The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition bundle to contain replica bass, drums

by JC Fletcher { Apr 14th 2009 at 9:25AM }

GameStop just announced details of the Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle. According to an email sent out to customers, the Bundle will include a a Höfner bass, "The Beatles-inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band drums with classic pearl finish, a metal kick pedal and a vintage replica drumhead," a microphone and stand, as well as "additional special content." We're guessing that the drum set's careful description means it'll be an embellished Rock Band 2 drum set, rather than an accurate replica of Ludwig drums. You can get an idea of what it's supposed to look like at the game's website.

And we're also guessing that EA couldn't get the rights to a Rickenbacker guitar. Even if it is Paul McCartney's bass, the inclusion of a bass and no guitar seems odd!

The email teases an upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-order Club, which enables members to "receive breaking news and access to exclusive game elements, including art and behind-the-scenes footage." You know, if you're a huge fan of ... pre-ordering.

Tags: ea, harmonix, limited-edition, mtv, music, rock-band, the-beatles, the-beatles-rock-band

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Keifer @ Apr 14th 2009 9:36AM

I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I'll need a track list before i make a pre-order.

yonato @ Apr 14th 2009 9:39AM

Yeah, or at least part of a track list.

MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 9:44AM

It's the Beatles!!! What the hell do you need a tracklist for?

To strenghten my argument:

IT'S THE BEATLES!

jorojoserojas @ Apr 14th 2009 10:14AM

MystileArmor has a damn good point!

gib @ Apr 14th 2009 10:23AM

I don't need a tracklist. I want it. I need it. NOW!

Feba @ Apr 14th 2009 10:24AM

Until you find out the tracklist is comprised entirely of songs they covered in their earlier years.

kal326 @ Apr 14th 2009 11:38AM

I'm pretty sure the following remix will be included

All we need is dough
All we need is dough, dough, all your dough is all we need.

Lars @ Apr 14th 2009 3:06PM

I doubt they'd throw in too much early stuff. Guaranteed there will be songs from throughout their career.

I'm not a fan of their early stuff (pre-hard day's night), so I understand the concern though.

I think I'll buy the bundle, since I could use a fresh set of drums, and one of my guitrollers is out of commission.

copa @ Apr 14th 2009 9:41AM

I am hardcore stoked for this game, but that hardware bundle is not very appealing to me.

Mr Khan @ Apr 14th 2009 9:44AM

Wouldn't it be MTV who was unable to get the Rickenbacker rights? I thought EA only distributed this game

HazyCloud @ Apr 14th 2009 9:46AM

Correct. I personally will be shelling out dough ASAP for a preorder.

Lars @ Apr 14th 2009 3:29PM

That's just typical Joystiq crap. They almost always use the largest company in the chain when talking about news. For example, Will Wright left Maxis, but Joystiq's headline was "Will Wright leaves EA". No matter what company makes the news, it's always "EA" if EA is in any way associated with them.

Ghaleon @ Apr 14th 2009 10:03AM

What is happening to society, haha.

mgsrocks1 @ Apr 14th 2009 11:34AM

Huh?

spikeylee @ Apr 14th 2009 10:04AM

as snazzy as the drums might look with a pearl-finish, i'll be sticking with my old tried and true RB1 set. there's just no more room to hide plastic drums and guitars in my living room!

Jerk Face @ Apr 14th 2009 10:11AM

Gamestop has it listed for $250 freaking dollars! That's pretty steep.

WallRunner @ Apr 14th 2009 10:15AM

If they couldn't get the rights to a Rickenbacker, they'll probably just use a fender like George's Rosewood telecaster from 1969.

DaveMcRae the Haiku Artist @ Apr 14th 2009 10:28AM

Eleanore Rigby
She loves you yeah yeah, in a
yellow submarine

mirilene @ Apr 14th 2009 10:31AM

Bass and no guitar makes sense to me. People are drowning in plastic guitars at this point. At least getting a dedicated bass might get them in the door one more time for the complete bundle.

Deezul @ Apr 14th 2009 10:39AM

So will there be an ION limited edition drum set too? They trump the RB drums any day...

kbeehaze @ Apr 14th 2009 10:58AM

I wonder how michael jackson and EA worked out a deal to make this game. He does own the rights

MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 12:01PM

Not for a long time... he signed the rights back over to Paul a bunch of years ago.
Paul got pissed off when Beatles songs started appearing in commercials, cause Michael was whoring the licenses, and under pressure from all around, Michael gave the rights back.

A long run-on sentence, but you got the point.

Cutty @ Apr 14th 2009 12:15PM

Nah, Michael still half-owns them along with Sony/ATV.

Tiptup300 @ Apr 14th 2009 1:45PM

No he sold off half of this rights because he needed money to continue molesting children. But close! :D

Brent @ Apr 14th 2009 11:00AM

are we all suddenly forgetting that there's no real difference between bass and guitar in the plastic instrument world? I'm sure you can use it for the guitar parts...

what bugs me is that we are still paying $50+ more... for what? we aren't getting a fourth instrument, and mic stands aren't that much.

I am super happy of the inclusion of the mic stand though.

I really hope they add some kinda extra instrument (guitar or keyboard) as well as add a dedicated singing+instrument mode for a single player. The screen would probably get too cluttered with four instruments + vocals but heck isn't that how the beatles do it? would be sweet..

bobartig @ Apr 14th 2009 2:39PM

@Dark,

Don't you remember how Mad Catz decided to make good hardware about a year ago, and how they're the official RockBand accessory maker for the cymbal kits and so forth? We're supposed to forget all about the crappy HW and try out the new kit that's all QA tested and shiny.

If they really are making non-crappy HW these days, that's just good for everyone.

Darkbhudda @ Apr 14th 2009 11:58AM

The Mad Catz bass kisses ass. Split strum bar and a lot bigger. I can't go back to the old controllers without thinking I'm playing a ukulele. So let's hope the Hofner bass is on par.

MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 12:03PM

From my experience anything MadCatz sucks gigantic donkey balls.

Oh and.. "kissing ass"... I'm pretty sure that's not what you meant.

Eh @ Apr 14th 2009 3:30PM

The fret buttons suck on it, if you dont press them just right then they dont register, making fast songs really hard. Mad Catz is still up to their old tricks.

tortelvis56 @ Apr 14th 2009 12:42PM

I haven't bought Rock Band yet but this will be my first purchase. $250 seems like an acceptable entry point to me for what I'm getting. It is the only video game ever authorized by the Beatles and you get replica instruments. When the Beatles throw their weight behind something you know it is going to be quality. I can't wait to feel what it is like to virtually be in the greatest group of musicians the planet has known!

Johnny Neat @ Apr 14th 2009 12:58PM

As much as I think The Beatles are the greatest and I've been talking about wanting this for sooooo long, I have to get more info than it's just the Beatles. I guess it's the economy or that there aren't that many ROCK OUT Beatles' songs like if they were to say Led Zeppelin was getting a rock band game. That would be a no brainer even considering. Yeah give us some led and Pink Floyd and we're good.