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The new look and feel

I hate to be "that guy" but here goes anyway.

Is anyone else around here kind of turned off by the new look and feel? I mean, don't get me wrong - I'm finding little functional changes here and there that I really like. I think it only makes sense that there is an integration between this site and C. B. Gitty since both of the sites have become so comprehensive in their respective areas. I like the idea that a newbie can stumble across this site and that C. B. Gitty is only a click away. It reduces some of the leg work for someone who decides he or she wants to get started.

I also like how the photos that everyone uploads now has a running slide show on the home page of the site. Looking at the photos is one of the main reasons I come here as I can see what everyone else is doing. Everyone keeps reminding me through their work that there are so many things that I haven't thought of and I continue to be inspired by everyone's ingenuity.

But the visual theme of this site is sort of a downer. It looks flat and 2-D-ish. It seems impersonal; like Tron had gotten hold of the site and redesigned everything.

What does everyone else think? Just me?

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on October 17, 2011 at 9:25am

One input: I always resisted putting the photos front and center simply because I felt it encouraged the site to become builder-focused, instead of encouraging both building and performing. (It had always been a frustration of mine that many people just get into creating the instruments and don't discover the massive joy of playing them...and even performing for others.) I was always amazed at the sounds of these things, more than the construction.

Then again, what...me worry? I'm the quitter in all this. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on October 17, 2011 at 9:31am

I understand that concern, and I do agree that the playing side is important. Figuring out how to effectively promote that side of it is tricky though. Having the music player thing higher up there may help.

The one thing having the photos at the top does do though is grab the eye, and part of the goal is to entice visitors to the page to dig in a little deeper and hopefully get hooked. Having the chat box on top just appears to a blank white box with a "sign up to see the chat" message, which seems a little too unfriendly to have above-the-fold, as it were.

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on October 17, 2011 at 9:33am

Yeah, I always had a love/hate relationship with the damn chat.

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Permalink Reply by Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) on October 17, 2011 at 9:34am

Big agree there.

C. B. Gitty (Ben) said:

I understand that concern, and I do agree that the playing side is important. Figuring out how to effectively promote that side of it is tricky though. Having the music player thing higher up there may help.

The one thing having the photos at the top does do though is grab the eye, and part of the goal is to entice visitors to the page to dig in a little deeper and hopefully get hooked. Having the chat box on top just appears to a blank white box with a "sign up to see the chat" message, which seems a little too unfriendly to have above-the-fold, as it were.

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Permalink Reply by Jacob Blackwood on October 17, 2011 at 9:47am

I like it, and that is pretty much all that matters.

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Permalink Reply by colin mcgrath on October 17, 2011 at 11:05am

This is better than the Yahoo group by leaps and bounds. I am not hip to David Bowie, so Ben no sparkle motion stuff. As long as I can navigate through without having to jump through links like crazy it is all good. And remember, say no to the Steel Drum, and YES to cowbell!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on October 17, 2011 at 11:09am

Unless the layout is difficult to read, or has bad colors or contrast, then I am fine with it. I view the place as a resource for myself and others. As long as I can find the picture, diagram, video, or thread, then I am good to go.

If the functions perform correctly and I can find what I am looking for, I am happy.

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on October 17, 2011 at 11:47am

How about a Christmas theme!!!

I'm not sure about the header font. Maybe it might offend some people. We need to tread lightly, you know...

Derp. Where's my beer?

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Permalink Reply by Richard G Caudill on October 17, 2011 at 12:19pm

Really like the repositioning of the "pictures" when posted ,, larger easier to see,,

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Permalink Reply by Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) on October 17, 2011 at 12:30pm

Donnie Darko reference, FTW!

colin mcgrath said:

This is better than the Yahoo group by leaps and bounds. I am not hip to David Bowie, so Ben no sparkle motion stuff. As long as I can navigate through without having to jump through links like crazy it is all good. And remember, say no to the Steel Drum, and YES to cowbell!