The RedOctane X-Plorer guitar controller. For many, especially fans of rhythm games like Guitar Hero and Band Hero, it’s more than just a piece of plastic – it’s a gateway to unleashing your inner rock legend. This iconic controller, known for its reliability and feel, provided countless hours of fret-shredding fun on titles like Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and the metal-infused Guitar Hero: Metallica. So, stumbling upon a broken X-Plorer for a mere $5 at a charity shop felt like discovering buried treasure!
However, this diamond in the rough wasn’t without its flaws. My bargain bin find presented a classic trifecta of wear and tear:
- A busted whammy bar, rendered lifeless.
- A USB cable severed, cutting off its lifeline.
- A surface coated in grime and adorned with questionable stickers – the battle scars of a rock warrior.
But fear not, fellow guitarists! A broken controller doesn’t mean the encore is over. This guide will walk you through the process of breathing new life into a battered RedOctane X-Plorer. We’ll tackle each issue head-on, from whammy bar woes to cable conundrums, and even give it a good cleaning to restore its former glory. Get ready to plug in, tune up, and get back to rocking!
X-Plorer Guitar Controller Disassembly: Getting Started
Before we dive into the repairs, we need to open up our axe. Disassembling the RedOctane X-Plorer is surprisingly straightforward. While we won’t detail every single screw turn here, a fantastic resource is available at iFixit. Their RedOctane X-Plorer teardown guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step walkthrough. Essentially, you’ll be removing the Philips head screws located on the back of the controller’s body. Once those are out, you’ll gain access to the inner workings, revealing the components we need to address.
Whammy Bar Resurrection: Fixing the Vibrato
The whammy bar, essential for those dive bombs and vibrato-laden solos, had seen better days on this controller. The mechanism itself is relatively simple – a mechanical lever connected to a potentiometer, all kept springy with some suspension. In this case, a small plastic tab within the mechanism had snapped. This seemingly minor break caused frustrating glitches, making the whammy erratic and unreliable when moved.
My repair approach was admittedly a bit rough-and-ready, but highly effective. I repurposed a piece of scrap plastic leftover from a 3D printing project, cutting it to a size suitable for replacing the broken tab. Simply gluing it wouldn’t suffice due to the pressure exerted on this part. For a robust fix, I opted for chemical metal (sometimes called chemical welding). This adhesive is known for its rapid drying time and exceptional strength – I’ve even used it to repair laptop hinges with great success. As you can see in the following images, the chemical metal allowed me to effectively recreate the crucial plastic tab.
USB Cable Revival: Restoring the Connection
One of the smart design choices of Xbox 360 controllers, including the X-Plorer, is the use of a standard USB cable. This is a lifesaver when cables get damaged, as replacements are readily available and inexpensive. As illustrated below, the internal USB cable wires are conveniently color-coded: white, black, red, and green. For this repair, I opted for a straightforward solution – cutting the damaged cable and soldering in a spare USB cable.
To streamline the process, I used electrical tape instead of heat shrink tubing to insulate the solder joints – a slightly less elegant but perfectly functional shortcut. To secure the cable within the X-Plorer housing, I reused the original cable clamp from the Xbox 360 cable. Finally, I added a strain relief to further protect the cable at the point where it enters the controller. A dab of super glue fixed the USB cable firmly within the strain relief, which is then held securely by the controller housing itself.
Cleaning and Restoration: A Fresh Start for Rocking
Lastly, no restoration is complete without a good cleaning! My standard cleaning procedure for electronics involves a few key steps:
- Washing with soap and water to remove surface grime.
- Cleaning with isopropyl alcohol to disinfect and further degrease.
- Applying baking soda paste to tackle any stubborn residue or stains.
With the repairs complete and the controller thoroughly cleaned, the RedOctane X-Plorer is resurrected and ready to shred once more! This budget-friendly fix proves that even a heavily used and abused guitar controller can be brought back to life with a little DIY effort. Now, it’s time to plug in, crank up the amp, and unleash some rock and roll!
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