samgoble.com, reimagined.

'Cornetto, Dulcian, Shawm & Trumpet Player / Historical Wind Instrument Maker' is an accurate label but gives no reason to engage. A visiting musician needs to immediately understand quality level, lead time, and whether commissions are open — none of which appears above the fold.

Beyond the slideshow of instrument images and the instrument category links, there is no introductory copy, no statement of Sam's reputation or experience, and no call to action. A first-time visitor — perhaps a lutenist who has just been told they need a cornett player or a maker — has no context for why Sam Goble is the right choice.

Directing an ensemble is a significant credibility marker in the early music world. It does not appear in the visible homepage content, which is a missed opportunity to establish Sam's standing as a performer.

The only contact mechanism visible is an email address and phone number at the very bottom of the page. For a high-value, bespoke product — cornetts can run to several thousand pounds — there is no structured path that helps a buyer articulate what they need and take a first step.

The Price List exists as a standalone nav item rather than being integrated with each instrument category page. Buyers comparing makers will leave to check a competitor's site and may not return. Showing price ranges inline with instrument details would reduce drop-off.

Workshop and course offerings attract a different but valuable audience — aspiring makers, educators, conservatoire students. A single sentence or small callout on the homepage pointing to this offering could generate enquiries that would otherwise never materialise.

Early music is a small, relationship-driven world. A mailing list — even for new instrument availability, course dates, or performance announcements — would build a direct channel to an audience that is otherwise only reachable via Instagram or Facebook.

A short form asking for instrument type, pitch standard (e.g. 415 or 440), wood preference, intended repertoire, and budget would pre-qualify buyers and give Sam the information needed to respond meaningfully on the first reply. This could halve the number of email exchanges per enquiry.

Questions like 'how long is your current lead time', 'do you make straight cornetts', and 'what woods do you use' are likely asked repeatedly. A simple trained assistant could handle these at any hour, capturing contact details and passing warm leads to Sam without requiring his attention.

The Repairs & Making Course page presumably requires back-and-forth to arrange dates. A simple scheduling link (Calendly or equivalent) embedded on that page would remove friction and likely increase course bookings.

In the early music world, instrument provenance and maker reputation matter enormously. A quote from a named professional player — 'My Goble cornett has been my primary instrument for ten years' — would carry significant weight for anyone arriving via a web search.

Sam is described as an active player and director, yet there is no audio or video on the homepage. A short embedded clip of Sam performing on one of his own instruments would simultaneously demonstrate his playing and the sound quality of his instruments — the single most compelling sales tool available to him.

Instagram and Facebook icons appear at the very bottom of the page. If Sam posts work-in-progress instrument photos or performance clips on Instagram — which makers in this field often do to great effect — those posts are effectively invisible to homepage visitors who don't scroll to the footer.

The +44 (0)77 8056 4370 number has a mailto: href, meaning clicking it opens an email client rather than dialling. On mobile — where many visitors will land from Instagram — this is a direct conversion failure.

The slideshow images have no descriptive alt text. Beyond accessibility concerns, this removes meaningful keyword signals for image search — a relevant channel for someone searching 'baroque bassoon maker' or 'cornett for sale'.

Adding new instruments for sale, updating the price list, or publishing a course date likely requires manual file editing. This friction means the site will tend to lag behind reality, which erodes trust when buyers find outdated information.