Stratocaster frets - what makes them difficult to adjust to? [Archive]

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Keebler

10-12-2007, 12:38 PM

I've read a lot of post-tour impressions from people, most of them saying the guitar takes some getting used to because of the frets. But I haven't seen much of an explanation offered as to why that is. Is it the fact the buttons are all contiguous now? Do they push in farther or less? Are they wider?

PsycoCheerio

10-12-2007, 12:41 PM

For the most part I thought it was that the buttons felt more to be part of the guitar vs. the extruded buttons from the GH controllers.

Also a lot of it had to do with the lack of the clicky sound that the GH controllers make, so you don't think you are strumming when you are, and that then leads to you overstrumming and messing up...

Ultrace

10-12-2007, 12:46 PM

The frets are level with the guitar from what I remember, so that when you press them, they actually recess within the guitar itself... As opposed to GH controllers, where the buttons extend out and pushing them down brings the fret level with the guitar surface. It may not sound like much, but it can definitely throw you off.

Also, the timing in the game is a little different than GH's. A final thing to bear in mind is that by the time many people get a chance to play at the tour, the strats they're using have seen a lot of wear and tear, and may not be registering as well with the machines as a brand new one will. Mind you, we've been using the same GH controller for 2 years now and it's only now starting to show signs of not working as well... I encountered two separate strat controllers which have strumming issues after a short (but no doubt rough) life... Not sure if that's an indication of their long-term durability.

PsycoCheerio

10-12-2007, 12:58 PM

Ultrace

10-12-2007, 01:01 PM

I got to use a brand new one and a roughed up Strat while i was there...even at the end of the day the one brought out early morning was still registering perfectly...although when i was at WCG last weekend one of the strats was worn to the point that the downward strumming action wouldn't register unless you really hammered on it...
Downward strumming was also the exact problem I encountered with two strats--that you either had to push down really hard or wait a few seconds--neither of which was a good option. I just opted to strum upwards instead.

PsycoCheerio

10-12-2007, 01:11 PM

yea, I opted to play bass and strum upward, felt pretty awesome...i really hope that it isn't a sign of things to come...

crivit

10-12-2007, 01:22 PM

yea, I opted to play bass and strum upward, felt pretty awesome...i really hope that it isn't a sign of things to come...

I don't think we have anything to worry about with the durability of the guitars. Anything the general public gets it's hands on will have a short life. Every GH controller I've seen set up as a demo has been broken in some form or another, but my personal GH guitars still work as new. I would imagine the tour strats are going through a similiar mauling from the public.

PsycoCheerio

10-12-2007, 01:28 PM

I don't think we have anything to worry about with the durability of the guitars. Anything the general public gets it's hands on will have a short life. Every GH controller I've seen set up as a demo has been broken in some form or another, but my personal GH guitars still work as new. I would imagine the tour strats are going through a similiar mauling from the public.

That's a good point...I actually used the same Strat for about 4 hours while on the bus...thankfully it rained and apparently that scares people who live in Washington, just got me a lot more play time....But I in no way take responsibility for getting Sean sick...

Magnet

10-12-2007, 01:29 PM

I don't think we have anything to worry about with the durability of the guitars. Anything the general public gets it's hands on will have a short life. Every GH controller I've seen set up as a demo has been broken in some form or another, but my personal GH guitars still work as new

That is so true. I remember trying to play the demo of GHII for the 360 at a Wal-Mart and the whammy was already broken, the tilting wasn't functioning well at all, and it felt worn out. It couldn't have been there for more than a week. The general public will gladly abuse anything given to them. I wouldn't take impressions of the Strat from the tour or similar events too much to heart. I'm sure they are getting messed up a bit, but I don't think that it has anything to do with the durability or functionality of the peripheral.

SmokaCola

10-12-2007, 03:46 PM

Big sentence.

Yeah, I mean really don't consider the Strat to be way to fragile just because it was busted up on a tour. If you want a clear example that kids will abuse anything that's given to them without them having to work for it, go to a local walmart where they have games on display. You'll be lucky to find any game controller with the analog sticks with rubber on them, let alone still attached to the controller. I'm sure the Strat will be fine for those who don't abuse their games/controllers.

StaticSmoke11

10-12-2007, 07:48 PM

my guitar hero 2 controller on the 360 strums twice everytime oyu strum down so it breaks your steak and i cant play anymore :( and i took great care of it but it got a lot of use

agar_agar

10-14-2007, 04:43 AM

I'm a bit late replying to this topic, but something else that wasn't mentioned about the Strat is the fact that the guitar itself being a whole lot bigger is something to get used to as well. The neck is probably as wide and thick as a real guitar neck, so that also makes a big difference (as opposed to the tiny neck/headstock of the X-plorer). After about one song worth of playing, the learning curve wasn't really there for me anymore.

I'd say that hardest part of the Rock Band Strat experience for me was going back to the X-plorer and GHII. It doesn't even feel like that game is in the same league. I've re-adjusted to GHII now, but it definitely took a few days to do it. I couldn't help but want that bigger guitar (and wider neck), and every time I play the X-plorer now, that strum bar just disappoints me.

Saltines

10-14-2007, 06:57 AM

my guitar hero 2 controller on the 360 strums twice everytime oyu strum down so it breaks your steak and i cant play anymore :( and i took great care of it but it got a lot of use

Thats a good thing my controllers don't do that. I'd hate to break my steak..

Feigned

10-14-2007, 10:03 AM

my guitar hero 2 controller on the 360 strums twice everytime oyu strum down so it breaks your steak and i cant play anymore :( and i took great care of it but it got a lot of use

Open it up and take a look at what's causing the issue. There's really not a whole lot inside there to screw up, so just check it out. I've completely disassembled one and reassembled it into an SG housing, so if you need some help, let me know.

Emo_Reaper

10-14-2007, 10:16 AM

Thats a good thing my controllers don't do that. I'd hate to break my steak..

I love breakin my steak...with my mouth =]

But,yea,it seems since ive been to all the tours in ohio,and by today,all of them were practically broke.Even the TV on stage was broke. The things the General Public can do...

SmokaCola

10-14-2007, 10:21 AM

Open it up and take a look at what's causing the issue. There's really not a whole lot inside there to screw up, so just check it out. I've completely disassembled one and reassembled it into an SG housing, so if you need some help, let me know.

Woah wait... You can fit the insides of the Xplorer into the SG?... Now I really wish I wouldn't have sold my GH1 and Guitar =\

Feigned

10-14-2007, 10:32 AM

Woah wait... You can fit the insides of the Xplorer into the SG?... Now I really wish I wouldn't have sold my GH1 and Guitar =\

Yup, it takes a bit of work though. It's well worth it.

http://community.rockband.com/file/pic/gallery/1210.jpg

Huwonk

10-15-2007, 12:59 AM

I personally prefer the way the frets felt. I play guitar, so it felt much more natural than the way the GH controllers are in terms of spacing and protrusion.

Bakkster

10-15-2007, 01:14 AM

I personally prefer the way the frets felt. I play guitar, so it felt much more natural than the way the GH controllers are in terms of spacing and protrusion.

That's what I was hoping. Good to know.

SmokaCola

10-15-2007, 02:48 AM

Yup, it takes a bit of work though. It's well worth it.

http://community.rockband.com/file/pic/gallery/1210.jpg

Nice man, might have to get me an SG and paint it up and rip the insides out.

mmorgan184

10-15-2007, 03:29 AM

I personally prefer the way the frets felt. I play guitar, so it felt much more natural than the way the GH controllers are in terms of spacing and protrusion.

Definitely this.

My only problem was because of how I trained myself to play this game sometimes my hand would hit the bottom of the frets, and since they are so sensitive I would pull down the blue and yellow fret on accident when I went to put my index finger on the green fret. Hopefully I can stop myself from doing this and breaking combo's.

Feigned

10-15-2007, 03:39 AM

Nice man, might have to get me an SG and paint it up and rip the insides out.

Thanks. I'm working on a DIY guide on how to do this, it just takes forever. I'm still sifting through all of my pics that I took along the way. Once I have it finished I'll let you know. :cool:

Quastor

10-15-2007, 03:52 AM

Thanks. I'm working on a DIY guide on how to do this, it just takes forever. I'm still sifting through all of my pics that I took along the way. Once I have it finished I'll let you know. :cool:

Please do! My original SG from GH1 is dead (bad wiring around the cord) and I'd love to gut the thing and replace it with the Xplorer innards.

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