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Guitar MOD FAIL!

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axewrecker

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Hi I am trying to put together a circuit that will make LEDs flash when the output of a guitar is put through it (i.e. when you strum the guitar). The idea is to put these under pickups or scratchplate to give a nice backlit effect.

Anyway I found a project online that also had a youtube video showing it working, so assumed it would work fine (mistake number 1!), the basic design is shown below.
Optional-extra-f&#101.jpg

When I connect this up before I even put anything to the input the LEDs light up. I have tried increasing the resistor values in front of the LEDs but this just dims the LEDs. The amplifier just seems to be outputting a constant voltage.

I am thinking that this is probably because the 386 is designed to have a 8R load at the output? Would it help if I put a 8 or 10R resistor in parallel with the leds? From the other 386 circuits I have now looked at it seems that I may be missing other components that will make this work (capacitors at output etc). Any help with this would be much appreciated.
Thanks
 
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Ok so based on what I have seen elsewhere I am thinking of maybe trying this. Might this work? Any obvious glaring errors? Please help its been a while since my GCSE electronics!

Also the guitar pickups output between 100 - 200mV so should be no problem with gain settings correct?

Optional-extra-f&#101.jpg
 
Look at this thread. Read it over and look at version2. I'm amazed how similar your idea is to the other one. I still don't think much of the idea, but there is a circuit that might work. It has some problems, as another member pointed out. But it just might work...
 
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can it work?

would the 386 idea need much added to it to work? if its a complete no-go I guess I need to buy some more components and have a crack at the circuit BrownOut suggests
anyway thanks for helping
 
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