Tech Blog

[#1]

If you still haven’t taken the time to check out Rocksmith, then I am disappointed in you but also have good news. As of today, Ubisoft’s Rocksmith Guitar & Bass Edition is available for PC users at retail. What's more, if you have a Microsoft Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3 you'll be able to find the re-release of Rocksmith that now includes the Bass Expansion pack included on the disc. 

Of course the game still also comes with the Rocksmith Real tone Cable allowing you to plug in your guitar to rock out with.You can use any guitar with a 1/4” pickup. The cable was developed exclusively through rocksmith, giving your guitar a USB interface, converting the analog signal to digital. Bass arrangements have been added to each of the in-game tracks on the disc, and many of the DLC tracks (not all of them though, since some don’t have bass parts in them.) Even if you don’t have a bass guitar, you can emulate one on your 6-string guitar.

This game was already pretty good, and high on my list of favorite games. The added PC support and the fact that the Bass expansion now comes standard with the game makes it just that much easier to recommend. You can even still pick up the guitar bundle which includes an Epiphone Les Paul Junior guitar in the box which you can use with the game, or even on stage. Its not some gimmick game accessory. Its a real guitar.

With Rocksmith you learn real guitar techniques and real songs on a real guitar. Sure its a game, and a pretty fun one at that but they’ve cleverly snuck in education too. You can learn a lot while playing whether you’re a beginner or already have some guitar experience under your belt. Its one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of an educational game and highly recommended for anybody looking to sharpen their skills.

[#2]

"You can even still pick up the guitar bundle which includes an Epiphone Les Paul Junior guitar in the box which you can use with the game, or even on stage. Its not some gimmick game accessory. Its a real guitar."

It's a nice value and a great way to get a servicable instrument in the hands of Rocksmith beginners, which is definitely awesome! ...but I wouldn't take that guitar anywhere near a stage. 

*Edited to sound less snarky I just mean to say that, while this is a nice bundle for playing the game, it lacks pretty basic stuff like tone control, multiple pickups, non-suspect tuning keys & bridge, etc...  and i wouldn't really recommend it as a learning tool outside of the game.

For essentially the same cost, Future Shop itself offers a much better value in beginner guitars, like these Fender Squiers, which on top of being perfect for Rocksmith, offer a far better option for crossing over into the real world This is very much still a beginner guitar, but with a standard range of pick-ups and control (and I would suspect at least slightly higher quality parts & design) that make it much more suitable. Same cost, slightly more real guitar!

[#3]

Hmm actually you could pick up that Squier with the game for the same total price as the bundle too. good call.

[#4]

"I wouldn't take that guitar anywhere near a stage....it lacks pretty basic stuff like tone control, multiple pickups, non-suspect tuning keys & bridge, etc..."

Lots of rock stars have used the Les Paul Junior on stage.  Keith Richards, John Lennon and Billy Joe Armstrong are a few I can think of off the top of my head.  The original Les Paul Junior was released in the 50's specifically as a learning guitar.  Single pickup P90 with a volume and tone control, wrap around bridge with no saddles.  The wrap around bridge can always be replaced with a Badass if intonation is a problem.  Unfortunately the Epiphone version has a humbucker so you won't get the single coil P90 classic sound of the originals, but it's still a big piece of wood that is good for some great tones.

[#5]

Oh most definitely, but the quality and craftsmanship of those LPJ's is a far cry from that used to manufacture a tie-in product like this one.

It's fair to say i haven't actually played one of the Rocksmith Les Pauls though, so I could be wrong! Maybe they do meet the same standard of beginner guitar as those Squiers for example. I was just eyeballing the specs on Epiphone's website. Personally by specs I'd still recommend the Squier though