All First Party Guitars
First Party Guitars are produced either directly by Harmonix/Neversoft or licensed to another company (MayFlash, Red Octane) 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 lists all first party guitars, their pros and cons, as well as any console specific information related to them. If you are aware of a guitar that is not listed here, please send a message on the discord to an admin or the help-line.
For an alternative view of the same information, please view the community maintained spreadsheet.
Guitar Hero Guitars
Guitar Hero SG 5
Game: Guitar Hero 1 and 25OS:Platform(s): Playstation 22, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Note(s): ComesOne inof threethe colormost variants.reliable guitars. The WT and GH5 Guitars feature compatible swappable faceplates.
PS2/PS3: Requires a PS2unique wireless receiver that looks similar to USBthe adapter.PS3/PC NotWorld allTour adaptersone, but they are compatibleNOT and your mileage may vary with random cheap ones.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 pagepages for more information.
Xplorer
Game: Guitar Hero 2 and 3OS: XboxNote(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.
Guitar Hero Kramer Striker
Game: Guitar Hero 3OS: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 Receivers and Dongles and Wired Adapters pages for more information.
Red Octane Mayflash Wireless Guitar
Game: Guitar Hero 1-3OS: Playstation 2Note(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 theguitar's Receivers and Dongles entry and the Wired Adapters pagespage for more information.
Guitar Hero 3 Les Paul
Game: Guitar Hero 3, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
OS:Platform(s): Playstation 3 (NOT RECOMMENDED),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. pleasePlease see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles pageentry for more information.
Xbox360Xbox 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 page for more information.
Wii: Does not suffer from latency issue seen in PS3 version. Requires a Wiimote or wired adapter, please see the Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Guitar Hero World Tour
Game: Guitar Hero World Tour & Guitar Hero: MetallicaOS: Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PCNote(s): World Tour guitars are known for having weak strum switches that must be replaced eventually. This modification is medium difficulty and 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 Receivers and Dongles and Wired Adapters pages 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 Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Xbox360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, please see the Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wiimote or wired adapter, please see the Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Guitar Hero 5
Game: Guitar Hero 5OS: Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, WiiNote(s): One of the most reliable guitars. The WT and GH5Wired 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 Receivers and DonglesAdapters page for more information.
Xbox360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, please see the Receivers and Dongles pagepages for more information.
Wii:
Requires
a Wiimote or wired adapter, please see the Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Guitar Hero Warriors of RockLive
Game: Guitar Hero: Warriors of RockOS: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii,Note(s): Features detachable wings. Has a rare "Battle Axe" variant.
PS3: Requires a unique wireless receiver. Please see the Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Xbox360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, please see the Receivers & Dongles page for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wiimote or wired adapter, please see the Receivers & Dongles page for more information.
Guitar Hero Live
Game: Guitar Hero LiveOS:Platform(s): PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, WiiU, 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. However, the Xbox 360 receiver is the only one that will work out of the box, while the rest need custom drivers and/or software. At the moment, no software exists for the Xbox One dongle. Please see the guitar's thisReceivers spreadsheetand Dongles entry for more information.
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): Features detachable wings. 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 be replaced eventually. This modification is medium difficulty and 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 BandOS: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 pageentry 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 page for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wii Rock Band guitar receiver (white). Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles pageentry for more information.
Rock Band Stratocaster (RB2 & RB3)
Game: Rock Band 2 & Rock Band 3OS: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 pageentry for more information.
Xbox
Xbox360360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.receiver, Pleaseplease see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Wii: Requires a Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver. Please see the guitar's Receivers and Dongles pageentry for more information.
Rock Band Stratocaster (RB4)
Game: Rock Band 4OS:Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One
Note(s): Base Rock Band 4 guitar.
PS4: Requires pairing via bluetooth.
Xbox One: Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver and additional software. Please see the Xbox Wireless Receiver entry in Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
Rock Band Jaguar
Game: Rock Band 4OS:Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One
Note(s): Included in the Rock Band 4 Rivals bundle. Requires a firmware update to work on PC.
PS4: Requires pairing via bluetooth.
Xbox One: Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver and additional software. Please see the Xbox Wireless Receiver entry in Receivers and Dongles page for more information.
The Beatles Rock Band: Hofner, Gretsch, Rickenbacker
Game: The Beatles Rock BandOS: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 pageentry for more information.
Xbox
Xbox360360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver. Please see the Xbox 360 entry in Receivers and Dongles page 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 pageentry for more information.
Rock Band Precision Bass
Game: Rock Band 2 & Rock Band 3OS: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.