MadCatz Fender P-Bass controller

[Reclaimer]

Since I've been playing bass for over 16 years it was a no brainer that I was going to buy the Mad Catz Fender bass controller when I saw it.

It's actually pretty nice. Takes some getting used to because the whammy bar has changed to a knob on the body you have to turn to use.
The volume knob is the effects selector and the tone knob is the back and start button on one knob.
In case you're wondering, the Live button makes up where the instrument jack would go.

It is a replica Fender Precision bass guitar at a smaller scale. It plays nicely, it's light weight but it's expensive. It cost 70 bucks USD.
It's a niche thing.. it won't make a difference in your playing but if you're into it, it's nicer than the standard stuff you see for the games.

The string bar is a split switch and has a thumb rest like Fender basses have.
It's designed to be played like a real bass and it really goes far for authenticity despite being a bit smaller than a real guitar.

I guess if you don't mind the price, its really nice.

[l Maximus l]

Any pics?

[Reclaimer]

Any pics?


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QrxKjwLPL._SS400_.jpg


It is sort of a cluster to play though because the buttons don't really have a very defined border between them all. That makes it too easy to slide up and overshoot the button you want, go up on the actual neck and miss the orange button or go too low into the headstock and miss the green.
I sort of play it like a real bass. I don't just hover my fingers over any four buttons, I just skip up and down the next rolling with two or three fingers like I would on my real basses.

I guess what I'm saying that it'll frustrate real guitar players for awhile.

That split switch was the real sell point.
The strum bar is split and half and can be rapidly upstroked like you would a bass guitar, all the while anchoring your thumb on the thumb rest like you would a Fender bass with a thumb rest (or edge of a pickup on one without)

So songs like YYZ or any real fast song I can dig in and lay low like I was doing it on my real deal Fender and Ibanez.

Strangely enough, yes it's a smaller scale than a full size guitar. My Fender bass is a 1980 Bullet which at the time was a re-released Mustang bass.
If you dig enough in the bass guitar list for your character you can actually buy my bass.. the Fender Mustang. Set the primary color as yellow and the secondary for white and now you're playing Reclaimer's bass guitar he has at home.

Back to the point. The Bullet / Mustangs were short scale basses. 19 frets, 21 inch neck. Very short compared to others. This Mad Catz deal is a short scale replica but it's not too much smaller than my own bass.

It's quite a bit larger than the RB1 and RB2 guitar controller yet a bit smaller than an actual guitar. If that makes sense.

It doesn't weigh much which good because a real Fender P-bass weighs a ton.
It's compatible with RB1, there is a switch on the back to chose when you play RB1 or 2.. for reasons I don't know.

Comes with a licensed Fender strap and yes.. there are solo buttons higher up on the neck.. and finally yes.. the tuning pegs do rotate. (but do nothing to the actual guitar)

[Variation-XBA]

I'm one of the few people that enjoy playing Bass over lead, so I was looking into this. Glad it's decent, but for the price, I'm still not sure.

[Reclaimer]

I'm one of the few people that enjoy playing Bass over lead, so I was looking into this. Glad it's decent, but for the price, I'm still not sure.

I wouldn't sweat it unless you either broke the guitar, hate the guitar or must absolutely have a full band set with a guitar, bass and the drums.

I didn't care for the RB guitar. Hated the strum bar and I was actually using the old GH2 guitar for the longest the time. It ain't cheap, I mean it's the cost of another game. But well.. You'll probably want a good reason to get it and I'm not seeing any to shell out the bucks unless you just really want one.

[Variation-XBA]

I wouldn't sweat it unless you either broke the guitar, hate the guitar or must absolutely have a full band set with a guitar, bass and the drums.

I didn't care for the RB guitar. Hated the strum bar and I was actually using the old GH2 guitar for the longest the time. It ain't cheap, I mean it's the cost of another game. But well.. You'll probably want a good reason to get it and I'm not seeing any to shell out the bucks unless you just really want one.

I have like 7 or 8 guitars, so even if one breaks, I'm not going to go out and get a new one.

The RB2 guitar is sweet though, the buttons arn't squishy anymore.