Need Advice on Top Quality Guitar Peripheral

[Mikarlo]

Hello all. I don't log on here much, but I thought it might be the best place to seek some advice.

I am in need of a new 'high quality' & 'sturdy' guitar peripheral. Money is not an issue with this. I play...a lot. I've burned through so many guitars/base over the years (wear out the fret buttons, strum bars start having too much play, whammy bar bends or breaks altogether). I am currently using the Hofner Bass replica and I've absolutely loved it. I love the long neck, the fret buttons are very easy for me to hammer on/off long phrases, and I like the heavier weight. But now, after a year or so, the strum bar is starting to have too much play for my liking. I'm looking for something sturdy, a peripheral that will last for me for awhile.

I've read about the Wireless Fender Wooden Stratocaster Replica, a bit pricey, but I'm willing to pay the $$$ if it will last me. Any of you that are reading this, do you own or have you played this guitar? If you've owned it for some time, has it held up?

Another thought I've had...is there any 2nd or 3rd party companies that build custom peripherals? I've not researched this, but could be interested.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I appreciate any advice you can share. I welcome all suggestions.

Be Well - Mikarlo
-=-

[whypick1]

I own the wooden Strat. Got my first one a little under 2 years ago (when Amazon had them for $100; score \m/), and the only thing I've had to do with it was replace the pot and spring used for the whammy bar. The wiper of the pot became harder to turn, so when I was using the whammy I was putting more force on the spring until it eventually broke, found the problem with the pot itself during re-assembly. The spring I was able to find a replacement for at a hardware store, and the pot is thankfully the same one used in the RB guitars, so I gutted my RB1 wireless for it.

Other than that, sturdy as all hell. The RB night I go to has a pair as well, and they put up with far more abuse than I subject them to, and I think the only problem they've had is with with the frets popping off after people tip over the guitar stands.

[BohemianMatt]

If you can get Guitar Hero hardware, it's usually pretty durable. I've been using the Guitar Hero: World Tour guitar since that game came out and other than the whammy bar spring breaking, everything else still works great. I've heard the Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock guitar is also similar in quality.

[gamer1st]

I've had a wooden strat for just over 3 years and played the hell out of it and it's still going. It also helps that it's full sized and close to full weight.
I've picked one up of each color, plus a backup, just in case they get hard to find later.
I bought the extra two last year when they were down to $50, and paid $85 for the first one at a sale.
You can replace almost every part in them if they ever need repair. I just haven't had one fail on me yet. I do replace the strumbar switches as soon as I get them because the clicking drives me crazy, but that's easy to do and costs less than $8.

[jibjqrkl]

If you can get Guitar Hero hardware, it's usually pretty durable. I've been using the Guitar Hero: World Tour guitar since that game came out and other than the whammy bar spring breaking, everything else still works great. I've heard the Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock guitar is also similar in quality.

I'd have to say the Warriors of rock guitar is even better. it's lasted me the longest.
If you are going for a GH guitar, make sure it's from World Tour or later, the GH3/Aerosmith guitars break eaaaaasily.

You could also go for a GH2 guitar, which are pretty indestructible apart from the whammy bar, which does break pretty fast but isn't game-breaking. Downside to that one is that it's tiny as hell, and really feels like the cheapest thing you'll ever hold

[grumblevolcano]

I agree with Jibs (apart from the Warriors of Rock guitar because I haven't used it before). I got the Band Hero band bundle back in late 2009 and the guitar still works perfectly well at present.

[grimripper82]

I prefer the Fender Telecaster controller. I've been using the same one since the launch of RB3, and it's still in perfect shape. You get the Rock Band style frets, which I've always preferred, since they're easier to hit. The strum bar is a little clickier like the GHtars, but not too clicky. To top it off, there's a touch sensor for overdrive activation. You don't even have to press it, you actually just touch it, and it's super easy to activate without dropping any notes. As a little bonus, it has all the Rock Band specific features like the solo buttons and effects switch. I seriously have almost every plastic guitar available, and the Telecaster is hands-down my favorite.

[NightmareLyre]

Using the Guitar Hero: World Tour guitar myself and it have lasted now about 3-4 years, though the strum bar is a tad unresponsive and I have to use extra force on it as of now due to the springs in it or whatever getting old and broken and the whammy bar also losing it's spring. Outside of that, the fret buttons are just perfect and it's just the right size IMO, and it will probably take a year or two of hardcore playing before the strumbar needs any more force like mine does.

[Pheran]

I have the wooden Strat as well and it is a fantastic controller, but I got an amazing deal on it from Amazon (well under $100).

[Doc_SoCal]

If you are full sized and the weight of it is not an issue, the Mad Catz Wooden Strat Replica is the finest stock controller made for Rock Band on the XBOX 360

Hands down.

<Edit> YIKES there were 49 bucks for a while on Amazon, now I see they are way up.

These guys have 3 for 108.97.