Best Guitar For Rocksmith

What kind of guitar do I need for Rocksmith?

Rocksmith is a hugely popular video game for guitar enthusiasts and was released by Ubisoft. If you’re into music and gaming, you’ve probably heard of it already! There are several styles of music out there when it comes to strumming the chords, and you’ll soon learn all about the best guitars for Rocksmith players.

We’ve outlined several of them on our list, but you can’t go wrong with anything from Fender or Ibanez. Although top-of-the-line electric guitars are usually the popular choice for Rocksmith, if you want to use your acoustic guitar for Rocksmith, you can! A recent remastered 2014 edition of the game allows you to plug in your acoustic guitar too.

1. Ibanez GRGM21BKN 3/4 Size Mikro Electric Guitar

This is the best guitar for Rocksmith beginner players, as it’s not very large and all the frets are easily reachable and spaced quite conveniently. Ibanez makes some very popular electric guitars, and this is one of them.

Although this particular model has a sleek black finish, there are several others in this range with similar features, that come in different colors and makes, so you’ve got your pick of the lot. When it comes to guitars for Rocksmith, versatility is great. Both beginners and experts will get a lot out of this guitar, and the size also makes it convenient for busking, or if you like to play Rocksmith when you’re taking your show on the road.

The GRGM21BKN model is ideal for metal, rock, and other modern styles of music, and the Jatoba fretboard has shark tooth inlays, which is ideal for clarity and getting those precise notes to really ring out.

The guitar’s maple neck is strong and steady, and the guitar has an F106 bridge, where you can adjust the string heights, which is quite convenient. You can also rely on the Infinity R H-H pickups to help produce a brilliant, clear sound. This guitar should sound great right out of the box, although you can make the necessary adjustments, of course.

It’s the perfect Rocksmith compatible guitar for those who are just starting out on their musical journey, but as it’s slightly short of full-size, it can also make a great travel companion. Controls of volume and tone are accessible on the guitar body itself, and overall, it makes for a very convenient beginner’s guitar, as well as a cheap guitar for Rocksmith.

2. Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA

If you’re looking for an electric guitar for Rocksmith that also has seven strings, then this model from Jackson is a great choice. The strings are well spaced, making them easy to strum on, and the guitar is light, but beautifully built with an all-black body.

The poplar make lends more clarity to the resonance of your music, and the maple neck is reinforced with graphite and scarf joint to make it more stable.

The guitar has 24 frets, with piranha tooth inlays, and the fingerboard gets flatter as you move up the neck, making it easier to play trickier pieces of music. This is a design that Jackson is famous for, and pioneered, so you can trust that their 12-16-inch compound radius design for the fretboard will surely impress you.

The JS22 DKA is powered by humbucking pickups with a high output, so the sound won’t be an issue. You’ll be bowled over by the rich tones that can be plucked from these strings, making it a very good choice for a Rocksmith guitar.

Not only is it brilliantly made and styled, but the black body is also quite attractive, so when you team up to play Rocksmith with your friends, you’ll be the envy of your gang! The strings are made of nickel-plated steel, and the dome control knobs are on the guitar body.

Such an impeccably-constructed guitar can run up the bills, but this one is quite budget-friendly for a Rocksmith guitar, so whether you’re a beginner or a pro, it won’t make that much of a dent in your bank account. It’s definitely worth the purchase, though!

3. Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 70's Jaguar Electric Guitar

If you’re looking for a guitar compatible with Rocksmith that also has a great 1970s vibe, you can’t go wrong with the Squier by Fender. Fender is a household name when it comes to guitars, and this model is actually priced quite reasonably at around $500.

Yes, it’s not the cheapest guitar on this list, but when you buy Fender, you’re buying a quality brand that has an international reputation. There’s no denying that this surf green-style guitar is worth every penny. It’s a small, slim guitar that’s built for smaller hands, and tries to stay true to a vintage style wherever possible. You can see those vintage influences in the tremolo bridge system, in the tuning machines, and in the neck, which has a glossy finish.

The Squier Jaguar’s bright pop of colour is sure to brighten up any gaming session, making it the perfect companion as a Rocksmith guitar. The tremolo system makes it easy to create new and engaging sounds, and the floating bridge keeps everything firm and stable.

The C-shaped neck makes it easier to play, as it’s more comfortable to place your hands there. The strings are nickel-plated, and not only do they produce a beautiful sound, but they also lend an unmistakable 1970s feel to the overall look of the guitar. 

Of course, to some guitar players, style doesn’t matter at all, but it’s a nice perk in the case of this Fender model. And you’ll definitely be able to play some stunning solos with this retro-style guitar, matched with a lovely, classic tone.

4. Fender Player Stratocaster Electric Guitar

If you’re looking for the best guitar for Rocksmith, here’s another option from Fender to consider! This model comes in a fetching tobacco sunburst shade, although there are several colors to choose from.

This model is from the Player series, so you’ll get a great blend of classic and modern sounds. There are two tone controls on the guitar body to give you some control over the pickup, and the two-point tremolo bridge makes it much easier to play notes that are outside the box while lending a bit of stability to your playing.

This Rocksmith guitar has 22 frets, and the Alderwood body gives you a resonant, sharper tone that will definitely give your sound a bit of an edge over the other gamers who are joining in for a round of Rocksmith.

The guitar also has very stylish, comfortable contours, and the C-shaped neck makes it much easier to play. The tuning can be achieved quite easily through Fender’s classic tuning knobs, and the instrument as a whole makes it easy to draw out beautiful sounds across the musical scale, whether low, mid, or high.

You’ll also find a stamped neck plate on every model in the Player series, so no one will miss out on the fact that you’re holding a Fender! This isn’t a cheap model, but Fender makes some of the best electric guitars in the world, so it’s worth shelling out the extra cash!

5. Squier by Fender Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Fender makes a bunch of Rocksmith compatible guitars, and this is another great option for dedicated guitar players and gamers. The Affinity series from Fender comes in three other colors, but this one is in classic black, with a hard poplar wood body and a three-ply white pickguard.

The single-coil pickups suit a wide variety of musical genres, so no matter what you play on this Rocksmith guitar, you’ll be racking up the points. Fender has also taken care of the musical tuning of the guitar in-studio, so you’re in safe hands with this instrument.

6. Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012 Electric Guitar

Like Fender, Yamaha guitars are famous for their excellence. The PAC012 from the Pacifica series is a great example of a brilliant guitar for Rocksmith. It comes in three other colors aside from black, although the latter does look very dashing.

This is on the cheaper end when it comes to Yamaha guitars, so it’s worth snapping up. In fact, it’s one of the most budget-friendly options on this list. The guitar has two single-coil pickups as well as a ceramic humbucker, so it plays beautiful tones in all kinds of musical styles.

The guitar also has a C-shaped neck (made of maple), and your volume and tone controls are easily accessible on the body of the guitar, along with a pickup slider. The guitar has 22 frets, and a vintage tremolo bridge so you can make certain you’re always in tune while you’re playing.

The guitar is also extremely light, so it’s a great companion if you’re a travelling musician, if you’re busking, or if you like carrying it to friends’ houses for intense rounds of Rocksmith!

Yamaha guitars usually don’t come cheap, but that doesn’t mean you’re compromising on quality at all. This is one of the best entry-level electric guitars on the market right now, and it’s certainly the ideal electric guitar for Rocksmith.

How does Rocksmith work?

Now that we’ve rounded up the best guitars for Rocksmith, read on to find out a little more about the game itself. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a bass, electric, or acoustic guitar player, you can get a lot out of Rocksmith!

All you have to do is connect your guitar to the Rocksmith app, or use other audio interfaces or a direct cable to link up your guitar and the game. Once you’ve done that, you can choose from the millions of tracks that Rocksmith has in its library, and play along to all kinds of styles, from pop and country to hip-hop and metal.

What do you need to play Rocksmith?

Aside from the basics (a PC or a compatible display that can handle the game, a stable internet connection, the game itself, and possibly the official cable), all you really need is a guitar! Now, does Rocksmith work with any guitar? The answer is, yes!

This is great news if you already own a guitar. Although Rocksmith is best suited to electric guitars, acoustic guitars will work well also. If you happen to have an old guitar lying around and you want to sharpen your skills, you’ve already got everything you need! Soon you’ll be able to play all your favourite songs.

FAQ

1. Can you use acoustic guitar for Rocksmith?

Up until recently, you could only use electric guitars to play Rocksmith. But in 2012, you could use bass guitars as well, and in a 2014 remastered edition of the game, you can plug in your acoustic guitar (or connect it via the official app) as long as it has a pickup, and you can play Rocksmith too.

2. Does Rocksmith work with any guitar?

Yes, you can play Rocksmith with any guitar! It’s preferable with an electric guitar because the process is smoother and the style of the songs is geared towards that particular instrument, but really, any guitar will do. For acoustic guitars, you may need to pick up a USB mic, but otherwise, you’re good to go with whatever you have on hand.

3. Is Rocksmith good for learning guitar?

Rocksmith is a pretty good way to pick up guitar skills! It does take hard work, but it’s fun. Usually, when you go to a music class, you tend to learn your scales and how notes work and such. But Rocksmith is wholly practical, so it’ll start teaching you to play music in a way that comes naturally to you. It adjusts to your performance so you can start from scratch. If you’re not too concerned with learning the theory of music and just want to learn to play the guitar well, Rocksmith is a great place to start!

3. Will Rocksmith work with an acoustic-electric guitar?

Rocksmith will work very well with an acoustic-electric guitar, whether you’re playing on Xbox, PS4, or just on a good old-fashioned PC. Depending on what kind of guitar you have, you may need to get hold of some extra accessories, but you shouldn’t have any trouble playing the game.