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  #1  
Old 11-15-2017, 03:10 PM
mcbean mcbean is offline
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Default What do you like in a guitar builder's website?

Hey all,

Building websites is kind of a non-paying side-hustle for me. I'll build something for a friend who needs a site, have even built a few for non-profits in my area who can't afford a more serious (and justifiably more expensive) builder.

I currently have a friend who is trying to get a guitar building/repairing business off the ground and she's asked me to build her a website. Like most of you, I've spent a good amount of time on various builders' websites over the years, but I'm curious if there is anything that stands out to you that you love about particular builders' sites? Aesthetics, layout, functionality, etc.

I'm just curious what you all are into. I want her to be pleased with the outcome, but I also want users to get the experience they like as well.

Thoughts?
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Old 11-15-2017, 03:21 PM
Tony Done Tony Done is offline
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Quick loading, no fancy audio visual on the opening page, easy navigation and obvious access to specs. I'm not interested first up in how wonderful a guitar or the builder is, I want to know its constructional details.
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Old 11-15-2017, 03:32 PM
imwjl imwjl is offline
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A web site needs to be an information machine. Many designers forget that.

Responsive design is a must. This is 2017.

It should convey the builder's experience and that the guitars are responsive. I'm officially GAS-free but when not I found lot of guitars beautiful to look at from newer small builders but not many that did the wow to me that happened with picking up about every Santa Cruz and Collings. I ended up feeling those two knew how to hit home runs about every time compared to others.

Convey that the builder is someone you'd like to join for a coffee or beer even if she or he didn't build guitars.
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Old 11-15-2017, 03:37 PM
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Ed-in-Ohio Ed-in-Ohio is offline
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Full guitar specs for each model. Again, FULL specs, including fretboard radius. Let me repeat that...including fretboard radius!
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Old 11-15-2017, 03:48 PM
mcbean mcbean is offline
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Definitely agree on specs. Lowden's website was notoriously difficult to find specs on for the longest time.
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  #6  
Old 11-15-2017, 04:00 PM
rlb9682 rlb9682 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Done View Post
Quick loading, no fancy audio visual on the opening page, easy navigation and obvious access to specs. ...
This! Sites should be fairly intuitive which to me means easy to navigate and not cluttered with a wall of text or av.

It's tough to do attractive without being distracting but that's my preference too.
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Old 11-15-2017, 04:26 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Done View Post
Quick loading, no fancy audio visual on the opening page, easy navigation and obvious access to specs. I'm not interested first up in how wonderful a guitar or the builder is, I want to know its constructional details.
I also want to know the price of the base model(s), option upcharges, payment plan (% down/%'s due in installments or upon completion) and approximate build/waitlist time...
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Old 11-15-2017, 05:35 PM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa View Post
I also want to know the price of the base model(s), option upcharges, payment plan (% down/%'s due in installments or upon completion) and approximate build/waitlist time...
Same here, Steve.
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  #9  
Old 11-15-2017, 05:45 PM
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TBman TBman is offline
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Specs, pictures, videos and mp3 clips with no eq. Oh, and price lists.
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Old 11-17-2017, 08:15 PM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Done View Post
Quick loading, no fancy audio visual on the opening page, easy navigation and obvious access to specs. I'm not interested first up in how wonderful a guitar or the builder is, I want to know its constructional details.
Yes!

Pages I would expect to see would cover price (base plus add-ons), list of options, payment and warranty terms, models offered with full specs on the sizes, descriptions of what each is like and the identifying characteristics of the builder's guitars, complete list of woods offered long with any upcharges, descriptions of innovations and sometimes the builder's philosophy and personal background.. And lots of photos that clearly show each part of the instrument.

I don't have much patience for sites which are too artsy, that make you wait while something loads that you don't want to see or hear. Straightforward and no nonsense is better. Selling (or giving) instruments to famous people fails to impress me as much as they hope it will.
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  #11  
Old 11-18-2017, 12:54 PM
Twelvefret Twelvefret is offline
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I prefer a phone number and a relationship to a web site.
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  #12  
Old 11-22-2017, 06:15 PM
ManyMartinMan ManyMartinMan is offline
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Guitars photos, sound-clips, good contact information, prices and options. Anything less is a waste of time.
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