Rock Band 3 Fender Mustang Pro guitar controller and MIDI-Pro adapter eyes-on

We still can't get time with the Fender Mustang Pro guitar controller while actually playing Rock Band 3, but the gang at the Mad Catz booth were fine enough with us letting us toy around on its own, sans game. So, how does it feel just silently going through chords and scales? Sturdy as can be, sure, and the 100-plus buttons for the neck feel like they'll stand up for a good bit of time. That said, it felt harder than a real guitar locating the strings and frets -- especially a pain for faster chord changing. Also a burden? No ability to bend strings -- not that you'll be able to bend on the Squier Stratocaster either, as it turns out, but that's a whole 'nother issue. We also got some eyes on the MIDI Pro Adapter for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii; there isn't much to look at for now, but if you get your kicks from plastic dongles, hey, we've got all the photos you need below.

Fender Mustang Pro Guitar Controller hands-on

Mad Catz's Rock Band 3 MIDI Pro Adapter

[trippedout Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:10PM]

ARE YOU NERDS READY TO ROCK?! I CANT HEAR YOUUUUU

[kainy Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:03PM]

@trippedout

I think this is great! I've played guitar hero ... than I decided and bought a real guitar and I'm playing for over an year now, and in my oppinion this is very good way for kids to play an instrument and learn some songs trough a game I'm certainly buying the real guitar when it comes out :)

[Kleptomaniac Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:12PM]

I wonder if it has the "Designed by Kurt cobain" on the back of the head.

[dext0rb Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:21PM]

@Kleptomaniac
Cobain designed the jagstang (mustang/jaguar frankenguitar)

[Kleptomaniac Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:35PM]

@dext0rb
Ah yes sorry my mistake!

[AJerman Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:33PM]

Come on, at this point you really should just start playing guitar already!

[xtasi Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:55PM]

@AJerman at this point you should just STFU

[MadMax808 Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:28PM]

@AJerman - And what about those of us who are guitar players of nearly a decade who want a more natural guitar experience? Not everyone is a video game player first.

[Ctizzekery Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:57PM]

I gave negative comments towards this in the past, but it looks like they are really making an effort to bridge the gap between games and music in a real way

[jaxim Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:14PM]

I'd like to know how the pro guitars of RB3 compares with the guitar of Power Gig's Rise of the Six String

[illusion8055 Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:16PM]

Mehhhhhhhhhh. If you're gonna go uber-Rock Band-guitar controller, go Squier or go home. This one is the Rock Band equivalent of dry humping.

[StevieH Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:22PM]

wait... no bending strings on the squier? How's that going to work?

[Vone Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:43PM]

@StevieH Slide or hammer on most likely. or it will just count the origin note in the bend.

[snowrid3r Posted Jun 17th 2010 8:40PM]

how much though?
i don't really want to pay 300$ for a game controller...

[Kikarok Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:00PM]

@snowrid3r
This Mustang controller costs $150, literally half what you don't want to spend.

[notit Posted Jun 17th 2010 8:53PM]

i think this is where i personally draw the line. i played rock band to have fun not trick myself into learning a instrument (not saying u cant have fun in the process of learning).those 5 bright colored buttons was good enough for me. it brought some challenge on hard and expert modes.

kinda like i dont see myself buying a replica Barrett M107 .50 Caliber sniper rifle because of call of duty 4.

id buy a real guitar and learn to play before i go this far in depth with rock band.

[Kikarok Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:01PM]

@notit
Which is why you skip the Mustang and buy the Rock Band-compatible Squier Strat from Fender. The CoD analogy sorta breaks down here...

[petepete Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:44PM]

yikes, how are they going to scroll 100+ frets down the screen at once?

[webdevmike Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:04PM]

@petepete Perhaps with actual sheet music?

[Zynon Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:51PM]

All I want to know is if you can customize the MIDI inputs for non standard drumsets.

[decypherSMC Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:26PM]

@Zynon I'm guess they might have something built into the game to better set up drum kit.

I got a fan-made midi-to-rockband adapter for my Roland TD-9k and that just involved holding down a combo of buttons and hitting the pad to get it to take the note (ie. hold down hit rim/bow of cymbal for blue RB cymbal).

I was also able to program it to go blue with hi-hat open, which was a big game changer for realistic drum playing.

I just really hope there is a toggle to turn off the red hi-hat for faster songs, nothing worse than using a snare on an electronic kit as a hi-hat and the tom or hi-hat as the snare, it's ever more confusing on there.

[seal5639 Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:30AM]

Oh my god....by this point, just join a real band already.

[peacecrafts Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:50AM]

how do they expect anyone to press those tiny buttons?

[Ryoshi Posted Jun 18th 2010 11:50AM]

@peacecrafts Oh, I don't know - the same way people actually hold strings down on a real guitar, I would imagine?

[leemahi Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:59AM]

I dont play guitar, i know about 5 cords but im dying to learn but it seams hard and no one wants to teach me however im okay on rock band. i go on expert and get 70 80 90 percent. Now if i could put those things together, i will learn how to actually play a guitar like ive wanted to my whole life! i want my next future gf to be in love with me because i can play music, not just because i like music.

[LPAkria Posted Jun 18th 2010 1:04AM]

Will the MIDI Pro Adapter just work for keys and drums, or MIDI guitar as well? That would be awesome.

[KMGLOBAL Posted Jun 18th 2010 7:24AM]

RB3 Fender Mustang Pro guitar for Play and Learn

RB3 Squier Stratocaster for Play while enjoying the Real thing

[chatamrock Posted Jun 18th 2010 8:15PM]

anyone that plays real guitar KNOWS that this thing is still a toy. I think once they discover how to convert MIDI into game controls, and they plug the VG Strat into the game, the will actually succeed in turning real music into a game.