Reviewed: June 18, 2009
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Manufacturer
Logitech

Type: Guitar
System: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2

Rating: 9.7

Features

Logitech’s Wireless Guitar – well first of all, it deserves a better name – this is so generic, especially for a guitar that will send many gamers to the gym just to be able to lift this beast. This is by far the heaviest of any guitar in my collection, significantly heavier than the Peak guitar I reviewed earlier this year, which is also made of wood and several inches larger. It’s the first guitar to which I immediately attached the shoulder strap. I normally sit when I play but the added weight on my legs was uncomfortable during my longer jam sessions, and the strap spreads that weight out comfortably across my shoulders.

Logitech’s ultra-realistic guitar is manufactured from authentic parts and materials starting with a solid body, real wood neck, rosewood fingerboards, and real metal frets and tuning pegs. And what is normally one of my biggest pet peeves – controller noise (that clackety clack clack of the strum bar and fret buttons) has been totally silenced so you hear nothing but the music.

With this guitar in your hands you will feel like the ultimate rock star because this is as close to an actual guitar as you are going to get without buying the real thing. There is an inexplicable feeling of pride just having this guitar sitting in your game room, and while I’m not hear to plug other merchandise I have to confess I keep my Logitech Wireless Guitar safe using two excellent products – their Triple Tree Guitar Stand for display and the Coffin Case Soft Gig Bag when I go on tour.

The guitar is wireless, which has been a concern in the past with issues like lag and calibration, but I have not had a single issue after 20+ hours of testing. A USB dongle plugs into the port on your PS3 (or PS2) and Logitech even includes the two AA batteries, which will power my guitar for 100+ hours. The fret buttons and strum bar are as accurate as they are silent and the whammy bar is perfect in size and function.

I suppose if I had to complain about anything it would be that this guitar doesn’t work with the Rock Band games, which I play a lot more than Guitar Hero. I have other guitars in my collection with toggle switches that switch between the two game franchises but this guitar is exclusive to Guitar Hero. Thankfully, my copy of Guitar Hero: Smash Hits arrived just about the same time as this guitar so I was able to rock out with the latest (and possibly the best) version of Guitar Hero to date on the PS3 with the absolute best guitar.

I’ve heard a few complaints about a lack of Bluetooth support, but that would have only sucked the battery life that much quicker and alienated PS2 gamers. I have no problems with the 2.4 GHz wireless, and this guitar even works on my PS2 games being played in “compatibility mode” on my PS3. With a $200 SRP only serious guitar players or rich gamers with plenty of disposable income will likely find the need to invest in such an amazing piece of hardware, but in my opinion, it’s a small price to pay to party like a rock star.

I’ve been reviewing Logitech products for almost ten years and they have always offered the best of the best when it comes to keyboards, mice, and game controllers and this Wireless Guitar Controller ranks right up there at the top in quality, style, and performance. Take it from me – a guy with 18 guitars – it doesn’t get any better than this.