The RedOctane X-Plorer guitar controller is a legend in the Guitar Hero community. Renowned for its responsiveness and solid build, it’s a favorite for players of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Guitar Hero: Metallica, and beyond. Finding a broken X-Plorer at a thrift store for a few dollars was like discovering buried treasure. This particular find had seen better days, suffering from a broken whammy bar, a severed USB cable, and a layer of grime and stickers. But for a DIY enthusiast, these weren’t deal-breakers – they were challenges.
Image of a dirty and sticker-covered RedOctane X-Plorer guitar controller, highlighting its worn condition before repair.
Close-up image showcasing the broken whammy bar and the cut USB cable of the damaged Guitar Hero X-Plorer controller.
This guide details the process of bringing this Guitar Hero X-Plorer back to life. If you’ve got a dusty, broken X-Plorer stashed away, or you’ve stumbled upon one in need of some TLC, this repair walkthrough is for you. Let’s get ready to rock!
X-Plorer Guitar Controller Disassembly
Opening up the RedOctane X-Plorer is a straightforward process. While a detailed step-by-step teardown isn’t covered here, iFixit provides an excellent guide specifically for the RedOctane X-Plorer disassembly. Essentially, you’ll be removing the Phillips head screws located on the back of the guitar’s body. Once these are removed, the casing can be carefully separated to access the internal components.
Image illustrating the disassembled RedOctane X-Plorer guitar controller, revealing its internal components after opening the casing.
Whammy Bar Fix
The whammy bar on this particular Guitar Hero X-Plorer had clearly endured some aggressive gameplay. The mechanism is relatively simple, relying on a plastic arm connected to a potentiometer and spring for resistance and return. The issue was a fractured plastic tab, causing erratic readings and a loose feel when the whammy was used.
A robust repair was needed, going beyond simple glue. Chemical metal, sometimes known as chemical welding, was the chosen solution. This two-part epoxy creates a strong, permanent bond, ideal for stress-bearing repairs. A piece of scrap plastic from a 3D printing project was shaped to replace the broken tab. The chemical metal was then used to securely attach this new piece, effectively recreating the necessary support for the whammy mechanism.
Image showing the initial stage of the whammy bar repair, focusing on the broken plastic tab and the tools used.
Image depicting the process of shaping the replacement plastic piece for the broken whammy bar tab using hand tools.
Image illustrating the application of chemical metal adhesive to the replacement plastic tab for a strong and durable bond.
Image showcasing the successfully repaired whammy bar mechanism with the new plastic tab securely fixed in place using chemical metal.
USB Cable Replacement Guide
One advantage of Xbox 360 controllers, including the Guitar Hero X-Plorer, is their use of standard USB cables. This makes cable replacement a breeze. Inside the X-Plorer, the USB cable wires are color-coded: white, black, red, and green.
For this repair, the damaged cable was cut, and a spare USB cable was prepped for soldering. The wires were matched by color and soldered together. While heat shrink tubing would be ideal for insulation, electrical tape was used as a quicker solution in this instance. To ensure the cable remained secure within the controller housing and to prevent future strain, the original cable clamp was reused. A strain relief component was also added to further protect the connection point. Super glue was applied to fix the USB cable within the strain relief, which is then held firmly in place when the controller housing is reassembled.
Image displaying the color-coded wires of the USB cable inside the RedOctane X-Plorer, ready for soldering.
Image showing the soldered USB cable connection, insulated with electrical tape as a quick and effective solution.
Image illustrating the added cable protector and strain relief to the repaired USB cable, ensuring durability and preventing future damage.
Cleaning and Final Touches
With the hardware repairs complete, the final step was cleaning. The Guitar Hero X-Plorer was thoroughly cleaned using a combination of:
- Soap and water for general grime removal.
- Isopropyl alcohol for disinfecting and removing stubborn residues.
- Baking soda paste for tackling any remaining sticky spots.
Image depicting the cleaning process of the RedOctane X-Plorer guitar controller using soap, water, and cleaning tools.
After cleaning and reassembly, the RedOctane X-Plorer was ready to shred once again! This DIY repair demonstrates that even heavily used and broken Guitar Hero controllers can be brought back to their former glory with some basic tools and know-how. So, before you consider discarding a faulty X-Plorer, remember that with a little effort, you can revive this iconic piece of gaming history and get back to rocking out.
Final image of the fully repaired and cleaned RedOctane X-Plorer guitar controller, ready for use and showcasing the successful restoration.
