Author Topic: Help me test the new Alembic website  (Read 641 times)

bassjigga

  • club
  • Advanced Member
  • *
  • Posts: 389
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #30 on: September 10, 2009, 08:06:11 PM »
i just realized they are all essences. so are you going to do this with all the different models?  
 
spalted maple is nice, but i still have 2 more boards of that ebony we used on my europa ;)

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10597
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #31 on: September 10, 2009, 08:21:56 PM »
Yes, the idea is that each model page will show an actual example in as many woods as I have decent images for. Even slight variations like Ton's Amboyna Burl and Danny's Black Essence are OK to get a general idea of how the different woods and finishes look on each body shape.  
 
I saw the Quilted Meple as soon as I checked the page for the Vermilion link and fixed it - I thought before anyone else had noticed!

bsee

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2658
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #32 on: September 10, 2009, 08:29:55 PM »
It looks nice to me on the most current versions of Firefox, IE and Safari on an XP platform. I've only looked at it on my laptop at 1680x1050, but it doesn't seem there would be any need to look at it on larger screens as it all fits quite well in this space. That said, there are two things that stand out to me as missing.  
 
First, Alembic has always described their necks and string spacing based upon neck width at nut and 24th fret. Many others in the industry talk about string spacing at the bridge, including most bassists on at least one internet forum. I really wish Alembic would publish these numbers as a part of the instrument description.
 
Second, there doesn't appear to be any link to options for the instrument. That seems like it has to be on the page somewhere prominent. A link to the configurator with the correct model plugged in would be a nice touch, but I've always wished there was a bit more description of some of the options.
 
While not what I would consider missing, it might also be nice to link to a few pics of whole custom basses, or at least any FC Essences that may exist. Completed and fully specified instruments might provide some nice ideas for buyers who would otherwise skip an option that they would later regret.
 
In terms of design, the page gets awfully long if you narrow your browser window. I might set a minimum width so that you don't end up with more than three rows of examples, four at the most. I might set up a separate page with the extra samples rather than presenting quite so many right there up front. I do think it's really cool that you're using actual bass pics for the examples rather than mock-ups. Current screen resolution stats say that at least 93% of users are at 1024x768 or larger with almost no one below 800x600. Maybe this doesn't matter as most people won't scrunch their browser width so much if they don't have to, but the specs can work their way pretty far down the page. Maybe some navigation above the fold in the form of tags to the examples and specs might be in order?
 
Also, I understand that almost everyone will display an item for sale with a few options on it, but I would prefer that large primary pic to be at least the stock woods and configuration rather than something with over $1000 in upgrades on it. That's just personal preference - it always bothers me a little when a car dealer runs an ad for a $20K vehicle and then small prints a price as shown of $10K higher.

bassjigga

  • club
  • Advanced Member
  • *
  • Posts: 389
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #33 on: September 10, 2009, 08:54:36 PM »
Wow that will be really cool! Oh and btw, the birds-eye maple essence is my bass. Cool!

bigredbass

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3032
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #34 on: September 10, 2009, 10:55:40 PM »
Looks fine in Vista HOME premium/IntExp8.
 
THAT's exactly the kind of update the 'catalog' side of the website needs.  My two cents would be to show along with that 4str to the left of the lowdown on the Essence a five and a six mentioned in the accompanying specs below.

terryc

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2488
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #35 on: September 11, 2009, 02:43:29 AM »
Looks great on this side of the pond using WXP

jacko

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4068
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #36 on: September 11, 2009, 03:00:58 AM »
Looks fine to me further up the coast on this side of the pond also using WXP;-)
 
As an aside, having read through Bob's post, I agree that a good development would be a link to the custom quote generator. However, it would be nice if the quote generator was updated to cover all possible combinations. For example, i'm interested to know how much a 5 string dragons wing and 5 string exploiter style body would cost built as a signature deluxe.
 
Graeme
 
p.s. i love the mutant maple with the purpleheart fingerboard ;-)
 
(Message edited by jacko on September 11, 2009)
 
(Message edited by jacko on September 11, 2009)

cje

  • club
  • Advanced Member
  • *
  • Posts: 205
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #37 on: September 11, 2009, 07:11:28 AM »
Mica, along with this update, have you considered providing sound samples in any capacity?  I know there are so many non-Alembic related variables that contribute to the sound of an instrument (and maybe that's why you don't post any), but maybe something basic as a starting point, just to compare the different electronics options for basses/guitars?

artswork99

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2078
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #38 on: September 11, 2009, 07:20:56 AM »
I've become acquainted with the bass player  doing the tracks for the Lakland audio samples.  The idea shows the use of different string sets and alternating pick-ups for each model.  Obviously not as many sound choices as an Alembic may present, but certainly an interesting idea and a place to start.

hifiguy

  • club
  • Advanced Member
  • *
  • Posts: 462
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #39 on: September 11, 2009, 08:54:27 AM »
Looks great at work on IE, Mica, and I second Graeme's thoughts.

pierreyves

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1344
    • www.vaucher-photos.ch
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #40 on: September 11, 2009, 09:11:16 AM »
Perfect with Mozilla firefox, IE8 with 1440/900 resolution, and safari on .... Iphone ;o)
 
(Message edited by pierreyves on September 11, 2009)

crobbins

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 987
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #41 on: September 11, 2009, 03:34:16 PM »
Works good on my old Dell pc, XP, windows..

Enzo

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 602
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #42 on: September 11, 2009, 03:52:19 PM »
Everything ok with IE 7 and XP pro.

hg30904

  • club
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 124
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #43 on: September 13, 2009, 04:34:05 PM »
Good with Windows 7 and IE 8

mario_farufyno

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1799
  • Alembic Rogue 4 strings
Help me test the new Alembic website
« Reply #44 on: September 13, 2009, 06:22:29 PM »
It worked great on my PC/Windows XP/Firefox 3.5.3/3Mb conection...
Not just a bass, this is an Alembic!