Beginning guitarists nowadays are very fortunate because of the progress brought by modern technology. Back then for a guitarist to learn a specific riff, one has to cope by playing through a cassette tape that specific line you need. This leads to two things – either you destroy the record, or you drive your mom deaf or insane along the way. Nowadays, there are tons of unlimited resources available on the internet. And thanks to the exponential advancement in technology, a guitarist can simply plug his guitar directly into his Xbox and learn in minutes what used to take an average guitar player back then hours, or even days via Rocksmith. But what exactly is Rocksmith?
Rocksmith is the new game from Xbox One that has offered a variable solution to speed up the learning process for the modern guitar player. You just have to plug in your guitar, find the song you want to learn, and play away! They even found a way to make practicing the guitar fun through some interactive games that “disguises” the tedious parts of playing through the same notes over and over again till you get it right. Of course you will need to get your own guitar for you to be able to enjoy this game. But what are the pointers in choosing the perfect guitar for Rocksmith?
Bridge: Not the one from London that is constantly falling down. The guitar’s bridge is the part of the guitar where you attach your strings. It would be better if you’d get a guitar with a fixed bridge (doesn’t have a tremolo / whammy bar) for stability in tuning and in case that you’d need to re-tune your guitar for the alternate tunings that some song may require.
String tension: For beginners, it is preferable that you get the lightest tension available for your guitar (gauge 8 or 9) so as it would be easier for your fingers. As you progress and begin having those callouses, you may opt to shift with higher tensions available depending on the tone that you’d want to achieve or the playing style you have developed then.
Level: In what level would you asses your guitar playing skill is at? For beginners, it is okay to get the most basic electric guitar you can find just for practicing or playing the game. If you are an intermediate or advanced player, you might opt to consider getting a guitar which is applicable to the genre you want to play (by this time, I believe that you already have your preferred genre of music) because besides playing Rocksmith, you have the option to bring your guitar with you in case you’d be jamming with you band or even playing in a gig.
So here are our picks for the best guitar for Rocksmith in the market today. Sit down, read, and just plug and play!
Ibanez Talman Series Electric Guitar, Tri Fade Burst, with Gig Bag and Accessory Kit
Pro: Fixed Bridge (stable tuning) / Solid alder body (full creamy tone).Con: The pack does not come with an amplifier.
With its medium sized frets and standard fixed bridge, it is perfect for a beginner or even an intermediate player who’s going to use it for Rocksmith. The solid alder body complemented by the Alnico lipstick neck / single coil bridge pickup configuration provides a very clean signal for Rocksmith interface, it is perfect for any musician who is looking for that Tele twang on a double cutaway body. One of the best features in this guitar is its C – shaped 22 fret maple neck, which is a tribute to the guitars of the 50s and 60s era. The pack comes with a set of picks, strap, tuner, capo and a heavy padded gig bag. The only downside on this gig pack is you still have to shell out a bit of cash to get an amplifier but heck, the guitar’s quality is worth the price! The Talman series is Ibanez’s contribution to the fact that Rock knows no boundaries. A vintage guitar with all the modern capabilities.
Epiphone LP Special II Player Pack Bundle with Rocksmith 2014 for Xbox One (Cable Included)
Pro: Complete starter set. Comes with a Rocksmith 2014 for Xbox One.Con: Factory setup comes with a light string gauge (need to adjust the neck to accommodate higher string tensions).
The Epiphone LP Special II is one of the available guitars that is perfect for use on Rocksmith due to its fixed bridge and tune-o-matic tuners. The guitar’s body is made of basswood which in character gives a smooth creamy tone, and the neck is rosewood over mahogany. The factory configuration comes with a light gauge string setup which is good for beginners who would use it in the game because this equates easier string bending and longer hours of playtime without the sore fingers. This gig pack comes with a set of picks, strap, cable, tuner, practice amplifier, heavy padded gig bag, and the Rocksmith 2014 for Xbox One. A definite steal for its price.
Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Package, Ebony
Pro: Equipped with two humbuckers / fixed bridge.Con: Factory setup comes with a light string gauge (need to adjust the neck to accommodate higher string tensions).
The Epiphone LP Special is one of the available guitars that is perfect for use on Rocksmith due to its fixed bridge and tune-o-matic tuners. Les Paul has patented a body shape for the electric guitar that had become an icon in the music industry today. The Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Package includes a Les Paul Special equipped with two Humbucker pickups which gives off a warm solid tone which is perfect for rock, blues and jazz. The shorter scale neck of the Les Paul Special makes the string tension a lot softer, perfect for blues bending and is also responsible to the guitar’s overall tone. This gig pack comes with a set of picks, strap, cable, tuner, 10 watt practice amplifier, a heavy padded gig bag, and free downloadable guitar lessons from eMedia which is perfect for beginners. A real bang for the buck guitar package perfect for beginners and intermediate players alike.
Squier Affinity Strat Pack with Fender Frontman 10G
Pro: 5 way pickup selector (you can choose the pickup with the best signal).Con: You would have to constantly tune this because of the bridge (tremolo).
Fender’s promise to “Make History” is evident with every guitar and instrument that they make. The Squier Stratocaster is one of the iconic guitar body types that is ideal for intermediate to advanced players who would use it on Rocksmith because of its deep cutaway that would enable you to reach those high notes with ease. The classic Fender charisma is reflected on the Squier Affinity Stratocaster that comes with the pack; a five way pickup configuration, solid alder body, three single coil pickups for that straight out crunch rock sound, and a rosewood over c shaped maple neck giving the guitar its overall tone control and versatility over all genres of music. The amplifier that comes with it, the Frontman 10G, is a decent practice amplifier. It is enough for bedroom practice or if you are in a small room. The accessories that come with the set is quite good – clip on tuner, picks, strap, cable, guitar stand, gig bag, and an instructional cd The only downside is, the guitar’s setup of a five way pickup configuration would be too complicated for a beginner’s use, and that you would have to tune it constantly because of its bridge.
Peavey Electronics 00569260 Rockmaster Guitar Stage Pack
Pro: Very simple design, made for the plug and play guitar player.Con: Does not come with a gig bag.
The Rockmaster Guitar Stage Pack from Peavey is one of the ideal guitars for Rocksmith because of its simple setup – fixed bridge, one tone and one volume control. The neck is rosewood over maple. The guitar’s body is made of basswood which compliments the on board humbucker pickup, giving it a smooth creamy tone with a bit of lush low end tones. The accessory that comes with it includes a tuner, strap, cable, picks, and a 10 watt amplifier. This guitar is designed for the beginning guitarist, with no hassle of selecting which pickups to use and configuring you tones – it is just a straight out plug and play guitar. The only downside to this guitar is that it doesn’t come with a gig bag.
Glen Burton GE101BCO-BLS Electric Guitar Stratocaster-Style Combo with Accessories and Amplifier
Pro: Complete set of accessories.Con: The guitar’s configuration is not “user friendly” for a beginner’s use.
The GE101BCO-BLS Glen Burton guitar package is from BridgeCraft USA. The pack includes everything you would need to start playing; guitar, strap, tuner, extra set of strings, picks, cable, and a 10 watt amplifier. The guitar’s body is made from ash, a very light wood. The neck is rosewood fingerboard over maple. The only downside is, the guitar’s setup of a five way pickup configuration would be too complicated for a beginner’s use, and that you would have to tune it constantly because of its bridge.
Full Size Black Electric Guitar with Amp, Case and Accessories Pack Beginner Starter Package by Davison Guitars
Pro: Very simple design, good for a beginner’s use.Con: The guitar lacks versatility (only one pickup configuration).
This electric guitar pack from Davidson guitars is catered for the beginning guitar player on a budget. The set includes the guitar (in gloss black finish), strap, cable, picks, pitch pipe, and a 10 watt amplifier. If you are planning to use this for Rocksmith, it is definitely worth your money because the setup is intended for a beginner’s use. A very simple guitar that one can grow into.
Rise by Sawtooth ST-RISE-ST-SB-KIT-1 Electric Guitar Pack
Pro: Well-built; comes with the complete set that a beginner needs.Con: The guitar need to be set-up and properly tuned before using it for Rocksmith.
The Rise electric guitar pack from Sawtooth is just what your guitar teacher would advise if you are on a budget and want to learn playing the guitar. The set includes the guitar, strap, cable, picks, pitch pipe, and a 10 watt amplifier. You might need to have the guitar properly set-up (standard intonation, lower the string action) prior to using it for Rocksmith so that you’d get its maximum performance and be comfortable while playing the game.