The ULTIMATE DIY Clone Hero Controller

Hi guys, thanks for watching!
In this video I'm finishing off an old project I started a few years ago and never completed.
Link to the Github Project:
github.com/dmc...
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[@Grovel88]

Hell yeah! Awesome work. The mechanical frets look super satisfying.

[@cncdan]

They sure are!

[@overtonesnteatime198]

this is so cool man , The kind of thing we teens used to think about but didnt take the chance on. respect for building a nostalgic feeling and useful piece of art. cheers

[@cncdan]

I actually built one as a teen, using parts of an old membrane keyboard, a ps2 controller and a lot of cardboard. Wish I'd kept it or at least had photos of it so I could show it in the video 🤣 it was pretty awful but it got the job done, I've never actually owned a genuine guitar hero controller lol

[@TheDLCIncluded]

Looking forward to the files - just getting back into clone hero and this would be awesome

[@cncdan]

Files are up! github.com/dmcke5/DIYCloneHeroController

[@soloccidit]

This is awesome! One of my closest friends really loves guitar hero/clone hero and for months i have been thinking if ways to make a custom guitar for him, and i got like 3/4 of the way there. The whammy bar and the code really stopped me in my tracks (mostly because I'm pretty much a novice with this stuff.) Now with this, i can finally finish up the project.

[@cncdan]

Glad you like it! I've had a pretty busy couple of weeks so I haven't had a chance to get the files up yet but rest assured, I still intend to so hopefully a few people will end up making one even though the video wasn't that popular!

[@Equ1no0x]

Incredible stuff Dan! I've been thinking of building a guitar myself from scratch for a long time as well, and I'm glad I found your channel! Looking forward to more stuff!

[@cncdan]

Thanks! I still haven't had a chance to get files uploaded for this one yet but its on my to-do list!

[@Equ1no0x]

@@cncdan No need to worry! I currently have another mod in my to-do list as well, so there is no rush!

[@fbyoutube3656]

really cool, might have to try it out

[@cncdan]

Files will be up in the next week or two once I have everything neatened up and uploaded

[@efrainfierro3820]

This looks amazing and gives me motivation to design my own guitar based on the actual flying v guitar I have here. Also to make your guitar the best it can be I recommend checking out Sanjay guitar configurator so it's really easy to program (you don't need to write code) and it'll allow the frets to only light up when it's pressed and to whatever color!

[@cncdan]

I haven't heard of that one, but I can definitely take a look. The code is no issue for me though, I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the lights at the time of the video so I just used them to light up the fret buttons the correct colours for the time being lol

[@PragmaticMC]

this looks great, will have to check back later once you upload the pcb design since I'm currently in the process of making my own guitar

[@cncdan]

Files are up! github.com/dmcke5/DIYCloneHeroController

[@shaunandrews6313]

How do you not have more followers? this channel is amazing. I want to try this.

[@cncdan]

Thanks! Followers just take time, I've really only been doing this for a little over 6 months. Excited to see how the channel is growing though!

[@recka5000]

Thanks for the video Dan! Keen to see these files when they're up on Github. I have a printed guitar but it lacks whammy functionality so hoping to see if I can adapt that over (or just print another guitar if not!)

[@cncdan]

Files are up! github.com/dmcke5/DIYCloneHeroController

[@tonychin1264]

subscribed based on this video alone. great project cant wait to see the files

[@cncdan]

Finally got the files up! github.com/dmcke5/DIYCloneHeroController

[@ZVIXVY]

This is awesome man, great job!

[@islamicllamas8142]

Not exactly a fan of how small the GH3 controllers are, would def try this!!

[@cncdan]

This is about the same size, but nothing to stop you using parts of it and scaling it up!

[@Cpt_Paisa]

what a legend, this project is so sick!

[@HappyWheelFan2013]

Gonna be taking the guts from an original SG PS2 controller and maybe adding a usb mode with a R-Pi or something so I can use it on my PC too, and putting them all in my old squire telecaster I did a low-budget build on forever ago. Wish me luck. Removing the fingerboard on a lacquered neck to remove the truss rod has always been really challenging for me. Hopefully I can save the beautiful "tree of life" inlayed fingerboard and dont need to cut a new one. Everything else should be pretty easy nothing more than extending wires and soldering. Adding extra routing under the pickguard shouldnt need to be too precise either so long as it is covered by the pick guard. Your video helped me a bit with neck routing. Thanks. I have very little but some luthier experience

[@cncdan]

Sorry, only just catching up on comments now! Sounds like a fun project! I considered using an actual guitar body too (in fact a had a cheap kids guitar here for years for this exact purpose) but at some point I must've thrown it out so I built my own instead!

[@bembelknecht]

Pretty cool... now I have to look into clone hero.

[@cncdan]

It's worth it! Basically guitar hero but with custom songs!

[@iwizsp]

I'm so glad you decided to finish this project and upload it, I want to build my own now. Are these PCBs your own design? Would be cool to purchase one!

[@cncdan]

Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, the PCB design is my own. I'm planning to release all the files, I've just had a very busy month so I haven't had time yet. I've got some time off over the Christmas break so I should be able to catch up on finishing off the files for a few of these projects!

[@iwizsp]

I'm excited!!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world. @@cncdan

[@RuTnVI]

This is so awesome, bro! What about making a DIY drumset for Clone Hero? I mean, there are some info in the internet but no as advanced as you do here.

[@cncdan]

I'd never considered other types of controllers. I'll give it some thought!

[@UrGe0202]

Hey dan, just watched this video and was super interested, is there by chance a sketch or something similar on the wooden one you made? Would love to make one of wood myself 😁

[@mawstream]

Hello, i ordered a 3D print copy from your files, i dont know much about 3D print, but the printer guy said that the supports is missing and was a pain doing it, and the plate which covers the electronics on the body is missing too.

[@cncdan]

With the exception of the fret buttons (which really need to be resin printed) he shouldn't really need many supports at all except for maybe a few in the strum bar area. I did a test print of the entire job before uploading it to make sure it all works properly so I'm not sure what why he complained about adding supports. The end plate is definitely there too, I just double checked the files to confirm

[@RowomanVR]

Hey Dan!Super awesome build, could I get the link to the potentiometer and Whammy bar you used?

[@Timmo821]

so are you making the electronics in a kit that I can buy?

[@AaronHendu]

My mom loves Guitar Hero but doesn't any games consoles or the games or controllers anymore...I have got her playing Galaga and Bomberman through emulators, and she loves it, so I am thinking I am gonna build her something just like this and install get some Guitar Hero going on Dolphin / PCSX2. I am gonna use a Wiimote PCB as it's bluetooth and compatible with most emulators. I have a spare ukulele neck I didn't use on a recent uke build, I used a different one, and a spare fret board that is junk but would be fine for this. I am thinking a hollow body with some thin wood I have lying around. I have some bearings and springs. A few bits of large plastic cutting boards I use to make parts from. All I really need to order are the switches. I was thinking of just using square arcade buttons from Ali. And for the strum bar, not entirely sure yet, a potentiometer is not gonna work unless I wire it to a nunchuck as well as the wiimote as there is no analog on the wiimote to use. I could probably make use of the motion controls as well. I think just some microswitches of some type with a roller cam that activates them. Lots of ideas gathered from your video, as you can see lol

[@matthewcarlson5885]

Awesome project, straight to hackaday!

[@cncdan]

Thanks! Hope so!

[@edgycard1]

Damn, can you build me one? I haven't got all the tools to make one of these! I'd love to have one though for my pc for clone hero.

[@Just1n2802]

This makes me wonder about making a Controller within a REAL guitar body. It would definitely be cool and more comfortable on the lap. Maybe one day I'll figure it out and make it with a super cheap donor guitar or something.

[@cncdan]

I actually had a real kids sized electric guitar kicking around for years with this in mind as a project. I unfortunately binned it a few years before clone hero became a thing! Plenty of people have done it, and you could use my design for the fret buttons and strum bar easily on a real guitar.

[@MySqueezingArm]

How exactly does this guitar connect to your PC? Bluetooth? Great work! Can't wait to try with my kids.

[@cncdan]

Just with a USB cable plugged into the arduino board!

[@rastlach]

Mixing things up ;)

[@cncdan]

Yep! Got plenty of other projects planned too so it's not all just going to be handheld gaming content!

[@TheGentleSenpai]

Awesome stuff! Did you ever get around to setting up the files for 3D printing?

[@cncdan]

I've got a printable version, I still just need to organise some stuff and get it onto GitHub. Sorry about the delay, I've had a busy couple of weeks here creating a new area for filming content but I'm almost done so I should be able to get some stuff happening again soon!

[@TheGentleSenpai]

That's awesome to hear. Subbing as well to try and stay updated@@cncdan

[@joueey]

Awesome, could you share the docs link? Cause I would really like to make this to a project in my school myself this semester xD

[@cncdan]

Got it all uploaded, let me know if I missed anything! github.com/dmcke5/DIYCloneHeroController

[@Coolsued]

hey just a couple things, are there links for the buttons, screws stuff like the potentiometer, i just dont know where to find them

[@dylanobrien462]

hey i don't know if i did it wrong but when i put the main step file into pcbway the cheapest option was still over 500 usd is that normal for a print like this im new to 3d printing

[@specialfred453]

TBH, if I had a CNC mill I wouldn't bother with ordering professional PCBs for simple boards like this either

[@cncdan]

Yeah, it's definitely a good option when the design is simple and you need it fast. Honestly though, simple boards are often so cheap that even if I CNC'd a PCB for the prototyping I'll often replace it with a professional one upon completion of the project. Just simply to ensure the PCB lasts as long as possible.

[@regularmexicanz]

are you also including the cnc file? and would it work on the shopbot?

[@cncdan]

I can upload the STEP files for the machined versions of the parts, but you'll have to toolpath it yourself for your own machine. It should work on any machine as long as the parts fit!

[@PhantomDevIndie]

Question, could you give us the pcb files/link? Becuase I would really like to make this myself!

[@cncdan]

Yes, I am planning to do that! I'm sorry its taken so long, I've been working on upgrading my office set up to help with filming more content this year. Should be back to my regular schedule soon!

[@theshumanat0r537]

Does this emulate a usb keyboard? I want to use this on my xbox

[@cncdan]

Currently it emulates a game controller but the programming could be changed to emulate a standard HID keyboard very easily. I can't say I've tried it with an Xbox but if it works with any regular old USB keyboard then you should be able to get this to work

[@afaelr]

Do you know Sanjay's Guitarduino software?

[@cncdan]

Never heard of it. I've created heaps of different Arduino based game controllers now though so I just adapted some of my existing code for this project as it doesn't need anything special.

[@kekwku7602]

the question is , are these for sale? hmmm

[@cncdan]

Sadly, no! But the files are available to download so you can build one yourself!

[@KyleKatarn145]

This is awesome! I'd been wanting to make my own GH Controller for years. Wouldn't know the first thing about PCB designing though haha. Question about the strum bar, I noticed it seemed to be fitting pretty loose. Is there any sort of spring back to it or is it just based on you bringing it back to neutral yourself when you hit a note

[@cncdan]

It has a single rubber band as a spring. It's got plenty of spring back for me, but if you wanted more you could always fit a second one or some sort of extension spring. If you take a look at around the 8:30 mark you'll see the rubber band attached to it

[@KyleKatarn145]

@@cncdan I see, I remember seeing a rubber band but I thought it was for the whammy bar, but that's a smart way of handling it, way better than those crappy microswitches they used on the real guitars

[@cncdan]

@@KyleKatarn145 Ah sorry, my mistake I misread your first comment! Yeah the strum bar on mine is just relying on the springs in the mechanical key switches to return it to centre. You could however do something like what I did on the strum bar if you wanted a stiffer spring!

[@japexican007]

Bring back guitar hero and rock band!!!!

[@cncdan]

Yesss! Clone hero is a pretty good alternative though!

[@streetxjammingdualxscreens9228]

Check out "Guitar Hero World Tour Definitive Edition" ;)

[@HappyWheelFan2013]

Rock band 5 coming 2027 🤢

[@Schwift3D]

If they brought it back we'd just be paying for the same remastered games lol. Clone hero's good enough

[@Schwift3D]

If they brought it back we'd just be paying for the same remastered games lol. Clone hero's good enough

[@stonededge]

First baby!

[@cncdan]

You had a head start though lol