Replacement Guitar Clicky Frets

[jaxst]

So I just waltzed in after work and was surprised to see my replacement guitar from EA. So I typically open the package and hook it up only to find out that half of the fret buttons make the loudest clicking noise i've experience on a Harmonix guitar. Anyone else having the same problem?

It also seems as if they stick, or are more difficult during hammer-ons and roll-offs.

Fair enough? Please let me know if I'm losing my mind. Or maybe I'm being picky... but for $180 game, I think it should work

Also, my previous guitar had strum problems, but the frets were not loud at all.

[MasterTick]

Yeah, the frets sound like an old keyboard : (

[jaxst]

The solo fret buttons seem just like the original guitar I had. No annoying loudness, and no sticking. I wonder why they would change the other fret buttons? I don't recall hearing about issues with the fret buttons before.

[Leshrac55]

So I just waltzed in after work and was surprised to see my replacement guitar from EA. So I typically open the package and hook it up only to find out that half of the fret buttons make the loudest clicking noise i've experience on a Harmonix guitar. Anyone else having the same problem?

It also seems as if they stick, or are more difficult during hammer-ons and roll-offs.

Fair enough? Please let me know if I'm losing my mind. Or maybe I'm being picky... but for $180 game, I think it should work

Also, my previous guitar had strum problems, but the frets were not loud at all.

Yep, exact same problem here. First guitar was pretty quiet, new guitar is extremely "clicky" and buttons are somewhat "stiffer" and harder to depress.

Not only that, but my "Overdrive" either goes off automatically or is insanely difficult to turn on when I want it to. My first guitar's downstrum was starting to lose a bit of sensitivity, but the overdrive was really easy to activate (much easier than the GH guitar without necessarily having it go off all the time), and the frets were pretty quiet (except maybe one, but it's click wasn't nearly as loud as basically all of my current frets).

I'll be returning this guitar as well because of the overdrive issue, and I can only hope that my fret issue will resolve as well.

[mikeny]

Yep, exact same problem here. First guitar was pretty quiet, new guitar is extremely "clicky" and buttons are somewhat "stiffer" and harder to depress.

Not only that, but my "Overdrive" either goes off automatically or is insanely difficult to turn on when I want it to. My first guitar's downstrum was starting to lose a bit of sensitivity, but the overdrive was really easy to activate (much easier than the GH guitar without necessarily having it go off all the time), and the frets were pretty quiet (except maybe one, but it's click wasn't nearly as loud as basically all of my current frets).

I'll be returning this guitar as well because of the overdrive issue, and I can only hope that my fret issue will resolve as well.I concur that my replacement guitar's frets seem so loud, that they sound cheap and broken. As for overdrive, I need to keep the guitar practically level otherwise it activates. It's much more sensitive than the LP GH III PS3 guitar. At what degree, should it activate?

The strum issue is resolved but I'm considering replacement because of the other 2 issues.

[Decaying101]

Yep, exact same problem here. First guitar was pretty quiet, new guitar is extremely "clicky" and buttons are somewhat "stiffer" and harder to depress.

Not only that, but my "Overdrive" either goes off automatically or is insanely difficult to turn on when I want it to. My first guitar's downstrum was starting to lose a bit of sensitivity, but the overdrive was really easy to activate (much easier than the GH guitar without necessarily having it go off all the time), and the frets were pretty quiet (except maybe one, but it's click wasn't nearly as loud as basically all of my current frets).

I'll be returning this guitar as well because of the overdrive issue, and I can only hope that my fret issue will resolve as well.

Yea Same Problem Here With The Overdrive And The Strum Is Messed Up And I Strum Down Once And Strums Twice When I Only Press It Once...

Can You Two Or Anyone Help Me? How Do I Get A New One Or Do I Have To? And Does It Cost To Get A New One?

[Leshrac55]

Yea Same Problem Here With The Overdrive And The Strum Is Messed Up And I Strum Down Once And Strums Twice When I Only Press It Once...

Can You Two Or Anyone Help Me? How Do I Get A New One Or Do I Have To? And Does It Cost To Get A New One?

No cost for a new one. Just fill out EA's warranty page and, if you give them a credit card number, they'll send you out a new one... hopefully one without these issues.

[KazerX]

I hope that my next replacement won't have loud fret buttons. As of right now, they are twice if not triple the loudness of two of my old guitar hero strumbars. At first I was just glad that my new replacement had a working downstrum even though the upstrum was busted along with the tilt sensor. The fret buttons are driving me up the wall now that I am am able to play most expert songs.

[BAzombie]

No cost for a new one. Just fill out EA's warranty page and, if you give them a credit card number, they'll send you out a new one... hopefully one without these issues.


You left out the part where you have to have $125 available on your credit card that they can put a hold on. Then if they don't receive your old on in 30 days ..... they charge your card the $125.

I find it funny that they'll charge ya $125 for something that they're going to sell for $60.


Oh, and keep all of your tracking #'s. I read a post where they sent a customer an e-mail saying he had 10 days left before they charge the $125 because they didn't receive his broken one. He thanked them for the warning and proceeded to tell them that the guitar was delivered to dock #__ and signed for by employee ______ a full 5 days before they sent their warning.

I went the cheap route (no credit card) and I'm awaiting my coffin as I type.

I just hope I get a replacement before the stand-alone guitars come out in Feb. By the other threads in here it might be a tight race.:eek:

[rgaino]

...half of the fret buttons make the loudest clicking noise i've experience on a Harmonix guitar. Anyone else having the same problem?


Yes, same problem here! First the down strum, now the noisy fret buttons. Can I get another replacement because of this?

[Awesome]

Same issue here. My original guitar had extremely quiet fret buttons, but the new one sounds just like a really old keyboard and is less tactilely responsive. Both sets are noisy, not just the big keys. Additionally, my strum bar is loose as hell, and the guitar itself arrived looking pretty dirty with some minor scratches.

My original guitar had quiet frets, a tight strum bar, and no scratches at all. But it started to double-strum when I strummed down making it impossible to player most Expert songs (I had to only strum up).

Basically I'm trading unplayable for annoying to play--is this something that could be returned again under the warranty?

[snootyusher]

Same issue here. My original guitar had extremely quiet fret buttons, but the new one sounds just like a really old keyboard and is less tactilely responsive. Both sets are noisy, not just the big keys. Additionally, my strum bar is loose as hell, and the guitar itself arrived looking pretty dirty with some minor scratches.

My original guitar had quiet frets, a tight strum bar, and no scratches at all. But it started to double-strum when I strummed down making it impossible to player most Expert songs (I had to only strum up).

Basically I'm trading unplayable for annoying to play--is this something that could be returned again under the warranty?

same here. clicky frets and loose strum bar. but...it plays well so far. i don't think you can return it because you don't like it- it has to actually not work.

[rgaino]

same here. clicky frets and loose strum bar. but...it plays well so far. i don't think you can return it because you don't like it- it has to actually not work.

Anyone can confirm that? I am unsatisfied with it. I had a guitar that was fine when all of a sudden the down strum stopped working. Then they replaced for this one where the buttons get stuck sometimes and it makes this loud noise. I believe I should get a guitar that is as good as the one I first purchased.

Hell, I paid $180 for this.

Anyone from Harmonix can give a word about this?

[Darth Vato]

I'm in the same position as most of you. I think we have the same generation guitars.

I got my replacement in the mail this Monday. It works pretty good but like everyone's saying it's loud and feels different.


I absolutely loved my first guitar. No noises, and the solo buttons were quiet as well. The down strum stopped working. I want THAT version guitar!

[unrequited]

My replacement guitar is about 3x louder as well. : (

I have both of 'em sitting right next to me because I haven't sent in my broken one yet.

grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[Awesome]

Has anyone found a remedy for the clicky frets and loose strum bar? Is there a newer gen of guitars out already? I'm close to returning this one because one of the keys on the second set of frets is unreliable, but I kinda want to wait until they make the guitars not annoyingly loud and the strum bar stiffer.

[Cutlass]

Nope, you can't return guitars because the frets are too clicky or the strum bar feels loose.

[MrDangeresque]

I'm in the same position as you guys. Replaced my original guitar due to the downstrum, and the replacement has a loose strum bar and really clicky buttons. My friend got a replacement guitar a few weeks ago, and the strum bar was slightly clicky and the buttons were nice and mushy. I think I might try again and get another replacement because I don't want my 60 day warranty to expire and my overdrive is a little iffy.

[Adagi]

I'm requesting a replacement for my 2nd guitar. Original guitar had strummer problem. 2nd guitar a couple of the solo fret buttons stick (I rarely use the big fret buttons any more as doing so is killing my thumb). Overdrive won't activate consistently.

EA says they are striving for 100% satisfaction. I'd keep requesting a replacement until you are 100% satisfied. I hope that they finally get a suitable guitar replacement, or some 3rd party comes out with a good one.

[xFiShx]

No Clicky Frets - Old Model Of Guitar, gets strum problems

Clicky Frets - Perfect Guitar

[STALEYLIVES]

I have clicky frets, and a quiet responsive strum bar. It seems that sets made in November-present work much better than older ones. Do the microswitch Strats click, or are they relatively quiet? If they click, maybe mine is the one with magnets?

[louis0nfire]

My replacement's fret buttons are also very clicky and loud.

[Frederf]

This is definitely why you get the Express RMA option, put the old frets on the new guitar body and ship them back the metal-contact body with new clicky frets as a "complete" guitar.

[louis0nfire]

This is definitely why you get the Express RMA option, put the old frets on the new guitar body and ship them back the metal-contact body with new clicky frets as a "complete" guitar.

That isn't possible.

[Frederf]

Well you should have told me it wasn't possible before I did it! :p

[louis0nfire]

Well you should have told me it wasn't possible before I did it! :p

Care to explain how you did it?

[Fivestarfrog]

I'm pretty sure I have one of the clicky fret guitars as well (I don't have one to compare with, but mine seems really loud) and even the orange solo fret makes a metallic noise. My overdrive isn't reliable and the downstrum gets stuck, so I've requested an RMA (I'm in Canada so that will probably be next month) and I'm hoping for one without clicky frets...it's a real pain.

[Yodaok]

I got my replacement guitar yesterday and also noticed the clicky fret buttons right away. I do have to say though that I'm very happy that my first replacement guitar actually works correctly. I had a guitar with a messed up overdrive right out of the box (would deploy when it felt like it on its own and when I tried to deploy it, it would never go off). I can deal with the click noise as I'm used to it from the stum bar on the Guitar Hero Guitars. I'm just happy to have a working guitar now.
:cool:

[rockerbabyy]

No Clicky Frets - Old Model Of Guitar, gets strum problems

Clicky Frets - Perfect Guitar
not true. my replacement has clicky frets and the overdrive doesnt work.
i wouldnt call that perfect :p

[Frederf]

Care to explain how you did it?

Certainly, the lesson is nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently-talented fool. Say you have Guitar A with a a broken strummer and lovely fret buttons. You phone up EA and get an RMA express replacement and twiddle your thumbs for 96 hours (if in Canada you should best alternate with tapping your foot every 24 hours lest your thumbs wear down to a nub waiting).

Guitar B arrives in the mail with a lovely strummer but horribly clacky fret buttons (or in my case, an orange fret button that doesn't light on one side).

The first step is to get out the #2 philips screwdriver and take the back casing off both (something like 10 screws each guitar), and set the back halves aside. Inside each will be a ribbon cable that runs from the tan plastic neck base to a circuit board. This is the connection between the 10 fret buttons and the logic unit.

Next you can either take the 3 screws out of the guitar neck base (previously inaccessible inside the guitar) so that you are able to transplant them from Guitar A to Guitar B and vice versa or you can unplug the ribbon cable from each. Be aware that the 3 screws that hold the necks to the body are not all the same length.

The ribbon cable plugs rather stiffly into the circuit board. There is probably a blob of hot glue on the connector, peel it off. The connector is female and slides on to some gold colored male pins which are decently easy to bend accidentally. Push the connector off (oh yeah, that hot glue sure was needed :p) and set the neck aside. Repeat for the other guitar.

Pairing your favorite body with your favorite neck, reassemble the guitar. Take your pick of backside of body shells and assemble that too. Don't forget the silver plastic guitar strap knob on the bottom of the guitar body. Do the same with the left over parts as well. Keep the good one and send the clicky-fretted broken-strum version back.