Old All Star vs. New All Star

[Big T]

I am considering buying a All Star Topwater rod. If given the choice of buyin one of the old original classic series rods from Simmons Sporting goods or one of the new American classic series rods which would you guys buy. I have heard that the older rods are better. I would appreciate any input . I would also be open to the idea of stepping up to the same rod in the Team All Star series.

Thanks,

Big T

[Guest SkyChimp]

I have 5 All Stars - 3 American Classics and 2 Team All Stars. I can't recommend them highly enough. Best rods I've ever owned.

[Big T]

Thanks Skychimp,

That's a nice setup you have there. I am more than likely going to get one of those All Stars. I just ordered a Daiwa Advantage reel tonight.

Big T

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

I've got an American Classic and it is the best rod I've ever used.

[cart7t]

I've got to older original classics and had a new American classic.  I couldn't really tell much difference.  Given the choice, I'd go with a TAS or, if you can afford it, a Platinum.  

[blade]

the new team all star rods are junk, broke 4 this year

[flyphisher #]

I like the older stuff better.

Team Allstars I got are a couple years old. I love them.  New stuff is nice, I just dont like it as much. The new $50+ Allstar rods feel like junk to me, may just be me though. As far as a nice entry level rod, I really like the older Pflueger trion casting rods, super nice rod for a real suprising price.

[dodgeguy]

ther is absolutely nothing wrong with the new all star rods.

[rebelbasspro]

For my money the old all stars (the ones made in TX) are far better made rods.  After shakespeare bought them out the quality became very poor.  Now i wouldnt fish with one if u gave it to me.  Maybe catfish with it  ;D

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

the new team all star rods are junk, broke 4 this year

If you send them back they'll replace them.

[dodgeguy]

For my money the old all stars (the ones made in TX) are far better made rods. After shakespeare bought them out the quality became very poor. Now i wouldnt fish with one if u gave it to me. Maybe catfish with it ;D

that's complete garbage.the guides are better and the blanks are the same.they did introduce a couple of lower end models and they aren't bad either.

[Big T]

Actually the lower end rods are the only ones that are made in China,  according to All Star's website their rods from the American Classic series up are still made in Houston, Texas. I was just curious as to the feel and quality of the rods because I saw the older rods for $39.99 to $49.99 plus shipping from Simmons Sporting Goods on ebay. I also have a freind that can get me the newer Team Alll Satrs for around $75-$80  plus shipping brand new. I would buy them locally but there is no place other than Dick's Sporting Goods that sells them here and all they have are the Chinese ones that are made exclusively for them. This town is dominated by saltwater equipment due to how close we are to the beach. I think I am going to get the Team All Star. Thanks for everyones input.

Big T

[Guest SkyChimp]

the new team all star rods are junk, broke 4 this year

If you send them back they'll replace them.

Learning to fish a high quality rod wouldn't hurt, either.

[blade]

I have decide to stick with my kistlers and a couple of loomis rods, they have never failed me.  I don't know how to get any higher quality

[Guest SkyChimp]

I have decide to stick with my kistlers and a couple of loomis rods, they have never failed me. I don't know how to get any higher quality

Perhaps you shouldhave said, "I have decide to stick with my kistlers and a couple of loomis rods, they have never failed me.  I don't know how to get any higher price"

[Redlinerobert]

the new team all star rods are junk, broke 4 this year

Sounds like an issue with the fisherman, not the rod if you broke 4......

[blade]

No issue with fisherman, bottom line is since all star sold out the quality has went way DOWN!  I am not the only one on here that has said that neither.  In MY opinion new all star rods are no good but the old ones where as tuff as nails

[dodgeguy]

No issue with fisherman, bottom line is since all star sold out the quality has went way DOWN! I am not the only one on here that has said that neither. In MY opinion new all star rods are no good but the old ones where as tuff as nails

imho that's a joke.

[flechero]

The BS alarm is sounding, again.

[dbass]

Hey flechero,

You know the people at All Star, and a few more folks that handle the All Star blanks, got this question for you..

Since All Star was sold over 4 years ago, and the new company backing has been in production since then. How do you know when you have one of the actual old All Star rods, and not one of the newer Shakespeare backed All Star rods. You would think that the older rods built by the original company would have run their course by now, and not be anywhere in the marketplace.

Its the same with Loomis and Shimano.

[dodgeguy]

per terry baksay, who is on all star's team,the platinum blank is the old titanium blank with alconite guides and reduced $50 in price because it went to a 3 year warranty.the im10x are the same blanks with fuji guides because they had guide issues so they switched them to fuji.there is no difference in the blanks according to terry baksay.ANY BRAND OF ROD CAN BE BROKEN AND MOST ROD FAILURES ARE USER ABUSE.

[dbass]

dodgeguy,

ANY BRAND OF ROD CAN BE BROKEN AND MOST ROD FAILURES ARE USER ABUSE.

I have to agree with that statement 100%, and, I will go one further and say, most rod failures after the 6th outing are user related.

Good Luck All & Tight Lines!!!

[flechero]

Since All Star was sold over 4 years ago, and the new company backing has been in production since then. How do you know when you have one of the actual old All Star rods, and not one of the newer Shakespeare backed All Star rods.

The only way to know for sure is if you get a new model.  I bought some of what All Star claimed to be "Original stock" from pre purchase, last summer.  From what I saw, it would unlikely that any old ones are left at this point but as far as built rods go, I have no idea how many they had and if they are through with all of them... I bet they are into all new now but no way to verify.  All of this assumes (as I was told) that they did not repaint any blanks.  The word from A.S. employees was that all the blanks Andy was buying were the "originals" because they were not going to try and repaint them.  

dodgeguy's blank info is correct.  

The current blanks are on same mandrels wrapped with the same cloth, tacked up by the same guys, cooked in the same kilns, and sanded out on the same machines and even painted with the same paint machine... just with a slightly different paint color as the old blanks.  I think that if All Star employees can't tell a difference, no one here can.  If there is a problem, I'll lean towards one of the builders not prepping guide feet or something, not the blanks.  The FEW problems talked about here have all had suspicious circumstances surrounding them, IMO.

[blade]

Please tell me what I am doing wrong, so I will not break another all star, never mind I have broke my  last one. I guess I fish with my all stars different than I do the rest of my rods, since all star are the only ones I have ever had trouble out of like this.  I am glad that some of you like all stars but I do not and don't plan to ever use one again. But if anyone has any info about how not to break an ALL STAR ROD please tell me because I can't figure it out but it seems to be something since everyone seems to think it is my fault.. :

[Guest SkyChimp]

Hows about you just post a picture of yourself and all these Kistler and Loomis rods you own.