Guitar Hero Killswitch Mod - Awesome for Jordan by Buckethead!

Intro: Guitar Hero Killswitch Mod - Awesome for Jordan by Buckethead!

I think Buckethead is an AMAZING guitar player, and since they have Jordan in GH2, I decided to make a Killswitch.

First of all, A killswitch on a regular guitar cuts out the pickups on the guitar. Doing that causes a cool effect as heard in Jordan. Since the GH2 remotes are plastic, and don't have pick ups... The killswitch does the exact opposite. It acts as if you were strumming, but instead you are pushing a button. It may make it easier, but it still looks cooler.

This is purely for fun, and really has no point to it except to look cool.

Disclaimer: Try at your own risk, I am not responsible if you screw things up and break your remote.

This is my first Instructable, so please critic anything that is wrong...
P.S. Thanks to Weissensteinburg, I got the boxy things to work.

STEP 1: What You Need...

I thought this Guitar Hero Mod was Really easy, and It only took me 30 minutes, but you will still need a few things.

-Guitar Hero Remote
-2 pieces of Wire (about 6 inches of each)
-Drill
-Drill bit that is the same size as the button
-Soldering Iron
-Soldering Wire
-Electric Tape
-Scissors
-Wire Stripper or teeth

STEP 2: Opening It Up.

There are 11 screws (may vary with guitar) on the Back of the controller.
You do not need to take any of the screws out that are on the neck of the guitar, only the ones that are on the body.

If you look at the 2nd picture that is attached, That is what the inside looks like. As you can see, It is a very simple circuit board and a few switches... Yet they still charge $70 for it...

STEP 3: Looking at the Circuit Board and Wiring It.

In the middle of the main circuit board, There are 4 solders. (marked in blue)
You can use either the left, or the right... It doesn't really matter, except that the left on will act as you picking up on the strum bar, and the right will act as you pushing down on the strum bar.

So pick any side that you desire, and solder 1 wire to each solder point on the board.

My solders are very messy, but the important thing is-
1. Make sure there is enough Soldering Wire melted onto the wires to keep them in place.
2. Make sure you don't drop ANY chunk of hot solder onto the surrounding board.
3. Make sure the solders don't touch each other or any else.

After you are done soldering the wire, take some electric tape and tape the wires to the inside of the body, so they don't pull out.

Once you have soldered 1 wire to each connection and taping it, you may move onto the next step.

STEP 4: The Button!

I found this button laying in my toolbox, but I think I picked it up at radio shack, either for $.15 or like 5 for $1... Not really sure about the price.

What is important is that it is just a normal button.
It shouldn't be a switch, or make a clicky sound when you push it (which means it stays on).
This is one of those buttons that if you hooked it up to a lightbulb-
When you push it in- Light turns on.
When you left go- Light turns off.

Make sure it has a screw top, and a nut and washer, so you can mount it onto the guitar.

Very simple. You can literally have ANY sized button that you would like, as long as it doesn't click in and out.

STEP 5: Drilling the Hole & Wiring the Button.

One thing that you must remember is to ALWAYS measure, before you cut/drill.
It's better that a hole is too small, rather than too big.

Start with a bit a little smaller than the size of the button, and drill a hole from the outside- into the body. (so it makes a clean hole)

Test to see if it fits, if it's way off, switch to the next bit higher.
If it is really close, or fits but it a little to tight. Keep the same bit, but try turning the drill onto the sides of the hole to open it up just a hair.

You can choose where you want the button to be. I thought right about the start button was a good choice because it is easily to get to. The only problem is, if you switch from strumming to hitting the button, you may hit the start button. It's not a big deal, and you get used to it.

After you put the button threw the hole, Screw it in, and make sure it tight. Don't make it too tight that it cracks the plastic, but you don't want it loose so it spins and breaks off the wires.

Feed the wires into the eye holes. (it's doesn't matter which wire goes to with eye hole, it does the same thing)

Solder the wires to the eye holes, so they don't move.

STEP 6: Tape It, and Close.

You want to tape over the solders that you made, so-
A: There is less of a chance that they fall off and
B: They don't come in contact with each other or any other metal and short out the controller.

Make sure the guitar strap pegs are in the right holes, and the wire guard is in the right hole, and close it up. Make sure it fits snuggly, and place all 11 screws back in the holes.

Tighten each screw so it is snug, but not ready to crack the plastic.

STEP 7: Finished Product & Testing.

Well, Here it is.
I attached a video on my playing the Jordan Solo F on hard with 100%.

Thanks & Enjoy,
Kevin Saw

Comments

[psychofish25]

Great instructable, I did this today because after I got my haircut I stopped into radio shack and bought a few switches. Anyway, I also read that if u solder a wire from the select button wire to the circuit board (shown above) it'll come out the same way. I heard this is how people have been makign kill switches. Anyway, I think the extra button looks great (if you install it right). 45 minutes well spent I should say. Thanks.

[GorillazMiko]

Yeah, if you do that then when you strum (up or down, depends which one you soldered it to), it will activate star power... Since the select button is connected to up or down strum, when you have star power, and you press it, it will activate star power... so this instructable is very helpful.

[psychofish25]

Good point, I was also thinking of taking my other GH2 and soldering wires so that each fret button acts as a strum bar, this would eliminate they need to any kind of strumming all together, do you guys think this douns like a good idea?

[Azor]

Do the rock band idea and add 5 more buttons, and wire the new buttons to it so u can strum on the normal one, and tap on the new ones

[Fudgey13]

there is a guy on youtube who made a made somewhat like that. but he didn't make a tutorial. what he he did was he managed to wire in two switches which you see on the out side of the guitar, and he flips them both, and it lets him just tap the normal buttons with no strumming on the regular notes, and of course the hammer-ons. it was pretty cool.

[musick_08]

I'm thinking about doing that if i can get like 2 more controllers for cheap. It's pretty easy to do

[GorillazMiko]

What do you mean? You'll have 10 buttons on the fret board? If yes, that would be cool haha.

[psychofish25]

No i mean like u could just push the button nd that would both press the button nd pick at the same time, eliminaing the need to pick at all, i thot itd be a good idea

[GorillazMiko]

Yeah... this is basically what the instructable is about, except if you solder the select button to the strum button then it is kind of the same thing.

[KevinSaw]

no... that defeats the purpose of the game.... the concept of lining up the strums and buttons is what makes it fun. Also, you would look like a noob and would be able to pull off some pimpin' pull-offs and hammer ons

[psychofish25]

Yeah i dnt mean to actually play with it competitively, just for fun

[KevinSaw]

lol, i guess... what ever floats you boat. Also i am in the process of designing a min guitar hero remote. should be pretty cool :D

[PieMaster777]

Ikr does it even do anything?
I have one on my actual guitar and its an awesome effect, but i don't understand its point on a guitar hero controller.
What does it do?

[Glockenator]

it tops the singal from going to the amp so when its pressed you dont hear anything

[PieMaster777]

Whats the point of it on guitar hero?

[Trogdayton]

Heh, very nice man. I wish I could mod it to make me play better... I play expert, but routinely lose to my roommate. :)

Thanks, great instructable!

[345138]

im scared ill break it

[toogers]

than don't do it.

[Spense09]

whats a killswitch?

[toogers]

it kills the power, so it turns the guitar off. it's an on/off switch.