Installing analog VU meter in Guitar

Thread Starter

djsfantasi

Joined Apr 11, 2010
9,156
My son is interested in installing an analog VU meter in the body of his electric guitar. We've found this link which describes simple and more complex ways of connecting a VU meter.
http://sound.westhost.com/project55.htm

He's looking for an effect only, not necessarily an accurate measurement. We were considering a 3K9Ω resistor and a 33μF capacitor, with Schottky diodes. Is it indeed this simple for his purpose?

dj
 

bountyhunter

Joined Sep 7, 2009
2,512
He would be well advised to use an LED string for a VU meter with a LM3914 chip as driver. An actual mechanical analog meter will not like the kind of banging around it would get attached to a guitar.
 

tubeguy

Joined Nov 3, 2012
1,157
He would be well advised to use an LED string for a VU meter with a LM3914 chip as driver. An actual mechanical analog meter will not like the kind of banging around it would get attached to a guitar.
Yes, I agree. And he could use green, yellow and red LED's arranged in an arc for a neat effect.
 

Thread Starter

djsfantasi

Joined Apr 11, 2010
9,156
After reading your replies, he may just install them as dummies for that retro look. He salvaged them from an old cassette recorder bought at the Salvation Army for $2
 
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