models (that I sent back).update:
Sometimes these guitars have a oversensitive strum bar. You would think that a plastic guitar that costs more than a real guitar would be perfect out of the box. I was having problems with the down strum registering several strums killing my score. I took the screws out of the back (not the front side screws) to expose the back of the trigger. There is a small magnet encased in plastic that triggers a conductor (on each side) when it moves up and down. I used vinyl repair to add more insulation eliminating the problem of being too sensitive. You can use any kind of caulk, silicon, etc. If you have a guitar that isn't sensitive enough, you can take a small knife and shave the plastic down on the side that is next to the conductor.
Want Rock Band 3 - Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller for PlayStation 3 Discount?
Much as I enjoy my GH guitars, I needed a "real" RB axe to get the trophies. The single biggest adjustment (after finally gaining success at GH touch strip) is in the solo frets. Play on one and you can play them all is the theory, though this guitar feels to have slightly different dimensions than the OEM model. No complaints on play; most of my issues stem from my own build not playing nicely with RB hardware (I have small hands and the reach at the solo frets is a semi-major adjustment).Played fine out of the box and seems to work as intended. Worked with GH5, GHWT, RB1, and RB2 as well as the promised RB3 (haven't attempted the other disks as yet); also accepted all DLC for the full RB and GH series. Like others I would prefer a true wireless rather than dongle-connect, but this seems to be a standard thing currently. Takes "double A" batteries.
Picked this one over others for the blue finish; strictly preferential. Removed from my Amazon wishlist when I almost literally tripped over it in a store.
Recommend.
edit 1 March 2012:
Have since used it with GH3, Rock Revolution, and GH: WoR; works great with all games and their respective DLC. Picked up RB:AC/DC today and will edit again once I've had a chance to playtest (though I expect it to work there as well).
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