While we don’t have an official, Harmonix-sanctioned release date for Rock Band 2, conventional wisdom holds that the game will be available September 14 for the Xbox 360 crowd, followed by an October release for PS3 and Wii owners. However, those hoping to buy the new game and instruments together in a bundle are about to be sorely disappointed, as we’re now hearing that the instrument bundle will not be available until all versions of the game are released.

While the new instruments will be available on the same date as the game itself, they will only be sold separately, meaning that if you want to buy a new guitar, drums, and mic, it’ll cost you $60 more than if you wait a month and get them all together with the game in the $199 bundle. While it’s reasonable to think that most people who will be buying Rock Band 2 already own the original and have the means to play the game, this means the newer features available in the new and improved instruments will force you to either fork over some extra cash on launch day or find some way to entertain yourself until October; I recommend Rock Band.

So why would EA and MTV do this with one of their biggest properties? The original Rock Band came out in bundle form first, with individual instruments coming later, and now the roles have been reversed. Is this just an attempt to make some extra money on early adopters, or is it a reasonable decision to accommodate those who just want the new drums or an additional guitar who now don’t have to buy the whole set? Anyone out there considering shelling out all the extra money just to have the game and the brand new instruments on day one?