shimano rod blanks

[1simplemann]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the Crucial and Cumara rod blanks? Crucial is IM 10 blank and the newer Cumara is HM1. I bought a few  rods on Ebay. Everything I've researched and read says the Cumara is a better blank. i'm just curious what actually makes them better.Lighter? Stronger?  Crucial's feel really nice but have had them on the water yet.Still waiting for the Cumara to arrive so I haven't actually felt it yet. When they get here I give them both a test run.

[kickerfish1]

The red blanks of the Gen 2 Cumara are better than the foam handle crucial rods. The Cumulus blanks were the best Shimano ever made.

[1simplemann]

The one I bought is red. It should be here tomorrow. I bought it on reputation. What makes the Cumara Gen 2 so good . If they were so good, why were they discontinued?

[fishnkamp]

Sometimes companies discontinue products due to warranty issues, sometimes cost of material and sometimes the difficulty in getting consistency in the manufacturing process. 

[1simplemann]

37 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

Sometimes companies discontinue products due to warranty issues, sometimes cost of material and sometimes the difficulty in getting consistency in the manufacturing process. 

All these things sound bad. You have any experience with Crucial and /or the Cumara?

[fishnkamp]

Absolutely not I was speaking generally, I have not fished them personally, but friends of mine have and love them. Shimano builds really quality equipment. In the past I have had the opportunity to have a few conversations with the owners of the Dobyns, Irod, and Powell rod companies. In each case, it was questions about selecting or obtaining a rod, not problems, During these conversations, certain questions about why something was done or changes were made have been asked and I got honest and clear answers and the reasons behind decisions were made due to these type of issues.  It was funny, during a conversation with the owner of Powell I asked about the discontinuing of my favorite Powell rod, a Powell Max 683CEF.  That rod is the most versatile rod I own.. The owner admitted when they updated the line to the Max3D series he thought the rod was too similar to another rod in the line and it was eliminated. He said he has "heard loud and clear" the opinions of his customers and before Icast this month he had brought it back into production. In fact I could order one from him right then. So sometimes those decisions have reasons behind them and not always the right ones.  He did however go out of his way to help me assist a member, on this board, to purchase and ship a rod to Canada where he lived, just because he did not have a dealer anywhere close. I give him props for sure. I also love his rods.

I am sure you will fall in love with those rods.

[EvanT123]

What a company calls it's blank is marketing. There really isn't a definitive standard that makes one blank superior to another it terms of sensitivity.  Guides, reel seats, and grips play just as impotant role in my opinion. If the rods looked good to you and you got a good deal on them. Then you did good. 

[Master Bait'r]

6 hours ago, 1simplemann said:

All these things sound bad. You have any experience with Crucial and /or the Cumara?

 

I owned an EVA/all black MHXF a few years back.  Nice rod if a bit of a broomstick.  Wasn't a fan of the EVA though.  

 

The he newer green blank crucials are awesome though.  Kind of like a poor man's NRX.  Very impressed with them although I haven't tried a power above MXF.

 

Can't comment on the Cumara but they have an excellent reputation.  

[Catt]

My Texas Rig & Jig-n-Craw rods for the last 15-20 yrs is Crucials. 

I've owned G. Loomis & St Croix but the Crucial medium heavy extra fast fits my style of fishing.

All the other Shimano rods I don't care for!

[kickerfish1]

They were discountinued for the same reason all rods get discountined and that is time. Same reason auto manufactures redo a car with a different motor, electronics, and body. Most rods will be on the market before they are either pulled or changed due to sales or new advances in rod technology. I have 4 Gen 1 Cumara rods and one Cumulus. All great rods.

[d-camarena]

The crucial is easily my favorite rod ever, and i have some gloomis and zodias. Theres just something about the crucial

[timsford]

I have used the first generation all black cumara and the newer red one. Maybe it was just me but the first gen felt more sensitive and responsive. I think they added something to make it less prone to breakage in the red version but it made it less sensitive. The cumulus was the one of the lightest production rods made. I wish they would bring them back. I like the crucial under 7ft lengths but the longest rods are very tip heavy. The red rod you got is a very good rod and I think you will be happy with it

[1simplemann]

Lot's a feedback today. Thanks guys. I'm just waiting for it to arrive. 6'8" MF spinning. I plan to use it for tubing the river on some of my river hikes. I'm gonna put either my regular stradic c3000 on it or buy a ci4+ 3000 for i.

[fishnkamp]

That should  be a nice light combo.

[1simplemann]

18 hours ago, 1simplemann said:

Lot's a feedback today. Thanks guys. I'm just waiting for it to arrive. 6'8" MF spinning. I plan to use it for tubing the river on some of my river hikes. I'm gonna put either my regular stradic c3000 on it or buy a ci4+ 3000 for i.

Ordered the ci4+ 3000 Had some Cabela's bucks to spend.  Should be a winner.