Guitar Hero Les Paul vs Rock Band Fender Guitar: Which to Buy?

Two guitars, two consoles, one decision

The Guitar Hero Les Paul and Rock Band Fender Sunburst look like similar plastic guitars, but they belong to different console families. The Les Paul in this listing is a wireless controller for Xbox 360. The Fender Sunburst is a wireless controller for Nintendo Wii and ships with its own receiver dongle. If you own only one of those consoles, the choice is already made for you. If you own both, the rest of this comparison covers the details that actually differ: game compatibility, what comes in the box, and how each guitar connects.

Side-by-side: what each listing confirms

Only features stated in the product records are listed here. Anything absent from those records is marked as not confirmed rather than assumed.

• Console: Les Paul: Xbox 360. Fender Sunburst: Nintendo Wii.
• Wireless connection: Les Paul: 2.4GHz wireless, no dongle required; syncs directly to the Xbox 360. Fender Sunburst: wireless, with a wireless receiver dongle included.
• Confirmed game compatibility: Les Paul: compatible with all Guitar Hero games for the Xbox. Fender Sunburst: for use with all Rock Band games, with Rock Band 1, 2, 3, Beatles, Lego, Green Day, and AC/DC named in the listing.
• In the box: Les Paul: guitar, strap, original box. Fender Sunburst: guitar, wireless receiver dongle, shoulder strap.
• Notable hardware details: Les Paul: illuminated Xbox button, 3-axis accelerometer for star power, dual-color fret buttons, elongated strum bar, auto sleep mode, detachable neck. Fender Sunburst: no additional hardware features are specified in the supplied record.

Xbox 360 Les Paul: the dongle-free option

• [Pre-Owned/Refurbished] OFFICIAL Guitar Hero Xbox 360 Wireless LES PAUL Game Controller 95183.491 IN BOX: No dongle was required for this guitar; it wireless syncs to your Xbox 360 system. This is the biggest practical difference from the Wii guitar. You do not need to keep track of a separate receiver, which is a common failure point on used wireless guitars.

  

• [Pre-Owned/Refurbished] OFFICIAL Guitar Hero Xbox 360 Wireless LES PAUL Game Controller 95183.491 IN BOX: This guitar is compatible with all of the Guitar Hero games for the Xbox. If your library is built around Guitar Hero titles, the listing confirms coverage across that series on Xbox.
• [Pre-Owned/Refurbished] OFFICIAL Guitar Hero Xbox 360 Wireless LES PAUL Game Controller 95183.491 IN BOX: You will get the Les Paul Wireless Guitar Controller, guitar strap, and original box. The original box matters if you collect boxed Guitar Hero hardware or plan to store the detachable-neck guitar safely.

Wii Rock Band 2 Fender Sunburst: dongle included

• [Pre-Owned/Refurbished] OEM Nintendo Wii ROCK BAND 2 Fender Wireless Sunburst GUITAR Controller Unit 3 4: You will get the Wireless Rock Band 2 Fender Sunburst Guitar for Nintendo Wii, wireless receiver dongle, and shoulder strap. The dongle is part of the package, so you can connect the guitar to the Wii without sourcing a separate receiver. Confirm the dongle is present if you buy this model elsewhere.

  

• [Pre-Owned/Refurbished] OEM Nintendo Wii ROCK BAND 2 Fender Wireless Sunburst GUITAR Controller Unit 3 4: For use with all Rock Band games, including Rock Band 1, 2, 3, Beatles, Lego, Green Day, and AC/DC. This is a Rock Band-focused controller. The listing does not confirm Guitar Hero compatibility on Wii, so do not assume it will work with those titles.
• [Pre-Owned/Refurbished] OEM Nintendo Wii ROCK BAND 2 Fender Wireless Sunburst GUITAR Controller Unit 3 4: The sunburst version was only sold by itself for a limited time of about 1 year, while the black guitar was included with all the band sets. This explains why the sunburst finish is described as super rare. If you want a matching set or a less common color, this is the version to look for.

Which guitar fits your setup?

Choose the Xbox 360 Les Paul if you play Guitar Hero on Xbox 360 and want a controller that syncs without a dongle. The detachable neck and auto sleep mode are useful if you store your gear between sessions. The listing confirms Guitar Hero compatibility but does not mention Rock Band compatibility on Xbox 360, so do not assume it will work with Rock Band titles.

Choose the Wii Rock Band 2 Fender Sunburst if you play Rock Band on Wii and want the dongle included in the box. The listing confirms use with all Rock Band games but does not confirm Guitar Hero compatibility on Wii. If you play both series on Wii, you may need a second controller confirmed for Guitar Hero.

If you own both consoles, decide by which game series you play more. The Les Paul leans toward Guitar Hero, and the Fender leans toward Rock Band. Neither listing confirms cross-series compatibility beyond what is stated above.

What the listings do not confirm

These points are absent from the supplied product records. They are not negative claims about the products, just details to verify before you buy.

• Battery life and battery type: Neither listing states how many batteries each guitar uses or how long they last. The Les Paul listing mentions auto sleep mode to save battery power, but no runtime figure is given.
• Cross-series compatibility: The Les Paul is confirmed for Guitar Hero on Xbox 360, and the Fender for Rock Band on Wii. Compatibility with the other series is not confirmed in either record.
• Setup steps: No pairing or sync instructions are supplied for either guitar. Follow the console or game documentation for wireless controller pairing.
• Condition details: Both listings are pre-owned or refurbished, but the records do not describe cosmetic condition, wear, or whether the strap and box are original versus replacement.

A practical buying note

Both guitars are listed as pre-owned or refurbished, so inspect the listing photos and confirm the included accessories match what is described. For the Wii Fender, the wireless receiver dongle is essential; without it, the guitar will not connect. For the Xbox 360 Les Paul, no dongle is needed, but confirm the guitar syncs to your console before relying on it. If you are buying for a specific game, match the guitar to the console and series confirmed in the listing rather than assuming all plastic guitars work everywhere.