PDP RIFFMASTER Wireless Guitar Controller for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, PS5/PS4, Rock Band 4, Audio Jack, Rechargeable Battery, Officially Licensed by Sony - Black

The Rock Band series has always been about replicating that authentic guitar feel, and I've found that works great for me too. Having said that, some folks have mentioned lag issues when playing on these modern TVs, which seems like it's not the controller at fault - after calibrating it to the TV, everything is fine.

It seems like a game/tv issue rather than a problem with the controller itself, and I've found that setting my TV to "Game" mode has really helped. If you're trying to get Rock Band on your Xbox/Switch/PS4, try calibrating your controller in Rock Band 4 settings - it's got an auto calibration feature, but for some reason it doesn't work - go into the "Rock Band 4 Settings" and press the blue button until you see a calibrator appear. Then hold down your microphone on the TV and press the blue button again to switch to that mode - I think this is what Fortnite recommends too.

It's worth noting, however, that lag issues can be more pronounced when playing games with graphics-intensive settings or if your internet connection is slow - but hopefully setting your TV to "Game" mode should help.

T. Fraser - 15/01/2026

I picked up this guitar with Rock Band 4 on my mind, having been out of the habit for years since ditching my Xbox 360. I was well aware that investing in a new guitar controller would get expensive, especially when it's now one of the only options available. With the recent trend of gamers seeking nostalgic experiences, I found myself looking to relive my childhood fond memories of playing Rock Band.

The quality of this guitar is indeed top-notch, with great craftsmanship that stands out even more since using the standard controllers that used to come with the game. If you're a fan like me who's still holding onto the classic controller experience, this should be right up your alley.

One minor quibble I had was when trying to set it up for use in Fortnite Festival - the instructions seemed unclear about how to properly position the joystick at the back of the guitar. It's disappointing considering the game is Harmonix's latest endeavor and seems like a step backward compared to Rock Band 4, which debuted on PS4 multiple years ago.

Despite my reservations, I have to admit that this guitar packs an impressive punch in terms of battery life - I can use it for days without needing a charge. The only other issue I had was with the design, as the joystick behind the top end of the guitar made sense to me once I figured out how to set it up properly, but the rest of the controller seemed clunky and slow compared to the standard Rock Band 4 version.

I'm excited about the prospect that there are hints suggesting a new game in development - if this is true, I'll be keeping an eye on things with high hopes. For now, I can only say that this guitar has brought back memories of my time playing Rock Band, and I have no doubt it will continue to do so for years to come.

B. Thomas - 15/09/2025

A first impressions review, since I'd just gotten this guitar out of the box and put it together, then played some Rock Band 4 with it. It feels like both a step forward and a step back from my old Jaguar guitar, which has failed on me in the same way before. The thumb stick is a nice touch, we've never seen that on a guitar before, but I'm not sure what's more of an improvement or a letdown - it felt fairly natural to use.

The strum bar feels more natural for getting around once you're in the game, but it could be improved by making the options/share buttons larger and spaced apart. The programmable "P1" button is interesting, I have no idea what you would use it for, but it's also awkwardly positioned between the other two.

The built-in rechargeable battery is a big plus - no more hunting around for AAs when you want to play. And yes, the battery life is 36 hours long, which means no interruptions if you charge before a session.

But I'm a little disappointed by a return to the dongle, after my old Jaguar was Bluetooth. You might argue that this was done for lower latency, but Playstation controllers can achieve as low as 4ms over Bluetooth. It's not enough for me.

The thing that really gets under my skin is when you have multiple guitars plugged in - there are four USB-A ports in use, which means you'll need a USB hub or converter to plug everything in. At the very least, they could make it so two controllers can connect to one dongle (ie with a built-in hub).

E. Ashwood - 16/05/2025