XBox Solution

I am sure most of you have seen the Rock Band 2 TV commercial with the large Fender basses. The ad is a bit misleading since in the commercial they also show the ION Drum set and not the normal Rock Band 2 wireless drum set. In any case I wanted to try out the Mad Catz Fender Precision Bass for a few reasons including the split strum bar and the fact the Bass is 84% scale to a normal size bass. Now I know third party controllers have a reputation as not always being as good but I wanted to test it firsthand. Priced at $69.99 is the Mad Catz Fender Precision Bass worth the money or is it just another product trying to cash in on the Rock Band name? Read the full review and see why you may want to own one for yourself.

First Impressions

Mad Catz really did a good job at packaging the Fender Bass and it grabs your attention. Thanks to the fact the actual Bass can be seen through the clear window. At first glance it looks like a real Fender Bass and not a controller at all. Inside the package is a nice Fender strap wider than the ones that come with the Rock Band wireless guitar. The only thing you need to assemble is placing the top to the neck of the Bass. It clicks into place and stays in place. They even made the tuning keys movable and the silver color makes the Bass stand out. It also has a long USB cable. This is not a wireless instrument. I noticed that the weight felt almost as heavy as a real Fender Bass and everything felt very sturdy.

The D-pad is noticeable but is a solid black placed on solid black so it blends in more and the Xbox guide button is also there but a bit smaller though. You will also notice that there are two silver knobs and one black one. The first silver knob is the effect switch and adjusts to 5 different settings. The second one is really the back button and the start button. Turn it one way and it acts as the back button and the other way to start. The black knob serves as a whammy bar but more on that later. The split strum bar has a rubber guard above it. This is just like a real bass since a bass is plucked in an upward motion and not strummed. It helps to have your thumb resting on the rubber and then you have your fingers free to strum or pluck upwards to play. The final thing on the Fender bass is the switch on the back. You set it for either Rock Band 1 or Rock band 2.

Impressions While Playing Rock Band 2

Before I go on, I will warn gamers that the split strum bar has advantages but is not for everyone. You can use the bass as a guitar but the whammy bar is on the dial which can be tricky to get used to. I started out with a simple song and the Madcatz Fender Bass felt great. The fret buttons are larger and the neck is longer. Most basses are larger than guitars so it felt natural to me. Up strumming is easier as well thanks to the rubber guard and design of the bass. Although there are several advantages, once you learn how to use the split strum bar you may want to use one side of the bar. After some practice you’ll be able to hit notes faster and with less trouble if you get down the split strum bar. I found within a few songs I was able to hit one note or notes then switch and hit the other side of the bar to get the other notes. It’s more of a rhythm and while a real Bass never has a whammy bar, you need to build up your over drive bar so when long notes are there you can turn the whammy dial to gain more than if just hitting and holding the note. This will take some time to get used to and you may miss a note or two until you get the full hang of using the bass.

I really like the Mad Catz Fender Bass and they did a great job designing it and making it look like a real bass. I really can’t see myself using it as a guitar, but the option to use it as one may come in handy and I understand why they made it that way. Changing your instrument is a pain and since you can choose guitar or bass in the game, it made sense. I only use the Fender Bass when I know I have someone that is going to play lead guitar the whole time. I like the look and it feels great. Some gamers may find the size something that will take time to adjust to, but for those who already have a feel for a bass this is perfect. $69.99 is not cheap and even though it’s a USB instrument I found it worth the money. It looks sharp but it also reacts well with the game.

Bottom Line

Overall Score: 9.4/10.0

Mad Catz impressed me by the quality of the Fender Bass. They nailed the look and the feel as well as the weight. The whammy wheel takes time and is there mainly due to the fact the game makes the bass player use the same technique to gain overdrive power. Making it a dual instrument was also a smart move. It has become one of my favorites to use while playing Rock Band 2. Keep in mind it also works with Rock Band 1. You just need to set the switch in the back. It’s another optional instrument to buy. With the feel of a real bass that certainly makes it worth the money for those who get together for Rock Band parties or just play a lot. I would recommend it to anyone but I would also say it will take some gamers time to get used to using it. Mad Catz has a full line of Rock Band 2 products and so far they have impressed me.

Links

Mad Catz Official Website

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