New Guitar Strum Mechanics - With Pics

[otakuon]

I didn't see any pictures yet of the new strum bar mechanics so I thought I would share a few that I took while exploring the insides of my replacement guitar. As was previous mentioned, it looks like they removed the micro-switch and replaced it with some sort of magnetic sensor device. Not sure if this "fix" makes things better or not yet...

(I am sorry about the blurriness of some of the shots...my hands aren't so steady)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/otakuon/stuff038.jpg

If you look closely you can see that they embedded/melted a chunk of metal into the end of this long stud sitcking out from the strum bar:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/otakuon/stuff039.jpg

I also don't recall there being a spring attached to the strum bar before:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/otakuon/stuff041.jpg

Anyway...it's curious to see that they completely re-did how the strum bar registers strums. You can sort of tell that it was a rush job as there were streams of hot glue "hairs" everywhere which I cleaned up as much as possible....

Now the real test is to see how it holds up while playing the game...

[clownfish1485]

Nice pics! How long have you been playing it? Mine has held up perfectly so far (knock on wood). Also, does yours have 2 foam blocks like the original design? Mine came with 4 total (2 on each side), which seems like a weird tweak.

[otakuon]

I only noticed two...one on each side...but with that big spring, their only purpose now seems to be to stop the strummer from striking the plastic case...

I haven't even had a chance to play with it in the game. I ordered it over a week ago and just got it today...I am still at work so I will post an update once I have had a chance to break it in. From what I have been reading, the down-strums work nice now, but up- strums seem to have been nerfed...we shall see...

[turnthree]

UPS just delivered my "new" guitar. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I did open it up and take some pics. It my work fine but I don't see a difference.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623180&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623018&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089626066&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623416&size=o

Sorry about the links. Couldn't seen to get my pics. to post right.

[maci01]

Is there anyway to tell by not opening up? I returned my whole Rock Band set to Best Buy and got a new one (had the warranty).

[macafied]

UPS just delivered my "new" guitar. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I did open it up and take some pics. It my work fine but I don't see a difference.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623180&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623018&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089626066&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623416&size=o

Sorry about the links. Couldn't seen to get my pics. to post right.

Looks like you got an old one.

[AdamBomb629]

That looks like an original model guitar.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmm..........

[machboy]

otakuon,

GET US A TEST RUN UPDATE ASAP!! I'VE DONE THE MICRO SWITCH REPAIR TWICE SO FAR (WHERE YOU UNSCREW THE MICRO SWITCH AND TWIST IT CLOSER TO THE STRUM BAR) AND AM WAITING TO SEE IF I WILL NEED TO SEND IN MY GUITAR TO GET THE NEW "MODIFIED" ONE. ROCK OUT HARD THIS WEEK/WEEKEND AND LET US KNOW.... THANKS FOR THE PICS.

P.S. I ACTUALLY POSTED THIS AT 3:55PM EST

[CrimsonFury]

I finally got mine. It appears to have the magnetic switch that is shown in the upper pic. The rest is the same, including the spring. You can see the old screw mounts from the micro switch. I can also hear a faint click where on the old one, I hear nothing.

[Stevenam81]

I should be getting my replacement tomorrow. I hope it has the magnets. I have a feeling a lot of these replacements are refurbished. I have read that people have been getting guitars that are scratched.

[Nishidake]

I've been lucky and haven't had any probs with either mf my guitars (PS3 version) but I've heard a couple people say that the new design with the magnet has reduced the required travel on the strum bar before it registers the note.

Let us know if you notice any improvement in your test.

[PHiNiX]

I've been lucky and haven't had any probs with either mf my guitars (PS3 version) but I've heard a couple people say that the new design with the magnet has reduced the required travel on the strum bar before it registers the note.

Let us know if you notice any improvement in your test.

what eaxctly do you mean by travel

[AgainstOne]

UPS just delivered my "new" guitar. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I did open it up and take some pics. It my work fine but I don't see a difference.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623180&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623018&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089626066&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2089623416&size=o

Sorry about the links. Couldn't seen to get my pics. to post right.

man, you got totally screwed. they must have accidentally sent you out one that hadn't been reworked yet.

[BigDaddyKool]

he means the distance you have to move the strummer for the guitar to register a note. I noticed something, in his replacement guitar, the screw that holds the contacts from moving is larger, look close.

[otakuon]

Sorry all for not getting back sooner.

So far, things seem to be much better. I was actually able to get 100% on "Run For the Hills" on hard, which was an immposibility before even on medium. I heard some say that the up-strum on thier replacement guitars was having issues, so I played a few songs by up-strumming only, and didn't encounter any issues...it's pretty sensitive, but not so far as it registers double strums...you can tap it lightly or slam it hard and get the same results...but again only time will tell. I would assume that this mechanism will hold up better than the old one as there is no physical contact between the strum bar and the sensor...just hope that the little metal bits don't become "de-magnatized" at some point...

I am curious to know how the rest of you that have gotten a replacement are fairing.

And to those that got a first gen replacement, like turnthree, I would demand blood...or at least a new guitar and some more free swag for your troubles...

[zerogeo3]

Mine is totally sweet, so far. It is way smoother, and no double strums at all. The only thing I noticed, is the fret buttons seem to make a little clicking noise now, but not real loud as some have said.

[Mistersh0w]

...And to those that got a first gen replacement, like turnthree, I would demand blood...or at least a new guitar and some more free swag for your troubles...

Are we even supposed to know that there are differences between replacement guitars and launch guitars? I mean, I know it was inevitable that we'd see pics and such, but will EA honor a replacement based on that? We're not really supposed to open our guitars in the first place... Though, I guess we can rest easy with the whole "no questions asked" return policy... :D

[otakuon]

I would think that after a few hours of play, that if you have one of the original guitars, the problems will manifest themselves and you will need to send in for another replacement...


I should be getting my replacement tomorrow. I hope it has the magnets. I have a feeling a lot of these replacements are refurbished. I have read that people have been getting guitars that are scratched.

Yeah...I wouldn't be too supprised if my replacement is a refurb. However, I would like to know how they got the head off the neck. I was unable to remove mine even after unscrewing the back plate. And my replacement came packaged like a new guitar...with the detached head and guitar strap inside their own sealed bags. (but the box looked like it has been re-sealed with a heavy dose of tape and the body of the guitar was covered in finger prints...)

[turnthree]

man, you got totally screwed. they must have accidentally sent you out one that hadn't been reworked yet.


I would rather have another X-plorer than F around with this any more.


What's the customer service number for EA?

[mforge]

I just got my replacement guitar today and it's the magnetic contact, which is a relief. Though for the life of me I couldn't see anything wrong with the contacts on the broken one when I opened it.

I've played the new one for about two hours so far and no issues, it works fine. Of course the original lasted a good week and a half or so before dying, so we'll see. Incidentally I play lefty and downstrum, so this isn't an issue of one "strum" being better than the other, it's whichever one takes the most abuse. Clearly the original guitar contacts were wearing out after only a couple thousand switches.

[turnthree]

Well the replacement I waited over two weeks on is................................................ .................................................. .................................................. ...................BROKEN!!:mad:

I've still got the double strum problem and now the overdrive is next to impossibe to activate.

Haven't decided if I gonna return the entire thing or order ANOTHER replacement.

Why is there no recall?

[otakuon]

That stinks...although I can't say that I am supprised. EA really should have had better quality control on this...

[AdamBomb629]

Well the replacement I waited over two weeks on is................................................ .................................................. .................................................. ...................BROKEN!!:mad:

I've still got the double strum problem and now the overdrive is next to impossibe to activate.

Haven't decided if I gonna return the entire thing or order ANOTHER replacement.

Why is there no recall?

There doesn't need to be a recall. Just use the warranty program until you get a working guitar. What exactly do you think a recall will do?

[AMartin56]

I guess the point is that with proper quality control you wouldn't have to go through the process so many times. My or my friends personal experiences...

All told we had to order FIVE replacement guitars. They arrived in the following condition:

Three worked fine and appear to be the new 'magnet' model of strummer.
One appears to be the new magnet strummer but has a hard time triggering overdrive.
One arrived and was the old 'tweezer' model of strummer and sucks.

All arrived within the last 2-3 days.

So to me it's obvious that there is still a bit of a crapshoot going on.

I'll feel better about the future of the game once they purge all of the defective designs from their inventory.

[munkyboy]

I just got my replacement guitar and it is the same exact style as my original. :(
I'm gonna return this one and hope for a new model.

[turnthree]

There doesn't need to be a recall. Just use the warranty program until you get a working guitar. What exactly do you think a recall will do?

Just use the warranty program until I get a working guitar?

Why in the hell would I want to keep doing that, it took over two weeks for them to get me the first faulty guitar. At this rate I would have a working guitar sometime in January.
Sounds like a great plan, thanks for the advice.