but since this post is about “interfacing an arduino with a serial lcd controller”, i’m quite disappointed. old lcd panels in my junk box: 4. lcd panels with serial controller: none.

For example an spi display or TV-out (using the TV-out library, probably on a second arduino). Reason for me to ask, I’ve got a Yamaha PSR-S500 with defective display, new displays are around ...

To build this project, all you need is three main components: an Arduino Uno, a 16x2 LCD, and a push button. You can connect everything to a breadboard to keep it simple.