If money was no object....

[WI_Angler1989]

Well, aside from a factory St Croix rod, a custom rod on a 2016 Legend Elite blank is my choice.

I'd like to try their new rod specific guides with a new ceramic insert to go with lighter frames.

Also I'd want to have the highest quality reel seat and cork, set up just like the LTB spinning series. They just feel good in hand to me and I LOVE split grip, bare blank rods. Having my hand or a couple fingers right on the blank is awesome.

That's my dream rod, and it'll be just that for a looong time, a dream haha. 

[John G]

15 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Man you all got too much money to spend. I have horrible internal conflict about spending $300 for a GLX which is a heck of a deal

You can find great deals on used in excellent condition GLX's. Are we talking about the newer green GLX's or the MBR's? The MBR's in general are extremely nice rods with actions that excel at many techniques than for what they were designed. One of my favorite all time rods is the Loomis MBR782GLX. I regret that I sold mine but I will get another someday. The rod that I posted a pic of us a $600 dollar rod.  Add in shipping and customs fees and you are over $650.  I'm at the point now where I want  style as well as performance and I'm willing to pay for it. 

[Fishin' Fool]

26 minutes ago, John G said:

You can find great deals on used in excellent condition GLX's. Are we talking about the newer green GLX's or the MBR's? The MBR's in general are extremely nice rods with actions that excel at many techniques than for what they were designed. One of my favorite all time rods is the Loomis MBR782GLX. I regret that I sold mine but I will get another someday. The rod that I posted a pic of us a $600 dollar rod.  Add in shipping and customs fees and you are over $650.  I'm at the point now where I want  style as well as performance and I'm willing to pay for it. 

That was for a new GLX on Monster Fishing Tackle website. It was like $108 off the regular price and you can sign up for their mailing list and get $25 more off. No shipping fees or tax. I think that is what made the deal for me.

[Cgrinder]

Megabass rods have this snake oil "it" factor mystique whatever that draws people (me!) in. I like them and I like the "community".

Custom is almost always the most efficient way to go. Mike @ DVT built a very nice rod for my girlfriend last year. It was very reasonable and would have been more reasonable if my girlfriend did not insist on this god awful sky camo EVA foam grip. 

[MIbassangler30]

I certainly get what everyone is saying about custom builds, but when someone asks "if money was no object" then my mind goes way outside the box. Probably going to seek out Yuki Ito to build a custom masterpiece. Like commissioning Michelangelo or Miyamoto Musashi in the fishing rod world. Then I would have a few Arms Complete and Superleggeras as backups. Many great 'Joe Blow' builders creating works of art in their basements I'm sure, but if we're going to full on fantasy land, then that's what I got. 

 

JC

[PitchinJigz]

On February 13, 2016 at 7:59 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I did a recent minor repair on an orochi. Nice Rod. The blank looked like Phoenix blanks I've built on but have no way to confirm. Not to sound self serving, but why would any one pick any over the counter Rod as their dream Rod instead of a full on custom?  

Because Megabass is life. 

 

I'd get a Megabass Destroyer Kirisame.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

7 hours ago, Maico1 said:

Just for the sake of discussion how much would it cost to build me a NRX JWR 802C using the same components that Loomis does? Since I know what I pay for one after reading your posts I would expect it to be less. Really looking for a base line to compare the difference in price.

The point of that post was that factories aren't working with super secret parts you can't match quality wise. I'm not saying to go custom based on price alone. I did a build like you mention for RW with more expensive guides and seat for well <$500

[roadwarrior]

20 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

The point of that post was that factories aren't working with super secret parts you can't match quality wise. I'm not saying to go custom based on price alone. I did a build like you mention for RW with more expensive guides and seat for well <$500

And I have the PERFECT Senko rod!

 

[Fishin' Fool]

Do the warranties of a high end custom builds correspond to those of high end rod manufacturers?

[kickerfish1]

1 hour ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Do the warranties of a high end custom builds correspond to those of high end rod manufacturers?

Not at all. Your warranty will be whatever you and builder decide on. If something fails some will replace a guide or such for parts cost of maybe on their dime if it was their mistake. If the blank is broken I am sure most will tell you you're out of luck. It would cost them whatever your material and shipping cost was to get it made again and back to you. Maybe he will build it again without charging labor the 2nd time but that will highly be unlikely. If you get one fish it but treat it like your baby.

So for a custom rod consider:

1. Parts cost for the blank, guides, components, and materials.

2. Shipping cost

3. Labor cost

You would be hard pressed to get a decent custom build done for under $150 with labor and shipping. If you drop $300 plus you will get a very high performance rod especially for feel apps. 

[Dwight Hottle]

1 hour ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Do the warranties of a high end custom builds correspond to those of high end rod manufacturers?

The blank warranty is the same on a custom rod as a factory rod regarding defects. The labor charges for the new build would be up to the builder. Most quality builders stress test the blank before building to make sure the blank is good. 

[EllisJuan]

Something comforting about the way accidental damage is handled by St. Croix and G. Loomis.  Knowing that if I shut a $400 rod in the car door the most it will ever cost me to have it replaced is $100 helps me justify the expense.

[WI_Angler1989]

8 minutes ago, EllisJuan said:

Something comforting about the way accidental damage is handled by St. Croix and G. Loomis.  Knowing that if I shut a $400 rod in the car door the most it will ever cost me to have it replaced is $100 helps me justify the expense.

Where I buy my St Croix rods, Scheels, if you damage it at all they send it and cover all costs. A snapped rod is free to replace. 

[WI_Angler1989]

4 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

And I have the PERFECT Senko rod!

 

Very nice! What are the rod's specs?

[Burtonxj]

I really want a G. Loomis Bronzeback

Or a custom smallie spinning rod.

[EllisJuan]

35 minutes ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

Where I buy my St Croix rods, Scheels, if you damage it at all they send it and cover all costs. A snapped rod is free to replace. 

Yep.  American Legacy handles G Loomis the same way.

[WI_Angler1989]

Just now, EllisJuan said:

Yep.  American Legacy handles G Loomis the same way.

It's really nice, isn't it? I had a couple guides that were cracked on an Avid, brought it in and they sent it to St Croix and got it fixed. It was nice since it wasn't huge damage, but still a problem.

[Jaderose]

Money were NO object at all?  None of my rods would have a manufacturers name on them.  They would have a builder's name on them.  and they would be beautiful and feel like not only an extension of my hand but an extension of my central nervous system.  I couldn't care less about "brand".  I want the equipment that is right FOR ME.  and they would be beautiful, too.

[Verisimilidude]

One of the St. Croix reps was in my local BPS and let me hold his personal Legend Elite.

I should have never picked it up.

Definitely my number one choice right now.

[KP Duty]

MB ARMS Super Legera.  I plan on picking up the steez ags 7'6"H when the funds allow , and it seems like a bargain compared to the Leggera.  

[Airman4754]

It's not and I went with a bunch of different rod companies. My favorite overall has to be Phenix UMBX. I have four of them ranging from heavy swimbait to dropshot and they are fantastic.