If you’re a Guitar Hero enthusiast trying to get your axe working on a PlayStation 2, you might have encountered a frustrating roadblock, especially when diving into Guitar Hero 2 (GH2). You might be scratching your head wondering why your standard PS2 guitar controller isn’t being recognized by GH2, while it works just fine with the original Guitar Hero (GH1). The solution, surprisingly, lies in the past – specifically, with a PlayStation 1 (PS1) controller.
The PS2 Guitar Hero Compatibility Conundrum
For some inexplicable reason, Guitar Hero 2 on PS2 demands a digital controller with analog stick input to register correctly as a guitar. While the standard PS2 DualShock 2 controller is indeed analog, GH2 is picky and simply won’t recognize it as a compatible guitar controller. This peculiarity doesn’t extend to the first Guitar Hero game, where a PS2 pad works perfectly well for crafting a DIY guitar. However, for GH2 and subsequent versions up to “Rocks the 80s” (which behaves similarly to GH2 in this regard), a PS1 controller becomes essential for a successful DIY guitar build.
Harnessing the PS1 Pad: Wiring Your Guitar Hero PS2 Controller Alternative
To get your DIY guitar working with Guitar Hero 2, you’ll need to rewire a PS1 controller. Here’s a step-by-step guide outlining the necessary solder points. This guide assumes you are comfortable with basic soldering and electronics.
Wiring Guide: PS1 Controller to Guitar Hero Buttons
Here’s a breakdown of which points on the PS1 controller PCB (Printed Circuit Board) correspond to the essential Guitar Hero functions:
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Left D-pad (Directional Pad) – Guitar Controller Identifier: Solder this point as if it’s permanently pressed down. This crucial step signals to the PS2 system that you are using a guitar controller, not a standard gamepad. In-game, pressing this emulated “down” direction might open the tutorial menu, confirming its function.
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GND (Ground) – Common Ground: This is your ground connection, needed for all the switches and buttons you’ll be wiring. Fortunately, PS1 controller boards usually have multiple GND outlets, making it convenient to distribute ground connections.
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Up D-pad – Strum Up: Connect this point to your strum bar’s “strum up” switch.
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L2 Button – Motion Sensor (Star Power): The L2 button connection provides two outlets for wiring a motion sensor. This will activate star power when you tilt your guitar.
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Down D-pad – Strum Down: Connect this to your strum bar’s “strum down” switch.
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Select Button – Star Power Activation: Beyond star power activation via tilt, the Select button can serve as an alternative star power trigger if desired.
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Start Button – Pause/In-Game Menu: Essential for pausing the game and accessing the in-game menu.
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Square Button – Orange Fret Button: This corresponds to the orange fret button. Be cautious when soldering as some PS1 controller boards might lack an extra solder pad for this button.
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R2 Button – Green Fret Button: Connect this to your green fret button.
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Cross Button (X) – Blue Fret Button: This is for the blue fret button.
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Circle Button – Red Fret Button: Connect to the red fret button.
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Triangle Button – Yellow Fret Button: This corresponds to the yellow fret button.
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Y-axis of the Left Analog Stick – Whammy Bar: This analog input is used for the whammy bar. Connect it as a trimmer potentiometer between GND and VCC (Voltage Common Collector).
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VCC (Voltage Common Collector) – Power Source: This point provides the voltage needed for the whammy bar trimmer and other components. It’s typically easy to locate on the PS1 controller board.
Recommendation: Remove Rumble Motors
As a practical tip, consider removing the rumble motors from the PS1 controller. They serve no function in Guitar Hero and only add unnecessary weight and potential vibration interference.
By carefully following these wiring instructions and utilizing a PS1 controller, you can overcome the PS2 controller incompatibility issue with Guitar Hero 2 and enjoy rocking out on your DIY guitar. Remember to double-check your connections and ensure clean soldering for a reliable and responsive Guitar Hero experience.
