PDP RIFFMASTER wireless guitar controller review — Rock and Roll All Nite

I played the heck out of both Rock Band and Guitar Hero as a college student. I fondly remember the times where my friends and I would stay up all night playing through our tour, something I certainly can’t do now. Something else you can’t do, buy an official guitar controller for the old games. You’d like to play, but can’t due to wear and tear on your old equipment. PDP has rectified that with the new RIFFMASTER guitar, and it’s the perfect option for someone playing music games in 2024.

Out of the box you have the RIFFMASTER guitar controller, a USB-C charge cable, the USB dongle, and a guitar strap. It’s not much, but this isn’t an area where you need a lot. The charge cable is a bit short at just under 4 feet, so you might want to find a better one. Also, while I know it’s the current standard, thank goodness for USB-C charging. This will get you jamming quickly even if your guitar runs out of juice.

After a minimal amount of assembly (the only thing required is attaching the headstock), you can immediately unfold and start using your RIFFMASTER. There’s a handy hinge at the base of the guitar’s neck which allows you to fold it up, leading to easier transport. Not something I generally use, but for many, it makes taking a guitar controller with you much simpler.

On the controller you’ll find a lot of familiar buttons, the five colored frets at the top of the neck and matching solo ones at the bottom of the neck. There’s also the strum bar, whammy bar, menu and options buttons, along with a directional pad and Xbox button. There are a few surprising additions, with a capture button included, alongside a joystick at the top of the neck. The joystick actually performs admirably, and although it took me time to get used to, was very helpful in moving my character while playing Fortnite Festival with their hub system. PDP also included some of their controller innovations, with a 3.5mm audio jack that can be controlled via a PDP button and audio controls from the directional pad. Somehow, the guitar houses all of this without feeling overencumbered, which is a testament to their design.

The RIFFMASTER guitar controller is quite the looker. While I’d love to see more colors in the future, the black Schecter-like is sleek. My only complaint is the gloss finish on the body; it gathers fingerprints and can pick up visible scratches easily. The neck and buttons are matte, so that won’t be an issue where you’re generally holding it, but it’s something to keep in mind.

The guitar is lightweight and comfortable, managing to feel both sturdy and light enough for long sessions. Similarly, the strap fits snuggly on the strap buttons, and is comfy around your neck. This is a key feature for this kind of device, as you might spend hours playing. The grip takes me back as well, almost indistinguishable from the time I spent with my Rock Band controllers. To be able to get that one for one comfort is a feather in the cap for PDP.

When you use the RIFFMASTER guitar, it’s like you never left the venue. Immediately, all of the muscle memory returned. The button placement is perfect, so it’s a natural extension of you as you play. I think the only thing I’d like would be the strum bar being clicky; it works just fine and you know when you hit it, but it’s missing that extra sound cue I like. Beyond that, everything just feels right.

One of the best things about the controller is how many places you can use it. I have the Xbox version, and it will also work on PC and the Xbox One. While you’d think it working on the previous Xbox generation would be a given, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it wasn’t. Instead, I can run between my systems and play Rock Band no matter where I am. I haven’t seen any downgrades in performance either, with outstanding functionality everywhere.

As for game compatibility, it’s pretty decent. The music games you can officially use the RIFFMASTER with are Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival. I’ve not had a single issue with either one, both working as intended. On the other hand, Clone Hero, a popular freeware guitar title, doesn’t work at all for me. I could be doing something wrong, but after troubleshooting a bit, I didn’t want to get into the complex instrument remapping applications and quit. The main games work, and that’s what matters. It’s disappointing that Guitar Hero is left out in the cold, but with the most recent game using a completely different controller styling, it’s not surprising.

I do suggest testing your calibration right away. This is a pretty obvious call out, but I couldn’t play the RIFFMASTER worth a lick on my Xbox Series X. After testing the guitar with my Xbox One and PC, I was a lot closer, although still needing to calibrate. Once I did the manual calibration for my Xbox Series X and Rock Band 4, I was hitting everything again. Not anything most music game players won’t know, but something important to getting the most out of the RIFFMASTER.

Another area where you get the most out of the RIFFMASTER: the battery. Something no previous guitar controller has had is a rechargeable battery. I’ve been playing for a week on and off, and I have yet to recharge the battery. PDP advertises a 36 hour battery life, and that’s easy to believe. With fast USB-C charging available, you really will be able to rock and roll all nite.

You can pick up your own PDP RIFFMASTER guitar controller right here!

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