PDP’s once-elusive Riffmaster guitar controller is now readily available

With second-hand Fender Stratocaster guitars for Rock Band 4 still fetching high prices on the resale market nearly a decade later, it’s no surprise that PDP’s recent Riffmaster controller has been challenging to find. Thankfully, after months of quickly selling out, I’m here to tell you that the PlayStation version is now readily available at Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop for its full retail price of $129.99. The Xbox-licensed version, which works with both Xbox consoles and PC, is also available at Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop for the same price.

With an edgier appearance that makes it look like a Brutal Legend weapon, the Riffmaster replicates the functionality of the original Rock Band 4 guitar while sprinkling in some unique tricks of its own. You’ll get five color-coded buttons higher up the neck, which correspond to the various lanes each note can appear in while playing RB4 or newer free-to-play rhythm games like Fortnite Festival. There’s also a second set of the same buttons lower down the neck for freestyle solos, and they can act as an alternative set of inputs for those who find them easier to reach. A strummer and whammy bar round out the list of components needed to facilitate your jams.

Additionally, there’s a collapsible neck that’s unique to the Riffmaster, which allows you to transport the guitar controller without having to take it apart. The neck also hides an analog stick on the underside for more straightforward menu navigation, and there are volume controls built into the D-pad and a 3.5mm audio jack for wired headsets. The wireless guitar even has a 30-foot range and its rechargeable internal battery lasts up to 36 hours, making it a solid option that doesn’t burn through AA batteries like Harmonix’s original controller.