Live shots of Mad Catz's full-size Rock Band 2 Fender Stratocaster and Precision Bass controllers

While we love Rock Band 2 as much as the next guy, playing that miniaturized plastic controller will forever look a little dorky (or just make us look like giant men, which is kind of cool). Nothing wrong with looking dorky -- heck, we make a living of it -- but Mad Catz's new full-size Stratocaster and Precision Bass controllers for Rock Band 2 are bringing the cool back. They're exactly what you think they are: actual Fender Squire axes turned into Rock Band 2 controllers, with the size, heft, and weight you'd expect from dad's electric guitar. Of special note was the Precision Bass controller, which has a dual flipper and thumb rest to allow fast pickers to do their thing Entwistle-style. They are also wireless, will come with a foot pedal for overdrive, and the guitar controller will have a whammy bar, of course. Unfortunately, Mad Katz didn't add the optical sensor for display calibration, but we'll forgive them for now. Look for these for $199 in Q1 2009 for both Xbox 360 and PS3. We caught them live at E3, and they look as impressive as they sound. Peep the gallery below if you dare.

Gallery: Mad Catz Full-Size Rock Band 2 Controllers

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[EricR @ Jul 17th 2008 11:37AM]

A great way to perpetuate the idea that playing (Rock Band/Guitar Hero) is actually playing an instrument.

[Mark Galvan @ Jul 17th 2008 1:12PM]

"(...) with the size, heft, and weight you'd expect from dad's electric guitar".

Sad. Just sad.

[MaGiXX @ Jul 17th 2008 5:28PM]

Plus, you can get a decent electric guitar for 170$.

[jonnylightning @ Jul 17th 2008 11:38AM]

I just don't get the whole Rock Band thing. This seems like overkill for a game. Just my opinion.

[Dusty Nipples @ Jul 17th 2008 12:29PM]

Nothing to get, it is just fun. No need to over think it.

[Talutha @ Jul 17th 2008 11:38AM]

So am I looking at this right?
$60 for the game, $300 for the drums and now $200 for the guitar? That is kind of expensive. I love rock band as much as the next guy but there is no way I can afford all of that stuff.

[KVN @ Jul 17th 2008 12:00PM]

What you are talking about are the high end drums and guitars.The regular drums and guitars are going to cost between $50-$100.

[allislost @ Jul 17th 2008 7:02PM]

Drums for 100$? yeah... only if they're made out of plastic.

and 50$ guitars will never stay in tune for more than are few minutes of use.

[Matt @ Jul 18th 2008 1:15PM]

@allislost

You realize this is for rock band, and that there is no need to worry about the drums being made out of plastic, because they most certainly are...

And keeping the guitar in tune... I hope you mean TV calibration....

[Odelay17 @ Sep 1st 2008 8:55PM]

@allislost

He is talking about the regular rockband instruments. Gotta try and put things into context...

[CrystaljDesign @ Jul 17th 2008 11:41AM]

Do any real musicians find this offensive? Gutting a real guitar to make it into a fake one?

[Danakin @ Jul 17th 2008 12:01PM]

yes.

[Patrick @ Jul 17th 2008 12:03PM]

Nah, I was thinking of whipping out the soldering iron and trying to do the same thing with my crappy old Squier. This is much easier. (Though I would like to see it in the class black-and-white Clapton-style color scheme.)

[Patrick @ Jul 17th 2008 12:04PM]

The key, I should add, is that they're doing this with such a craptastic guitar. I would cry if it were a real Fender, Gibson, or god forbid, a PRS.

[Hoffy @ Jul 17th 2008 12:27PM]

@ CrystaljDesign: coming from a musician I personally think this is a great idea. And I wouldn't exactly call Fender's Squire line "real" instruments. The Fender Standards (their base models) typically start at $349. The Squire series are more or less the starter, or student versions and are of very low quality. For $200 you're getting a real guitar stripped of all the electronics and retro-fitted with a toy guitar's electronics. Imagine how cheap this guitar would be on its own.

On another note, while this does look pretty cool, the fret board seems incredibly thick to me - at least 3 if not 4x thicker than a regular fret board. On a normal guitar the fretboard is only a couple cm thick - probably about as thick as the fretboard is underneath the buttons.

[Aaron @ Jul 17th 2008 1:27PM]

Yeah, I actually find this really sad for two reasons: one, making people think they can "play" an instrument and two, because it's not coming for PS2 :(

[xcrunk @ Jul 17th 2008 1:27PM]

MADCATZ=FAIL

[Decoy @ Jul 17th 2008 4:07PM]

My bass belong to me. All of it.

[bigbertha @ Jul 17th 2008 6:35PM]

well the fact that they are using a squire doesnt offened me... i think that it would be better use as a controller than a guitar.

[Chip @ Jul 17th 2008 6:36PM]

I agree. I think they botched the neck with the "bolt on" frets. Here's how I gutted a craptastic real guitar and embedded the frets. It's just as thin as a real guitar neck. http://picasaweb.google.com/willgilliland/2006_07_06

[Frun @ Jul 17th 2008 11:44AM]

That split strum bar and thumb rest is a godsend especially during the never ending set list. Cant wait!

[Mr. S. @ Jul 17th 2008 11:52AM]

I'm not sure why, I'm able to do quads on the single just as I'm able to do on a single string on my bass. I think it's dumb, but we'll see.

[BIlly G @ Jul 17th 2008 11:49AM]

They look as impressive as they sound? I take it that means they don't look impressive at all? Because they certainly don't make any noise, you know, being fake guitars and all.

Seems a bit overkill to me.

[Derek @ Jul 17th 2008 12:13PM]

My thoughts exactly.

[Ted @ Jul 17th 2008 11:50AM]

I wish I were good at that game. I try so hard but fail so miserably.

[Splunkster @ Jul 17th 2008 12:17PM]

I guess I should also add that I play guitar, which makes it difficult for me to play Guitar Hero.

[Ted @ Jul 17th 2008 12:17PM]

I guess I should add that I play guitar, which makes it difficult for me to play Guitar Hero.

[Ted @ Jul 17th 2008 12:19PM]

Awkward ...

*steps cautiously backwards out of the room*

[NHAnimator @ Jul 17th 2008 3:37PM]

"Awkward ...

*steps cautiously backwards out of the room*"

My thoughts exactly. And that was just in response to his facial hair.

[klepto88 @ Jul 17th 2008 6:02PM]

Why would playing a real guitar make it difficult for you to play guitar hero?
I manage both just fine. Yes I am bragging.

[dean @ Jul 17th 2008 11:53AM]

Just what I always wanted!To be a fake guitarist!

[nxtiak @ Jul 17th 2008 11:54AM]

WTF is the point of this crap.

[Kark @ Jul 17th 2008 11:58AM]

Dorky when you play a music game with a plastic guitar? I think the guy that pays 200$ for a real fake guitar to play a music game will be the dorky one...I will laugh so hard if one of my friends buy this crap...

[NHAnimator @ Jul 17th 2008 12:04PM]

I don't think these are "Live" shots. They look like photographs to me.

[jason51873 @ Jul 17th 2008 12:40PM]

+1

[rookie @ Jul 17th 2008 12:08PM]

Stoopid. But really I love it. *blush*

[farfisa @ Jul 17th 2008 12:09PM]

How 'bout just start a band.

[master_sword @ Jul 17th 2008 12:14PM]

thats actually a pretty clever idea with the p bass controller, whenever i play guitar hero (only thing friends ever want to play) i play it like a bass (which i play for real so its natural for me) and it doesn't work the best, but i'm also not that great at the game so that may be it... anywho, they should have also made it so you can play slap bass on it too

[Deed @ Jul 17th 2008 2:19PM]

It's funny because I had that exact split bar idea for a plastic bass ukulele myself, and I also sometimes try to play it with my fingers upturned. It'd be good if they split the strum bar on a cheaper guitar, but this I reckon is indeed pretty overkill. All that really needs to be done with a guitar controller is to make the fret buttons and strum bar feel right (buttons not feeling cheap and the right amount of travel and cushion--the Rock Band controller nearly had it; and a strum bar which doesn't click loudly, and pings instead of feeling like you're whacking a piece of rubber), as well as a thin enough neck.

Man if I hadn't given up on engineering at school I could totally work on peripheral design~

[master_sword @ Jul 17th 2008 4:16PM]

@ Deed
I hope you mean putting the split strum bar on a cheaper rock band/guitar hero guitar, because squiers are about as cheap as they come

[sinX @ Jul 17th 2008 12:15PM]

@crystaljdesign: I'm right there with you man, of all axes the Fender is a key symbol in rock legend, why don't you just take a cross from your favorite church and widdling that down into one....because it's sacrilege that why! What do you rock banders think real musicians are muttering under their breath as it is.....?

[Nathan @ Sep 13th 2008 5:35PM]

My guess is it's because most of you are miserable pricks who spent a ton of time learning to play instruments and now kids are having fun pretending to play. I play real hockey, yet I don't get all pissy when some kid does well or enjoys a hockey video game. I guess what I'm saying to all of you musicians who are being douches is...STFU, we don't care what you think. Now take your UBER REAL guitar down to the corner and maybe if I'm feeling froggy I'll drop a quarter in your case as I walk by...

[Randy @ Jul 17th 2008 12:16PM]

Anyone who buys this crap, let alone buying into the whole Rock Star/Guitar Hero loser fad, is a fool and a sucker. If the Nintendo "virtual orchestra" show at E3 didn't show you clowns a general idea how ridiculous you can all look or will look, then I don't know what will.
GO LEARN TO READ MUSIC AND PLAY A REAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jul 17th 2008 12:20PM]

Shut up.

[makishima @ Jul 17th 2008 12:23PM]

YEAH! STOP HAVING FUN ALL OF YOU NOW! JUST BECAUSE ITS NOT POSSIBLE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PLAY A REAL INSTRUMENT BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY LACK THE DISCIPLINE OR NATURAL TALENT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO HAVE FUN PRETENDING TO PLAY ONE! DAMN THE LOT OF YOU! (CAPS MAKES MY POINT MORE VALID)
/sarcasm off

That being said, yeah these are way too over the top for your average home user, but seeing as a lot of bars etc have started to have Rock Band nights kind of like Karaoke I think these would be perfect for a place like that to invest in.

[Eric @ Jul 17th 2008 12:29PM]

How many rock stars read music?

Very, very few.

This is coming from someone who does read music, and plays piano, guitar, and (if I absolutely have to) bass.

[josh @ Jul 17th 2008 2:29PM]

@Eric

Bass doesn't count as an instrument.

[Eric @ Jul 17th 2008 12:31PM]

Do these have plastic necks attached to what I'm assuming is either plywood or bassood bodies? I expected real maple necks with the electronics embedded.

That being said, the P-Bass is missing the fifth fret marker. It has 3 and 7...

[makishima @ Jul 17th 2008 12:38PM]

"They're exactly what you think they are: actual Fender Squire axes turned into Rock Band 2 controllers"

I don't think they're plastic necks. I could be wrong though, I haven't looked at Strats in a while.

[Eric @ Jul 17th 2008 6:41PM]

I made a mistake. I was looking at picture 4, which is a close-up of the plastic P-Bass. I though it was the Squier, because the picture before it was...