Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster video review: Going to town in a Lincoln

by Griffin McElroy on Mar 2nd 2011 8:01PM

Though the cornucopia of Pro Guitar tutorials available on last year's Rock Band 3 possessed multitudes of promise, the absence of a solidly-built, authentic guitar controller squandered away my hopes of learning to more proficiently rock in the real world by taking lessons in a fake one. I've sustained myself over the past four months on the possibility that the MIDI-enabled Squier Stratocaster controller would capitalize on these possibilities. After spending a few hours with the axe, I'm happy to report that I wasn't disappointed.

Check out the video after the jump for the full scoop on the Rock Band 3 Squier, presented in a bold, groundbreaking audio-visual format. (How else could you be impressed by all my mad shredding skills, and my capacity for producing sweet, crunchy riffs?)

Tags: fender, microsoft, music, nintendo, peripherals, playstation, ps3, rock-band, Rock-Band-3, squier, squier-stratocaster, wii, xbox

Reader Comments (47)

I wish I was that good at playing the guitar.

@TheHungryPanda

That's a Emaj!

@TheHungryPanda An out-of-tune E maj...

I have my own guitars, acoustic and a hand made electric, so paying that much for a game controller is kinda out of the question.

@Ellimem

This isn't really aimed at existing guitarists, more like rhythm gamers that want to make the jump from plastic to real guitarist.
For what it's worth, though, it is not only a great starter guitar, but by far the best MIDI guitar solution you can find (and probably the cheapest, being less that $300)

@edisinsane Yea, but for something that was supposed to bridge the gap between the two worlds, it is doing so at waayy too steep of a price for the equipment. Ya know?

@Ellimem

I don't know, I think it's a fair price, it's a $250 body with sensors and all kinds of other tech built into the neck and body. I really thought it would be priced more in the 350 range. Plus they're not going to be as mass-produced as a lot of Fender's other stuff.

I can see it not being worth it for someone like yourself that has already invested in instruments, but I think it's an attractive deal for someone looking to learn guitar, considering the associated game is a pretty decent teacher.

@Ellimem

Can't you just plug your real guitar into the midi controller and use that?

@Troy Powers

Doesn't work that way, the Squier has a MIDI-out port, and on top of that, it outputs non-standard MIDI commands that are specific to Rock Band 3. Someone came up with a DIY solution, but it requires expensive hardware.

@edisinsane

This might actually motivate me to learn guitar. I don't really want to pay for private lessons but at the same time, trying to teach myself has been frustrating.

(terrible at tabbing and finger-picking).

@Ellimem

No, not really, its still pretty cheap for an electric guitar, considering its a Fender, and not like a Rogue or something. besides, as others have stated, it's also a Midi guitar, which usually start hundreds of $$$ over this asking price. Thirdly, its compatible with your gaming system. It's really not that expensive if you look at it from another perspective.

I'm sure If you convince yourself "Derp its just a controller" then yeah I guess it would seem expensive. But this isnt an argument you can win with people who have actually gone guitar shopping.

Umm, I used the d-pad on the guitar to navigate the menus when I was at Best Buy the other day soooooo

@Freddie Mercury
There's a note in the box saying that the guitar navigation can only be used on the PS3 and the Wii as Microsoft doesn't allow it. The 360 version can only be controlled via the adapter.

@Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar

Then I must have been playing on the PS3, didn't even notice :P

Thanks for this. I can't believe I'm going to shell out $300+ for this.

@NBA Kirkland
I just scratched it off my 'want' list the moment I heard the price.
Maybe there will be a sale where it will be extra super duper cheap!

That was a sweet, sweet E Major.

@Zacmanman

I wish I could play E Majors that sweet and crunchy.

@Colin
I gave up playing guitar because I'll never be able to. Not even with a better guitar, or more hands.

@Zacmanman

I gave up for a while, but then I got an acoustic and started concentrating on chords, which let me get good at strumming which let me get good at individual notes which let me get good at scales etc.

Try getting back into it if you still have your guitar, and learn chords first. If you start out really easy and simple you'd be surprised. My advice? Start with that E major.

The video was great--thanks for doing it. Here's to Joystiq having more of that sweet humble tone you exhibited in your extemporaneous remarks ....

Mama, I'm gonna be a ROCK STAR!

I was promised crunchy riffs and all I got was this E major.

Yeah, I was kinda expecting the video to have a section of Griffin playing the game with a video of him playing in the corner of a video of the rock band screen, or vice versa.

All the rockstars wear fannypacks dontchaknow?

@TaintedKane

I would have wore it as some sort of semi-awesome belt buckle.

I have that poster hanging up in my office, too!

@CheesecakeJones
I spent most of the video trying to figure out where I'd seen that poster. Is it one of those you order from the Futurama dvd inserts??

@CheesecakeJones For those wondering, the poster is from here:

http://www.pressxtojustin.com/

It's a gorgeous Bioshock poster by the eminently talented Justin Russo.

See more of his work at:

http://www.justindavidrusso.com/

@CheesecakeJones
Oh thanks, don't know why i couldn't get Futurama out of my head. That guy was featured on Joystiq once I believe.

So you have to buy an extra device to use it with the game that it was designed for?

Yeah no.

Yeah! Griffin! Yeah!

I believe the buttons on the guitar only work with the PS3 & the Wii and they're not compatible with the 360. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I ordered the PS3 MIDI adapter over the 360 version (along with the PS3 RB3) for just this reason.

Obligatory comment about how ME ME ME LOOK I OWN A GUITAR IN REAL LIFE LOOK IM ABOVE THIS, AND YOU

I'm kind of baffled as to why Mr McElroy is still single. He's a funny dude (MBMBAM), a good looking chap, has an interesting job and plays guitar. By my scorecard that ranks him near the Pimp level.

@AFATALERR0R

girlfriends can be overrated. Especially the ones that believe that the universe revolves around them.

There is no amount of sex that can wash away the pain that the above will eventually entail.

@kentuckyfried Bitter much?

But also true.

I like how the fretboard is made of a polymer instead of wood and how the frets have tiny notches in them so bends are awkward.

@Credge

the frets are smooth

$280 + CA 9.25% tax = $306

Damn you, Best Buy...

Every guitarist ever has a squier stratocaster, and having two of these shits would be worthless!

I wonder if this will be out in Europe ever

"Bitchin Rock Star Fannie Pack" ... gotta get me one of those!!

Mine was delivered yesterday, and let me tell you: coming from someone who has no guitar experience prior to the MadCatz Mustang- this thing is AWESOME. Really I can't convey how much fun this is- both in game and out of game.

Yes, there are minor things that might bug people who have been playing for 20 years- but come on, its a real freaking guitar you can play in a video game!

It sounds decent enough for a low end guitar, and it works great in the game. Honestly, its worth every penny.

Would have been nice if the video included actual gameplay. I kind of want to hear how it sounds with the game playing the music and the dampener on.

I preordered mine at http://www.thomann.de/se/fender_squier_strat_guitar_controller.htm at €240.

There is some free software called OFFBEAT GUITARIST that works with any guitar.(http://JamOrigin.com)

Rock Band 3

Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster video review: Going to town in a Lincoln

Reader Comments (47)

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:09PM TheHungryPanda said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:16PM Poor Tom said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 9:06PM CheesecakeJones said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:23PM Ellimem said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:32PM edisinsane said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:38PM Ellimem said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:46PM edisinsane said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:46PM Troy Powers said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:50PM edisinsane said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 1:32AM kentuckyfried said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 11:14AM Spookimitsu said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:28PM Freddie Mercury said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 5:19AM Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 2:25PM Freddie Mercury said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:32PM NBA Kirkland said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 4:46AM Afterfield said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:44PM Zacmanman said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:53PM Colin said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 9:28PM Zacmanman said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 9:18AM Colin said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:53PM i77ogical said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:53PM Troy Powers said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:54PM Colin said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 9:18PM Indefinite Implosion said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:55PM TaintedKane said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 10:27PM Aperture said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:57PM CheesecakeJones said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 10:55PM Your Gold Teeth said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 11:00PM CheesecakeJones said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 11:10PM Your Gold Teeth said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 8:58PM Tinkus said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 9:03PM Travmanman said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 9:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 10:09PM wcarnation said

Posted: Mar 2nd 2011 11:26PM AFATALERR0R said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 1:34AM kentuckyfried said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 11:17AM apple4ever said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 1:40AM Credge said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 9:20PM gloryholestafun said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 2:44AM kentuckyfried said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 6:51AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 7:14AM kalmis said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 9:08AM DoubleDown said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 11:21AM apple4ever said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 1:23PM ddrussianinja said

Posted: Mar 3rd 2011 3:35PM MdaG said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 8:20PM GitGod said

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