Category: Guitar_Hero_Blog

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.8″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]I’ve heard from time-to-time, “The HobbyCNC guy got the pin numbers backwards“.

Well, I grapple with that myself, so I get it. It’s not that they’re backwards, rather the board is ‘upside-down’.

The confusion comes from the change in the design from the membrane switch to the mechanical switch. My boards have the circuit board traces on the opposite side that the original board does.

Take a look at the image above. The pin numbers do indeed appear to be reversed! The trick, however, is that you are not looking at the same side of both boards. If the bottom (OEM) board is ‘up’ then the HobbyCNC board (top) is down-side-up. When you flip the HobbyCNC board right-side-down, it turns out the pin numbers are exactly right.

The most important part is you DO NOT flip the ribbon cable – it goes back in pin-for-pin in exactly the same orientation as it was originally! Watch the video HobbyCNC Mechanical Fret upgrade, GH 04 install to see how it’s done.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

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Why are there so many Guitar Hero fret boards?

Great question, and I’ve asked myself that many, many times. I don’t have an answer, only an educated guess. Different styles of guitars on different game systems developed at different times by different engineers.

Each engineer (mechanical and electrical) have their own personal ‘way to do things’. So different hole spacings, different hole diameters, different circuit designs, different number of wires.

Sometimes there are copyright or patents in the way, other times it is just stubborn pride “If you did it THAT way, then I’m gonna do it THIS way”.

There’s no way to know for sure, but I’m thinking there’s still more variations out there . . . just waiting.

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I’ve enjoyed playing Guitar Hero (X-Box 360) for many years. I was never ‘good’, but I had fun. When my grandkids were old enough, I started them on the game too. One of my Les Paul guitars was missing notes and it was making for an unpleasant learning experience.

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CAD/CAM and HobbyCNC

I have a small 2.5 axis home-made CNC machine (shown above) that works fantastic for isolation routing PC Boards. I made a replacement mechanical fret PC Board and it worked great. I don’t really recall how the word got out (I think I put a post on Reddit), but the response has been crazy!

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First HobbyCNC Guitar hero PC Board, Isolation routed on my DIY CNC router.

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Since Then

I have made replacement fret PCBs for 13 different guitar/system combinations. I ship boards all over the world. It’s a nice feeling knowing I’m helping to keep guitars up-and-running years after the manufacturers stopped production.

What’s Next

I’m looking at several other repair parts that might be needed, and I’m also looking at some of the Arduino / Clone Hero projects too. Too early to tell. 

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