Guitar Hero Hacks: Star Power Pedal!

Don't let anything stand in your way of monster scores. Shred with ease with this simple and hella sweet looking Guitar Hero Hack.

It all starts with an audio extension cable from your local electronics store. It's really simple to wire this up to your controller, and then to a pedal. I used a trucker's horn, bought at Kragen, as the pedal.

For this you're gonna need:

• A pedal. Any kind of SPST switch will do. Make sure it'll stand up to repeated stomping. Consider this instructable: { http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Rat-Clone-Distortion-Guitar-Effect-Pedal---The/?ALLSTEPS }
• Soldering iron (remember to be safe)
• Small screwdriver
• Round file
• 4-8ft audio extension cable with m/f jacks
• A piece of the true cross, or alternatively the true microphone of Rick Astley
• Hot glue
• Scissors

Step 1 Cut up your cable

No, I'm not talking about running your barge's anchor through the deep sea data lines, strangling a large portion of Europe's internet access, I'm talking about dismantling your audio cable in preparation for its mystical journey to the heart of nerds, rocking out in their basements.

Use your scissors to cut the housing off the female end of the cable. If your heart starts to flutter at the prospect of undressing this female, you seriously need to get out more, maybe get a haircut and start dressing in trendier clothes... seriously, it'll do you good. Anyway, cut this end off with about six inches of cable to spare. Strip the wires on the end and roll them together. Gather up all the insulation wires as well. Tin these two wires in preparation for the circuit board. Do the same for the other end of the wire.

Comments

[AlmightyFduffle]

chord? was that pun intended?

[Parkerlife]

do you use a mono or stereo extension cable??

[X#01]

is there a way to make it work for the drums

[X#01]

is there any way for it to work for the drums

[brettandconnor]

where did u get that ?

[cdousley]

the switch is a "large surface mount pushhbutton switch" from allelectronics.com

[rollingstoner357]

can someone elaborate for me how to make a petal to activate starpower

[Azor]

if u use a normal 3.5 audio jack and use the rock band bass pedal, I think it would work. I think.

[supanerd01]

I'm not sure, but I do know that the Guitar Hero World Tour pedal doesn't work, because it's a pressure sensor as opposed to a switch.

[Azor]

i think (i could be wrong) that the rock band pedal is a magnet activated momentary contact switch. Again, I could be wrong....

[Rick Z]

This Mod worked perfectly on my guitars I set this up on my fender guitar for guitar hero world tour and on My peak all wood guitar and the star power is now on a foot switch which makes things a lot easier and more realistic I do have a question guys I also have rockband 2 and am wondering if you could add this same mod on the 5 position rotary switch and a 2nd pedal to select effects if this is possible It would be awesome to build a pedal board and make things really fun

[Mercenary Wubby]

Hi I was wondering if anyone knew the size of the male and female cables he used? Were they 3.5mm jacks and cables like ipod jack size? Or were they 6.35 like guitar jack size? Thanks!

[ultrauber]

It looked 1/4 inch (guitar).

[alucard820]

I have a question do you do the same thing for the Guitar Hero 3 Les Pual controller?

[mikeisawesome]

THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have Rock Band. I want to know if this works on rock band. Thx. :-)

[neesh0]

there is another instructable for the rockband controller, just search rockband

[hallufias]

how the hell am I gonna get this thing

[bofthem]

"I used a trucker's horn, bought at Kragen, as the pedal." Like... second paragraph of the instructable, dude.

[cleanmonk]

radioshack. they have button like this at there store

[sonic_dan]

just made a new guitar hero instructable :)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Guitar-Hero-Fret-Buttons-Mod/

[rollingstoner357]

mine has only 3 instead of 5 conections

[MadMechanicMike]

im pretty sure internet...is serious business.

[super_genius]

haha so you finally got it.. sweet. and i doubted you..

[GorillazMiko]

What kind of camera do you use? These are some of the best pictures in an Instructable I have ever seen.

[snipegoat]

so just a question, what does it do

[bofthem]

It activates star power in the game Guitar Hero. Usually, on the normal controller, you have to press the select button or lift the guitar to activate the bonus, but I found this a lot easier.

[GorillazMiko]

Awesome! I am pretty sure I have all the pieces, better get to work on doing this! +1 rating. (added to favorites)

[Firebert010]

Excellent Instructible. This is very easy to follow, and I loved the occasional humor bits thrown in. Keep up the goos work, +1.

[stranoster]

About time :) This is great! I hate that stupid star power... *Rants to himself quietly*... Ok time to go now... Great instructable and it even includes some humour.