Rock Band guitar gets real string mod

31 Comments by Kyle Orland Feb 5th 2008 2:00AM
Filed under: Hacks, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm

Practically anyone who's played Guitar Hero and/or Rock Band has probably come across that one jerk who just can't help denigrating the simple fun of the rhythm game experience. "That's not even close to playing a real guitar," he'll say in a snide, nasally voice. "The guitar doesn't even have strings!" Well, if you want to show up that pompous prick, may we suggest you queue up the below video of a modded, stringed Rock Band guitar on a laptop and then RUB IT IN HIS FACE AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ahem. Anyway, while this single-stringed beast still has a ways to go to match a real six-string guitar, it looks like it captures the axe-grinding experience a little more authentically. Here's hoping that some sort of officially licensed, purchasable version of this type of guitar will be available soon.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: activision, EA, guitar, guitar hero, GuitarHero, hack, mod, MTV, rock band, RockBand, string

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

JAmerican: Feb 5th 2008; 2:03AM

This was reported like 3 days ago on Engadget. You got to speak with your siblings more often joystiq and stop playing games all the time.

WhatIsThatThing: Feb 5th 2008; 6:17AM

Phew! No one linked to that crappy Ctrl+Alt+Del comic this time!

WhatIsThatThing: Feb 5th 2008; 6:17AM

That was meant as a reply to motorer and that was my error.

Jim Halpert DM: Feb 5th 2008; 8:56AM

Farseer you can't call him a douchelord. There is a chain of douche that you have to stick to and you have to stick to containers. It goes as follows: douchebag, douchebasket, douchebox, and the ultimate douchesilo.

Adam: Feb 13th 2008; 12:07AM

Hey you know it says "Via Engadget" right above the video so no need to bag on these people there just trying to make us gamers world of virtual fun more like reality and i say there doing just fine. really do you have nothing better to do than to comment on how bad something is?

motorer: Feb 5th 2008; 2:03AM

playing these games is not even close to playing a real guitar. it is no different than those assholes that are awesome at DDR. at the end of the day, you still don't have any talent.

Slayer: Feb 5th 2008; 2:15AM

It doesn't matter if they don't have any talent now. The fact that people are playing rock band/guitar hero might get them to take up the real instrument at the end of the day.

Einhanderkiller: Feb 5th 2008; 2:32AM

I started playing guitar because I thought Guitar Hero was a pretty cool game.

Geist: Feb 5th 2008; 5:04AM

Obviously you're not allowed to have fun.

http://www.xkcd.com/359/

Farseer (GDI): Feb 5th 2008; 7:59AM

And trolling on rhythm-game posts is not even close to being witty. At the end of the day, you are still a douchelord.

rv: Feb 5th 2008; 10:21AM

Douchelord? Are we just making shit up now?

Ghaleon: Feb 5th 2008; 11:34AM

Um, the point of playing DDR isn't to simulate REAL LIFE dancing. That's like saying you're playing Contra because you're training to be a guerilla soldier.

Why does this mod exist?

Farseer (GDI): Feb 5th 2008; 2:09PM

I can't take credit for the douchelord term - it's from an Onion article. I just like to mix things up. :)

Ah ha! I found it:
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/56017

waynski1457: Feb 5th 2008; 2:08AM

thats awesome! as someone who plays guitar, i always struggle with groups of three note strums because i want to reset in-between. now i HAVE to go do this!

Ghen: Feb 5th 2008; 12:40PM

Since I just started playing GH3 on expert your comment is kinda relevant to my situation.. the 3 packs of notes in barracuda are pretty much impossible for me to grasp how they're supposed to be played, do you strum up-down-up up-down-up or up-down-up down-up-down? Is it personal preference, or is one style easier to use down the road?

vidGuy: Feb 5th 2008; 2:11AM

I hate asshole musicians who think they are above rhythm games. I've played electric, acoustic, and classical guitar for seven years now and still enjoy a good round of GH and Rock Band. My roommate has played drums for six years and can still enjoy the plastic set.

News flash: these games are not designed to be "close to playing a real guitar". They are videogames. Last I checked, nobody bitched about how Call of Duty doesn't train you to be a soldier. And nobody sits down with Guitar Hero to learn how to play the guitar. Get a clue.

waynski1457: Feb 5th 2008; 2:22AM

here here *raises drink*

ive been playing various instruments since i was 7 and love me the hell out of some great rhythm games.

ThornedVenom: Feb 5th 2008; 4:06AM

*raises glass*

Besides, Guitar Hero plays nothing like a real guitar: try sliding down those fret buttons.

Geist: Feb 5th 2008; 5:05AM

I told my friend (one of those 'omg play a real guitar instead') that if he bought me a guitar, I'd learn how to play it instead of just playing Guitar Hero.

He is considering this.

Ghen: Feb 5th 2008; 12:41PM

geist thats a good comeback ;)

why not the LS2LS7?: Feb 5th 2008; 2:15AM

How about the "sell me a 2nd one, Harmonix" mod?

Penmonicus: Feb 5th 2008; 2:55AM

Yes: I hate people that think that we seem to think that playing Guitar Hero makes us killer musicians. People are just playing it cause it's fun, morons.

Also: on the other side of the coin, I hope that "Here's hoping that some sort of officially licensed, purchasable version of this type of guitar will be available soon." is intended to be sarcastic...

spmonahan: Feb 5th 2008; 3:31AM

Anyone else notice that the light around the Xbox button is red in that video? And, what does a red light on the controller indicate?

Fausk: Feb 5th 2008; 4:00AM

That's not an Xbox Stratocaster. Please notice it is wireless. This is a PS3 model. And I quite enjoy the red light that shows up on the guitar and drums when they're "connected" with the console. Seems like they're taunting the 360 RRoD.

spmonahan: Feb 5th 2008; 4:19AM

Ahhhhhh. I didn't realize that the PS button lit up on the PS3 Rock Band controllers.

rokerovakero: Feb 5th 2008; 3:48AM

all it needed to attract the ladies...

ThornedVenom: Feb 5th 2008; 4:08AM

Only one string?!!

I'd rather play the Dan Bau (Vietnamese Monocord) than that: http://www.vnstyle.vdc.com.vn/vim/english/music_instument/chordophone_Bau_monocord.html

Actually, let's start a Vietnamese Rock Band: http://www.vnstyle.vdc.com.vn/vim/vietnamese/nhaccu/hoday/Danbau/Bau2.jpg

Sean: Feb 5th 2008; 4:28AM

I don't get it.. he goes through all that trouble and still plays it like a strum bar. Why not use a pick? Then tremolo picking will be much easier.

C.A.: Feb 5th 2008; 4:54AM

I'm all for guitar hero and rock band, I think they're awesome. I also think they are pretty lame for worrying about how someone else has fun. Honestly though, if you used the above video as an argument against a "pompous prick" you are playing right into their hands.

Youthinized: Feb 5th 2008; 8:56AM

What happens when the string snaps?

I've had plenty guitar strings snap for no apparent reason and if I have a few buddies over and they're whaming down on the string and it snaps. Can I just put a brand new one on?

If its as easy as putting new strings on a Guitar... Well easier, since that's usually a bitch, then it looks pretty sweet.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Feb 5th 2008; 12:02PM

I don't think there's nearly enough tension for this string to snap.

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