Amazon has opened preorders for CRKD’s next Gibson Guitar Controller. The Gibson SG 20th Anniversary Edition retails for $135 and is slated to launch December 19. Notably, this is the first wireless guitar controller in CRKD’s catalog licensed by PlayStation. The Gibson SG syncs wirelessly to PS5, PS4, PS3, and PC via a 2.4GHz dongle. The multiplatform version of CRKD’s Gibson Les Paul Guitar Controller is limited to a wired connection on PS5 and PS4, so the Gibson SG is likely the better option for Fortnite Festival and Rock Band 4 players on PlayStation.
PS5 players now have two officially licensed wireless guitar controllers to choose from. The other is the PDP Riffmaster, which is still on sale for its $110 (was $150) Black Friday price.
$135 | Releases December 19
The real Gibson SG has been around since 1961; the 20th Anniversary Edition moniker is a reference to the original controller bundled with Guitar Hero for PS5 in 2005. The original Gibson SG had a red body and black pick guard, whereas the new model has a black body, white pick guard, and brown neck. Still, it’s rather fitting that the first officially licensed Gibson controller for PS5 pays homage to the most recognizable guitar in Guitar Hero history.
The 20th Anniversary Edition has Matte EZ Glide Mechanical Frets with RGB backlighting, a Hall Effect strum bar with the classic “clicking” feedback, a whammy bar, and a tilt sensor to activate Star Power. Like the Les Paul editions, the SG has a modular design with a removable neck. The controller’s D-pad is located on the back of the headstock. The eight-button Navigation Hub has PlayStation input labels and a Hall Effect stick in the center. The dial with the PlayStation logo switches between wireless and wired connections, while the white dial lets you activate KEYJAM and Legacy modes. Legacy mode lets you use the controller wirelessly on PS3 to play old Rock Band and Guitar Hero games.
According to CRKD’s compatibility list, KEYJAM mode on the SG is different from the Les Paul. It’s likely due to the PlayStation license, but KEYJAM seems to only work for PlayStation consoles and PC. The Les Paul multiplatform guitars can play Fortnite Festival in wired mode on PlayStation and Xbox consoles in KEYJAM mode. It’s also worth noting the Les Paul multiplatform editions support Switch 1/2 with wireless and wired connections and have Legacy mode for PS3. Both models support Bluetooth connections for mobile devices and are compatible with CRKD’s free customization app.
Here’s what you’ll find inside the box:
- Black SG Guitar Controller Body
- Brown OG Signature Pro Fret Neck
- Black Shoulder Strap
- 2.4GHz Wireless Dongle
- 8.2-foot USB-C Cable
- Removable Rechargeable Battery
- KEYJAM Nav Hub Sticker
- Quickstart Guide
All CRKD Gibson Guitar Controllers
The Gibson SG’s $135 price point matches the Les Paul Blueberry Burst Pro that’s officially licensed by Microsoft for Xbox consoles. The Black Tribal Encore Edition is $125 for Xbox and has membrane fret buttons instead of mechanical switches. The multiplatform versions of the Les Paul are $10 cheaper than the Xbox models. It’s worth noting that the Blueberry Burst Pro Editions have strum bars with haptic feedback. Last month, CRKD released a Les Paul Cherry Sunburst Pro Collector’s Bundle for $200. This multiplatform model comes with a guitar backpack, a leather strap, pins, and stickers.
The Gibson SG has confirmed wireless and wired compatibility with Fortnite Festival and Rock Band 4 on PS5 and PS4. It also works wirelessly on PC with Fortnite Festival, Clone Hero, YARG, and Guitar Hero III. Legacy Mode for PS3 supports all of the platform’s Guitar Hero and Rock Band games as well as Band Hero.
We’ve listed all of CRKD’s Gibson Guitar Controllers below along with platform compatibility for each edition.
Gibson SG for PlayStation:
- Gibson SG 20th Anniversary Edition — $135 | December 19
- Wireless: PS5, PS4, PC, Android, Apple, PS3
- KEYJAM Wired Mode: Fortnite Festival (PS5, PS4, PC), YARG (PC), Clone Hero (PC)
Gibson Les Paul Multiplatform:
Gibson Les Paul for Xbox:
As mentioned, the PDP Riffmaster for PS5 and PS4 is discounted to $110 (was $150) at Amazon. The officially licensed Xbox edition is also on sale for $109. PDP launched a Nintendo Switch 1/2 version of the Riffmaster last month, but it’s currently selling for its full $150 MSRP.