Custom vs big brand rods

[Ariffy]

What's the better value 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Id seriously consider custom before spending $200> across the counter. The value lies in the details of the application and build:

 

the more specific the application is, the more specific the builder can be with component choice and design layout. In a good build the attention to detail is way beyond what is practical in a mass production scenario. 

[Angry John]

1 hour ago, Ariffy said:

What's the better value 

That depends on a lot of factors the primary being do they produce a rod you like and meets your needs.  The second is are the components even available.  I wish I could change how the megabass white python is built but you cannot get that blank, or even anything close.

[NHBull]

My next one is going to be a custom but the the decision for what I want will be easier after using many over the counter rods.  

 

It it will be something to launch flukes and senkos

[grub_man]

Angry John,

 

What makes the MB white python so unique?  I am sure that if one spends enough time scouring the options in swimbait, inshore, and saltwater blanks, with a little extending and or trimming the action and power can be matched very closely.  That's what truly good custom builders do.  They make something that doesn't "seem" to exist.  The blank is out there, it just may be in hiding.

 

Ariffy,

 

A custom is by far the better value, unless you are looking for some walk-in exchange policy.  Even you can build a rod that is better than the vast majority of mass produced rods out there.  It's not that hard.  A custom build gives complete control over every aspect of the rod.  Rod builders also pay particular attention to detail during every step of the construction of the rod.  Give a custom a try or better yet, take on a new hobby and build a rod.

[WRB]

Better value. How do you value a bass rod, what is important to you? If you mean resale value then a custom rods may not be a good value. If you mean what you get for your dollar spent, a rod that performs exactly how you want it to, then a custom rods shines!

My 1st custom bass rod I made was a crankbait rod from a Fenwick salt water popping rod blank and trigger stick handle components with Fuji guides back in the early 70's. This was my favorite cranking rod for decades.

My 1st professional custom built bass rod was a Lamiglas jig and worm rod because I wanted a few more guides, short 2 1/2" fore grip and 6'10" length that the over the counter rods didn't offer. This rod was perfect for the way I jig fished and bought 3 more, catching all my giant bass using these rods over a 20 year period. How do you put a value on that!

Today I am using custom made rods by ALX similar to my Lamiglas rods with newer technology blanks and guide train, same 6'10" length and fore grip that I prefer. The ALX rods weigh 3.8 oz and 5 & 6 power jig & worm rods with micro guides.

A custom biult rod is made to your specifications without any compromise, it's your rod.

Tom

 

 

[kickerfish1]

What do you want to spend? That should answer your question? Also how much time do you have and how picky are you?

 

I have 4 custom rods with a 5th getting finished up now. I also have a few dozen mid to high end bass rods as well.

 

If you can't afford $250-300 I would cross a custom build off your list unless you find a blank at a large discount.

[MickD]

there are two areas where custom will get you better quality than almost any "production" rod:  1.  Better integrity of the reel seat/grip attachments.  I've had to repair some pretty well respected rods for these parts coming loose.  2.  Better quality cork on the custom rods (if the builder is committed to better quality cork, no open pits, fewer deep longitudinal voids).  Check the cork carefully on a "production" rod-you'll most likely find heavy use of pit filler.

[basscatcher8]

Just depends on what you consider value. Money? Satisfaction?

 

I spent several years working on stock cars at the dirt track. Spent a lot of time learning to make tools and parts that we needed vs depending on buying everything. I got a lot of satisfaction out of doing that especially when the success hit.

 

That followed me into my fishing. I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing a need I have on the water and designing and building the tool just for that and finding success.

 

I have to say if your looking at custom rods for a money value its the wrong area, you'd be better off with a production rod. If your looking to design a tool you need then by all means whether you build it or pay to have it built the satisfaction you get from finding success on the water with that rod is an awesome value.

[.ghoti.]

I think there is no single correct answer to this question.

Consider this...

Do you have a favorite rod? I'm sure you do. What do like about it? Length? Weight? Power? Taper? Etc,etc,etc,

 

Would you like it a little better if the handle were longer? Or shorter?

would you like it better if the grips were a bit larger in diameter?

How about a different reel seat?

Would you like it more if it had smaller guides? I assure you you would. Smaller guides remove weight where it counts most, making the rod more responsive.

Spiral wrapping the guide train will often result in one less guide; sometimes two. Depends on the taper. Fewer guides, less weight, better response.

 

See where I'm going with this? You can specify precisely what you need. And I haven't touched on the bling factor if that blows your skirts.

 

Does this represent value to you? If so, contact Mike at DVT, and get started. 

 

Be warned, it's hard to stop.

[MickD]

On 6/19/2018 at 6:51 AM, MickD said:

there are two areas where custom will get you better quality than almost any "production" rod:  1.  Better integrity of the reel seat/grip attachments.  I've had to repair some pretty well respected rods for these parts coming loose.  2.  Better quality cork on the custom rods (if the builder is committed to better quality cork, no open pits, fewer deep longitudinal voids).  Check the cork carefully on a "production" rod-you'll most likely find heavy use of pit filler.

Forgot the quality of the guides.  While top end production rods usually have pretty good quality guides, the mid and lower price levels do not.  What makes a higher quality guide?  Reduced weight from premium harder and thinner rings (ever notice those fat ugly grey guides on production rods?) or titanium alloy guide frames.

[soflabasser]

On 6/10/2018 at 3:02 PM, Ariffy said:

What's the better value 

That depends on what you consider better value. For me a rod has to be able to handle lots of abuse and not break for at least a decade and preferably more. Any rod that can't take that type of abuse is not worth much to me. Second I need a rod that is strong enough to pull big fish out of heavy cover without worrying it snapping like so many expensive rods do. With this said I find that Ugly Stiks are the best value for my style of fishing and I still fish the Ugly Stiks my grandfather gave me +23 years ago. I do have a custom topwater rod that was given to me as a gift and although its light I don't like it as much. I do use other brands for bass fishing but they do not compare to Ugly Stiks when it comes to the better value in the long run.

[jasmith2108]

Can someone send a picture of the handle style for the 2018 Megabass Destroyer Evoluzion White Python please? I can only find stock images. Wanting to know if these have the normal straight handles or offset/slanted. Thanks!!

[fishingtx]

Big brand

[Deephaven]

If you can't describe and know how to make the rods you can buy off the shelf better a custom is premature in your life for now.  If you can then custom all the way.  All my rods but 3 are custom and all for a specific reason or reasons.  For how I use them they outperform everything in their price range by a long shot

[kayaking_kev]

There's some really nice "big brand" blanks out there that are not available for custom build, but there there are some nice custom blanks out there also, and a huge variety of in between.

 

I wish I could get a Conquest 843c blank and build it with carbon grips and the real seat that I want.

If I were to try to have someone build something close, but with a different blank, it would cost around $600. But, I haven't seen any custom blanks that look like the Conquest or Shimano Spiral X designed blanks.

 

I was able to get some X-Ray blanks made by Gary Loomis and built one with Torzite Guides and G2 Carbon Grips for $300, but it's still not near as light as my Conquest 843c, and they are quite bulky.

The ML X-Ray I built is at least twice as thick in the bottom section as my Dobyns Xtasy Mag Heavy was. The sensitivity does more than hold it own though.

 

The better value = Build Your Own

[soflabasser]

When it comes to bass fishing there are many mass produced rods than are better for the money than a custom rod. For saltwater fishing a custom rod might be better. For example many shark fishermen like to fish with a custom 10 foot rod made specifically for land based fishing. 

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

When it comes to bass fishing there are many mass produced rods than are better for the money than a custom rod. 

Certainly just an opinion, "better for the money".  I have replace several  G.Loomis GLX

 with custom RainShadow Immortal and Eternity custom builds.

[Michigander]

23 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

I was able to get some X-Ray blanks made by Gary Loomis and built one with Torzite Guides and G2 Carbon Grips for $300

 

The better value = Build Your Own

I also got X-rays, bided my time and shopped the sales. I built my X-rays for about $130ish a piece. I own several rods in this price point and a tier or two up and there's no comparison to what I built myself. You can go ham on a custom rod's premium components or go frugal and still end up with an excellent piece of equipment.

[soflabasser]

38 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Certainly just an opinion, "better for the money". 

Bass fishing is just like other hobbies where people have different opinions on what is ''the best gear''. It is ok to have different opinions since the world would be a boring place if everyone liked the same things. I have done well enough in bass fishing were I have no need to hire a guide or have the need for custom bass fishing rods. I do have 1 custom bass rod that was given to me as a gift. It is nice rod but I prefer my other rods. With that said a person can buy as many custom rods as they want if it makes them happy. Saltwater fishing is different since the fish are much more powerful so a custom rod can make a big difference. For example you will need to buy a custom rod if you want a 10 foot rod that can handle a 12/0 Penn Senator or bigger reel for land based shark fishing. 

[Deephaven]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

I do have 1 custom bass rod that was given to me as a gift. It is nice rod but I prefer my other rods. 

You missed the point of custom then.  What you have is customized incorrectly.  The real reason to run a custom is to make a rod in the way you want it.  A factory rod is an engineer/marketing dept/builders vision of a custom rod to their specs.  When your specs don't match their specs then custom is better.  If you can't determine what specs to change then it is not better...but IMO that is easy as there are very few off the shelf rods that are built the way I would build them.

[kayaking_kev]

2 hours ago, Michigander said:

I also got X-rays, bided my time and shopped the sales. I built my X-rays for about $130ish a piece. 

 

That's crazy, my cheapest X-Ray Build was $200, but that had a CFX Grip & G2 Reel Seat. I added in the $10 Excise fee they charge for every blank and split the $35 shipping between the 3 blanks, so I counted each blank as $95.

 

I even spent $150 on the X-Ray blank that I got from you that I built on and that was basically a free blank.

[Lead Head]

I'm coming in around the same price as Kev on X-ray builds (including tax/shipping into the price). Same on immortals. Personal preferences matter greatly when it comes to rods, but you would be hard pressed to sale me on a $200 production rod over a X-ray or Immortal. Especially when my rods have my choice of grips, foregrips, color, and balance.

Not saying its impossible, but would definitely be a tough sale.

 

Having said all that, I don't believe I have ever caught a fish on my "custom" rods that I couldn't have caught with a production rod of equal or even lesser value. But I surely do believe I enjoy fishing with my rods more than I would (and did) a production rod.

 

If you are paying someone to build a custom rod for you instead of building one for yourself, that changes the cost significantly. At that point the "bang for your buck" meter probably slides back to production rods. 

 

One last thought while I'm rambling on here...

The single most satisfying fish I have ever caught was my first one on a rod I built. It was satisfying for several reasons, not the least of which was the fact that the rod didn't explode on the hookset. 

 

[Michigander]

9 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

 

That's crazy, my cheapest X-Ray Build was $200, but that had a CFX Grip & G2 Reel Seat. I added in the $10 Excise fee they charge for every blank and split the $35 shipping between the 3 blanks, so I counted each blank as $95.

 

I even spent $150 on the X-Ray blank that I got from you that I built on and that was basically a free blank.

I forgot about the excise task, so that would have been $140. I got everything on sale and my guides were collectively about $10 per rod. It also took me about four months to collect all the parts but was worth it from a project budget perspective!

 

The one I got from you I put on the SiC micros when Mudhole was basically giving them away to get rid of them.

[johnmyers]

I have several Loomis NRX rods spinning and casting and they are great rods but in the last 2 years I have had 3 custom rods done by Hawkeye Custom Rods in Rainshadow Immortal blanks that are pretty equal to Loomis in my hands for about half the cost. I don't see how you can go wrong either way.