Fender's Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster guitar rocks out March 1, 2011

by Richard Mitchell on Nov 2nd 2010 5:00PM

Fender has finally announced when its Squier Stratocaster guitar, the one built and licensed for Rock Band 3, will be available and, more importantly, how much it will cost prospective rockers. The guitar is expected to be released on March 1, 2011 for $280 (with pre-orders beginning January 1). The Strat certainly isn't cheap, but it's competitively priced in the world of electric guitars.

It is an actual guitar, after all, as opposed to the 102-button Mustang controller from Mad Catz, and the Squier is expected to provide a greater level of realism to RB3's Pro Mode. In addition to teaching players some real rock chops, Fender's guitar can also be plugged into an amp and, like the Mustang, serves as a fully functional MIDI instrument.

It's worth reiterating that Mad Catz's $40 MIDI PRO-Adapter is required to use the Squier with RB3. And it should also be noted that the Squier can't be used to play the game's standard modes, meaning you'll have to resort to a good ol' plastic guitar if you want to rock along with the classic multicolored gems.

Will you purchase the Fender Squier?
Yes. No price is too high for rock stardom.	1872 (55.1%)
No. Colorful buttons are enough for me.	880 (25.9%)
Why would I want a guitar when I have this keyboard?	644 (19.0%)

[Thanks Nick!]

Source: Fender.com

Tags: controller, Fender, GuitarHero, Harmonix, microsoft, nintendo, peripherals, playstation, pricing, ps3, release-date, Rock-Band-3, Squier, Squier-Stratocaster, wii, xbox

Reader Comments (63)

It's about time.

4 months from now is well past "about time."

Why do we have to wait until March 1st I mean dang! I know they have to make them and all, but thats really disappointing to me. I was looking forward to playing pro songs with it in a couple months and theres no way I'm buying the Mad Catz pro controller.

@PICKLEBOY
I believe the only way to play this with RB3 is with the Mad Catz Controler. I dont think you have a choice here. If I am wrong someone please show me another adaptor that will work

I would like to try it first, but assuming I find it enjoyable I will absolutely buy one. I already have plenty of guitars, but anything that gets me to practice more is a must have.

@txphisher
i agree, anything to get me strumming and workin on timing is important.

@txphisher Pick up a guitar and learn a few chords, if you don't enjoy it then the game cannot help you. This will feel no different than a real guitar because...it is one.

@txphisher

Actually, that's a bullshit notion. Playing chords is not fun or interesting. In fact, it's a grind. It's also a grind EVERYONE needs to get past and the main reason why 90% of people who pick up guitar drop it right back down again. Because when you start, the chords may be done right, but not fast enough to make fun sense of it. It's a lot like typing exercises. There is a lot of effort that goes into the start and that's why stuff like this, and easy as shit songs (Smoke on the Water) remain relevant no matter how horribl;e they are.

It's cheaper than I thought it would be. Only thing is...this or the 3DS?

1. your poll is dumb..

2. It's cheaper than initially expected

3. It's a good price

4. they screwed up by not having this thing ready to go with the game.

@oolz 5. ??????????
6. Profit

I honestly prefer playing it with just the standard Rock Band 2 guitar, and have no desire for either this or the Mustang.

@Epoque
Your statement somehow infers that you've had hands-on with this March 2011-dated controller already.

That said, I expect the core experience will be more fun with a standard controller. Pro mode is a completely different beast

Some may be getting tired of this but:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrCEhRNgGHY

Mom.. did you borrow my green shirt?

I'm confused..

There are already MIDI guitars out there.. so why do you need to wait for this one if you still have to use the Mad Catz Midi controller? Surely this is just a midi guitar?

@liam Surely...it is not...

the internet can help you.

@liam It's different than a standard midi guitar. It uses specific signals to talk to the game outside of the usual MIDI protocol. Just how, I'm too techno-stupid to know, but the demands of the game, I think especially in sensing your fret fingering separate from strumming, required proprietary code.

@Mr Bungo
Nope, it's just a MIDI guitar, hence why you need the MIDI Pro adapter in order for it to work for Rock Band 3. The only difference between this and another stringed MIDI guitar is that this one is officially licensed by Harmonix for use with Rock Band 3, which means nothing.

@liam

Supposedly this has sensors in the fret that midi guitars do not.

As someone in the market for their first electric guitar, this is relevant to my interests. My cheapo Fender acoustic just doesn't cut it anymore.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU i guess ill be waiting until this goes down in price, way down.

@xbashingx

Just a word of warning, but real guitars usually go up in price over the years, not down. Both new and used apply.

@Poor Tom

Then I'll stick to playing my real guitars, was looking forward to playing pro mode but to pricey :/

@xbashingx

I guess you'll be waiting a loooooooooooooong loooooooooooong time then.

@xbashingx
But... it is a real guitar....

Sticking with keyboard first, one instrument at a time please.

I've paid more for lesser brand name guitars, seems to be a pretty good price as long as it is also a good stand alone 'real' guitar

Wow. My guess of $250 was too low.

Not buying it. Way overpriced. If they figure out a dongle for my PF or 335 then I will pay good money for that.

Guitar look pretty decent for the price, but it appears to only have a single humbucker pickup at the bridge (with the neck pickup some kind of special pickup for midi). Much different than the standard strat with 3 single coil pickups.

Will the Medi Controller work with any Electric Guitar?

Bass ain't ever get the love it deserves

@wcarnation

Harmonix had a fair point in that a guitar can be used to play pro guitar and bass, whereas a bass would only be able to play, well, bass.

"the Squier can't be used to play the game's standard modes" but you can still play all the songs right? I mean in pro mode?

@Gisuro
yes of course you can play all 83 songs with the pro mode.

@Gisuro The mustang lets you play pro and regular mode. The Squier is pro-only.

A Squire?..hahahaha.

I'll pass. I'm not interested in own a second electric guitar at the moment, but if they come around and figure out a way for me to connect my current one I will certainly pay for that.

@Funkmaster General there is a way... Look into the Roland GK-3 MIDI Guitar Pickup + midi converter for the game.

That guitar is even worse then my spelling....which is to say complete and utter FAIL.

Damn... I was hoping this would be out for Christmas... Oh well. March can't come quick enough now.

Finally.. now, what am i supposed to do with this siege tower i've been building outside of Harmonix HQ?

March huh.. Well, I guess I can use this as an excuse to get and play pro keys in the meantime.

So does the midi come with the squier or do I have to pay seperately the $40 seperately for that?

@rchapoteau
you will have to buy the midi adapter seperately

@biomajor09

Thanks for the clarification. I only plan on using the adapter for the guitar, so it's a bummer that I've gotta drop nigh-on $400 bucks for the whole setup ($60 game + $280 guitar + $40 adapter + tax). Oh well, I guess it's not too bad for a full guitar simulation software and hardware setup.

Does anyone know if there will be a lefty version?

@Username Pending

It's essentially both versions. You'll just have to remove the strings and restring it for a lefty and switch the option in-game. At least that's the way other actual guitars work.

Here's a video showing how.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33LyLFysp8Y

No way I'm buying it right away, but 6 months to a year later if I can find one at sub-$200 I would consider it. If the build quality is good and used ones hold up, would really go for it at $125-$150 used.

It's not that I don't trust that it's worth it, probably is. I just really can't justify that much.

That's actually pretty reasonably priced considering the original MSRP of a full size 5-button used to be $300...

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Fender-Stratocaster-Replica/dp/B002N42SDS/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1288740435&sr=8-12

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Rock Band 3

Fender's Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster guitar rocks out March 1, 2011

Reader Comments (63)

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:02PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:51PM Troll Fail said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:02PM PICKLEBOY said

Posted: Dec 28th 2010 12:14AM firehawk71 said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:03PM txphisher said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:13PM Protege420 said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 7:49PM VaultBoy said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 8:14PM SheppyReturns said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:05PM BleachMan said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:06PM oolz said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 9:40PM Frank the tank said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:07PM Epoque said

Posted: Nov 3rd 2010 4:05AM Crayola Q Pants ESQ said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:10PM Protege420 said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:14PM AltairArcanum said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:18PM liam said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:25PM oolz said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:30PM Mr Bungo said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 8:07PM tehr0b said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 8:11PM SheppyReturns said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:20PM jediyoshi said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:23PM xbashingx said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:44PM Poor Tom said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:48PM xbashingx said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 6:40PM merobb said

Posted: Nov 3rd 2010 4:58AM Mister Kay said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:29PM Raffi256 said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:30PM joca223 said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:33PM Ellimem said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:40PM kaplanfx said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:50PM malexandria1 said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:52PM wcarnation said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 7:22PM GewurztraminerX said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 5:53PM Gisuro said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 7:05PM biomajor09 said

Posted: Nov 3rd 2010 2:50PM decypherSMC said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 6:00PM smoothy said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 6:01PM Funkmaster General said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:51AM xhable said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 6:01PM smoothy said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 6:31PM Platoesq said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 6:45PM T Newton said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 6:47PM T Newton said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 6:49PM rchapoteau said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 7:06PM biomajor09 said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 7:21PM LENSconcept said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 7:13PM Username Pending said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 7:32PM LENSconcept said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 7:20PM Courtney said

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