How to fix your Guitar Hero Controller Whammy Bar
8 November 2007Has your Guitar Hero 2 Controller Whammy Bar gone limp on you? 
No worries! Fixing a broken Guitar Hero controller Whammy Bar is really, super simple. It'll only take five minutes and will save you the $49 it would cost to purchase a new one.
Tools Required: Small Phillips Head Screw Driver
Time Required: 5 Minutes
IQ Required: Slightly above a chimp
First, position your Guitar Hero controller on a flat surface face down allowing you access to the small screws on the back:
Guitar Hero Controller -- Back
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Once you have the back of the Guitar Hero controller removed, you'll see the logic boards and devices inside. The green board in the center of the guitar is the strummer. The green logic board on the top right is the main logic board with the USB controller and controller ICs. The little thing on the bottom? That's your whammy bar! That's right, all of your thrashing solos were brought to life by a little spring and a simple variable resistor! 
Guitar Hero Controller -- Back Removed
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What you'll need to do is take a look at the Whammy Bar at the bottom. You'll see that basically the Whammy Bar is only pressing against two posts held together with a small spring. Usually when your Whammy Bar breaks, one of two things happens.
- The spring just breaks. It up and dies. Kicks the bucket. In this case, what you'll want to do is tie a rubber band around the two posts. Tie it as tight as you want, but be sure to check that it doesn't put up too much resistance or else it might be a little tough to use the Whammy Bar.
- The Whammy Bar slips out from between the two posts. This is the most common occurrence. Since it's not too firmly built, it's very common for the Whammy Bar to just slip out from between the spring posts and flop around limply. To fix this, simple push it back between the posts.
Guitar Hero Controller -- Whammy Bar Inside
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Guitar Hero Controller -- Whammy Bar Inside 2
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I hope this helps you fix your broken Guitar Hero controller an get back to rocking! The controller I used was the X-Plorer wired controller for the XBox 360. I'm fairly certain the hardware used in other variations of the game (such as the PS2, PS3 and Wii versions) use the same method of operating the Whammy Bar.
Cheers!
9 Responses to “How to fix your Guitar Hero Controller Whammy Bar”
November 10th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Hey,
I found a post you had on another site a few years ago where you linked to Harman Kardon service manuals. I have an AVR 220 and am looking for a service manual. Do you still have it? I went to turn it on yesterday and no power at all. Power supply? Do you have any idea where to get parts as well? Thanks
November 10th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Barry,
Thanks for the reminder!
I’ve been meaning to post that information in my blog for a while now but haven’t been able to get around to it. I took some time today and posted all the information you’ll need here:
http://www.enusbaum.com/blog/2007/11/10/harmankardon-receiver-service-manuals/
Hope this helps!
December 1st, 2007 at 11:48 am
What if the little plastic piece that fits between the two post breaks off. How can i fix that?
I have tried using plastic epoxy but due to how small the piece is and the pressure from the spring at the very end of the piece the epoxy wont hold it. Basically to little surface area for the epoxy to hold that amount of force.
Any suggestions?
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:00 pm
I’m not sure how you’d want to fix that.
You could epoxy or super glue two smaller springs from the middle tab (that pushes against the two posts) to the two posts that are in the upright.
That might help give the whammy bar some feedback while not requiring too much force securing it.
Let me know what you eventually settle on!
December 29th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Can this be done on the guitar for guitar hero 3 for wii?
December 31st, 2007 at 8:23 am
I would assume so, as the only difference I’ve seen in the Guitar Hero hardware between the different platforms is the connectivity between the Guitar and the Console.
That being the case, the Guitar Hero Guitar for the Wii should have the exact same internals as the 360, PS2 and PS3 versions with the wireless connectivity logic being the difference.
If you want to crack it open and take a look, please take pictures and post them back here! I don’t have GH3 for the Wii so I’m not 100% sure what the inside of the controller looks like
April 19th, 2008 at 9:14 am
I have a Wii guitar ( activision ) gibson model. I tried to remove the back but the release for the neck prevented me from taking the back off. any suggestions?
June 1st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
i have the newest guitar hero controller and the screws in the back wont come out to the fact that they are 6 pointed screws!!
do u have another way and i have the neck release can u help!! email me at ffrriicckkinngg@yahoo.com!!
thanks
June 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
You have to use an alley wrench or hex screwdriver….they sale them @ Walmart for $.94