it sucks to say this, but...

[Nightbat]

If the site is a PITA to use, or the search function doesn't work, or I have to login every time I arrive and then have to click through the forum because the passthrough from the login page errors every time, then traffic diminishes, less people contribute, the content-producers (ie. forum members) stop visiting, casual visitors feel less like joining up and contributing themselves. Hence the forum dying on the vine

I don't consider this site a pain to use (not even on mobile)
Nor do I have the problems you do, which doesn't seem to be a common problem shared amongst most or even a large group of users, I'd think it would require you to look at your system first

[coloradoman25]

Multi level issues made this forum weak.

The lack of administration.
Charging for platinum but no real updates

BUT most of all the guitars that this forum really speaks to are currently "distributed". Coming from someone who restored and flipped the market is DRY as its been in a long time. The collector pieces are what this forum is really geared towards. When the supply dried up and values flatlined/tanked the forum fell off the map.

Its really simple to see if you search. Everything kinda leveled out. Some stuff that was cheap has gone up and the rest flatlined around that 600-1200 mark. The supply then dried up from post boomers that lusted after these when they were young. They either bought em; bought then resold em; or just flat out moved towards the retirement mark.

The newer generation of metal heads are 7-8 stringers with more technicality than most will get out of a 1 hum or HSS. Those were the majority/bread and butter of the collector generation of these guitars.

Now with 500000 botique builders and fenders hand in the game watering the brand down to what is now just mediocre on the whole is where we are at.

[VitaminG]

I don't consider this site a pain to use (not even on mobile)
Nor do I have the problems you do, which doesn't seem to be a common problem shared amongst most or even a large group of users, I'd think it would require you to look at your system first

I was talking generally about issues that people have mentioned with the site. The software is pretty archaic compared to a lot of newer forums. For the couple of times a week I check in now, I don't have much issue using the site. The login issue is a minor PITA for me. But people are generally sharing their grievances. What doesn't particularly bother me may be a sticking point for other users. If new users find it a crappy experience, they're less likely to hang around or participate.

The login issue happens in my preferred browser (Chrome) but redirects to the forum from the login page just fine in another (Firefox). But it's a clear redirect issue. My system doesn't control the site's response once I've entered my login details. So it appears at least superficially that there is an issue with the site on Chrome.

People have complained about the search functionality here for years. It ended up better to use Google to search the site than the site's native search engine. If a user doesn't know that, then they may be frustrated by an inability to find an old topic or subject. This site is still the best source for all things J/C. But the search engine was a frustration. Maybe it's better now but I stopped using it ages ago

[xenophobe]

Site owners aren't responsible for the users providing the content, we can argue about this not being mobile friendly
but no one needs to be kept up to date about what's happening in Jackson world 24/7 (unlike FB and Twatter)

If this place is dying, it's because of a lack/loss of interest in Jackson guitars, nobody is coming here for Amp tech, Patches, Paint info, there are bigger/better sites for that

What can you argue about this place not being mobile friendly? There's nothing to argue about, it's just not. There's either a plugin or built in functionality that has not been configured.

Admin and mods should be doing things to make the place better. That's any normal forum staff's job. I don't see how that can even be an argument. Nothing has been done to this place in over a decade.

Every other forum I'm on has an active staff and admin and aren't dying. This place could be a lot more active, but nobody cares. It probably generates more than enough ad-revenue to continue to run.

[xenophobe]

Oh, and it doesn't help when the forum is running like shit either. Just got this in my inbox from a new user. People also have trouble creating accounts... and this too? lol Wonder why the board is dead?

Hello,

My name is Mark I am new here. The site will not let me post or start a thread I have emailed the site many times for the past two weeks and have had no response. I have a large Charvel and Jackson collection and thought wow I found a cool site but so far it seems to be crap. I thought maybe you could help me....if it is even worth it? Sound like this forum is dead.

Thanks,
Mark

[toejam]

Only the forum owner makes money here and can change things. If he doesn't care, does any other admin?

[The Axe Collector]

New guy here finally...thanks Toejam!!

I thought I should introduce myself my name is Mark and I purchased my first Charvel in the early 90s. Still have that first Charvel and fell in love now I have lots of Charvels and Jacksons....best metal guitars ever made!

[markD]

New guy here finally...thanks Toejam!!

I thought I should introduce myself my name is Mark and I purchased my first Charvel in the early 90s. Still have that first Charvel and fell in love now I have lots of Charvels and Jacksons....best metal guitars ever made!

Welcome, Mark!! Glad you made it! There are some cool people here - hopefully pics and stories of your collection can churn shit back up for awhile!! Looking forward to seeing/hearing about your guitars.

[Mossezhoffen]

I've been on forums for most of my playing career and I've got nearly every piece of information about guitars from
forums. I've also seen the golden age and their decline since Facebook, Twitter and Instagram came. IMO social media
sucks big time! And I think they're a major reason why nowadays everybody is so miserable. Tho I have to use them to market our band
and for that they are perfect platforms.

But they don't really work as substitutes for guitar forums like the forums do. There's just too much information here that social media can't replace.
Recently Vintage Kramer forum was shut down and I thought it was all over. But some members found a new Kramer forum which seems like the old
days. Everyone posts a lot and there's enthusiastic feel and excitement in the air. So they might come back since there's more and more people going offline from
social media.

IMO I'd love to see more of member's collections here. Something that you see more on forums like Les Paul Forum. Especially the vintage section
kicks ass.

[Mudlark]

New guy here finally...thanks Toejam!!

[Nightbat]

This place could be a lot more active, but nobody cares.

I think people in general don't care about forums anymore, or they'd still be here

This only one of a few forums I still visit,... that's left
Of those still active, I've seen the usage dive down for all, some just with just the hardcore fans remaining, where they went from a few hundred active visitors online, to just a few dozen or even less than 10

Just as a small example: I'm a member of the biggest and most active dutch motorcycle forum, it has almost 250,000 registered users, it has mobile access
A few years back, my most visited thread was that concerning the Suzuki GSXR 750 K6/7, it had it's dedicated thread
(the K1-5 750 were collected in one thread, and there were separate threads for the 600's, there were separate threads for the '96-'01 SRAD 750's and for the 600's, as well as for the oil cooled GSXR's, not to mention there was also a general GSXR 750 thread and 600 one)
I had to follow that thread every day or I would be backlogged 5-10 pages (100-200 posts), not counting what I was following in the general 750 thread, there were dozens of active users in those threads

These days all 600/750 threads for all the years have been merged and for me to get the same backlog, I can log out for weeks, at maximum, it has the same 10 users in the thread whenever I visit

And that's just my personal interest threads, not only has every other bike specific thread followed the same fate, the downfall is present over the entire forum, in every section, from general bike/riding discussions, to off topic
With a maximum post count of 2500, threads used to be "full" within weeks, now they take months to years



Personally, I think trying to put the guilt on the people running the JCF unfair, this site does not have the following that Gibson, Fender, Ibanez or ESP has, and you cannot judge it as such
You can try to prove me wrong though, by setting up your own J/C forum

[The Axe Collector]

Welcome, Mark!! Glad you made it! There are some cool people here - hopefully pics and stories of your collection can churn shit back up for awhile!! Looking forward to seeing/hearing about your guitars.

Thanks man! I have been trying to post for two weeks. Sent emails to the contact us for the site and had no response almost gave up.

[neilli]

I thought I should introduce myself my name is Mark and I purchased my first Charvel in the early 90s. Still have that first Charvel and fell in love now I have lots of Charvels and Jacksons....best metal guitars ever made!

Welcome Mark! Cool to have another Canadian here who has a bunch of them - sometimes it feels like I'm the only one LOL You gotta post some pics though - that's 'the rules' lol

[The Axe Collector]

Welcome Mark! Cool to have another Canadian here who has a bunch of them - sometimes it feels like I'm the only one LOL You gotta post some pics though - that's 'the rules' lol

Thanks! Ya I will definitely post up some pics soon.

Hopefully this site picks up a bit. I don't think the younger generation knows enough about Jackson/Charvel. There all into this 7,8,9,10....string Ibanez crap. It's great for guys like me who can pick up some really nice MIJ Charvel's and Jackson's for cheap I guess.

[Infernal Death]

Some familiar names in this thread.
I can remember this place buzzing with activity back in the day. Every 10min you could log on and find something new.
But now i log into the board maybe 1-2 times a year. Just saw that my last past was in 2011.

But still owning all my Jacksons and play them regulary. Still the best guitars for me. 1-2 times per month i check online places and ebay to see if there is something interesting Jackson related to buy.
A year ago i had huge GAS for a Korina KV but never found any around where i live so i just built my own.

Flo