modifying an off-the-shelf rod

[Chris at Tech]

Question for you rodmakers...

I've got a stock Avid and I'm wondering how reasonable it is to alter it a bit.  I'm sure it's possible, but is it cost-effective?  For example, if I wanted to modify the grip, reel seat and foregrip, is that a labor-intensive mod, or is it reasonable to do?  Of course replacement part cost needs to be factored in...

Thanks!

[Lucky Craft Man]

I have had a lot of rods modified all the way up to the NRX.  As far as the cost effective part, it all comes down to what it is worth to you.  Is having that rod feel and fish exactly as you desire worth whatever the quote you may receive?  Only you can decide that.  For me, it was worth it, but I am picky about how my fishing rods fish.  

[Jigfishn10]

I did this a few years back and it was well worth it for me. I like the rod and it had a worn reel seat, so I replaced it along with the cork grip (front and back). After a season I found I hated the cork grip, so I split it.

 

EDIT: This modification took me 12 hours to do. I had more "wait and dry" time than actual work.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It depends on the details. Reel seat, forget about the reel seat unless it's broken. Fore grip is easy to remove harder to replace. Extending and/or replacing the rear grip is not too bad. 

[Jrob78]

You would be better off buying the blank you want and having a builder build you a custom.  Since you can buy St. Croix blanks, this wouldn't be hard at all.

[Chris at Tech]

10 minutes ago, Jrob78 said:

You would be better off buying the blank you want and having a builder build you a custom.  Since you can buy St. Croix blanks, this wouldn't be hard at all.

That's kinda where I'm at in my thinking.  What's cheaper at the point - just buying a new blank or stripping the current rod down.  Sounds like the new blank route is cheaper anyway.

[Jrob78]

5 minutes ago, Chris at Tech said:

That's kinda where I'm at in my thinking.  What's cheaper at the point - just buying a new blank or stripping the current rod down.  Sounds like the new blank route is cheaper anyway.

Even if it isn't cheaper, you will have 2 rods instead of 1.  Or, you could even sell the original to fund the build.

[S Hovanec]

On 12/19/2015 at 6:57 PM, Jrob78 said:

You would be better off buying the blank you want and having a builder build you a custom.  Since you can buy St. Croix blanks, this wouldn't be hard at all.

Exactly what he said.  making split grips, extending and lengthening rear grips and removing foregrips is easy.  reel seats, not so much.  It can be done though.  The reason LC Man has his Loomis rods modified is because Loomis no longer sells blanks, otherwise, I would have built him those rods instead of modifying them.

[.ghoti.]

I've stripped two of my own rods down to the bare blank and started over. Nothing difficult about any of it, except the reel seat. The reel seat has to cut away from the blank. And that job is not difficult. A Dremel, a cut-off wheel, and a steady hand and eye. No problem, right? Yeah, right. One slip, and it's game over. For this reason I'll never do one for anybody else. 

If you're doing the work yourself, it's your stuff to gamble with. My two attempts turned out fine, but it was a nervous 20 minutes for each, cutting away the reel seat.

[.ghoti.]

On December 19, 2015 at 9:30 AM, Jigfishn10 said:

XI did this a few years back and it was well worth it for me. I like the rod and it had a worn reel seat, so I replaced it along with the cork grip (front and back). After a season I found I hated the cork grip, so I split it.

 

EDIT: This modification took me 12 hours to do. I had more "wait and dry" time than actual work.

Nice job, man