Guitar Hero X-Plorer Wired Guitar Controller (Xbox 360)

Product Information

Nonetheless, the Guitar Hero X-Plorer Controller is often favored its buttons and for being a wired guitar controller with no input latency and an easy plug-and-play access to Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X computers with USB ports. This was a little frustrating to discover because it means this mod won’t just be a plug and play swap, but that’s nothing we can’t work around. Some users have reported durability issues with the Xplorer Guitar, particularly concerning the buttons and strum bar. It would be just as well to add a captive nut or threaded insert to the standoff itself, but the standoff makes assembly a tad bit easier since it can be added or changed without removing the PCB from the guitar body.

If you’re really unlucky it’ll break the mounting points on the inside, at which point you would need to get a new shell or go back to the original USB cable. After spreading the paste and placing the components with some serious tweezer skills, I reflowed the board using my trusty toaster oven and Reflow Master controller.We take intellectual property concerns very seriously, but many of these problems can be resolved directly by the parties involved. If you want to permanently fix overstruming and know how to solder, check out these replacement switches.

This controller was the last wired controller manufactured for the Guitar Hero franchise, and the only one with a direct USB connection, assuming you have the breakaway cable. If you choose to get the LED option, the guitar will come with clear frets/strum bar for the LEDs to easily shine through.

If you, like me, answered “2 mm” without thinking it through then you may also need to redesign your circuit board.

In the middle of the board, just behind the two mounting points, I added a threaded standoff which is at the same height as the USB port.To finish it off I created a few snazzy graphics to give the board some polish, including some “ROCK ON!

Although as the port is unused it would be just as well to screw it back in place without re-soldering the connection.The controller boasts a shape reminiscent of the iconic Gibson Explorer guitar, giving it an authentic vibe that players love. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie to music-based games, I hope you have a good grasp of the Xplorer Guitar’s features and whether it’s for you after reading this post. It’s the perfect target for replacement as the port is unused, has a pre-made cutout in the guitar body, and already includes molded mounting points. All of the work in handling electrostatic discharge (ESD) should already be taken care of on the main PCB, so this little board just needs to convert the downstream USB-A port into a USB-C port. After a little sanding it fits flush with the outside of the guitar, almost like it was meant to be there in the first place.