Official Luthiers Forum!

First of all, none of this makes a difference in the archives. Everything goes there. What will make the difference is what Colin(who agreed with Rick T and Grumpy on consecutive days ) said, and that is to make the Titles of the threads meaningful to the topic. Some of our best topics are hard to find because they were poorly titled. It would make our archives a much more valuable resource.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

This forum configuration doesn't seeem to allow as many topics to a page. I have noticed this and already adjusted for it! Considering how much faster it loads it's NBD.

I really don't see how a such a fine Luthier's post about one of his instruments being played in concert is "off topic" where does that come in, especially if it's another forum Luthier that's playing it

This topic would then clearly be off topic as stated before!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Billy, that would not be off topic.
There was just a simple misunderstanding in what we should and should not post in the main discussion forum. I cleared that up by saying "The Main Discussion Forum is to be use for talking about anything guitar related. Building and sharing our experiences. "

Hesh's post is certainly ON topic.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

It's easily changed Billy. Topics and posts per page are configurable.

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

Currently we are set at

25 Topics per page:
10 Posts per page:

We can increase that number, but it begins to load slower for dial up users.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

At the bottom of the page there's a drop down (or drop up?) menu, where it says "Jump to:" ... I still find it easier just to click on the Board Index link, since it's at both the top and bottom. The Jump To menu puts them in a weird order.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Hah! Well whaddya know!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Just to be one of the 'bad guys', I've noticed the exact same thing Mario has. At first it was when the new board came up, and I thought it would go away, but it hasn't. I have some friends on here, but I come here to read and talk about building guitars. I don't think the intent is to hurt anyones' feelings, but I've heard from more than one or two clients (professionals) that the reason they don't participate in the forum is that so much of the content is buried under the social aspect and there's no way to sort it out.

I think naming the forums 'The Shop' and 'The Clubhouse' would really straighten things out so far as making the place more usable as a resource as well as a social network.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Bob...I hope nobody considers anyone who has posted opinions on this thread as a "bad boy". If so, I might also be placed in that category as well. That would be unfair and unjust IMO. But if we're losing or not attracting members because we're considered unfocused and too casual, then we have a problem.

I consider myself one of the more active "towel snappers" on the forum but I also feel that the social threads have become too dominant over the technical threads IN THE MAIN FORUM. ( emphasized to state that I am not critical of social threads). And while I will continue to seek friendship and poke fun I really want to be able to more reliably have important technical threads more easily archived and searched. And when I REALLY want to have fun, it's so easy to go to the OFF TOPIC section or PM or email my closest friends. They know who they are!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

You guys are nuts! Can't please everybody. Who owns this forum? Lance. Let him run it, sounds like he done laid the rules out but you guys ain't listening.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

<Sigh>...it's comments like this that really help the peace and harmony of the OLF. Chuck, inflammatory comments like you just made are not welcome here. Up until now, we were discussing issues...you just made it personal...not good.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Lance has provided a clear delineation of what constitutes ON topic discussion. If we all stick to that and do not fall into the trap of believing that what we have to say is somehow more important than the next guy and therefore deserves to be in the main arena, it will help all members. The "red haired child" analogy being used to describe the OFF topic section is a very good one. I think we all need to drop that attitude and just trust that if our post is worthy, people are going to find it no matter which section it is in.

For me, the most important thing to come out of this discussion is "topic titles". Having used the search function quite regularly, I could not agree more with those who are urging members to title their posts appropriately. In the past I have noticed some really good conversations develop that have bought forth some valuable gems of information from our members only to see it all lost into the archives because the topic starter constructed some obscure title in an attempt to be humorous or catchy.

If current and future members of the OLF are to get the most of your input here, please, when you are constructing a title for your topic, consider carefully the affect it will have upon the deeper knowledge base of the OLF.

Cheers

Kim

Would it be possible to look at making it around 50 or more topics per page? Because there are no images on the topic view page, it shouldn't make it noticeably different for even dialup users... and it'd still be 10x faster than the old site.

This would mean that most (if not all) of the current day's topics are on one page and would probably lessen the impact that perceived unrelated threads have on "relevant" topics.

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Richard
http://www.guitarmaker.com

Actually, that might be a good point to make in the "20 Suggestions of OLF Participation." The new subject titles are longer too, and that helps a lot.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

One other solution might be to add a Topic......."Building and Repair" that would about cover it. Then you have the "Main" Forum, "Off Topic" Forum and "Building and Repair" Forum.....and for JJ the "Electric" Forum. If you can't beat 'em...infiltrate!

Shane

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Canada

Todd...You are one funny dude . Truly a product of the beltway bureaucracy!

That's hilarious!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I agree with Grumpy.
However, I like the comraderie here.

I don't have a problem either way, because I use the active topics forum, and see it all no matter what forum its in.

But it would help pare down the main discussion forum to just building and repairs, which I think would be a good thing.

So, in the future I will voluntarily post any unrelated posts in the off topic forum. So easy. No need to change the rules.

$.02

Best to all.

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Horton, MI

Seems everything I read in the forum is related to lutherie, even though it might not be something technical. But interesting none the less.
BTW....You know I don't really think you're ALL nuts.......

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Chuck, Bud! Then you ARE deluded !!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Indeed!!!!!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I'm Shocked! Shocked, I tell you, Shocked!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Seems everything I read in the forum is related to lutherie

The past couple days have been very good, , I agree. Kudos to everyone for stepping up to the plate and staying more closely on topic. I'm a little disappointed that the off topics section hasn't been busier, but I suspect it will pick up and everyone can have their desired camaraderie, and their technical assistance and learning. as has been pointed out, nothing needed changing except for everyone realizing we had sections in place for everything already, and using them.

You guys are silly.....lol
I appreciate every one of you and really enjoy this forum. I'm just amazed of all the beautiful instruments you guys make. Before I found this forum, I had no idea there where so many hand-made guitars being bourne everyday. My first born has already developed a few birthmarks, but I'm going to love her no matter the outcome.
I just want to say thank you to each and every one who selflessly submit pictures and their hard earned wisdom openly to the world......

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Another suggestion. While Lance is still working out the differences with the new software, try some of the added capabilities of the new software. If there is a topic that you will want to revisit, simply 'Bookmark' it (upper left above topics) and you will never have a problem finding it again. There are lots of new good features if you just do some exploring.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

If we could put in an 'ignore topic' button, to match the bookmark one, we'd have it all!

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services