Rock Band guitar hack enables stompbox to activate Overdrive

Not even 24 hours after catching a whiff of those sick Mushroom-headed Rock Band drum pads comes yet another mod that oozes awesomeness. The Rock Band Stompbox tackles an issue any digital rocker has faced -- accidental (and often unwanted) activation of Overdrive / Star Power. Put simply, this engineering fellow ripped his axe apart, ganked a spare effects pedal and put his superb wiring skills to good use. Hit up the read link for a pictorial step-by-step, or jump on past the break for a video demonstration.

[Thanks, Brad]

[booticon @ Apr 10th 2008 9:42AM]

That's really neat, although my issue is more that Overdrive just randomly comes on. From what I can tell while playing, I don't change the angle of the guitar while Overdrive's activated.

[booticon @ Apr 10th 2008 9:42AM]

And wow, I'm really digging the new layout. Nice and clean.

[The Cadet @ Apr 10th 2008 9:46AM]

Loving the new layout as well, and i think that Overdrive would start because you have moved it just the tiniest bit and it has activated the sensor, the quality of those things is, lets say less then perfect.

[The Cadet @ Apr 10th 2008 9:46AM]

Nice Work, Clean Wiring

[dervheid @ Apr 10th 2008 9:47AM]

Rockin'
Love the strat 'axe' too, especially the twin fret buttons, where can I get me one of those?

[booticon @ Apr 10th 2008 9:58AM]

If you're talking about the one that's in the picture, that's the Rock Band strat.

[Bax @ Apr 10th 2008 9:56AM]

oooo thats neat!
The guitar hero guitars have this rj11 jack on the bottom which would be cool to use with a pedal of some sort, but this mod looks even better!

[Marty @ Apr 10th 2008 9:57AM]

The stomp box hack is probably the best hack to date. Much better than the 'lefty' hack for Guitar Hero.

Am I missing something? What is everyone talking about "new layout"?? Other than the overdrive pedal, it's the same Rock Band guitar... what am I missing?

[booticon @ Apr 10th 2008 10:01AM]

Engadget layout.

[Jim @ Apr 10th 2008 10:11AM]

Fail

[Jim @ Apr 10th 2008 10:16AM]

Make it wireless and for the GH3 controller and I'll buy it. I've been wanting something like that for a year.

[sdh @ Apr 10th 2008 10:20AM]

Milk and cookies y'all

[Dave @ Apr 10th 2008 10:21AM]

You can get a cheap sustain pedal from guitar center for under ten dollars. I'm going to do this mod since my RB guitar won't activate overdrive except by hitting the back button anyways.
Here's a link to the pedal.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/MPM-Sustain-Pedal---Normally-Open-450428-i1172507.gc

[OneLove @ Apr 10th 2008 10:45AM]

Is that a jail cell?

[caribou @ Apr 10th 2008 10:51AM]

Anyone else wonder why he's using a small screen on top of a bigger monitor? Wouldn't you think if he could hack his axe he could at least figure out how to use a VGA cable?

[Brad @ Apr 10th 2008 9:13PM]

Guy who sent it in, Heh, yeah I want to get a VGA setup going with my computer monitor, but I'm lazy.

[braintez @ Apr 10th 2008 11:08AM]

Looks like he modified the strat with a click strummer also.
Cool mod, simple yet useful ...

[Mike @ Apr 10th 2008 12:26PM]

This is freakin' awesome. I'd pay for something like this.

[thatkidmattt @ Apr 10th 2008 1:18PM]

Cool, to say the very least... even if it is a bit much.


It's just too bad he chose a terrible song to demonstrate it.

[Alex G @ Apr 10th 2008 1:20PM]

Old. People have done this mod with Guitar Hero.

[Joe Anstine @ Apr 10th 2008 1:21PM]

That is cool that they figured how to do this but...why?

[Gangrene @ Apr 10th 2008 3:17PM]

I did something similar for a one-handed friend. I should have put two and two together and just made a Starpower pedal while I was at it. http://www.bunkerguts.com/blog/?page_id=24

I have lots of pics showing how to do it to, if you want to try it yourself.

[dustinlikewhat @ Apr 10th 2008 3:31PM]

what a waste of a decent bass synth wah...

[tiuk @ Apr 10th 2008 5:56PM]

My strat's accelerometer never works properly. I have to move the guitar in ridiculous ways to get it to trigger, then sometimes when I'm just sitting there not moving it'll go on its own. The Xplorer's sensor was way better.

Now, that said, the back button on the strat is at least placed well. I can usually hit it with my pinky without messing up my strumming. This is still a good idea, I might do it.

[Matthew @ Apr 10th 2008 7:07PM]

Holy awesomeness!!!

[Luckybucky @ Apr 10th 2008 10:53PM]

What kind of desk is that, it's pimp.

[Greg Hanson @ Apr 11th 2008 5:23PM]

Nothing new. Documented when I did this same mod to the GH2 Xplorer guitar back in July 2007.

http://www.delveintolunacy.com/2007-07-18/guitar-hero-xbox-360-kill-switch-pedal-mod/