UPDATE: There is now a dedicated tool for my kits, you'll want to use the one mentioned in this guide instead of the Guitar Configurator: retrocultmods.com/updating-to-the-new-santroller-firmware/ This new tool will do all of the pin mapping for you, and make customizing things much simpler! Well, I forgot the part explaining the tilt, woops! Its pretty fast and simple, here's a quick video explaining how to do it: ruclips.net/video/dqrUP9Fsahw/видео.html
A very comprehensive tutorial, and like many others here this my first foray into the world of soldering. with a little practice beforehand, it really was not too difficult, even with making a few mistakes. Also a great seller, helped out with many problems I had with etsy and was super quick to respond and ship
this was an amazing project I'm so satisfied with the outcome, got the parts within the same week of ordering and for my first solder job u made this really easy. Idk if I'll be able to go back to a membrane controller now lmao.
This was my first foray into the world of soldering electronics, and I have to say (aside from some small mistakes I made) this was a very comprehensive and easy guide to follow! My only question is about a component that looks like a capacitor that came in the kit that wasn’t showed in the video. After doing some more research, it looks like it may be a tilt sensor? How would I connect that? Edit: Looking at the board again, I actually see 2 holes with the labels “gnd” for ground, and “sp” which I’m assuming means Star Power. Am I correct?
Yep, that is a tilt switch! I forgot to mention it in the video, I'm going to make a quick guide this weekend on how to hook it up and leave that in the pinned comment!
Love the excitement! Sorry to be a bit of a downer though, WoRtars aren't compatible with the kits, since their internal layout is very different from other models.
Extremely well made kit and guide. This is all so easy to follow and it appears you’ve made this about as straightforward as it gets in terms of simplicity! Haven’t bought my kit yet as I’m still on the hunt for a good deal on a guitar first. The only couple of questions I had were regarding the rusty strum bar and the micro usb cable. When removing the rusty strum bar you mentioned potentially putting a new foam pad in there. I’m assuming the foam pad is simply to prevent the metal rod from rattling and it could be any pad of a similar thickness to the one removed and there’s not a particular type of foam? Regarding the USB cable, I was wondering about strain relief and retention. Based on what we can see in the video, it just looks like you plugged a micro USB cable directly into the board, then had it make basically a straight run right out of the guitar case. I’m imagining that plug pulling right out of the port if the cable gets tugged a little too hard, so I’m thinking perhaps there’s some sort of thing you do to the cable to ensure that doesn’t happen? I was also wondering about cable length and if you’d had any success with a longer cable. Say…15 feet instead of 10? I know once USB gets to a certain length there can be some data loss. Thanks so much for such a well-made product and tutorial. Until now, I’d assumed the only way I was going to be getting back into Guitar Hero was paying a crap ton of money for a guitar in good, working condition, but this offers an alternative that basically removes condition from the equation completely!
Thanks for the positive words! To answer your questions: The foam pad is indeed to keep the bar from rattling and can be replaced by any foam pad with similar dimensions. For the cable, I usually loop it around one of the standoffs so it doesn't come out when tugged on currently, but I do have plans to make a board that converts one of the ports of the guitar into a female USB-C port, so you can plug in and unplug a cable without having to take it apart! I usually stick to 10 foot USB cables, but you should be able to use 15 or even 20 foot cables with no significant signal loss! What you mentioned about providing a more accessible and affordable way into getting a PC compatible directly wired guitar is exactly why I made the kit!
1st lesson: you definitely need to file down the plastic feet of the fret switches, even if you have good flush cutters. There's no way around it. 7:52
I was having a problem on a PS3 Kramer with the green switch popping out and not pressing properly when I put on the back half of the stem. I fixed this by using my flush cutters to trim just a little bit of the support pillar behind the green switch and test fitting until it went together perfectly.
I know I'm not the only one here with this being an introductory to the experience of soldering, I just wanted to say thank you for such a great tutorial. 😁👌 It really helped build my confidence with soldering after a really bad first outing attempting to repair some controllers with stick drift. (tl;dr, I'm gonna try again after I get this guitar working, but it was a bad time that took 2 hours and didn't get far enough to even remove one analog stick mechanism because the solder wasn't wanting to get sucked up and I didn't know how to use solder wick.) I'm not quite done working on my guitar yet (about 80% done), and I made some pretty major mistakes (made unnecessary cuts to the neck structural points, sanded down too much to try and make custom frets fit because they kept getting stuck under the fret holes, discovered that one of the screws was horribly stripped and couldn't grip at all, forcing me to super glue it (yes, I know, tech gore, I hate it too)), but so far I'm managing to make it work in spite of the unforeseen challenges. I'm working with a WT Wiitar. So far, I have the neck all done, I got the strum bar board ready to go, and I soldered on the whammy bar. All that's left is to solder on the start/select/SP buttons (not sure how the SP button's gonna work, but it's not as important as the tilt sensor for how I play), solder on the tilt sensor, get a new spring for the whammy (there was no spring when I got it, might cannibalize one of the other 2 guitars I got in the bundle I picked up for a spring), button it up, and test it. Whoever owned this particular guitar before didn't take care of it whatsoever, probably smacked it on the ground like they were a snotty rockstar considering the body was partially opened and a couple of the body screws were stripped. Either that or they opened it after messing it up and didn't know what they were doing. That all said, I'm looking forward to the follow-up you mentioned in the top comment reply. 🫡 This has been an incredibly educational experience for me, and I can't wait to do more soldering! It's the most fun part of the whole process imo! 😄
Great to see you took the dive into soldering! Was the stick drift kit you were working with by AngryHelder by any chance? I've used some of his kits to mod Gameboys before! Also I noticed the positive feedback you left my shop, thanks so much for taking the time to do that, it helps me a lot!! :)
@@retrocultmods No, it wasn't a kit, it was just some cheapie set of analog mechanisms I bought on Amazon. I had watched a video on it a few hours before I started, all it entailed was desoldering the old ones and soldering in the new ones. I wasn't watching a video while doing it (unlike when following yours, I had it up the whole time), I think I just got myself wound up when trying the first time. But I also knew that laying down fresh solder is a lot easier than pulling up old solder, so I figured that following this vid would give me a confidence boost to try again. 🫡 Regarding feedback, I gotta give praise where praise is due, you made a very easy guide and provided simple materials in a very convenient package, at a reasonable price no less. 😁 Btw, update on the guitar; I decided to just close it up and test it to make sure it functioned on a basic level. I didn't get the tilt sensor installed, both the start and select buttons act are acting like the start button, and the star power button isn't doing anything. The strum bar needs to be tightened up a bit with some duct tape, and I want to fix those aforementioned issues, but I was just relieved that it didn't go up in smoke! 😂 That said, do you have any advice on figuring out the continuity on the Star Power button and/or the tilt sensor? I tried using a multimeter, but I couldn't figure out which setting I had to set the switch to because there's like 20 different settings for different voltages, resistances, etc, and I've never really used a multimeter before this. 😅 The button board for start/select/SP wasn't labeled with which was which, it was just a 1 and a 3 with a blank in the middle, so I assumed the middle was ground and that the other 2 were relative to the top and bottom based on orientation. Alternatively, should I just wait for your next vid to drop?
@@RetroHellspawn I'd look for continuity/diode mode on your multimeter (test by touching both probes together, you should hear a beep), then check pin combinations for a beep when the star power button is pressed to figure out which pins to wire to GND/SEL on the board. Leave the GND/SP pins open for the tilt switch, I'll be dropping a video tomorrow!
Could you do a video on the Xplorer? I've been thinking about buying a kit from you, but you have it stated that additional modifications are required. Would be nice to see what needs to be done visually. Anyway, great video! I've been also thinking about trying to snag a not working xbox 360 les paul online for the right price and install your mod into it.
Super interesting! Thou I noticed there is no mention of the Xbox 360 when it comes to compatibility, is it possible to make a kit that works with the Xbox or is there some sort of soft/hardware shenanigans getting in the way?
Hey bro, Does this kit also work for the GH5 guitars? I'm from Brazil and this controllers are pretty hard to find around here, used or not. I found one of them from a guy who sold it cheap because it was defective in the Strum Bar, I'll see if I can use the buttons for some different project and swap the whole GH5 kit with the ones you showed in the video, luckily I have a little experience with soldering. Nice video dude
Hi! Yes it will work with GH5 guitars! I'd definitely recommend checking out the ZeroBoard kit guide I just posted, as that is much easier if you want to take the soldering approach! ruclips.net/video/0aqD36y6cJA/видео.html
hi, im a bit confused, i was following the tutorial with the kit and im not sure what the three slots by the logo are for. the ones labeled L G R, are those for rgb light?? if it was on the video i totally missed it
Interesting kit! Might have to grab one for my WT controller. Is there specific switches you have to use for the buttons and the strum bar, or do generic cherry switches work? Also, do you have any experience using some of those cheap knockoff Arduino Nano/Mini boards with this?
The switches used in my kit are Kailh Choc reds for the frets, and Kailh Box Navies for the strums, and are included in the kit! You can technically use any switch you like that are similar, but my PCBs are made with those Kailh switches in mind!
Does this improve the performance of the guitar, like latency, or just the feel of the switches. What advantages do you gain from this other than replacing used components?
After installing this mod (or the Solderless Kit), you will have the lowest latency possible for a plastic guitar controller (1ms). My adapters and Raphnets range from 1.7-1.9ms in terms of latency. Of course using a Raphnet or my adapter you will still be vulnerable to the aging parts in the guitar breaking, but with this mod you're giving your controller fresh components for a much more extended life!
Not really necessary to use extra flux for through hole soldering, good quality solder wire should have enough flux in it already. Though it doesn't hurt to add extra, just a bit more mess to clean :)
I'm currently using a Wii controller with a Pi pico and Sanjay900's software, with this mod would I keep my exisitng Pi Pico in the guitar as well, or would I solder my adapter to your pi pico on the strum board?
Hey! If you're looking for new strum or fret switches, I would say to just replace what you currently have with what's in my kit! You might want to stayed tuned though, I've got something coming out soon that doesn't require a Pico at all!
If I'm doing this to a Wii guitar, would it be possible to just solder the strumboard to the pogo pins and the frets to the receiving plates in the neck to make quick swapping between linear and clicky frets possible?
Yes you could definitely do that! I also have new pogo pin replacement boards coming out soon that allow you to keep the neck detachable with mech frets; keep an eye out!
So as long as you update to the latest firmware. It works for every console/game? Not just clone hero? Also does the kit come with a pi pico clone? If so I'll just grab one off adafruit. Providing this person wants me to do the conversion for them.
Just ordered one! I was curious though, is it possible to wire the ribbon cable from the frets to the neck plug, then from the strum bar to the other side of the plug to keep the ability to remove the neck?
Thanks for supporting my small shop! :) Yep, that is possible, I'm actually going to put some replacement female neck connectors up on the shop to make something like that much easier to do! You'd still need to reuse the male connectors on the body!
Question, would my guitar still work on my consoles if I installed this? I have tons of guitars that all went to crap on ps3 and Xbox 360, some of them need the innards completely replaced. Would be great to get those guitars working again so I can finally play my ps3 lol
I just wanna ask. does RB4 freboard differ from other RB guitars? because I am using RB1 guitar and I am not sure if this will work, just making sure of it
If I mod my guitar with this kit, can I play whichever guitar game? I want to play the beatles rock band and although I have a rock band guitar, it is more comfortable for me to play with my xplorer guitar, but as you may know they are not compatible. Excellent tutorial. Thank you very much for it.
You beat me to it! Yep, those are 3D printed washers that create from what's left of my filament spools! I provide new screws because I've run into some factory screws in unopened guitars that are already stripped!
Do you have to use longer wires for the start and select buttons? If so, do you have a link to where i might be able to find something similar to the small jumper cable you used?
Sure, these are exact jumper cables in the video (10cm, male to male) amzn.to/3mWl5PT However, these aren't ideal if you're buying specifically for soldering, since they're not pre-tinned (I just used them because I had them around). If you're fine with paying a bit more, you can get much more wire that's actually pre-tinned here: amzn.to/3Tgs9mG
@@lord_illusion Yep, I realized I forgot to mention the tilt sensor in the video! The two pins on the right hand side of the board labelled SP and GND are where you put the tilt sensor. You then tilt the sensor down about 45 degrees so it only activates when held at an angle!
Hi! I have a Kramer too, but is a WT Ps2 guitar with a separate board for the switches and they are the same like the arcade buttons, can i still install this mod?
Is it possible to connect an Bluetooth module to the pico so it would be wireless? also do i have to do setup process again if i go to another computer?
Is this kit compatible with RB2 guitars? I know there isnt a separate switch PCB assembly for the upper frets, so Im guessing if it did work with that controller youd lose that functionality? And would it also be able to be seen by a 360 for use in RB3?
You may have to sand/trim some of the rear neck support material that might be pushing the switches. Also, if it is a Wii model, you'll need to modify the frets themselves or get 3D printed frets for a proper fit!
I installed everything onto a ps2 guitar correctly all of the buttons work but clone hero is not reading the guitar and it won’t seem to pick it up as a valid controller.
If you were to do this mod, your controller would not currently be able to be used on stock 360s. It would work on PC, Mac, PS3/4/5, and modded 360s, though!
Would it be theoretically possible to reuse the pogo pins that come with the guitar assuming they were cleaned well and soldered fresh? Or would latency likely suffer?
@@djmehs because its analog latency would be near non existent where as the pins can have drops due to the pins maybe not making full contact not only with the pads but also the split in the pins. Plus its more of a solid connection
I have the same guitar and I was wondering if I could keep the parts where the guitar detaches, If I just keep both of those connectors and solder into them would it not work the same way?
You could do that, but if you have a model that uses pins that contact small circular pads on the neck, I would highly suggest not doing so, as that is one of the major flaws of those models. You would definitely want a hardwired neck to avoid dropped inputs!
I currently do not have a discord, but if you have any questions, send an email to Collin@RetroCultMods.com and I can get you sorted! And for your specific issue, check out this guide I made here: retrocultmods.com/configuring-the-adapter-for-ps3-ps4-or-ps5/
It should work in a Wii LP with no problem. WT and GH5 guitars should also be fine, but may require extra wires to reach the whammy/start select depending on the model.
@@LOLMAN9538 Yep, the neck supports as well as the frets need to be trimmed down. The Start/Select/Dpad board also requires some PCB modification, I wouldn't currently recommend modding an Xplorer for beginners!
@@retrocultmods Thanks, im trying to do this to an old rockband guitar but im unsure if it will work. Its got 10 frets, way more wires, and strum bar is different than the one shown in video.
hey, does this work on rock band 4 on ps4/5? and if it does how would I connect it do, I change the settings on the guitar configurator to ps3 or keep it default?
Hi! It will work, I've tested it personally with RB4 on PS4 and PS5! You'd only to to make the following changes in the Configurator: Under “Controller Output Type” you should see a box that says “XInput”. Change that from “XInput” to “PS3”. Make sure the box below that one still says “Guitar Hero Guitar”, then click “Close”. Then click Write and wait a few seconds; you're done!
@@retrocultmodsi didnt realize these kits could work on Rock Band 4 as well, that makes me even more excited to get one. How would you set it up for use on the Xbox One?
Could you help me with a problem? I bought a custom wii guitar with mech frets from Sweden and it worked perfectly for a few months, then randomly stopped registering notes. I think it’s a problem with the little white wire where the wii controller shape is. Idk how to fix wiring and that stuff so I bought a wii body off of eBay. When I use the custom neck with the body I bought off eBay is has a normal working green button but all the other buttons are wired wrong. None of them register notes if held by themselves but if I’m holding the green button down and I press down red, clone hero thinks I am fretting green+orange. If I fret green+yellow the game thinks I’m fretting green+blue. Is there any way to fix this or is the body just incompatible with the neck?
Now that I've tested, I had an issue with the drums. The kick was either not recognized at all or assigned to a different function, and the right hat gets registered as the kick. I tried to remap in the Guitar Configurator, but it refused the changes
Hi! The kit is used to replace the stock strumboard with a new one so you can program it to be used on PC, Mac, Linux, PS3/4/5, and modded 360s! It also comes with a replacement for the stock fretboard so you can upgrade to mechanical frets!
im having a problem im not sure what it is but when i go to program the green button its conflicting with the red button as well says pin conlfict any idea how to fix
That means that somewhere along the line the green and red frets are bridged, I would check to see if you have excess wire making contact where you soldered the fret wires to the board!
If you can trace the wires for the dpad, you will be able to connect them to the corresponding dpad pins on the top of the strumboard. As for the tapbar, only the GH5 model is compatible.
Yes the process is similar! Although please note that the Wii Les Pauls need their stock frets sanded down, or you'd need to buy a set of 3D printed frets for a correct fit. Message me on Etsy for more info!
Anyone know if this will fix the latency issue noticed with ps3 les Paul guitars? Also what’s the deal with the dongle? Will my modded guitar no longer work with my dongle or my old GH3 game on ps3?
This mod entirely replaces the internals of the guitar, so it will no longer work with your dongle. That said, you can program it in the software to be used with PS3, so you can use it for GH3! Since it is a directly wired guitar, it will have an improved latency over the wireless dongle!
From the original PCB? It depends, it needs to be a digital sensor that can fit in the through holes on my Strumboard! Personally, I would just stick with the tilt sensor included in my kit (I forgot to add that part to the video hah)!
@@retrocultmods thanks. I didnt see it used in the video which is y i asked. I found out afterwards because i ordered a kit for my xplorer (name on order - erick-) i ordered the usb cable too but im hoping the arduino has provisions to solder the 4 wires from the factory cable too as i want to keep the stock cable for the breakaway and the strain relief.
Yep, the Warriors of Rock guitar and Guitar Hero Live guitars are the only official models not compatible with any of my kits due to significant differences in design from the other models.
nvm, i have just looked at the internals and decided to buy a les paul... shame because i wanted to keep playing the guitar i played the most when i was younger :(
Currently it is not compatible due to the very compact nature of that model. Eventually I'd like to get something together for WoR guitars, but there are other projects I want to finish up first!
@@retrocultmods yeahi figured the compact internals would make it trickier to design something. Anyway, ordered an rgb kit for my ps3 sunburst and super hyped for it :)
You can, but people often run into issues with connections dropping and latency. This essentially "guts" the guitar and replaces it with a stable wired connection that has the fastest polling rate possible, which results in much better latency. Also this switches out the old silicone frets for mechanical frets!
Hi! Yes it only works for official Wiitars and the "Buddies" brand 3rd party Wiitar on Amazon. There are mixed reviews for the longevity of that one, so I would still go with an official model!
@@johnsalinas8481 Sorry, I thought this comment was under my Wii Adapter short... The kit will work with official Wii models (have not tested it on any 3rd party Wiitar). The only thing to be aware of is the Wii models will need decent fret modification (sanding) for a proper fit with the mechanical fretboard. Alternatively, you can grab some 3D printed frets from Etsy that will fit much better with the kit!
Yep there's lots of people that do mods! Although I would keep your eyes peeled, I'm working on a conversion modding kit that requires no soldering at all!
UPDATE:
There is now a dedicated tool for my kits, you'll want to use the one mentioned in this guide instead of the Guitar Configurator:
retrocultmods.com/updating-to-the-new-santroller-firmware/
This new tool will do all of the pin mapping for you, and make customizing things much simpler!
Well, I forgot the part explaining the tilt, woops!
Its pretty fast and simple, here's a quick video explaining how to do it: ruclips.net/video/dqrUP9Fsahw/видео.html
I see it says it will work on Xbox 360 but i can't get mine to work. How do you get it work?
A very comprehensive tutorial, and like many others here this my first foray into the world of soldering. with a little practice beforehand, it really was not too difficult, even with making a few mistakes. Also a great seller, helped out with many problems I had with etsy and was super quick to respond and ship
Glad it went well for you! Thanks for supporting my small shop! :)
youtube always recommends me luthier videos, this is so interesting
this was an amazing project I'm so satisfied with the outcome, got the parts within the same week of ordering and for my first solder job u made this really easy. Idk if I'll be able to go back to a membrane controller now lmao.
Glad you had a good time with it! It really spoils you going to mech frets haha!
This is perfect, I was just looking at your mod kit and wanted to look for a tutorial before I got it. 😂
Glad the timing worked out!
@retrocultmods me too. I can't wait to get it 😁
This was my first foray into the world of soldering electronics, and I have to say (aside from some small mistakes I made) this was a very comprehensive and easy guide to follow!
My only question is about a component that looks like a capacitor that came in the kit that wasn’t showed in the video. After doing some more research, it looks like it may be a tilt sensor? How would I connect that?
Edit: Looking at the board again, I actually see 2 holes with the labels “gnd” for ground, and “sp” which I’m assuming means Star Power. Am I correct?
Yep, that is a tilt switch! I forgot to mention it in the video, I'm going to make a quick guide this weekend on how to hook it up and leave that in the pinned comment!
When I get paid, I'm 100000% snagging one of these. Finally gonna resurrect my custom WoRtar hell yeah.
Love the excitement! Sorry to be a bit of a downer though, WoRtars aren't compatible with the kits, since their internal layout is very different from other models.
Extremely well made kit and guide. This is all so easy to follow and it appears you’ve made this about as straightforward as it gets in terms of simplicity!
Haven’t bought my kit yet as I’m still on the hunt for a good deal on a guitar first. The only couple of questions I had were regarding the rusty strum bar and the micro usb cable.
When removing the rusty strum bar you mentioned potentially putting a new foam pad in there. I’m assuming the foam pad is simply to prevent the metal rod from rattling and it could be any pad of a similar thickness to the one removed and there’s not a particular type of foam?
Regarding the USB cable, I was wondering about strain relief and retention. Based on what we can see in the video, it just looks like you plugged a micro USB cable directly into the board, then had it make basically a straight run right out of the guitar case. I’m imagining that plug pulling right out of the port if the cable gets tugged a little too hard, so I’m thinking perhaps there’s some sort of thing you do to the cable to ensure that doesn’t happen? I was also wondering about cable length and if you’d had any success with a longer cable. Say…15 feet instead of 10? I know once USB gets to a certain length there can be some data loss.
Thanks so much for such a well-made product and tutorial. Until now, I’d assumed the only way I was going to be getting back into Guitar Hero was paying a crap ton of money for a guitar in good, working condition, but this offers an alternative that basically removes condition from the equation completely!
Thanks for the positive words! To answer your questions:
The foam pad is indeed to keep the bar from rattling and can be replaced by any foam pad with similar dimensions.
For the cable, I usually loop it around one of the standoffs so it doesn't come out when tugged on currently, but I do have plans to make a board that converts one of the ports of the guitar into a female USB-C port, so you can plug in and unplug a cable without having to take it apart! I usually stick to 10 foot USB cables, but you should be able to use 15 or even 20 foot cables with no significant signal loss!
What you mentioned about providing a more accessible and affordable way into getting a PC compatible directly wired guitar is exactly why I made the kit!
I'm in the middle of doing this for a starburst guitar (ghwt). Will journal my progress here.
1st lesson: you definitely need to file down the plastic feet of the fret switches, even if you have good flush cutters. There's no way around it. 7:52
11:31 the Wii starburst only has one of these screwholes. I'm using electric tape to hold down the other side (facing the wires).
Appreciate the work you and many other's have done
Thanks so much! :)
My xplorer will get a new life thanks to this
I was having a problem on a PS3 Kramer with the green switch popping out and not pressing properly when I put on the back half of the stem. I fixed this by using my flush cutters to trim just a little bit of the support pillar behind the green switch and test fitting until it went together perfectly.
Whoa cool tutorial! Just bought a adapter because of your video!
Thanks for supporting my adapter! :)
dude i've been looking for a way to convert a kramer striker to usb for months i love you
Glad you're finding use of it! The Kramer is the best to mod since dongles are often hard to find, and the internals are extremely simple!
I know I'm not the only one here with this being an introductory to the experience of soldering, I just wanted to say thank you for such a great tutorial. 😁👌 It really helped build my confidence with soldering after a really bad first outing attempting to repair some controllers with stick drift. (tl;dr, I'm gonna try again after I get this guitar working, but it was a bad time that took 2 hours and didn't get far enough to even remove one analog stick mechanism because the solder wasn't wanting to get sucked up and I didn't know how to use solder wick.)
I'm not quite done working on my guitar yet (about 80% done), and I made some pretty major mistakes (made unnecessary cuts to the neck structural points, sanded down too much to try and make custom frets fit because they kept getting stuck under the fret holes, discovered that one of the screws was horribly stripped and couldn't grip at all, forcing me to super glue it (yes, I know, tech gore, I hate it too)), but so far I'm managing to make it work in spite of the unforeseen challenges.
I'm working with a WT Wiitar. So far, I have the neck all done, I got the strum bar board ready to go, and I soldered on the whammy bar. All that's left is to solder on the start/select/SP buttons (not sure how the SP button's gonna work, but it's not as important as the tilt sensor for how I play), solder on the tilt sensor, get a new spring for the whammy (there was no spring when I got it, might cannibalize one of the other 2 guitars I got in the bundle I picked up for a spring), button it up, and test it.
Whoever owned this particular guitar before didn't take care of it whatsoever, probably smacked it on the ground like they were a snotty rockstar considering the body was partially opened and a couple of the body screws were stripped. Either that or they opened it after messing it up and didn't know what they were doing.
That all said, I'm looking forward to the follow-up you mentioned in the top comment reply. 🫡 This has been an incredibly educational experience for me, and I can't wait to do more soldering! It's the most fun part of the whole process imo! 😄
Great to see you took the dive into soldering! Was the stick drift kit you were working with by AngryHelder by any chance? I've used some of his kits to mod Gameboys before!
Also I noticed the positive feedback you left my shop, thanks so much for taking the time to do that, it helps me a lot!! :)
@@retrocultmods No, it wasn't a kit, it was just some cheapie set of analog mechanisms I bought on Amazon. I had watched a video on it a few hours before I started, all it entailed was desoldering the old ones and soldering in the new ones. I wasn't watching a video while doing it (unlike when following yours, I had it up the whole time), I think I just got myself wound up when trying the first time. But I also knew that laying down fresh solder is a lot easier than pulling up old solder, so I figured that following this vid would give me a confidence boost to try again. 🫡
Regarding feedback, I gotta give praise where praise is due, you made a very easy guide and provided simple materials in a very convenient package, at a reasonable price no less. 😁
Btw, update on the guitar; I decided to just close it up and test it to make sure it functioned on a basic level. I didn't get the tilt sensor installed, both the start and select buttons act are acting like the start button, and the star power button isn't doing anything. The strum bar needs to be tightened up a bit with some duct tape, and I want to fix those aforementioned issues, but I was just relieved that it didn't go up in smoke! 😂
That said, do you have any advice on figuring out the continuity on the Star Power button and/or the tilt sensor? I tried using a multimeter, but I couldn't figure out which setting I had to set the switch to because there's like 20 different settings for different voltages, resistances, etc, and I've never really used a multimeter before this. 😅 The button board for start/select/SP wasn't labeled with which was which, it was just a 1 and a 3 with a blank in the middle, so I assumed the middle was ground and that the other 2 were relative to the top and bottom based on orientation. Alternatively, should I just wait for your next vid to drop?
@@RetroHellspawn I'd look for continuity/diode mode on your multimeter (test by touching both probes together, you should hear a beep), then check pin combinations for a beep when the star power button is pressed to figure out which pins to wire to GND/SEL on the board.
Leave the GND/SP pins open for the tilt switch, I'll be dropping a video tomorrow!
@@retrocultmods 😁👌
@@RetroHellspawn Video is up in the pinned comment!
Look, I know this isn't the focus of the video, but is there a way to make an entire DIY guitar controller on PS2?
You mean a guitar that could be used on a stock PS2? I suppose you could take the internals of an SG and 3D print a guitar to go around it!
Could you do a video on the Xplorer? I've been thinking about buying a kit from you, but you have it stated that additional modifications are required. Would be nice to see what needs to be done visually. Anyway, great video! I've been also thinking about trying to snag a not working xbox 360 les paul online for the right price and install your mod into it.
I'm actually in the process of making some new boards to make the Xplorer mod MUCH easier. Once those are ready, I'll make a video on it!
This is a great guide! Any advice for the wiring of the tapbar on the gh5 controller? The original boards arent particularly clear.
Thanks! This video features an older version of my board that did not support GH5 tapbars. My current board does, so I will be doing a new video soon!
Will you make a tutorial on using the LED ports on the Zero Board soon?
I just purchased your DIY modding kit ZeroBoard Ver.
Yes! I have to finish preparing my LED boards and transparent frets, then I'll be able to work more on the guides!
Super interesting!
Thou I noticed there is no mention of the Xbox 360 when it comes to compatibility, is it possible to make a kit that works with the Xbox or is there some sort of soft/hardware shenanigans getting in the way?
There are indeed some software shenanigans getting in the way of working with unmodded 360s. Modded 360s are currently compatible though!
I just got your kit with the new zero board. Will you be posting an updated tutorial for that board? Thanks!
Yep, just uploaded it now! ruclips.net/video/0aqD36y6cJA/видео.html
For using it on a original Xbox 360 can i only replace the 5 buttons and solder it to the connector?
very helpful thanks.
Hey bro, Does this kit also work for the GH5 guitars? I'm from Brazil and this controllers are pretty hard to find around here, used or not. I found one of them from a guy who sold it cheap because it was defective in the Strum Bar, I'll see if I can use the buttons for some different project and swap the whole GH5 kit with the ones you showed in the video, luckily I have a little experience with soldering. Nice video dude
Hi! Yes it will work with GH5 guitars! I'd definitely recommend checking out the ZeroBoard kit guide I just posted, as that is much easier if you want to take the soldering approach!
ruclips.net/video/0aqD36y6cJA/видео.html
hi, im a bit confused, i was following the tutorial with the kit and im not sure what the three slots by the logo are for. the ones labeled L G R, are those for rgb light?? if it was on the video i totally missed it
Interesting kit! Might have to grab one for my WT controller. Is there specific switches you have to use for the buttons and the strum bar, or do generic cherry switches work? Also, do you have any experience using some of those cheap knockoff Arduino Nano/Mini boards with this?
The switches used in my kit are Kailh Choc reds for the frets, and Kailh Box Navies for the strums, and are included in the kit!
You can technically use any switch you like that are similar, but my PCBs are made with those Kailh switches in mind!
Does this improve the performance of the guitar, like latency, or just the feel of the switches. What advantages do you gain from this other than replacing used components?
After installing this mod (or the Solderless Kit), you will have the lowest latency possible for a plastic guitar controller (1ms). My adapters and Raphnets range from 1.7-1.9ms in terms of latency.
Of course using a Raphnet or my adapter you will still be vulnerable to the aging parts in the guitar breaking, but with this mod you're giving your controller fresh components for a much more extended life!
Tutorial on the Pico-less version when?
Editing now!
Not really necessary to use extra flux for through hole soldering, good quality solder wire should have enough flux in it already. Though it doesn't hurt to add extra, just a bit more mess to clean :)
I'm currently using a Wii controller with a Pi pico and Sanjay900's software, with this mod would I keep my exisitng Pi Pico in the guitar as well, or would I solder my adapter to your pi pico on the strum board?
Hey! If you're looking for new strum or fret switches, I would say to just replace what you currently have with what's in my kit!
You might want to stayed tuned though, I've got something coming out soon that doesn't require a Pico at all!
I didn't see that in the video. After this modification, the dongle becomes unusable and I need to use it via USB cable, correct?
That is correct!
Awesome dude
Thanks!
If I'm doing this to a Wii guitar, would it be possible to just solder the strumboard to the pogo pins and the frets to the receiving plates in the neck to make quick swapping between linear and clicky frets possible?
Yes you could definitely do that! I also have new pogo pin replacement boards coming out soon that allow you to keep the neck detachable with mech frets; keep an eye out!
@@retrocultmods Hey, any update on this? Can't see anything in the shop
So as long as you update to the latest firmware. It works for every console/game? Not just clone hero? Also does the kit come with a pi pico clone? If so I'll just grab one off adafruit. Providing this person wants me to do the conversion for them.
Just ordered one! I was curious though, is it possible to wire the ribbon cable from the frets to the neck plug, then from the strum bar to the other side of the plug to keep the ability to remove the neck?
Thanks for supporting my small shop! :)
Yep, that is possible, I'm actually going to put some replacement female neck connectors up on the shop to make something like that much easier to do! You'd still need to reuse the male connectors on the body!
@@retrocultmods Any update on those connectors in the shop?
My guitar doesnt show up in the guitar configurator. What should I do. my computer reads it but the program doesnt
Did you use regular frets or the shaved down 'mechanical cut' one.
I used stock frets for this mod since it was a Kramer and they are compatible with the mech fretboard!
Question, would my guitar still work on my consoles if I installed this? I have tons of guitars that all went to crap on ps3 and Xbox 360, some of them need the innards completely replaced. Would be great to get those guitars working again so I can finally play my ps3 lol
Currently you'd be able to use it on PC, Mac, Playstation 3/4/5, and modded 360s after completing this mod!
I just wanna ask. does RB4 freboard differ from other RB guitars? because I am using RB1 guitar and I am not sure if this will work, just making sure of it
If I mod my guitar with this kit, can I play whichever guitar game? I want to play the beatles rock band and although I have a rock band guitar, it is more comfortable for me to play with my xplorer guitar, but as you may know they are not compatible. Excellent tutorial. Thank you very much for it.
Yes you can do that! You can actually use a V3 adapter to accomplish that as well if you don't want to mod the guitar!
i bought this kit for my Xplorer but i got a different board then what is in the video and have no idea where to solder my wires, please help.
What are the washers for? Or why can't the screws be screwed in without them?
Oh nevermind I see the screws have no heads 😂
You beat me to it! Yep, those are 3D printed washers that create from what's left of my filament spools!
I provide new screws because I've run into some factory screws in unopened guitars that are already stripped!
@@retrocultmods oh that can be a tedious process probably with having to drill into them and such
Do you have to use longer wires for the start and select buttons? If so, do you have a link to where i might be able to find something similar to the small jumper cable you used?
Sure, these are exact jumper cables in the video (10cm, male to male)
amzn.to/3mWl5PT
However, these aren't ideal if you're buying specifically for soldering, since they're not pre-tinned (I just used them because I had them around).
If you're fine with paying a bit more, you can get much more wire that's actually pre-tinned here:
amzn.to/3Tgs9mG
@@retrocultmods Thank you very much!
@RetroCultMods another question, is there a spot on the main board for the tilt sensor?
@@lord_illusion Yep, I realized I forgot to mention the tilt sensor in the video!
The two pins on the right hand side of the board labelled SP and GND are where you put the tilt sensor. You then tilt the sensor down about 45 degrees so it only activates when held at an angle!
This video guide and your kit are fantastic. Any suggestions for wobble in the frets? I built using a Kramer too
Thank you so much! :)
The quick and dirty solution would be using tape (duct tape if there's a lot of wiggle, masking tape for just a bit)!
Is there a way where i can just get the board? I can get other mech frets and an arduino but the strum board would be great to have on it's own.
Absolutely! I have a listing for just the boards here:
shop.retrocultmods.com/products/universal-strumboard-v1-by-retrocultmods
Hi! Great video! I've recently acquired some Xbox 360 Gibson Guitar Hero guitars. Any chance either of your kits will work for them? Thanks!
Yep they sure will! I actually used a 360 Les Paul for my Solderless RGB Kit guide, check it out:
ruclips.net/video/10iAjurRTts/видео.html
@@retrocultmods thanks! Ordered!
@@kylerschenk520 Thanks for supporting my kit! :)
Hi! I have a Kramer too, but is a WT Ps2 guitar with a separate board for the switches and they are the same like the arcade buttons, can i still install this mod?
Is it possible to connect an Bluetooth module to the pico so it would be wireless? also do i have to do setup process again if i go to another computer?
Is this kit compatible with RB2 guitars? I know there isnt a separate switch PCB assembly for the upper frets, so Im guessing if it did work with that controller youd lose that functionality?
And would it also be able to be seen by a 360 for use in RB3?
None of my boards will work with any RB guitars currently, and you would need a modded 360 for it to work.
how would someone mod their xbox? could you give a link to a video or website?@@retrocultmods
Just wondering if it is okay to hot glue the micro usb into the pico?
What are the L, G, R pinouts used for??
Buttons are really right almost no movement am I missing something ? Only way I can play is if I untighten the guitar neck screws
You may have to sand/trim some of the rear neck support material that might be pushing the switches. Also, if it is a Wii model, you'll need to modify the frets themselves or get 3D printed frets for a proper fit!
where does the usb cable lead to? does it just connect directly into your pc?
Yep, just connects directly to your PC!
I installed everything onto a ps2 guitar correctly all of the buttons work but clone hero is not reading the guitar and it won’t seem to pick it up as a valid controller.
Can you make sure you have CH updated to the latest version? Also can you close Steam if you have it open?
If I do this to a Guitar hero 2 explorer for the 360 can I still use it for my 360 or is it only good for clone hero
If you were to do this mod, your controller would not currently be able to be used on stock 360s.
It would work on PC, Mac, PS3/4/5, and modded 360s, though!
i see all these mods but i mean, do you guys not like having a neck that comes off? just use a simple analog port like a vga port or something idk
People have definitely done that before, but unfortunately it's not something that can be easily added to a DIY kit.
Would it be theoretically possible to reuse the pogo pins that come with the guitar assuming they were cleaned well and soldered fresh? Or would latency likely suffer?
@@djmehs because its analog latency would be near non existent where as the pins can have drops due to the pins maybe not making full contact not only with the pads but also the split in the pins. Plus its more of a solid connection
I have the same guitar and I was wondering if I could keep the parts where the guitar detaches, If I just keep both of those connectors and solder into them would it not work the same way?
You could do that, but if you have a model that uses pins that contact small circular pads on the neck, I would highly suggest not doing so, as that is one of the major flaws of those models. You would definitely want a hardwired neck to avoid dropped inputs!
How do you solder the v2 of the strum board?
Video on that is coming soon, although it is very similar to this one!
Will the kit work for wii world tour guitars?
Sure will!
Do you guys have a discord server that I can join? I have some questions about making my Adapter work with the PS4
I currently do not have a discord, but if you have any questions, send an email to Collin@RetroCultMods.com and I can get you sorted!
And for your specific issue, check out this guide I made here: retrocultmods.com/configuring-the-adapter-for-ps3-ps4-or-ps5/
Do you think this would work on a wii guitar? If so I might be interested in getting one
It should work in a Wii LP with no problem. WT and GH5 guitars should also be fine, but may require extra wires to reach the whammy/start select depending on the model.
And I also saw that Xplorer guitars need a bit of work done to them before this can be used.
@@LOLMAN9538 Yep, the neck supports as well as the frets need to be trimmed down.
The Start/Select/Dpad board also requires some PCB modification, I wouldn't currently recommend modding an Xplorer for beginners!
Would this mod work with any console games by using the usb port like ps3 or is it just limited to Clone hero on PC?
It works with PC, Mac, Linux, PS3/4/5, and modded Xbox 360s!
@@retrocultmods Thanks, im trying to do this to an old rockband guitar but im unsure if it will work. Its got 10 frets, way more wires, and strum bar is different than the one shown in video.
@@LIrvin17 Ah I see, currently my kit does not support Rock Band controllers, but I'm not apposed to adding support in the future!
@@retrocultmods I will be on the lookout or maybe ill find a regular GH guitar soon and get this mod for it
hey, does this work on rock band 4 on ps4/5? and if it does how would I connect it do, I change the settings on the guitar configurator to ps3 or keep it default?
Hi! It will work, I've tested it personally with RB4 on PS4 and PS5! You'd only to to make the following changes in the Configurator:
Under “Controller Output Type” you should see a box that says “XInput”. Change that from “XInput” to “PS3”. Make sure the box below that one still says “Guitar Hero Guitar”, then click “Close”. Then click Write and wait a few seconds; you're done!
@@retrocultmodsi didnt realize these kits could work on Rock Band 4 as well, that makes me even more excited to get one. How would you set it up for use on the Xbox One?
Could you help me with a problem? I bought a custom wii guitar with mech frets from Sweden and it worked perfectly for a few months, then randomly stopped registering notes. I think it’s a problem with the little white wire where the wii controller shape is. Idk how to fix wiring and that stuff so I bought a wii body off of eBay. When I use the custom neck with the body I bought off eBay is has a normal working green button but all the other buttons are wired wrong. None of them register notes if held by themselves but if I’m holding the green button down and I press down red, clone hero thinks I am fretting green+orange. If I fret green+yellow the game thinks I’m fretting green+blue. Is there any way to fix this or is the body just incompatible with the neck?
I'd highly recommend reaching out to the seller you bought it from, as they will have a much better idea of how it is set up internally!
will star power still work?
I dont see where you put the tilt sensor? Can anyone point me to that timestamp? I can't figure out where it goes
Check the pinned comment!
has anyone tried using this on a third party wii guitar? its all i have at the moment and im wondering if it can work
Does this work with drums as well? I have the Wii drums for GH5/Band Hero, but no Wii controller
I have not personally tested with that controller, but it should work!
Now that I've tested, I had an issue with the drums. The kick was either not recognized at all or assigned to a different function, and the right hat gets registered as the kick. I tried to remap in the Guitar Configurator, but it refused the changes
This mod is to turn a wireless ps3 guitar to a wired guitar?
What exactly does the kit do?
Hi! The kit is used to replace the stock strumboard with a new one so you can program it to be used on PC, Mac, Linux, PS3/4/5, and modded 360s! It also comes with a replacement for the stock fretboard so you can upgrade to mechanical frets!
im having a problem im not sure what it is but when i go to program the green button its conflicting with the red button as well says pin conlfict any idea how to fix
That means that somewhere along the line the green and red frets are bridged, I would check to see if you have excess wire making contact where you soldered the fret wires to the board!
On this board is there a way to map to the d-pad and the tap pad on a ghwt controller
If you can trace the wires for the dpad, you will be able to connect them to the corresponding dpad pins on the top of the strumboard. As for the tapbar, only the GH5 model is compatible.
Does it still rake with the DIY kit?
You can definitely rake with the kit; the strumbar will be a 1/1 after modding!
@@retrocultmods I meant like a 2/2 rake
Would you have this device for rock band drums?
It would not unfortunately.
Does this kit/software allow you to convert a guitar to play on PS3 or is this only for clone hero
All consoles
is this the same for a wii les paul
Yes the process is similar! Although please note that the Wii Les Pauls need their stock frets sanded down, or you'd need to buy a set of 3D printed frets for a correct fit. Message me on Etsy for more info!
@@retrocultmods do you sell the fret buttons for the wii les paul on etsy? if you do i would be more than happy to buy
Will the USB replace the Wiimote connector in a wii les paul?
Yep, the Wiimote connector will be removed and you will use the USB cable to connect to your PC!
Hello. Is it possible to convert a Rock Band 4 Guitar?
Currently none of my kits will work with any Rock Band guitars.
Anyone know if this will fix the latency issue noticed with ps3 les Paul guitars? Also what’s the deal with the dongle? Will my modded guitar no longer work with my dongle or my old GH3 game on ps3?
This mod entirely replaces the internals of the guitar, so it will no longer work with your dongle.
That said, you can program it in the software to be used with PS3, so you can use it for GH3!
Since it is a directly wired guitar, it will have an improved latency over the wireless dongle!
Are we able to keep the tilt functionality by moving the tilt sensor over?
From the original PCB? It depends, it needs to be a digital sensor that can fit in the through holes on my Strumboard!
Personally, I would just stick with the tilt sensor included in my kit (I forgot to add that part to the video hah)!
@@retrocultmods thanks. I didnt see it used in the video which is y i asked. I found out afterwards because i ordered a kit for my xplorer (name on order - erick-) i ordered the usb cable too but im hoping the arduino has provisions to solder the 4 wires from the factory cable too as i want to keep the stock cable for the breakaway and the strain relief.
are there any major differences for a warriors of rock controller?
Yep, the Warriors of Rock guitar and Guitar Hero Live guitars are the only official models not compatible with any of my kits due to significant differences in design from the other models.
@@retrocultmods that’s annoying since they’re the only guitars i have 😭 is it possible? or would i massively struggle with it
nvm, i have just looked at the internals and decided to buy a les paul... shame because i wanted to keep playing the guitar i played the most when i was younger :(
is this compatible with a wii WoR controller? if not, is that something that will be developed? i ended up breaking mine :(
Currently it is not compatible due to the very compact nature of that model. Eventually I'd like to get something together for WoR guitars, but there are other projects I want to finish up first!
@@retrocultmods yeahi figured the compact internals would make it trickier to design something. Anyway, ordered an rgb kit for my ps3 sunburst and super hyped for it :)
Does this mod work wired on the ps3?
wait . for what I can mod my controller?
Could you clarify a bit? Sorry, just not exactly sure what the question is!
Does this work on a ps2 guitar hero guitar?
The Kramer? It sure does!
whats the point in doing this? cant you just connect your guitar to your pc via cable/wireless dongle
You can, but people often run into issues with connections dropping and latency. This essentially "guts" the guitar and replaces it with a stable wired connection that has the fastest polling rate possible, which results in much better latency.
Also this switches out the old silicone frets for mechanical frets!
The guitar will be wireless?
Nope it will be converted to a wired USB guitar!
can this work for any guitar hero controller?
Any official Guitar Hero controller besides the Warriors of Rock guitars can be used!
Does this work for the Wii guitars?
Hi! Yes it only works for official Wiitars and the "Buddies" brand 3rd party Wiitar on Amazon. There are mixed reviews for the longevity of that one, so I would still go with an official model!
@@retrocultmods could make the neck of the guitar detachable so i can still use it on the wii
@@johnsalinas8481 Sorry, I thought this comment was under my Wii Adapter short... The kit will work with official Wii models (have not tested it on any 3rd party Wiitar). The only thing to be aware of is the Wii models will need decent fret modification (sanding) for a proper fit with the mechanical fretboard. Alternatively, you can grab some 3D printed frets from Etsy that will fit much better with the kit!
Is there anyone doing this as a service. I really want this done but I completely suck at soldering 😫
Yep there's lots of people that do mods!
Although I would keep your eyes peeled, I'm working on a conversion modding kit that requires no soldering at all!
this dude said eCKcetera lmao
You suck at clone hero... Just kidding, thanks for the video. Very helpful😁
Luckily I only need to be good at making the hardware!
Possibly stupid question: Will this work with the 360 console?
I have a question. If I do this on a wii guitar will I still be able to use it with my wii?
when I get one I plan on putting it in a Wii world tour guitar
would this work on the ps2 sg?
Yep, you can use this kit to mod the SG!