As much as I enjoy Rock Band, I'm not a fan of the Rock Band Fender Stratocaster guitar that Harmonix designed. It's not awful, but, I've spent the past FOUR Guitar Hero games using the Gibson series of guitars, enjoying certain controller design elements that I never felt needed improvements, and I didn't appreciate the changes that went into the design of the Fender.
Most importantly the lack of "CLICKY" strum bar
Enter the Frontman 3 for PS3, which is 100% compatible with both Rock Band and Guitar Hero III.
It's the guitar controller that I've been waiting ...
and waiting and waiting and waiting for!
Got mine today ... and I'm VERY VERY HAPPY!
Even though 3rd party guitar controllers have often been on the lower end of the quality spectrum - the Frontman 3 has PLENTY of positives to warrant a purchase.
1.) A "clicky" strum-bar that is absolutely on par with the Red Octane Les Paul series of guitars. Clicky strum is the way to go ... I'll never understand why Harmonix have moved away from that design.
2.) A totally superior tilt-sensor to both of the Strat's that I've owned. Not once have I "accidentally" deployed my star power during a game since switching over to this model.
3.) Built in rechargeable AA battery charger via USB cable.
4.) MATTE finish plastic! Yes, shiny is nice ... but GOD DAMN am I tired of wiping it down to get rid of all smudges.
5.) Dual compatibility. I don't have Guitar Hero for the PS3, I have it for the 360 ... but if I ever do come into a copy for some reason, I don't have to buy a separate guitar!
6.) The Frontman 3 has a good weight to it in the body ... it doesn't feel ultra light or flimsy.
7.) The "effects switch", unlike using the Guitar Hero controllers on the 360 version of Rock Band, you CAN select the guitar effects with this guitar.
8.) Inverted D-Pad ... so when you push UP towards you, you scroll UP through song lists!!!
I only have a few gripes about this thing ... but NONE of them disqualify it from being a good purchase IMO.
- No high frets.
- The D-Pad is a bit on the stiff size, but it works fine.
- The neck is a BIT on the fat size, but my hands are big enough, so that's not an issue for ME.
- The buttons take a bit to get used to, but I think that overall they're a great halfway point between the totally flat frets on the Strat (which I'm not a fan of) and the raised buttons on Gibson(s) and I haven't encountered any issues with their "action" lacking.
- I've never been a huge fan of the X-Plorer style body ... makes it hard to put in a "guitar stand"...luckily I have an adjustable one that fits it.
All in all - again - I'm VERY VERY happy right now, and I'm very much looking forward to going through all my favorite songs again on Guitar!!