Best Guitar Controller For Clone Hero

Guitar Hero 2 and 3 controllers
Image: Guitar Hero 2 and 3 controllers by James086 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Clone Hero supports both standard guitar-control layouts and has a control mapper. Legacy wireless hardware is not automatically plug-and-play: it needs the right receiver, and Wii guitars need a documented USB adapter route.

# Product Price Where to buy
1 PDP Riffmaster for PlayStation $130-$150 Amazon
2 CRKD Gibson Les Paul Black Tribal Encore $120-$140 Amazon
3 CRKD Gibson Les Paul Blueberry Burst Pro $150-$170 Amazon · eBay
4 Guitar Hero Xbox 360 X-plorer $70-$150 Amazon
5 Guitar Hero Live Guitar plus GHL Receiver $40-$90 Amazon · eBay
6 Xbox 360 Wireless Les Paul plus Microsoft Receiver $70-$150 Amazon
7 Wii Les Paul plus RetroCultMods V3 Adapter $50-$100 combined Amazon
8 Wii World Tour Guitar plus RetroCultMods V3 Adapter $50-$110 combined Amazon
9 NBCP Wireless PC/PS3 Guitar $70-$100 Amazon · eBay
10 Adafruit Feather Guitar Hero Adapter Route $35-$60 parts Amazon

The picks, in detail

PDP Riffmaster for PlayStation
Pick 01 of 10

PDP Riffmaster for PlayStation

Current wireless five-fret guitar with included USB receiver. Pair the receiver to PC and map controls in Clone Hero.

  • Wireless receiver
  • USB-C charging
  • Five frets
Pros

  • Current hardware
  • PC route reported working
Cons

  • Receiver required
  • Map inputs
Price: $130-$150
CRKD Gibson Les Paul Black Tribal Encore
Pick 02 of 10

CRKD Gibson Les Paul Black Tribal Encore

Current multi-platform five-fret guitar; select PC mode and bind it in Clone Hero.

  • Multi-platform
  • Five frets
  • Current model
Pros

  • New hardware
  • Clone Hero-capable
Cons

  • Mode matters
  • Map controls
Price: $120-$140
CRKD Gibson Les Paul Blueberry Burst Pro
Pick 03 of 10

CRKD Gibson Les Paul Blueberry Burst Pro

Current premium CRKD model with mechanical frets and Hall-effect strum bar; configure it for PC and Clone Hero.

  • Mechanical frets
  • Hall-effect strum
  • Multi-platform
Pros

  • Current premium model
  • Clone Hero setup route
Cons

  • Expensive
  • Mapping required
Guitar Hero Xbox 360 X-plorer
Pick 04 of 10

Guitar Hero Xbox 360 X-plorer

Wired USB legacy five-fret guitar; use a working original and assign controls in Clone Hero.

  • Wired USB
  • Five frets
  • Xbox 360
Pros

  • No receiver
  • Direct PC route
Cons

  • Used market
  • Cable condition varies
Price: $70-$150
Guitar Hero Live Guitar plus GHL Receiver
Pick 05 of 10

Guitar Hero Live Guitar plus GHL Receiver

Six-fret wireless route requiring a compatible Guitar Hero Live USB receiver; driver or mapping work may be needed.

  • Six frets
  • Wireless
  • GHL receiver required
Pros

  • Six-fret support
  • Documented receiver route
Cons

  • Not all dongles work
  • Different layout
Xbox 360 Wireless Les Paul plus Microsoft Receiver
Pick 06 of 10

Xbox 360 Wireless Les Paul plus Microsoft Receiver

Five-fret wireless route only when paired with an Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver; then bind it in Clone Hero.

  • Five frets
  • Wireless
  • Receiver required
Pros

  • Established PC route
  • Receiver supports instruments
Cons

  • Separate receiver
  • Used condition varies
Price: $70-$150
Wii Les Paul plus RetroCultMods V3 Adapter
Pick 07 of 10

Wii Les Paul plus RetroCultMods V3 Adapter

Adapter route, not plug-and-play: connect a Wii Les Paul to the V3 USB adapter then map it in Clone Hero.

  • Wii guitar
  • USB adapter
  • Mapping required
Pros

  • Current setup guide
  • Avoids Wii Remote route
Cons

  • Two purchases
  • Generic adapters differ
Price: $50-$100 combined
Wii World Tour Guitar plus RetroCultMods V3 Adapter
Pick 08 of 10

Wii World Tour Guitar plus RetroCultMods V3 Adapter

Separate Wii guitar model supported through the same documented V3 adapter route and in-game mapping.

  • Wii guitar
  • USB adapter
  • Mapping required
Pros

  • Documented route
  • Five-fret layout
Cons

  • Not direct USB
  • Check condition
Price: $50-$110 combined
NBCP Wireless PC/PS3 Guitar
Pick 09 of 10

NBCP Wireless PC/PS3 Guitar

Current third-party five-fret PC/PS3 guitar with its own USB dongle; use the included dongle and Clone Hero mapper.

  • Wireless
  • Included dongle
  • Five frets
Pros

  • New retail option
  • Clone Hero mapping guide
Cons

  • Dongle must be retained
  • Third-party quality varies
Adafruit Feather Guitar Hero Adapter Route
Pick 10 of 10

Adafruit Feather Guitar Hero Adapter Route

DIY Santroller route for a wired USB legacy guitar that is not recognized correctly. It requires assembly, firmware and mapping, so it is a near-miss for users wanting plug-and-play.

  • USB Host Feather
  • Santroller firmware
  • DIY
Pros

  • Documented legacy solution
  • PC capable
Cons

  • Not a finished controller
  • Setup required
Price: $35-$60 parts

Buying tips

  • Bind each fret and strum direction in Clone Hero.
  • Wireless guitars need their correct receiver.
  • Use a documented adapter for Wii guitars.
  • Different guitar-control layouts need different mappings.

As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.

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