A New Luthier's Forum....

[Spruce]

There's a new Luthier's Forum (http://luthierforum.com/index.php?act=idx) in town, and it looks like it might turn into something interesting...

Lots of wood for sale, discussions on building, etc. etc....

Check it out...!

[mandoluthier1]

I just registered, Bruce. Looks like it could be some fun. Thanks for the heads-up.
John

[Skip Kelley]

Thanks Bruce, I just registered!

[mandoryan]

Bruce is the man. Dude, you stay on top of stuff. That place is pretty cool.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

I just went to visit and so far it looks pretty good. If you use to hang out at MIMF and found it to be a bit "restrictive" then you'll probably enjoy this new forum.

[Spruce]

"If you use to hang out at MIMF and found it to be a bit "restrictive" then you'll probably enjoy this new forum. "

Restrictive??
The MIMF (http://www.mimf.com/)??

That's like calling a frog waterproof.... # #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

The last straw for me is when I tried to post on the MIMF that a blacktop 1914 Gibson F4 mandolin was worth about 4K, and they censored the post...
Apparently, they thought that this reeked of commercialism, and thus was not to be allowed...

Could you imagine such restrictions here??

[Michael Lewis]

Spruce, for some reason MIMF doesn't allow ANY prices to be posted. I guess there's a reason for it, but it does somewhat hamper free exchange of information.

[Spruce]

"I guess there's a reason for it, but it does somewhat hamper free exchange of information. "

I've yet to figure out the reason for it....

Can you imagine a Mandolin Cafe Message Board where all posts that mentioned pricing information (even for something like the aforementioned '14 F4), contact information for sources of supply, links to websites that are not your own, or anything that even hints of controversy are immediately (and I mean immediately) removed?

The Cafe would become rather boring and non-informative in a hurry--a fate that I'm afraid has already befallen the MIMF.....

[mandomaniac]

Glad to see this thread show up. I was going to post a similar note. I hope the knowledgable, helpful folks here will participate in the Luthierforum as well. I have enjoyed it as much as here. I share Bruce's feelings on MIMF.....it is too bad. I valued the advise/shared experiences of many incredible folks active in MIMF. I learned a great deal. Unfortunately, the chilly climate got a bit TOO MUCH! I have to ponder...how would their site censors react to a simple post such as Bruce's above??? I bet it would never see the light of day. So it looks like MandolinCafe and Luthierforum will be the place to be to share thoughts/info/questions in the luthier community. It has been a pleasure to see just how helpful and sharing that community really IS....THANKS!!!!!

[Spruce]

"I have to ponder...how would their site censors react to a simple post such as Bruce's above??? #I bet it would never see the light of day."

I'd give it about 10 seconds...
And then it would be gone...

[mandomaniac]

Sad , but true, Bruce. Hence the need for an open forum. Nothing wrong with maintaining some basic guidelines of civility....but when the free exchange of ideas/info suffers.....time for a CHANGE. Looking forward to the growth of Luthierforum and the continued success of MandolnCafe. Hat is off to Scott and Mario. You provide a great service to MANY. It is appreciated all the more. Tom

[Dolamon]

Free exchange of ideas - as long as the books and tools are ordered via the site. Archaic overiding concepts to a really nice idea. I think the confusion exists in their interpretation of the 501C not for profit charter. The seemed to feel that if you mentioned $ - it would corrupt the purity of the site - duh! I stopped going there about three years ago as the "SysOp" seemed to maintain her knickers in a knot for weeks on end.

[Bill Snyder]

I went and looked around at the luthiersforum for quite awhile. Doubt I will go to the site much. Just does not look user friendly to me.

[Spruce]

"Just does not look user friendly to me. "

In what way?
Your statement is a bit ironic, because the luthiersforum kinda reminds me of this site in it's architecture...

The site is just getting going, and is changing every day.
I'm sure if you had some ideas as to how it could change for the better, the changes would be implimented (if they're good ideas)...

Give it a year or so, and we'll see if it flies...

For now, it sure beats the alternatives....