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Cigar Box Nation Redesign

Hello everyone,

I wanted to let you know that we are working on a redesign of Cigar Box Nation's look and feel (known as its "theme" or "skin". Basically, this means the banner, the colors, how the different content boxes look, etc. This current theme has been in place for several years now, and was never all that great to begin with (I know, because I'm the one that came up with it), so it is definitely time for an update.

The core functionality that makes up Cigar Box Nation is not changing, only the way it looks on your computer screen. You'll still be able to upload photos and vids, browse groups, post forum topics and comments, update your own pages, take part in the chat, etc.

We are working with a professional Ning theme developer on this project (you can see some of her Ning design porfolio here if you want), with a goal of making the overall site look much cleaner, and more modern, while still retaining a "vintagey" feel that is in keeping with cigar box guitars.

The Cigar Box Nation logo (star/upraised fist/CBG) will be kept. We will also be making sure to keep some of the key stuff on the front page that you all love so much (Photo slideshow, Videos, Top Content, Forums, Groups). We are going to be working hard to make it easier to nagivate the site in general though, especially for newer users. So the main menu is going to be revamped and some other navigational aids added.

My hope is that the end result of all of this will be a much better looking and easier-to-use website. I am sure there will be some bumps in the road, and I know that not everyone will like every change. This process of having a professional, modern theme developed is not cheap, but I think it is an investment very much worth making.

Feel free to post comments and discuss all of this. I'll do my best to reply as possible.

Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TN Twang on May 28, 2015 at 6:36am

I REALLY like the "Let 'em make banjos..." line. Is there some way we could get that on a t-sthirt? (Ben, are you listening???)

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Permalink Reply by Blue Collar Devil on May 27, 2015 at 2:49pm

I look forward to CBN's new look. Sometimes change is needed and like others have said already, Those that welcome it will use it.

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Permalink Reply by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on May 27, 2015 at 3:11pm

Changes of this sort always have a bittersweet edge, and I have never been a fan of change just for change's sake. I want to make sure that any update made to the Nation is a real, lasting improvement. This place is too important to too many people, and to the handmade music movement as a whole, to go messing around with it on a whim. This is gonna be a good thing.

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Permalink Reply by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on May 28, 2015 at 12:36am

I have been doing some preliminary re-arranging of the main menu.

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on May 27, 2015 at 6:08pm

Great news Ben, thanks. Is the mobile site getting an overhaul too?

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Permalink Reply by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on May 28, 2015 at 12:37am

Hopefully we'll be able to take a look at it.

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Permalink Reply by Monterey on June 19, 2015 at 3:00am

I do everything on a Blackberry Q5, and as of June 19 everything is working so far so good. Takes a bit of getting used to, but much better!

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 29, 2015 at 1:12am

I agree with Aardvark! It'll only take us old guys a couple of months to figure the new stuff out.

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Permalink Reply by Primitive Acoustics on May 29, 2015 at 6:01am

Thanks for putting the effort and $$ into the update Ben. Would love to see better compatibility with mobile devices if possible.

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on May 29, 2015 at 7:21am

Question Ben, will the new site be iPad friendly. Sme features now don't work in iPad because they need flash which is not supported. Photo display is one that comes to mind.

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Permalink Reply by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on May 29, 2015 at 7:36am

Unfortuneatly I don't think that will be affected, since we're only changing the visual theme and have no direct control over the back-end functionality.