it sucks to say this, but...

[Number Of The Priest]

I'm just not one to throw out "me too!" and smileys just to look active.

There used to be a lot of that in the 2000s. There is no denying the JCF of 10-15 years ago certainly had vitality and the place was buzzing with activity. I spent countless hours loafing on JCF instead of studying for university. But during those "golden years", there was a prevalence of useless posts from many, including myself. I look back at my posting history and am embarrassed at the terrible quality-to-quantity ratio. Other "junk" posts included members correcting others on their spelling and grammar, talking about penises, bashing other guitar companies, members ribbing each other, threads getting derailed, topics losing focus, juvenile behaviour, etc.

We were SO immature back then. Let's admit it. It was fun, but it was more difficult separating the wheat from the chaff.

I am going to sound like I'm in the minority here, but current JCF is actually more in line with my current mentality. Civilized, mature, intelligent discussion that doesn't stray too much, for the most part. We can still be frivolous and lighthearted too, but our "focus" of today seems much more sharpened. Topics stray off-course with less frequency. Let the low-content posts riddled with smileys and meaningless dross live on Facebook.

If you want an analogy, JCF of the 2000s (and what some Facebook guitar groups are today) had a rowdy frat party vibe, drinking boxed wine and cheap beer. Today's JCF has more of a refined, cigars-and-scotch lounge vibe.

[Guitarkid8]

^ Well said priest.

[bombtek]

Nah...I kinda dug the chaos!
I had no issues following quality threads and was able to decipher and mentally segregate the posts that had something of value to offer to a thread from the useless (but at times hilarious) drivel that sometimes populated a good quality thread.
This place is like the bar that was once THE place to go years ago, but now is run down and in need of a serious makeover.
Hell, the homepage itself hasn't been updated in years. If you read the content on it, you'll see that it's still 2008.

[j2379]

i don't remember how long Ive been a JCFer, but it WAS, THE C/J forum learned lots & met many nice guys from this place. Even had the chance to attend a NJ JCFer BBQ....& yeah i was the JackAss that brought BCRichs. there is a JCF FB page but even thats not what this used to be.

[Nightbat]

Today's JCF has more of a refined, cigars-and-scotch lounge vibe.

Nah, the JCF isn't that distinguished or has THAT much class
I'm more of the opinion it's that old back alley bar, that used to be the place for cool music, with the occasional brawls and wet t-shirt competitions
The world changed, people moved on, except for a small group of patrons that stuck around, just because they got to old to chase trends and excitement

[shreddermon]

Let's face it, it's not just one thing. It's been due to several factors...

- Many old timers have moved on. Some aren't even active in online guitar communities anymore. There just isn't as much of a solid "core" to the members here in the community as back in the day.

- Most of the good old guitars have already been rediscovered and sold into a collection by now. There's just not much left from the original SD era to be "found" anymore. Now, it's more about waiting for the occasional old timer-collector to lose interest, and resell off some of their stable.

- The masterbuilt charge has put a fair damper on people ordering and posting about their cool new customs. There used to be sooooo much more of that happening here.

- The prevalence of Facebook, and newer members preferring and/or just being more used to that format.

- The JCF forum itself not changing with the times, and not being invested in at all. This place is not just stale, it has gone downright moldy.

- Even the J/C brands themselves have changed and largely moved on from us 80s old timers. Sure, there's still the occassional Dimartini or whatnot new model. But the lion's share of emphasis is on newe metal, like Misha, etc. 7 strings, extended scales. That's where the hard rock guitar market has largely moved towards. And it's necessity to change with those times. But old schoolers like me have little interest there.

The times, they are a changing.

[eakinj]

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

Adding to this, it's difficult to keep interest when the brand has nothing new to really talk about. I still check in, but I haven't picked up a guitar since my injury and I don't know that I ever will again, It would be nice to see some of the old timers just raid the place and start talking about anything at all, because those threads were always fun. I just think the people who were really active have moved on, and really there's only so many times you can read someone post "how much it my made in china guitar worth" before everyone who's seen those posts a billion times just gives up.

I hate facebook, I have it because there's family I and friends I have (sadly) no other real way to stay in contact with, and twitter is... well I don't need 140 characters to state how shitty it is.

[Nightbat]

But the lion's share of emphasis is on newe metal, like Misha, etc. 7 strings, extended scales. That's where the hard rock guitar market has largely moved towards. And it's necessity to change with those times. But old schoolers like me have little interest there.

Well, it's not like the market for guitars itself is growing. Guitar heroes are dead or dying
Kids these days rather listen to, and make, non-guitar oriented music, Djs are the new heroes. the Computer is the new guitar

[VitaminG]

There used to be a lot of that in the 2000s. There is no denying the JCF of 10-15 years ago certainly had vitality and the place was buzzing with activity. I spent countless hours loafing on JCF instead of studying for university. But during those "golden years", there was a prevalence of useless posts from many, including myself. I look back at my posting history and am embarrassed at the terrible quality-to-quantity ratio. Other "junk" posts included members correcting others on their spelling and grammar, talking about penises, bashing other guitar companies, members ribbing each other, threads getting derailed, topics losing focus, juvenile behaviour, etc.

We were SO immature back then. Let's admit it. It was fun, but it was more difficult separating the wheat from the chaff.

I am going to sound like I'm in the minority here, but current JCF is actually more in line with my current mentality. Civilized, mature, intelligent discussion that doesn't stray too much, for the most part. We can still be frivolous and lighthearted too, but our "focus" of today seems much more sharpened. Topics stray off-course with less frequency. Let the low-content posts riddled with smileys and meaningless dross live on Facebook.

If you want an analogy, JCF of the 2000s (and what some Facebook guitar groups are today) had a rowdy frat party vibe, drinking boxed wine and cheap beer. Today's JCF has more of a refined, cigars-and-scotch lounge vibe.

Sounds like you just got old, man

Nah...I kinda dug the chaos!
I had no issues following quality threads and was able to decipher and mentally segregate the posts that had something of value to offer to a thread from the useless (but at times hilarious) drivel that sometimes populated a good quality thread.
This place is like the bar that was once THE place to go years ago, but now is run down and in need of a serious makeover.
Hell, the homepage itself hasn't been updated in years. If you read the content on it, you'll see that it's still 2008.

Nah, the JCF isn't that distinguished or has THAT much class
I'm more of the opinion it's that old back alley bar, that used to be the place for cool music, with the occasional brawls and wet t-shirt competitions
The world changed, people moved on, except for a small group of patrons that stuck around, just because they got to old to chase trends and excitement

So we're all old barflies now? "hey man, you shoulda SEEN this place back in the day"

[Axewielder]

So we're all old barflies now? "hey man, you shoulda SEEN this place back in the day"

Yeah like the saying goes...the older I get, the better I was!

[slayer]

I really loved the old raw JCF board(s) of old. Even the ones before 2002. It was fast and furious and ya we fought a lot and then made up and said sweet new Jackson Bro!! I don`t know what saddens me more, the guitar forums dying or the stupid Masterbuilt fee on custom Jacksons now-Toss Up

[hippietim]

Fuck Toejam!

[VitaminG]

Fuck Toejam!

it had to be said

[toejam]

As far as a new, updated forum, I've seen something in the works, and it looks good.

[Razor]

Fuck Toejam!

About damn time someone said it. Now, if we could just get Sully to post some Spam...