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ROCK BAND Strat reliability thread - report in here
- Thread starter Gary Whitta
- Start date
Angelcurio
Member
I hate having to post on this thread, since it would mean bad news (for me). Got my game bundle on thursday, kept playing only the drums. Today, a couple of friends came to my place and we decided to give a try to the Multiplayer World Tour. After less than an hour, the Strum bar on my guitar stopped working properly.
It detects up strums, but not downstrums. And to make things worse i imported the game from the states, so sendindg the game back for a replacement is going to be a nightmare.
Is there a way of actually fixing the guitar?
It detects up strums, but not downstrums. And to make things worse i imported the game from the states, so sendindg the game back for a replacement is going to be a nightmare.
Is there a way of actually fixing the guitar?
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
I still haven't sent in my Strat that crapped out a month ago. At the time, downstrumming failed, then upstrumming failed shortly after. About a week ago, upstrumming started working perfectly, (still no downstrum) then crapped out again.
I tried strumming up and down a bunch with the controller disconnected today. Now it works perfectly for downstrums again, but doesn't work at all for upstrums. Somebody let me off of this roller coaster.
I tried strumming up and down a bunch with the controller disconnected today. Now it works perfectly for downstrums again, but doesn't work at all for upstrums. Somebody let me off of this roller coaster.
BobFromPikeCreek
Member
4 more days until the game comes out in Canada and EA finally acknowledges the warranty I should be entitled to.
speculawyer
Member
I don't know if my Strat will ever break because I'd rather use the wireless Les Paul from Guitar Hero 3.
Sooo, I was just at Best Buy and they finally had the bundle in stock again. On the box is a big, yellow sticker that reads something to the effect of, "If you have any problems do NOT return it to the Best Buy store, instead contact http://support.ea.com/rockband."
The boxes were dated October 30th.
I wasn't going to buy one, but just noteworthy.
The boxes were dated October 30th.
I wasn't going to buy one, but just noteworthy.
RiotPelaaja
Remedy
Angelcurio said:
Welcome to my world. I paid 350$ for shipping to Finland and my strum bar broke down in a few days. Couldnt be fixed, so I had to send it back via a friend and I've yet to get the new one back though EA did ship it very fast in a week to my friend. Still, after all this hassle, the game is fucking worth the money.
MrCompletely
Member
wow, this thread scared me into RMA'ing a strat just as precautionary measure. guitar seems to be working fine, but im convinced it's inevitably going to take a poop.
Robobandit
Member
Grifter said:
but the whole strat itself feels like a piece of shit.
toss up, I guess. Clicky strum bar and well-built, reliable and wireless.. or silent strum bar, cheap feeling hollow plastic and wired.
I'm not sure how the smooth cheap plastic on the Strat is any worse than the textured cheap plastic on the LP, I prefer the former in every way (love the fret button placement and feel, the neck, the size) except for the LP's weight and wireless-ness. Prefer X-plorer's buttons to LP's.
My buddy had a problem w/the LP's contacts, was that widespread?
My buddy had a problem w/the LP's contacts, was that widespread?
dirtyjfosho
Member
My Rock band Strat is all jacked, i had EA ship me a box to ship them the defective unit and then i would get a new one.
I just got the box.. How long do you think it will take? For the time being till after X-mas i would rather use this one for now to play bass when i have friends over then not have one at all..
I just got the box.. How long do you think it will take? For the time being till after X-mas i would rather use this one for now to play bass when i have friends over then not have one at all..
Angelcurio
Member
I paid $280 for the whole package. And yeah, the saddest part of the story is that the game is extremely good, specially the drums part. It really feels like playing real drums. Since sending it back its going to cost me a lot of money, i will wait until upstrumming stops working.RiotPelaaja said:
speculawyer
Member
AstroLad said:
Yeah, the only time my strat has been used is when I had a crowd over to play Rock Band . . . but even then, I have an X-plorer from GHII that has a longer cord which was often used instead of the strat. But even though it works better than the strat (I don't like the strat strum bar), the Strat looks much better than cheapo looking X-plorer.
MagicJackBauer
Banned
anyone get their $100 back yet from the replacement strat?
I have now replaced one guitar, one set of drum pads, and just submitted for my bass drum pedal to be replaced since it split in half. Believe it or not, I am not rough on stuff. I have a feeling I will break another pedal again, though, unless they do something to reinforce it. The guitar and drums were just badly made to begin with.
List of free games:
Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (PC/360)
Command and Conquer: The First Decade (PC)
FIFA 08 (PC/PS2/360/PS3)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (PC/PS2/360/PS3)
Medal of Honor Airborne (PC/PS3/360)
NASCAR 08 (PS2/360)
NBA Live 08 (PC/PS2/360/PS3)
Need for Speed Pro Street (PC/PS2/PS3)
NHL 08 (PC/PS2/PS3/360)
Rock Band (PS2/PS3/360)
skate. (PS3/360)
The Simpsons Game (PS2/PS3/360)
The Sims 2 Deluxe (PC)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (PC/PS2/PS3/360)
I ended up picking skate for the 360.
Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (PC/360)
Command and Conquer: The First Decade (PC)
FIFA 08 (PC/PS2/360/PS3)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (PC/PS2/360/PS3)
Medal of Honor Airborne (PC/PS3/360)
NASCAR 08 (PS2/360)
NBA Live 08 (PC/PS2/360/PS3)
Need for Speed Pro Street (PC/PS2/PS3)
NHL 08 (PC/PS2/PS3/360)
Rock Band (PS2/PS3/360)
skate. (PS3/360)
The Simpsons Game (PS2/PS3/360)
The Sims 2 Deluxe (PC)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (PC/PS2/PS3/360)
I ended up picking skate for the 360.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
let me get this straight...the guitar for Rock Band, the guitar you can only get if you purchased the bundle, this guitar breaks and they offer you a copy of Rock Band as recompense?Nightz said:
Beer Monkey
Member
bune duggy said:
It's probably dirt cheap for them. Much of the cost of the game is tied up in music royalties, but 'give away' copies are likely to be considered a promotional expense and exempt from those royalties.
Did you know that if you get discs in one of those 'six albums for free' introductory offers from columbia house or BMG, that the band typically gets nothing because it is considered a promotional copy?
rohlfinator
Member
My account was never charged. I was under the impression that they'd only charge you if you didn't get your old guitar back to them within the time period.MagicJackBauer said:
It's kind of odd that EA isn't offering the 360 version of Need For Speed as one of the free game options.
JPBrowncoat
Member
My account first had a hold for 100 dollars when I set up the exchange and that went away before I even sent back the broken guitar. I assume they just check if you have the funds and then if you never send the guitar back they charge you for reals.
Rummy Bunnz
Member
Dammit. I want Skate. Could someone please tell me if there's some kind of reference number on the free game email, and if so could they please share it with me? I wrote EA, who replied suggesting I call them. So I call and I get an Indian dude who kept repeating "I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot offer any advice on your situation." He finally put me on hold for awhile and came back asking me for a reference number from the email. The email I never got. URRRGH. He made it sound like they have native english speakers available during business hours, so I guess I'll call back tomorrow.Nightz said:
He also didn't know what the strum bar is. And wouldn't send me another replacement without putting another hold on my card. Which I understand, but they sent me a fucking broken guitar. And it's Christmas. I can't afford that shit right now. URRRRGH.
Oh. Maybe I can afford it then.JPBrowncoat said:
Cheesemeister
Member
So, I was right in the middle of my 3rd jam session with The Showstoppers this evening, when my down-strum started giving out while holding on long notes and registering additional presses on almost every regular note. I switched it up to up-strum, which worked much better despite being a royal pain to pluck all the time. I'll be putting in my service order now...
StrikerObi
Member
This is fucking absurd. I waited two weeks for my replacement strat, and two weeks after I got it, it fucking breaks too. And I wasn't even offered a free game for the huge wait I had for my first replacement. I cannot believe what a piece of shit this controller is. You think they'd do some better fucking stress testing. I'm going to bitch to their support tomorrow. I cannot believe what a terrible experience I've had with them.
Just FYI dude, you don't need to hold the strummer for long notes. You just need to hit the note and hold the fret button.
Cheesemeister said:
Just FYI dude, you don't need to hold the strummer for long notes. You just need to hit the note and hold the fret button.
Cheesemeister
Member
StrikerObi said:
What?! When was this?
Christoff Yurievich
Member
GH2? hell, maybe even GH1 but it's been awhile. You hold the frets, not the strummer.
StrikerObi
Member
bune duggy said:
Since GH1
ugh, this is starting to look like a clusterfuck :/
Seth, I did the same thing, mine broke the third day I had RB (which was three days after launch.) I held off hoping to get a 'better' replacement. Now I'm worried that not only won't I get a free game, but that I won't have a working strat when my 60 day warrenty is up.
EA better make this right for a $170 game buoght basically sight unseen.
Seth, I did the same thing, mine broke the third day I had RB (which was three days after launch.) I held off hoping to get a 'better' replacement. Now I'm worried that not only won't I get a free game, but that I won't have a working strat when my 60 day warrenty is up.
EA better make this right for a $170 game buoght basically sight unseen.
Mine and my buddy's Strat's both have the down-strum problem. I started the process yesterday, but did the Express method to guarantee that we'd have at least one controller for Christmas (my buddy is kind-of lazy, so I didn't trust him.)
They are both the wireless Strat for PS3.
Personally, I really like the controller, and it has quickly become my favorite, even with this issue.
They are both the wireless Strat for PS3.
Personally, I really like the controller, and it has quickly become my favorite, even with this issue.
So yeah, I apparently have the worst luck with toy guitars in the world. I picked up Rock Band the day after it came out, and the guitar started double-strumming within a week. I put in for an express replacement, and when it finally arrived it was way more broken than the first guitar. The strum bar was actually embedded into the guitar, and I had to pull it out and snap it into position - and even then it felt like the spring that gives it tension and holds it in place was missing; it would just flap all over the place. So instead of returning my first defective guitar, I just sent that one back.
I then decided to go and pick up an X-plorer, since it's comparatively cheap and it'd be nice to have a second controller for when guests come over. Except that I got one of the model numbers where the strum bar was broken. So now, until I get my $125 hold back from EA and can put in for another replacement, I'm stuck with a controller that double strums and a controller with no whammy bar. :/
I then decided to go and pick up an X-plorer, since it's comparatively cheap and it'd be nice to have a second controller for when guests come over. Except that I got one of the model numbers where the strum bar was broken. So now, until I get my $125 hold back from EA and can put in for another replacement, I'm stuck with a controller that double strums and a controller with no whammy bar. :/
Christoff Yurievich
Member
wow that's a lot of glue.
I put my guitar back together and it worked OK, dunno how long it will last. the weird thing is that there was no problem with the contacts making, well, contact. Everything was as kosher as it could possibly be on the inside so I don't know why it would have stopped working on me.
Rummy Bunnz
Member
Mine also conked out right after I got RB, and I also held off in hopes of getting a better guitar. I called yesterday about the free game and they said it was only for people who requested a replacement from 11/20-23. I spoke to a supervisor and they said they met their quota on the free games and the best they could offer was a $20 off coupon for the EA store. The EA store that charges $7 for shipping. Urrrrrgh.DJ_Tet said:
They also hung up on me twice and took forever trying to find a record of my previous return. I never even got a confirmation email about that one, no RMA #, and there's no record of it anymore on my EA.com account. EA suxxx.
Yeah, mine arrived in the same condition. RMA'd that one and it's still sitting at "Billing Info Received". Great.Campster said:
Oh, and they also told me that some institutions only allow a hold for 72 hours, so if you're one of the people who no longer have a record of the hold on your statement that's probably why.
I don't own the game but I was in Walmart today doing some last minute shopping. Noticed they finally had a rock band demo up (PS3 version) so I went to try it out. It was only the guitar and it was completely broken. The strumming didn't work at all. It either didn't register or would keep registering a new strum if I finally got it to work. The neck also felt flimsy like it'd break if it fell or hit anything. The PS2 GH3 demo was still working perfectly fine and that's been there for a few months.
I've been thinking of getting RB even if I only play the guitar part for the better DLC but the poorly made guitar has me wary.
I've been thinking of getting RB even if I only play the guitar part for the better DLC but the poorly made guitar has me wary.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
excellent.
Rummy Bunnz
Member
My third strat arrived and its tilt sensor doesn't work. At all.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
Just got my replacement. question for people who have received one: did EA ship it sans head and strap to you to? Because if I have to cannibalize my old strat for parts I'll be a little upset.