Why I joined, and what I'm looking for here

TTony · October 2017

It would really help us in developing the forum if we could understand *why* people joined and/or *what* it is that they want to get out of their membership.

This would also be a good place to make any specific suggestions for new sort of content that you'd like to see here.

So, have introduced yourself in the "Introduce Yourself" thread, please take another minute or two to let us know

Why you joined and what you want
Any specific suggestions or requests

Thanks

Tony
(admin)

adampeter · October 2017

Been a member just over a year
Joined whilst buying a guitar via Ebay, we decided to do a deal away from Ebay and the buyer suggested making contact through fretboard, since then i've been on here most days.
Don't really read the off topic stuff, but love looking through the ads.
For a guitar obsessed nerd like me its nirvana here
I would struggle to suggest a way to improve it for me

Franssen · October 2017

First found this forum by accident when looking for some pedals. Now I love looking at the ads for Guitars, GAS right, gets us al. Useful threads as well on the Live discussions. I would like to see the for sale thread and WTB threads for guitars in particular separated into manufacturer specific sub forums, i'm only really looking at two manufacturers now, trawling through the rest is tedious

Bridgehouse · October 2017

Franssen said:

First found this forum by accident when looking for some pedals. Now I love looking at the ads for Guitars, GAS right, gets us al. Useful threads as well on the Live discussions. I would like to see the for sale thread and WTB threads for guitars in particular separated into manufacturer specific sub forums, i'm only really looking at two manufacturers now, trawling through the rest is tedious

But trawling is part of the fun! It's like a massive scouts jumble sale

djspecialist · October 2017

I can't remember why I originally joined, but why I keep coming here:

To buy and sell. And to drool over pics of stuff I can't afford to buy.
To get advice on guitar stuff. I've had really helpful responses on pretty much any topic I've asked about - from setup, repair, to gear choice, live technique, you name it.
To get advice on non-guitar stuff. Again, people have been very helpful with "life in general" questions - and I've tried to repay at least a bit of that by contributing to similar threads by other members, when I feel I have something to offer.
For teh bantz.

Suggestions for improvements? Not a lot to be honest - just a couple of minor points:

Better mobile experience. A while back I had an abortive attempt at creating a mobile app (with help from @monquixote), but realised that I had neither the right skills nor sufficient time to get it up to scratch.
Finding feedback could be easier. I know it would require modification of the forum software, but I'd like it if a feedback thread was created for every new user, linked from their profile page. (Maybe you'd then need a way for people to opt out / hide that thread if for some reason they didn't want one).

Massive thanks to everyone who keeps this place running - it's brilliant.

TTony · October 2017

Thanks for the thoughts @djspecialist ;

The mobile question is interesting, and perhaps a bit chicken/egg. Our mobile users are a small % of the total, and I'm not sure that the structure and content of the forum lends itself easily to a mobile platform. Tablets - OK, they're big enough, but mobiles - less so. Unless someone could build us an app that retained ease of use on a smaller device

Re feedback. Firstly, not everyone uses the Classifieds extensively, and so a feedback thread for everyone who signed up would result in a lot of empty threads. It is suggested that frequent traders include a link to their feedback thread in their signature - that'd be the easiest way of finding it. Else, you can use the pre-set search page to find a specific userID
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57311/how-the-feedback-system-works

But I can make that clearer - so will.

aord43 · October 2017

I have been a member for a few months and originally found the place when looking for buy/sell options for a couple of pedals. I sold on ebay in the end, not wanting to dive straight in as a new member with "buy my stuff"!
But I've stuck around for all the same reasons as most others I guess. I enjoy looking at the making/modding section, especially the pictorial stories of making a guitar, which are very educational to someone like me that had no idea before I came here. I might even try making one in due course.
I do go in the off topic from time to time but it's not the main reason I'm here and I do think it can be a distraction at times and I avoid many threads just based on the subject line (although some are hard to resist). Mainly I want to see (and join in with) guitar-related posts, it's been interesting to compare my experience as a middle-aged dad with others, and there's always a lot to learn from better players, those in bands, etc.
I agree on the mobile experience, I like to read on the train sometimes but there are a few issues (eg. can't get to "My Drafts", and writing posts doesn't work very well). I am not convinced that an app is the answer because that just has to be maintained, and anyway well-designed HTML is just as good as an app these days and doesn't take up space on your phone or add security concerns that an app might (or ads, which most apps have).

paulnb57 · October 2017

Joined 2014 love the place!
There is some "clickiness" here and there...
Areas I generally visit are
Making and Modding
Parts for sale
Guitar
Guitars for sale
Occasionally go to
Off topic
Amps
FX

I'm not really sure of the need for Off Topic and Speakers Corner, but folk use it.....

My main interest lies in Making and Modding, Ive learned loads and realise perhaps I should detail my own partscaster builds rather than share a before and after photo with spec.....
An occasional build challenge would be nice and I see there is discussion about this.....

I think the forum is pretty good as it is, it's my "go to" forum followed by TDPRI, I consider it to be well moderated, in short, a good place to be!

I spend far too much of my time on here!

Kinioo · October 2017

Well, I have been a member for few weeks now...

Why I joined:

- to buy/sell instruments/FX/AMPS;
- to find reviews and recommendations on instruments/FXs/Amps I'm interested in;
- to ask questions re: playing technique, instruments, pedals, amps
- to see how far behind other 'guitar wizards' I am with my cr*p playing 'skills'

C.

Teyeplayer · October 2017

TTony said:

Our mobile users are a small % of the total, and I'm not sure that the structure and content of the forum lends itself easily to a mobile platform. Tablets - OK, they're big enough, but mobiles - less so.

Really surprised by this @TTony and don’t dispute it. I just would have thought in a world where we all have and regularly use smart phones that this marginal percentage would be far higher.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I logged onto a computer when it wasn’t for work. For many, I imagine the iPads in the house depend on who else is using them at a given moment and if they are charged, whereas most of us have a mobile device charged and available all the time. Whether that be for a quick browse of the classifieds whilst making a cuppa or as a distraction on the daily commute.

Maybe this is a need that will become more pressing over coming years as demographics change? I agree finding someone in the community who can build a decent app may be the answer.

Teyeplayer · October 2017

Sorry in line with the discussion I should add:

I came to buy and sell, I stayed because most of the people on here are fantastic -a few of the charitable endeavours over the last year have proved that to me beyond a shadow of a doubt.

stratman3142 · October 2017

I originally joined simply because I like discussing and finding out about guitar and bass related stuff.

It's the various music challenges (Sotm, Rotm, RawRotm and Composition Challenge) that are my main area of interest now.

I feel I've learned quite a bit and found out about new music/players I wouldn't otherwise have discovered.

EricTheWeary · October 2017

Teyeplayer said:

TTony said:

Our mobile users are a small % of the total, and I'm not sure that the structure and content of the forum lends itself easily to a mobile platform. Tablets - OK, they're big enough, but mobiles - less so.

Really surprised by this @TTony and don’t dispute it. I just would have thought in a world where we all have and regularly use smart phones that this marginal percentage would be far higher.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I logged onto a computer when it wasn’t for work. For many, I imagine the iPads in the house depend on who else is using them at a given moment and if they are charged, whereas most of us have a mobile device charged and available all the time. Whether that be for a quick browse of the classifieds whilst making a cuppa or as a distraction on the daily commute.

Maybe this is a need that will become more pressing over coming years as demographics change? I agree finding someone in the community who can build a decent app may be the answer.

+1 on the surprised by this. The 'not completely great mobile experience' issue has been raised from time to time. Often pictures don't show, notifications are unweildy and so on. There is an option to switch to the full site but that's fiddly on an average smart phone.
I will look at the mobile site on my phone if on a train journey or on the loo at work,etc, but if I wanted to do something significant ( say post pictures on an ad) I'm pretty much forced to wait until I am on the full site ( on my iPad, I also don't use a computer as such at home).

Franssen said:

First found this forum by accident when looking for some pedals. Now I love looking at the ads for Guitars, GAS right, gets us al. Useful threads as well on the Live discussions. I would like to see the for sale thread and WTB threads for guitars in particular separated into manufacturer specific sub forums, i'm only really looking at two manufacturers now, trawling through the rest is tedious

[ Why does the quite system sometimes go barmy on mobiles?]

The manufacturer specific sub forum thing sounded a bit horrific ( to me), I suspect the answer is a more user friendly/ obvious search function. Used As Is the results are terrible, you can go into the advanced settings but I think people often don't bother or realise. I've no idea if this is within the hands of the modmins or down to Vanilla but an improved Search would be a big advantage.

Limehouse_Blues · October 2017

I joined to sell a couple of axes with a view to 'thinning the herd'

couple of years on and I think the herd is the same size or possibly larger.

so, er... That worked out well. This place is just full of enablers!

there should be a prominent health warning on the home page. May damage your wallet. Enter at your own risk.

TTony · October 2017

@EricTheWeary ; @Teyeplayer ;

The mobile thing may well be chicken / egg.

If the mobile presentation was better, we'd maybe have a greater % of mobile users. That's one reason why we looked at trying to develop a mobile app, but it didn't work out, and it's not worth us spending a lot of limited funds on getting an app developed when the % usage is so small.

LuttiS · October 2017

I originally joined for the classifieds, but don't really spend much time there. The making and modding section was what peaked my interest and i just followed that section for quite a while before branching out.

I'm in the "dad who has no time" category, (hopefully not quite middle-aged dad category), and since i couldn't play as much as i wanted it was great to be able to talk guitars and things.

It really opened my eyes to see how many people were or had been in a similar situation with young children or partners meaning they couldn't play so much.

After over a year of barely touching a guitar (re the young child bit), it has kept me inspired and not discouraged when i start playing and realise that my fingers aren't doing what they used to do

As for improvements,

I think most of the things i thought could improve have been done recently.. it was mainly things to encourage member participation. I think the jams are a fantastic idea, and i'm glad they are happening. Also the challenges & some of the fund raising competitions are great. So more of that.

The shear amount of resources here is incredible, and as i think detailed in other threads accessing it can be touch. So maybe when posting a topic/reply etc, there could be a way of tagging it to integrate with a search function. I.e. if a particularly good guide to repairing something it could be tagged and so a search would pick it up as a good place to look for that.. or something..

Also i also browse on mobile in the evenings and if out and about, just don't generally post as its all a bit weird

FatPete · October 2017

I'm pretty sure Google has landed me here a few times in the past, but I couldn't have spent much time looking around because I didn't realise how big a community/resource it is.

Being a 'partscaster' guy (mainly Warmoth), I expect the making & modding and ads areas will be my most haunted.

TBH, the specific thing that made me sign up is that I'm looking for a neck for my current project - my first scratch-built body - and I found a thread where the work of a forum member (@GSPBASSES) was being recommended. He said he is now only doing stuff for forum members, so voila! Pure self interest.

Too early to be making comments about improvements!

Dave_Vader · October 2017

I joined because I used to have too much time on my hands at work and needed somewhere friendly to mutter about gear and stuff. I was already doing a lot of basschatting, but found all the guitar forums a bit american and/or wanky.

I like this one, and am sad that work is busier than it used to be and I don't have as much time on my hands to mutter about gear and decide I need to buy more guitars these days.

I am looking for cheap pedal sales, and mildly amusing mutterings about gear.

So all good thanks

aord43 · October 2017

LuttiS said:

I'm in the "dad who has no time" category, (hopefully not quite middle-aged dad category)

Yes, what we find is that Middle Age is when you get back to the Guitar after the kids have grown up a bit

LuttiS · October 2017

aord43 said:

LuttiS said:

I'm in the "dad who has no time" category, (hopefully not quite middle-aged dad category)

Yes, what we find is that Middle Age is when you get back to the Guitar after the kids have grown up a bit

So what you're saying is that if I keep having kids and never pick up a guitar again I'll be young (ish) and beautiful forever!?

mgaw · October 2017

I was told about this place via an ebay sale i made, i was warned it would be great but expensive. correct on both counts!

i would never have had the quality of gear i have now without the FB, it is an extraordinary resource.

I would like to see a for Trade section. and also a lot more porn

axisus · October 2017

I joined fairly on, mainly as I liked the old music radar forum.

Good for chat, guitar or otherwise, good for advice, good for buying and quite a lot of laughs - but enough about me ...

thumpingrug · October 2017

Was on MusicRadar, joined Emps temporary hostel for a while and migrated here when the doors opened. Im an amateur/bedroom noodler, but I have learnt so much from the people here. I come for the pics and the banter. I stay away from the classified as I know it would cost me money I haven't got. I do like the off topic area and whilst don't always agree have mostly enjoyed listening to others perspectives. As long as it doesn't get personal I think its ok. I like the sense of community this place has developed and how it has helped people in need in different ways and at different times. This is the best forum I have every come across.

Grangousier · November 2017

I stumbled across the site when I was looking for pickups. I missed out a lot in my guitar education in earlier life. I played a lot of electric guitar when I was a kid, but because I mainly wanted to make high gain noises rather than jangle (and because I couldn't afford to even look at anything very exciting), I never really learned about anything further afield than different kinds of humbuckers and strat pickups, and I only really experienced the regular flavours of those.

I mean, I'd see P90s and Filtertrons and so forth in the shop windows on Denmark Street, but I didn't really know what they were, and they tended to be attached to guitars that were so expensive (by my standards) that I was nervous about breathing in their direction, let alone asking to play them.

After college I didn't really have many opportunities to play electric guitar on stage - most of the playing I've done out for the last twenty-five years or so has been on acoustics, either steel-string or (mostly) nylon string. I was kind of aware that the sound of XTC or early Beatles was Rickenbacker, for example, but as I never played one it was just theoretical.

Since 2002-ish I've been using VG88 and VG99 modellers at home for recording (and sometimes for live). I actually like them a lot, but the experience isn't like playing an actual (for example) Strat through a Marshall, but something that sounds like a recording of that setup. I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me, but I don't really get the nuance and directness that I do with my nylon-string guitars. Of course there are loads of guitars in the VG99 - not just two types of Strat, but also Tele, Rickenbacker and a few others, and I've become interested in finding out about the real life guitars, so I started looking at the websites of companies like Oil City or The Creamery (I'm much more interested in the small companies, I must admit), then googling stuff I didn't understand. Then when I found this forum I started lurking, just to find out about things. It's a very educational site. Then I joined up when I was finally tempted to buy some pedals. Only cheap ones so far, but it's a slippery slope.

I'm actually embarrassed by how little I knew. I mean, I've spent a lot of time listening to guitars, playing the guitar, and I knew hardly anything, it seems. Still, learning new things is fun.

The other thing is that I have quite a few guitars that I've left in less than glorious condition, and I've always felt that I'd like to bring as many of them as possible to an at least playable condition, and perhaps put in some of those interesting pickups I've been reading about. Certainly before I buy any more.

In general, then, I'd like to learn how to do set-up and at least minor repair. As I get older I'd like to be able to tune up, as it were, as much as I knock out of tune.

What that means is that I have a lot of stupid questions. On the whole, it looks like the community is very accepting of even someone as ill-informed as me, so I hope to start asking them soon.

Kebabkid · November 2017

I found Musicradar when something I was after come up on a search there in the Classifieds and initially joined to sell something else but stayed because the advice was good and varied and it was somewhere to chat about music and gear. Forumites seemed friendly and I transferred over to here when this place was set up.

I've enjoyed GearFests and the people I've met have been great and can say I have some new mates. On that score, and through PMs, I have regular chats with certain people, who I hope to actually meet one day.
The buying and selling opportunities
The general kindness and support on offer
Links to new music and gear
Moderation has been good and fair

I haven't enjoyed the trolling, fights and any nasty elements but then I tend not to go into OT and SC and so I'm pleased people who want to get into that stuff and controversial subjects have "their outlet" but I'd still rather it wasn't on this site and on some other social media platform as an argument on there can follow you onto the regular categories with certain behaviours.

On the basis of this, I joined Basschat and whilst I'm not anywhere near as active over there, I do like their model, the general tone of the place and how respectful and helpful people are. I also went to one of their gear meets and everyone was v.friendly and it was all done superbly. It might be worth looking at them to see if anything there suits/fits our forum and could be beneficial.

Tone71 · November 2017

I joined here following the demise of the Musicradar forum, as a home player with limited abilities but with a huge appreciation and fascination with music and guitars this is the only forum that I frequent.

I like all of the sections, off topic is a regular haunt but I do like to browse the classifieds and have bought and sold in the past, making and modding is a good one and the reviews are excellent for independent opinions.

I do like the idea of a "for trade" section but not sure how successful it would be but it could be interesting. How about MOD for the week/fortnight ?

I don't "want" anything from here, I appreciate all the hard work put in by all (it must be a nightmare and massively time consuming at times with the bickering and falling out that unfortunately occurs) I like the fact that I can read/interact with like minded and knowledgeable folk and also that my lunacy in buying guitars and amps is shared by many others.

Gassage · November 2017

To use materialism to boost my flagging self esteem.

DiscoStu · November 2017

I joined because musicradar committed suicide. And because I liked the folks who were on there. And because this site rose from the ashes and was much betterer.

RocknRollDave · November 2017

I joined to discuss music and playing, especially playing live (I rarely record and even more rarely buy new gear, so I have little to contribute to conversations regarding either subject)

I stopped contributing a couple of months ago because I got fed up of finding a post about a musician would get maybe three polite replies but a thread about how Americans pronounce things wrong will get 100+ effusive replies over several pages.
Fair enough if people aren't interested in the same music I like, taste in music is subjective after all and that is fine, just felt a bit like people weren't interested in talking about music that much full stop.
I also felt it all became very cliquey and every thread got hijacked by very vocal self-appointed moral guardians.

I don't know what the answer is - The board is open and free for all, which is how it should be, but that just means for me it becomes something that I don't feel I fit into. Maybe it's just me! I do, however, appreciate all the fine work that has gone into it over the years, and continues to go into it.

EricTheWeary · November 2017

RocknRollDave said:

I joined to discuss music and playing, especially playing live (I rarely record and even more rarely buy new gear, so I have little to contribute to conversations regarding either subject)

I stopped contributing a couple of months ago because I got fed up of finding a post about a musician would get maybe three polite replies but a thread about how Americans pronounce things wrong will get 100+ effusive replies over several pages.
Fair enough if people aren't interested in the same music I like, taste in music is subjective after all and that is fine, just felt a bit like people weren't interested in talking about music that much full stop.
I also felt it all became very cliquey and every thread got hijacked by very vocal self-appointed moral guardians.

I don't know what the answer is - The board is open and free for all, which is how it should be, but that just means for me it becomes something that I don't feel I fit into. Maybe it's just me! I do, however, appreciate all the fine work that has gone into it over the years, and continues to go into it.

Nice to see something from you Dave

It has made me think how much I post on here out of habit ( sat on the loo at work, on a train or what have you) rather than because I find something interesting ( or have anything interesting to say).
The number of interesting things said about music and creativity is in the minority here. Even then there are the ' that's shit' type responses ( the recent St Vincent Discussion for example where you had to search through for salient points). I'm not surprised, just a bit disappointed.

It's still a very good place for some of those Discussions but I'd rather people contributed meaningfully to the on topic stuff a bit more so the balance was better. But as you say open and free for all.

Alnico · November 2017

I joined here early in 2014.
I came from Ultimate Guitar and I wanted to join something that was UK based.

In the 3 odd years I've been here I experienced so much more things through this community than I ever thought possible from an internet forum.
It's gone from an information resource online to something that forms a large part of my social life and an outlet for whatever musical ability I have and want to express.
I've watched the forum grow from the 8-month-old, small community it was into what we have now which is frankly astonishing.......are we past 7,000 members yet? We can't be far off!

So I came here looking for info and interesting chat but I got some of the best real-life, long term friends I've ever had (I also found an old school-friend who I hadn't seen for 24 years!), vast amounts more information than I thought you could get access to, so I've learned a *huge* amount and I've got a platform for whatever I can manage to play or create.

Recent 'Turbulence' has been difficult here but the forum is bigger than the sum of its parts and the more useful and helpful some of us are able to make this place for everyone, the more I'm fairly sure we can move away from all that.

There's some really cool stuff happening next year, once we've all got past Christmas.
It's all happening quietly behind the scenes for now but if you liked the Jam sessions, enjoy learning and you enjoy the social meet-up side of this place, you'll love this!..........TBA

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