All First Party Guitars
First Party Guitars are produced either directly by Harmonix/Neversoft or licensed to another company (Mayflash, Red Octane, PDP, etc.) to make guitars in collaboration with Harmonix/Neversoft. They are typically of higher quality than third party guitars and have more direct support from the CH community.
The following page lists all first party guitars, their pros and cons, as well as any console specific information related to them.
For an alternative view of the same information, please view the community maintained spreadsheet.
Guitar Hero Guitars
Guitar Hero 5
Game: Guitar Hero 5
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Note(s): One of the most reliable guitars. The WT and GH5 Guitars feature compatible swappable faceplates.
PS2/PS3: Requires a unique wireless receiver that looks similar to the PS3/PC World Tour one, but they are NOT interchangeable. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, please see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wiimote or wired adapter, please see the Receivers and Dongles and Wired Adapters pages for more information.
Guitar Hero Kramer Striker
Game: Guitar Hero 3
Platform(s): Playstation 2
Note(s): Has a unique wireless receiver that is PS2-specific. You will need that along with a PS2 to USB adapter to connect it to your computer. The Kramer and PS2 World Tour receivers look identical but are NOT interchangeable. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry and the Wired Adapters page for more information.
Guitar Hero Les Paul
Game: Guitar Hero 3, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Note(s): Three official variants, with the white one being Wii-exclusive. The neck is detachable from the body and is known for having a weakpoint at that contact area. A common modification is to hardwire the neck to the body to eliminate that failure point.
PS3: Not Recommended! Known for having considerable latency issues making it highly undesirable. Requires specific triangle dongle to connect. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Xbox 360: Does not suffer from latency issue seen in PS3 version. Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, please see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wiimote or wired adapter, please see the Receivers and Dongles and Wired Adapters pages for more information.
Guitar Hero Live
Game: Guitar Hero Live
Platform(s): PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, iOS
Note(s): The only 6-fret guitar. All variants except iOS are identical, and what you need to connect one will depend on the receiver rather than the guitar itself.
Console variants: Requires a unique Guitar Hero Live receiver from any console.
-
- On Windows, the Xbox 360 receiver is the only one that will work out of the box, while the rest need custom drivers and/or software. See this spreadsheet for more information.
- Linux natively supports the 360, PS3/Wii U and PS4 dongles (support for the PS3/WiiU was added in kernel 5.11, PS4 in kernel 5.15). The Xbox One dongle can be made to work using a custom kernel driver, see this spreadsheet for more info.
iOS: Requires Bluetooth to connect and a program to fully utilize the guitar. Please see this spreadsheet for more information.
Guitar Hero SG
Game: Guitar Hero 1 and 2
Platform(s): Playstation 2
Note(s): Comes in three color variants. Requires a PS2 to USB adapter. Not all adapters are compatible and your mileage may vary with random cheap ones. Please see the Wired Adapters page for more information.
Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock
Game: Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Note(s): The Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 variants can have issues syncing to their receivers. The guitar features detachable wings and has a rare "Battle Axe" variant.
PS3: Requires a unique wireless receiver. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, please see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wiimote or wired adapter, please see the Receivers and Dongles and Wired Adapters pages for more information.
Guitar Hero World Tour
Game: Guitar Hero World Tour & Guitar Hero: Metallica
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC
Note(s): World Tour guitars are known for having weak strum switches that must eventually be replaced. This modification requires soldering to complete. The WT and GH5 Guitars feature compatible swappable faceplates.
PS2: Requires a unique wireless receiver that is PS2 specific. You will need that along with a PS2 to USB adapter to connect it to your computer. The Kramer and PS2 World Tour receivers look identical but are NOT interchangeable. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry and the Wired Adapters page for more information.
PS3/PC: Requires a unique wireless receiver. The PS3/PC World Tour and Guitar Hero 5 receivers look identical but are NOT interchangeable. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, please see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wiimote or wired adapter, please see the Receivers and Dongles and Wired Adapters pages for more information.
Guitar Hero Xplorer
Game: Guitar Hero 2 and 3
Platform(s): Xbox 360
Note(s): Plug and play, it just works. Requires a breakaway cable to connect to your PC but typically comes with one. If you're having issues it may be the breakaway cable. Breakaway cables are easily purchased through ebay and aliexpress and are typically less than $10 USD.
Red Octane Mayflash Wireless Guitar
Game: Guitar Hero 1-3
Platform(s): Playstation 2
Note(s): Known to have bad latency and general reliability issues! Has a unique wireless receiver that is PS2-specific. You will need that along with a PS2 to USB adapter to connect it to your computer. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry and the Wired Adapters page for more information.
Rock Band Guitars
Rock Band Stratocaster (RB1)
Game: Rock Band
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Note(s): Maple neck.
PS2/PS3: Requires a PS2/PS3 Rock Band guitar receiver (black). Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Xbox360: Comes in wired and wireless variants. Wired requires a generic Xbox 360 breakaway cable, wireless requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver. Please see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wii Rock Band guitar receiver (white). Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Rock Band Stratocaster (RB2 & RB3)
Game: Rock Band 2 & Rock Band 3
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Note(s): Rosewood neck, comes in two color variants.
PS3: Requires a PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, please see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Rock Band Stratocaster (RB4)
Game: Rock Band 4
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One
Note(s): Base Rock Band 4 guitar.
PS4: Requires pairing via Bluetooth and mapping buttons in-game. The PS4 variant lacks tilt and whammy support on PC!
Xbox One: Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver and additional software. Please see the Xbox One Wireless Receiver entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
Rock Band Jaguar
Game: Rock Band 4
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One
Note(s): Included in the Rock Band 4 Rivals bundle.
PS4: Requires pairing via Bluetooth and mapping buttons in-game. The PS4 variant lacks tilt and whammy support on PC!
Xbox One: Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver, additional software, and a firmware update. Please see the Xbox One Wireless Receiver entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
The Beatles Rock Band: Hofner, Gretsch, Rickenbacker
Game: The Beatles Rock Band
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Note(s):
PS3: Requires either a PS3 The Beatles Rock Band guitar receiver or a PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver. Please see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles for more information.
Wii: Requires either a Wii The Beatles Rock Band guitar receiver or a Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles entry for more information.
Rock Band Precision Bass
Game: Rock Band 2 & Rock Band 3
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Note(s): Features a unique split strum bar. Different variants were released for Rock Band 2 and 3, and the Rock Band 3 requires a unique receiver.
PS3: The Rock Band 2 variant requires a PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver, while the Rock Band 3 variant has a unique one. Please see the Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Xbox360: Comes in wired and wireless variants. Wired requires a generic Xbox 360 breakaway cable, wireless requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver. Please see the Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Wii: The Rock Band 2 variant requires a Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver, while the Rock Band 3 variant has a unique one. Please see the Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Rock Band 3 Pro Guitars *NOT COMPATIBLE*
Game: Rock Band 3
Note(s): MIDI guitars released for the Pro Guitar mode in Rock Band 3. Not natively compatible with Clone Hero.