Custom Rod Question

[bassheel]

Is it possible to get a custom St Croix Ltb rod with same details as 7 m/f (stock plastics rod) just made to 6'10 m/f for the same price? I didnt want to bother a builder just wanted a ballpark figure. TW has the 7'1" plastics rods for $260. It will be used for senkos,ikas.

[bassheel]

sorry wrong section

[S Hovanec]

I doubt it. The blank is $165 alone. Off the top of my head, I'd be about $350 to build that.

[FD.]

For $260 you can get high performance custom rod built to your specs. Not on an overpriced St Croix blank, but on a equal quality blank.

[MickD]

What blank would that be?

[S Hovanec]

I'd probably look at a Carbon 4 RodGeeks if you want to stay in an action/power similar to St Croix.

C470MF will save you some money.

[FD.]

What blank would that be?

 

Either the HM-MB862-MHX 7'-2" Medium Fast for $104 

or as Scott suggested

RG C470MF  7'-0" Medium Fast for $99

 

In my opinion both blanks are equal to or superior to the St Croix.

 

Add a modest handle system for $30 and Alconite guides for $40, then you're in the neighborhood of $170 for high performance parts.  Most people build  "non blingy" rods for around $11 a foot, add $30 in shipping and you have a higher end custom rod in the $270 neighborhood.

[MickD]

So you're going to build a rod in which you have $200 and sell it for $270?  You are very reasonable.  thanks, Mick

[FD.]

So you're going to build a rod in which you have $200 and sell it for $270?  You are very reasonable.  thanks, Mick

 

I'm not talking about a rod with the freaky grips and thread art that Scott and Mike and Lee Smith build.  Those guys have 10 to 15 hours of highly skilled work in a rod.

 

Putting a stock handle system on, static testing and wrapping guides, then finishing only takes a couple of hours to do. Most guys would build a basic rod for $70.

[MickD]

I guess you guys are a lot faster than I.  I'm only half fast.  But I wouldn't do it for $70, anyway.  To enter into the arena of customer satisfaction, idiots mistreating rods, warranty questions, etc, would take a lot more than $70 for me.  I'm not being critical of your practices, just commenting more on me than you.  I think I can have an hour invested in a couple coats of CP then a couple of epoxy.  Plus about 20 hours of cure time on my single rig.

[FD.]

I guess you guys are a lot faster than I.  I'm only half fast.  But I wouldn't do it for $70, anyway.  To enter into the arena of customer satisfaction, idiots mistreating rods, warranty questions, etc, would take a lot more than $70 for me.  I'm not being critical of your practices, just commenting more on me than you.  I think I can have an hour invested in a couple coats of CP then a couple of epoxy.  Plus about 20 hours of cure time on my single rig.

 

I usually have 5 or 6 rods going at any one time.  I have two rod benches for handles, a power wrapper, a hand wrapper, and 3 dryers for epoxy.  I don't count drying time because I normally do that right before I quit for the evening and just let them turn over night.  My real job pays well but is extremely stressful.   $35 an hour doing something I do to relax seems pretty fair to me.

[bassheel]

Yes I dont need all the "blingy " stuff just want sensitive 6'10"  m/f rod. Thanks guys for your input. It gives me a starting point.

[Batson]

Is it possible to get a custom St Croix Ltb rod with same details as 7 m/f (stock plastics rod) just made to 6'10 m/f for the same price? I didnt want to bother a builder just wanted a ballpark figure. TW has the 7'1" plastics rods for $260. It will be used for senkos,ikas.

Yes it is.. Or sorta close to it.. But if you wanted to build it exactly, why wouldn't you just buy the factory rod? St Croix is one of those companies that build a rod correctly?? Just wondering.. 

 

Now if you wanted to trick it out with grips, reel seats, guides, etc.. then we are talking! 

 

What blank would that be?

Or you can try ours.. Mike Thorson the head of product at St Croix for over 18 years is now our VP of engineering for over 12+ years! I bet there is something in our lineup that would match perfectly and won't break the bank! 

[Batson]

I'd probably look at a Carbon 4 RodGeeks if you want to stay in an action/power similar to St Croix.

C470MF will save you some money.

FYI, the Carbon 4 is not a ST SC4.. The St Croix blanks SC4 and higher are made in the USA. 

[Ozark_Basser]

FYI, the Carbon 4 is not a ST SC4.. The St Croix blanks SC4 and higher are made in the USA.

Hmmmm I called up rodgeeks and asked if their carbon 4 was the same blank as st croix's sciv, and they said it was.

[Batson]

The same blank or similar? Is it the blank they build at St Croix? Call up St Croix and ask them. We could be wrong.. But we put our guides on this lineup. 

 

If it is the blank they build the Legend Tournament rod with, Then go buy this blank.. 

 

This is from St Croix

 

 

SCIV / FRS

Exceptional, high-modulus/high-strain graphite fiber featuring FRS. Similar to SCV, but without the carbon-matte scrim.

Featured in Legend Tournament®
Bass/Walleye/Musky, Legend®Trek, Legend® Surf and Imperial® rods.

Produces extremely light and sensitive rods. Not quite to the level of SCV, but very close. Ideal for the angler who insists on fishing only with top-grade rods.

[S Hovanec]

FYI, the Carbon 4 is not a ST SC4.. The St Croix blanks SC4 and higher are made in the USA.

Never said it was. However the actions and powers are uncannily similar.

Actully, SCII and SCIII are USA made too, at least the ones they sell and put on the Premiers and Avids.

[Batson]

S Hovanec, 

The actions and powers should be.. But that happens with a lot of companies. We have similarities due to our Designer was the Designer there too. 

 

Just making sure people understand the difference when coming into this market new. Everyone can market however they want. We are concerned with our products mainly, but some of the companies that have been around a very long time and have proven themselves time after time should stand out. 

 

Thats all Carry on. 

[Big Bait Fishing]

Hmmmm I called up rodgeeks and asked if their carbon 4 was the same blank as st croix's sciv, and they said it was.

same graphite and engineered by St. Croix , but they are similar , not exactly the same ..

[Batson]

same graphite and engineered by St. Croix , but they are similar , not exactly the same ..

 

FYI, there is only a few places you can get graphite from. And.. To have Japanese carbon fiber vs anything else.. There are very few manufactures that actually make graphite. 

 

BTW, Boeing buys Toray and they seem to have no problems!

http://www.toray.com

Yup thats right.. Hate to break the news to everyone! Now the layups or "Flags" and designs is where it is at. You can mess around with different resins and scrims as well, but it all has to do with the Designer and the designs. Having a designer of rod blanks that actually fishes and knows how he/she wants the blank to perform, that is even harder to find. 

 

And no way am I saying Rodgeeks doesnt make a good product. 

 

Anyways.. Enough said I think.. 

 

To answer the original question. Yes you can buy a St Croix blank and build it up with exact specs. As for building it for cheaper? Probably similar. But why?

 

Can you get different manufacturer blanks? Yes, there are a plethora of companies that have similar blanks to the one your looking for. Just depends on what you want. 

 

Now the idea with customs is that you can build it however way you want! If you want to build the same but want a shorter/longer handle.. you can do it. More guides, different seat, different grips, colors, etc.. This is the beauty of custom fishing rods!! 

 

Good luck! 

[S Hovanec]

To answer the original question. Yes you can buy a St Croix blank and build it up with exact specs. As for building it for cheaper? Probably similar. But why?

Exactly. When someone wants a price to copy xxxx rod exactly, I tell them to just go buy it. What I do is make what can't be bought.

[Big Bait Fishing]

i must say , St. Croix makes incredible blanks and their customer service is phenominal !! when i cal them ( which i just did before i maid my previous post ) they answer all my questions and go above and beyond to make one feel confident in their products ...

 

another reason i love their blanks is that they have spot on tip actions and serious backbone which i VERY much love !! their SCIV musky blanks are the best blanks on the market , period . i would never consider anything for my swimbait rods then them unless it was a Thorne Bros Predator blank that St. Croix makes for them ...

[bassheel]

If they made the length I wanted I would buy it off self. I think a 6'10" m/f would be custom right? I know I have a multitude of options beyond my question.

[S Hovanec]

If they made the length I wanted I would buy it off self. I think a 6'10" m/f would be custom right? I know I have a multitude of options beyond my question.

Yep. Your request is for something not made by them. I believe they do make a 6'10" M/XF tho.

 

This is where you make a decision.  go with the 4C68MF and extend it 2" or the 4C71MF and trim it 3".  I actually would prefer extending it rather than trimming.

 

Or a Rainshadow ETEC68M extended 2".

[MickD]

I wonder what the definition of "same" is?