[00:03] could pretend to be a real rock star and tickle some real plastic frets as giant GLOWING CIRCLES FLY DIRECTLY at my REAL FACE. But the 20-year nostalgia cycle
[00:15] has pumped the price of the controllers you need to be a hero of the guitar variety. But if you look a little closier, there are some pretty amazing alternatives to overpaying for the originals. But boy, do they range in
[00:28] price. David, there's so many options. How do I know which one's right for me >> We searched high and low from $20 all the way to $500, and we're going to go hands-on to find out how you should spend your money. Starting with our $20
[00:41] option, okay? So, if you're limited to a single Jackson, I'm I'm not this I'm not a second. You're likely going to need to spend a lot of time trolling either local garage sales or the back aisles of several thrift stores for a deal on a
[00:56] cheap wired PS2 guitar controller because eBay and Marketplace kind of suck at this price point. Luckily, the PS2 controller port to USB adapter can be had for only five bucks and works like a charm. It's magic.
[01:16] either the keyboard you already own or the cheapest halfdeent mechanical keyboard that you can find. The crappy pack in rubber ones. They're known to to ruin your perfect run. A sweet child of mine, if you know what I'm saying.
[01:30] >> Then you just put the rest of your budget into the sweet upgrades. This is >> this is our star power. >> Should do this. >> The strum bar. >> Yeah, cuz you want up down, brother.
[01:44] >> Yeah. Today, this morning. >> Okay. So, you wear headphones for this? >> Yeah. So that we can play uh copyrighted music and you guys will hear >> This is not something that most people do.
[01:57] less when I was calibrating. That was way better to use headphones. >> It's a conceit for the video. >> Yes. This is not real life. The other conceit when you're working with $5 is you got to work with what you got. And I
[02:09] custom strap out of. >> Are we sitting down? There was a couch there. It was very confusing. We're playing kiss strutdder. >> And what what are you going to do? You're going to do this? Really? Are are
[02:23] >> Yeah. >> Yeah. If I was being super competitive layout. But because I'm trying to just have fun and relive the glory days, I thought this was the better solution. >> That seems more badass to me. I feel
[02:36] >> That seems more badass to me. I feel like a child next to a man. >> I'm so scared. I don't I don't think I know the song.
[02:49] okay. On three, we're going to do star power. >> Three. You don't. >> Neither guitar is going to do it. assigned it. Oh, no. That's my pause. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
[03:02] >> That's one of the limitations of using either of these setups. But 20 bucks. either of these setups. But 20 bucks. It's 20 bucks.
[03:14] >> How did I feel? I felt it was fine. I don't think it was really lacking except >> It's a bit of a bummer. >> I didn't I felt like very much not a >> I didn't I felt like very much not a star. I felt like banal.
[03:26] >> This solution actually works. Once I got into it, I was not having a bad time. I used to. There's no guide on the middle note like on those guitars where you can kind of place your fingers. Uh, and there's also all these other buttons I
[03:38] could be pressing. Though, those look cool. I think it's time to move on to our sponsor. >> Oh, okay. Yeah, that works. >> Simple, stylish, dependable,
[03:53] stylish, dependable, does not with water.
[04:10] we're done, right? 20 BUCKS. HELL NO. >> I DON'T COUNT ON LUCK. Neither of these >> no. >> There's way cooler faximiles of guitars >> Fax siblings. >> Okay, show me those.
[04:24] >> Okay, show me those. >> Yes, I will. Our $50 option, you start with a Wii controller. You can get these for like 25 to 30 bucks. Make sure you get the one with the cutout. Uh they do make Wii controllers without them. Feel
[04:38] Uh, the real reason you want to make sure you do that is because you can get the Retro Colts Mod V3 adapter and it can make pretty much any Wii guitar or pretty much any guitar work on pretty much anything. And it only costs $23
[04:54] >> and it doubles as an egg shaker. >> That's the star power inside. >> That's a feature. Is that a rigle? >> It's the tilt sensor. >> Okay, >> let's rock.
[05:08] Now, besides the usual warnings about buying used stuff, there's some specific things to keep in mind when it comes to plastic axes, which is coincidentally a great name for a band. Warning number one, just because it has a USB cable or
[05:22] USB dongle doesn't mean it's an ideal controller for use on a PC. Check the Clone Hero Wiki page before buying your axe to see which controllers will give you a rocking good time. Warning two, a used wireless controller that's missing
[05:37] price because you'll just have to buy a replacement anyway. That being said, if a wired controller is missing its USB adapter that connects to its proprietary connector, that's usually fine. You can buy those for like five bucks. And
[05:51] warning three, beware the six buttoned guitar controller. Yeah, you can make it work, but unless you have a really specific nostalgia for a single 2015 Guitar Hero game, stick to the five in a row. Also, try to find a guitar with the
[06:06] strap already attached, unless your Guitar Heroism is more of the seated variety. Not for us. Dang, this controller mostly rocks. I love the rigidity in the construction and the feel of the strum bar and uh
[06:21] kind of the buttons, but I also noticed that one of them kind of isn't registering every single time. So, to freshen up our aging five string, we're going to install the solderless revival kit, also from Retro Cult Mods. It's
[06:33] of the buttons and internals for around 60 bucks. way. >> Well, yeah, but I just wanted to see the logo again. It's pretty pretty metal. >> It says V3. Thankfully, you can get this
[06:46] controller, which means that if you're a little handy, you could buy a cheap, that you can restore it. >> Not me, though. >> I can probably >> It's actually pretty easy.
[06:59] >> Oh, jeez. >> The $100 price point. Here we can buy a more desirable guitar from the golden era. My favorite is the Explorer, which was the pack-in guitar for Guitar Hero 2 on the 360. I just love the shape, the
[07:15] way it looks, the way it feels in my hand. But that comes down to a lot of nostalgia and personal preference. Your mileage will vary. Don't want to strap >> You're talking about rigidity on the other one.
[07:28] it. >> The guitar here controllers always had buttons. And the Rock Band guitars always had the better buttons, but the golden era where we get both. >> We get both.
[07:41] going to show you. Although I love the strum bar on these guitars, they did have a known double strumming issue. So, you'd hit once, it would strum twice, it would wreck your runs, and it faking sucks. Thankfully, uh that same revival
[07:54] kit we used for the Wii controller is available for this one. So, you can fix it up. Fix that problem, you're golden. Before we get back to shredding, I want to briefly talk about the game that we ended up using for this video. Yet
[08:07] another rhythm game, not Clone Hero. Now, both games are wonderful projects, especially at their bea beautiful price of $0. Everyone's going to have their you download both and see what you like better. The extra songs you're going to
[08:23] download for one are probably going to work for the other anyways. For me, what rhythm game experience, where I was definitely team Guitar Hero when it came to actual game feel, I've been having more fun with Yar out of the box, the
[08:36] extra customization and polish takes it that extra mile to make it feel like a complete experience. You know, the definitive one, at least until Stage guitar controller based on the Gibson Kramer. Yeah, I'm going to be keeping an
[08:50] eye on that and the price because if you're willing to spend that much all at start opening up. >> I can't do hard. >> I can't do hard mode. >> That's okay. You have to practice.
[09:02] piano at all. >> It's a little bit like a piano. It's >> No. >> Oh, you have a line now. >> That's right. If you have between $100 and 160 bucks, and opening up a remote
[09:16] doesn't sound like a fun Saturday afternoon, there are a surprising amount of modern guitars you can buy new in box, even in 2026. There are these NCBP, Chinese Amazon mystery brand ones at the lower end, but the reviews are pretty
[09:31] trash, like my Guitar Hero playing. There's the PDP Rift Master that seems to be a bit better and can be bought today from flipping Best Buy. David, if you're hankering to shred tonight for just a few bucks more, these cracked
[09:45] >> Huh? That one. >> These cracked axes are not only the ones recommended by most of the community, but they actually look amazing, which I agree with. I wrote that in the script, actually. Just look at this blueberry
[09:57] actually. Just look at this blueberry burst le Paul. This finished is really polished. It's also our first wireless solution using a dedicated 2.4 4 GHz dongle, although you could use it wired if you
[10:10] >> It has Hall effects, strumming, mechanical buttons, and honestly way more inputs than you need for any rhythm game, which makes it extremely flexible. >> Exhibition. >> EXHIBITION.
[10:31] trigger. >> Okay. Like and subscribe if you want to see us play exhibition 33 on a guitar controller. You said Hall effect and >> it feels different >> when you when you do the other ones.
[10:44] It's a click, but this is like it it feels like a trigger. Like there's a >> I'm curious to see what you think because I don't know if I love that more click click click. >> What are what are these things here? Do
[10:56] >> Style, brother. >> Oh, okay. No, now you need that. I think too is the way they've hidden some of the inputs into the guitar knobs. Like in a real guitar, you'd have knobs for tone and volume and whatnot. Uh, and so
[11:11] connecting to, which dongle you're connecting to. This is a joystick. You have all your traditional game pad inputs here that you switch between. You have start, stop, select, connect. This thing's pretty cool cuz it works with
[11:24] pretty much every device. PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. this. >> What's this? >> Oh, >> and then this is actually something I
[11:36] bridge. >> Oh, okay. >> I just became a fan. >> Okay. Can I Can I try this one? Because I I'm I'm interested in this. This is
[11:48] >> Look, Justin finished the upgrade on our Wii controller. Wii controller. >> Wait, what? How do you
[12:02] it? >> Should I use it? Wait. Wait till it >> Should I use it? Wait. Wait till it drop. Okay. Hope I've got my 4X back.
[12:18] I can't wait for the editor to just have the sounds of the clicks and us rocking. >> how was that guitar? >> Uh, it felt the same.
[12:31] I did not notice the difference. I felt happier holding it cuz I know that it's >> But I got a difference between the >> Listen, I'm not I'm too dumb to know the
[12:44] >> I'll tell you the difference with this one and then I'll play that one and I'll We replaced the strum. It's way clickier. This thing freaking rocks. It's a 3D printed piece that's >> that lights up
[12:57] when you do it. Feels so freaking satisfying. It's long and so it's like easier to grip as I go up and down. I really really like that. Similarly, these freaking light. Look at this. Look at this This lights up when you
[13:10] >> Cool. I would be confused though cuz it's Oh, that's not >> That's not a game. >> They also feel really good. Uh, they're >> Oh, >> if you customize it yourself. The hell
[13:24] feel good? >> It is different. It is different. But I think I I tend to view small differences as not differences. Yeah. >> I think I'm really impressed for how
[13:36] little this costs. Like 60 bucks to upgrade to something this premium feels really excited to compare against the crack. Give it to me because I just >> Oh jeez. >> Give me it.
[13:49] >> I feel like I could notice the differences when I wasn't playing the >> But then when I was playing the game, ADHD took over >> and I was just like colors, lights. I was just like screaming internally.
[14:04] >> To me, that's a sign of passing the threshold of more than good enough when game and you're just playing the game. So that's good sign. So that's good sign. >> So I'm really good. the best.
[14:20] notes on the board. >> It's actually that's what I find is harder to play medium. >> Viewers, I apologize for what my tongue has been doing this whole video. I'm just in this awkward place where I do
[14:32] play music, but this is almost like learning a whole new instrument. There's definitely like a neural pathway that's created to play this.
[14:48] >> No one missed it. We nailed it. Three stars is the highest rating you can get. >> I feel like this game is lying to me. It gives me an 85% rating and it's like, >> You think it worse? >> Yeah. The extent to which I'm
[15:02] underperforming at this is making me want to criticize it. >> Point of this video is to talk about the guitars. This crack guitar, I don't like it as much as that Wii one. This >> Okay. Hey, that's what I said. Well,
[15:17] that's not what I said. I said I couldn't tell a difference, but yeah, basically the same. >> I think the strum bar is weird. It's Yeah. All effect that's cool, but it's like weighted, but it's not like it
[15:30] really clicks well. Like it feels like there's like a weight or resistance kind of at the end. So, it feels very different and it feels more tiring to go fast. These buttons are fine. They don't feel that much better than uh the
[15:43] previous generation ones. The neck joint is it really moves. It's probably the coolest looking guitar we've looked at so far, but I feel like when I can make that happen for half the price, I'm uh I'm pretty excited about this. But how's
[16:00] daddy? >> That's what I want to know. >> The next option is really wild, and that's just printing your own guitar controller. The Polybar system is where you should start looking as you can get
[16:12] pre-soldered kits for electronics from a lot of online stores and a lot of really cool schematics that you can just print as is or modify and make some truly remarkable controllers. But if you don't have a 3D printer or you just don't want
[16:25] to spend the time making the guitar on your own, you can pay for a fully custom controller from someone online. One such sheller is Heammer on Guitars, a husband and wife team based in Indiana who built a
[16:38] 3D pinched controller mostly from scratch with a little bit of help for the neck from the Polyar system guy. And when we reached out for a guitar, they were so flipping kind as to send us a fully custom guitar.
[16:52] >> Wow. Oh, is this a custom LT one? >> Yeah. that I went through their guitar builder and I was like, "Hey, do you think we they're like, "What if we just do something special and kind of send it to
[17:06] pretty freaking great, too." It's a fully 3D printed guitar. It's You can see some of the print lines, but holy smokes, it feels premium, not too heavy. I mean, you can obviously tell it's a dual head guitar. Mechanical switches,
[17:21] two heads, two strums. Oh, they have different feels, too. This one is better. >> I don't even understand what a normal guitar would do with two heads. How much does this thing cost again?
[17:35] get the quote for this exact one, but their guitars range from $300 to around $500. And when you go full custom, it goes above that. So, this is actually more than $500 likely. Uh, and that doesn't include the strap or the USB
[17:51] >> That's when you're really serious. >> Oh, yeah. Can you get a guitar? You can >> Oh, like 300 bucks. >> Yeah, but not one that looks like this. >> This is so cool. I want to play it. Shut up. I want to play.
[18:04] >> Medium. >> You want hard? >> This is the one that >> GIVE IT TO ME HARD. OKAY.
[18:27] >> No. >> Wait. Wait. >> Yeah. >> What the am I supposed to do? >> Yeah. >> And there's another button.
[18:40] So, so you keep Do you keep your three fingers here and then you just do this? >> I I generally It depends. If I see like a riff that I'm going to like only have kind of reach. But sometimes the riffs are happening up here and then I'll
[18:53] little nubb in on it. >> This is what I've noticed with the 3D on the middle button. And that's one improvement I would have for all these 3D printed kits is to have a little landmark for my finger so I can know
[19:07] more easily. That being said, I've gotten used to it. It's fine. Um, but I >> And I just didn't feel the nubbing because I have no sensory I'm >> Aren't you blacking out for most of >> all of my All of Yes.
[19:21] All of my edges are dulled when it comes to sensory perception. >> Anyway, okay. Ready? >> Yeah.
[19:38] better. The modded Wii One is better than the unmoded Wii one. >> It's actually got hacks in it. You son of a I feel like you definitely get to the point where you're button mashing.
[19:54] >> I know you're button mashing. >> You're right. There is some hammer on sections where I'm just like, "Please God, Jesus, take the wheel, man." >> Like, you're definitely like, and you feel cool like,
[20:09] >> "Well, that's not that hard, Riley." What? here today that I'm never playing this game again. Just kidding. I've learned
[20:21] day. All right, David, how was your experience? It's more important than mine. This guitar is really cool. The strum feels really tight and clicky. These notes felt really good. It felt
[20:35] through the song. >> Yeah, for me, too. What I'll say is if I money, I would probably select the single head one because the weight becomes quite cumbersome over long play sessions. My neck's going to hurt. Uh,
[20:47] interested in doing the double head challenges anyway. played the other? >> It would they they are they're tied >> that's too bad. >> What's your overall favorite then? I
[21:01] mean, I mean, I So, I did I did come to appreciate the difference here. At first, I was kind of like I tried that one and then I tried this one and I'm like, when you're this bad, it probably
[21:15] doesn't make that much of a difference. But, I feel like I got to a place where I know now that pressing these buttons, it is more responsive activation. On that one, it's a bit more like pressing a flat pad.
[21:28] >> That has less travel. >> Yeah. I I mean, I kind of like this one, the uh the restored Wii controller with the with the mod. like, I want to buy something for myself, this is also what I would
[21:41] suggest. The value is pretty out of this world, especially when you compare it to the cracked, which I liked less. This I also love. >> I'm really bad with this neck, huh? >> I really love this. And if I was like
[21:54] mounting it on my wall, this would be a treasure that I would hold on to for the rest of my life. However, I would prefer the single head version. Uh, and so if we're comparing apples to pineapples, I think this is my favorite as well.
[22:09] then? >> No. Now we got to segue. >> No. Now we got to segue. >> You're a sponsor. and you don't know what to do, just call Bessie Bessie. If you want to look good
[22:23] while you're splashing through the hood, call me some sugar and slice so they feel comfy and nice. That's fancy. >> And there's a cherry on top. They let me make this little pop. So call me.
[22:36] Yeah. When I say go, When I say go, I don't mean that literally. I don't mean that literally. I mean, you can call them on the phone
[22:49] if you want, but they also have a website. but they also have a website. Hey, I know it's hard to find shoes that can easily handle all the crazy things in life.
[23:04] But good news, you don't have to search for a waterproof shoe that also looks for a waterproof shoe that also looks and feels good anymore. >> They got a one-year warranty, 30-day returns, you see, and 50% off
[23:22] your first order with our code. >> If you like videos about controllers and you check out the time that we did that 16-way controller showdown? It was controllers in there that you might not have heard of.
[23:36] >> This is a thumb stick on it. >> This is a thumb stick on it. It's for shooting the music aliens.