To build or to buy?

[Cak920]

I used to have a friend that built rods and loved doing it. I have been curious about it for a while but from looking at prices at seems almost more expensive to build the rod than to just buy the same rod already made. What are the benefits and reasons you guys build rods? I wouldn't mind doing it just for the hobby but it's not cheap so I'm just wondering what your reasons are 

[kickerfish1]

You are sort of correct and sort of off base. Fact: it is more expensive to have a custom built using the same components as a factory rod rather than buying the factory rod from a retailer. The only exceptions is that if you can find blanks and components at a very deep discount or either know a guy that will build you something for dirt cheap or can do it yourself. Fiction: Rarely does one build a custom rod verbatim to what that of a factory rod is.

 

Why go custom? Usually I would say the number one reason is pickiness. Someone may like a companies factory rod except they wish it had different guides, perhaps cork over a foam handle, maybe they prefer a full handle vs a split grip, or maybe they want something in a specific color scheme or length. Most people that are wanting custom rods are likely those folks that have fished a good amount of factory rods to know where the their personal preferences lie.

 

I will start with this statement. Getting a custom rod is not like getting a rod from your favorite retailer where you might get free shipping with the purchase of x $ amount . You also are going to have to pay the builder for their time/labor/msc supplies. What does shipping, labor/time/msc supplies = ? That is up to the builder, but figure $25 for shipping, a good $75 - $100 for labor and a few more bucks for supplies. That takes you pretty north of $100 off the bat and you have not purchased a blank, guides, reel seat, handle grips, etc. You would hard pressed to get a "decent" custom built rod for under $200. I would say expect to pay $250 and up especially if you are wanting to build on a decent blank with decent guides.

 

Another thing to consider is warranty. Factory rods usually have some sort of warranty. Maybe 3, 5 or 10 years and they also usually have a replacement cost associated with it assuming it was determined to be your fault for the mishap. Customs will have whatever warranty the blank carries. Break a custom, and you will be out a rod much longer than you would a factory rod as the builder will have to build another while salvaging what they can for components.

 

There are good and bad aspects of custom rods. They aren't for everyone but are perfect for some. I fish a combination of customs and factory rods. I like both and can appreciate aspects of both.

 

One last piece of advice to consider. Custom rods usually have various labels on them such as built by and built for. This sort of stuff doesn't seem to go over so well should you decide to sell the rod down the road for whatever reason. Would you want a rod with someone else's name on it?

 

Just a few things to consider...

[roadwarrior]

If you are looking at the high end, custom builds are actually less expensive. I have 5 customs that

cost less than $400 each. Contact Mike at DVT and discuss your dream rod with him.

 

http://www.delawarevalleytackle.com/

[kickerfish1]

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

If you are looking at the high end, custom builds are actually less expensive. I have 5 customs that

cost less than $400 each. Contact Mike at DVT and discuss your dream rod with him.

 

http://www.delawarevalleytackle.com/

 

I believe he was asking if one could have a custom rod built using the same components as the factory production rod for a cheaper price. The Answer to that is 100% no. 

 

As far as a high end rod and the factory vs custom vs price. You can buy a rep sample NRX for around or just under $400. The term high end is somewhat tough to define. There are probably only a few blanks that most builders would consider high end even if some mid tier stuff fishes better than its price point would suggest. Much more ambiguity in this realm...

[S Hovanec]

39 minutes ago, kickerfish1 said:

 

I believe he was asking if one could have a custom rod built using the same components as the factory production rod for a cheaper price. The Answer to that is 100% no. 

 

When someone asks me to duplicate a production rod, I tell them to just order it and take the money saved and buy a reel.  I refuse to build what can be bought over the counter.

[MickD]

I don't believe there is a production rod shop that will give you the bullet-proof structure on grips and reel seats that every responsible custom builder will give you .  Grips will not come loose, reel seats will stay secure forever.  It's due to not skimping on the epoxy and using better materials for the shims.  No cardboard, plenty of epoxy covering anything that could deteriorate from water.  Proper fits so that the epoxy is not scraped off while seating the components.

 

There are some very nice rods available from production shops, and if one shops the year-end sales, at very attractive prices.  Usually guides are not the mid to top of the line, but now and then they are.

 

But, I have seen some pretty inferior guides on name brand rods, and have fixed some loose cork on some of the top brands that many on this forum salivate over.  I'm confident that with decent care, my rods will go to my son, then to his kids, and will still be very serviceable.

[Angry John]

Everything human made can have a mistake in it.  The best part of a good custom builder is they will go the extra mile to make things right. They can even fix a few things you have a change of heart on.  Hate those orange wraps no problem!!!

[MickD]

Depends on when you find you don't like what you asked me to wrap.  

[Angry John]

For a price rods can be re wrapped.  It's not free but it can be done.  I follow it's not a free pass to change ones mind.

[Cak920]

First off Thanks for the responses! Ok so generally the reason you guys get rods custom made is to A. Get your desired parts in one rod not all one brands  that may have some cheaper parts like lower quality guides. And B. For higher quality construction of the rod. I think you guys misunderstood one part though. I am hoping to build a rod myself not have a custom builder make it for me. I always like using things I built myself. One thing I never tried was a fishing rod and I used to have a friend that did it as a hobby and he said it was relaxing and enjoyed doing it and I've been curious about it since.

[kickerfish1]

Do you happen to have the space, materials, and tools on hand to build rods with? Even basic "starter kits" will still run you some decent coin. Like the custom bait/lure guys, if you plan on getting involved with it fairly heavily it would likely be worth the effort. If you barely do it or may only do it from time to time buying the supplies to make things yourself it will always be more costly. If you have the time, money, and desire to use the tools/supplies for rod building somewhat regularly I would say go for it.

 

You are dead on. Custom rods are desired for those 2 reasons you noted primarily. With a "good" builder the workmanship, fit, finish, and desired outcome would be better than about any mass produced rod plus you are getting what you want to a "T" and not having to settle for things here or there.

 

There are a handful of custom builders here on the forum that would probably be able to assist you with things along the way or offer ideas should you need them.

 

So back to my original post...If you are the builder you can cross labor and shipping off the cost list. Just replace them with whatever materials, tools, and supplies you need get started and go from there.

 

Best of luck either way.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

There are several reasons to build custom rods but saving money isn't one of them unless you're going high end.  There's a learning curve so most don't start out learning on expensive components. A custom affords more attention to detail and a better built tool once you get the basics down. 

[Angry John]

For your first build a mhx kit might be the way to go!!#

[spoonplugger1]

NFC blanks are now 60% off at Get Bit, great time to get a quality US made blank at a great price. The biggest thing with custom building is the stuff you see on a lot of rods were things developed and perfected by custom builders over a decade ago. The manufacturers are subscribers to all the custom rod building publications and when something starts being a success there, ie: winning tournaments and/or making money, they incorporate it into their rods, hype it up, do a half assed job in execution and the general public never knows the difference.

[Paul Roberts]

Both work. Rods off the rack pretty much use the same components as what you can buy in build parts. But if there is something specific you want, building may be the only way to go. And if you are creative you can make it beautiful as well as functional. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and factory rods -and those made by others- don't always meet one's expectations.

 

My most recent build was a 7'6" XF 4wt fly rod for dry fly fishing on my mountain streams. Could not find what I wanted off the shelf, and was able to make one using a Batson blank. It needed to be stealthy, so the blank is a flash-less sanded black carbon and black guides. I made a custom handle for it -many are too long. I made it pretty, to my eyes, and named it "Arctopsyche" after a large high elevation caddisfly.

 

Next up is a 6ft XF UL spinning rod with an NFC blank and graphite Tennessee handle. I looked at a number of high end factory rods out there and just wasn't impressed enough to bite. I wont be saving too much money -exactly- but I'll get exactly what I want. Hopefully that is... I won't actually know until I have it in hand. But XF in a 2-6lb blank by NFC should be a good bet. The Batson fly rod turned out to be perfect.