Home built vs production rods?

[Andy007]

Happy New Year!

Was talking with a friend and I mentioned that I build my rods. After some interest he asked how they compare to similar priced store bought rods for feel and sensitivity. Told him I’ve  built a couple ST. Croix sIII for less than half of store prices, but that was 12-15 years ago and can’t find those blank prices any more. Also used a couple Rainshadow blanks costing half of the SIII and feel they’re comparable to the Avid series in the sensitivity.   

I’m going to build a basic casting rod on an Immortal spinning blank with alconite guides, and with the winter’s sales and free shipping it’ll cost me less than a $100 complete.

So let me pass that question onto you……….How will this 100 buck Rainshadow immortal rod compare to a 100 dollar online or store shelf rod in a comparable length, power and action? His main question was about sensitivity? Or does it compare to a 200 dollar rod?

Thanks

[S Hovanec]

That $100 production rod, in all actuality, contains maybe $15 in parts.  The $100 Rainshadow you're building will be a much better rod and probably compare to a $200 production rod.

[spoonplugger1]

Loaded question, build it right, it will be better. Build it like the production rod, not so much. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Unless you're using crap guides I don't see how you'll build an Immortal for <$100. But at any rate, a good custom build will give you more for your money. 

[Tim Kelly]

4 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Unless you're using crap guides I don't see how you'll build an Immortal for <$100. But at any rate, a good custom build will give you more for your money. 

Absolutely. There's usually no way you can build a rod for the same price as you can buy it. The price an individual pays for the components is way higher than manufacturers get them for, plus the blanks are obviously more expensive retail than the manufacturing cost is to the maker.

 

I like St Croix rods but to build an SCV blank with torzites and a handle i like (hate the factory handles) is definitely more expensive than just buying one off the shelf, and that's with my labour for nothing. To save money you would need to scrimp hugely on the components and probably end up with something less satisfactory than the factory build.

[TOXIC]

I think of it this way.....An Off the Shelf Rod you get what you get.  A custom rod you get to design and get what you want with a builder who I would hope takes the extra time to do things that the factory won't like properly spline the rod and use his/her skill in the build process which would set them apart from factory built and be worth the extra coin for a custom build.  A rod builder who uses the same components and puts no skill into the build is no different than the factory building a rod.  So my point is that to me it's not in the cost of the components as much as it is the skill of the builder.

[Andy007]

13 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Unless you're using crap guides I don't see how you'll build an Immortal for <$100. But at any rate, a good custom build will give you more for your money. 

I'm building this as a spiral wrapped casting rod with Fuji alconite guides so they will a bit cheaper than a spinning setup. And maybe I shouldn't have stated under a 100 because I'm at that mark. I also know craftsmanship will affect the final product.

I guess I shouldn't put a monetary value on the final product cause it really has nothing question and answer I was looking for.........Sorry about that

Maybe the question should have more like; Don't know how to put it into words

 

In your experience, If built the same, can the Immortal blank compare to mid priced($150-300) production rods in feel and sensitivity?

 

Thanks again for your thoughts..

 

[Tim Kelly]

I firmly believe that you can make a blank fish like a factory build the next grade up, just by building it better. Smaller lighter guides, correctly spaced will make a blank come alive, where typical factory oversized guides, especially on spinning rods, can suffocate even a great blank. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

1 hour ago, Andy007 said:

I'm building this as a spiral wrapped casting rod with Fuji alconite guides so they will a bit cheaper than a spinning setup. And maybe I shouldn't have stated under a 100 because I'm at that mark. I also know craftsmanship will affect the final product.

I guess I shouldn't put a monetary value on the final product cause it really has nothing question and answer I was looking for.........Sorry about that

Maybe the question should have more like; Don't know how to put it into words

 

In your experience, If built the same, can the Immortal blank compare to mid priced($150-300) production rods in feel and sensitivity?

 

Thanks again for your thoughts..

 

Short answer Yes