Guideline Blanks?

[Fruin]

Does anybody know if you can buy Guideline rods as blanks?

I like the action of the rods, but not the handle, the reel seat, or the guides

[salmonfly]

fruin said:

Does anybody know if you can buy Guideline rods as blanks?

I like the action of the rods, but not the handle, the reel seat, or the guides

Fruin , guideline do not sale blanks, but there is a 14.8ft 10-11# Le Cie design for spey casting, with the longer handle.

[beanieboy]

By all accounts it is a superb rod - Guideline are currently making some of the best performing rods [both single and double handed] on the market today. The Le Cie spey model is more expensive than the LPXe range and retails for about £400.

[Fruin]

That's a shame, as I really fancied building on one of the blanks. The LPXe that I tried would not accomodate a system 2 reel, so would be unlikely to accomodate any of the older Hardy's. The stripper was a bit small for a rod initially designed for shooting heads.

[Fruin]

I wonder if they make the blanks themselves or get them made elsewhere?

Thanks for the replies.

[storlaks]

I think I read somewhere that Guidelines rods are made in Korea???

[betanut]

Or China

[kercock]

So will Hardy's

[albyn73]

Guideline blanks. MY mate and i think they are 'G LOOMIS' blanks. There are that many blanks out there nowadays, the biggest majority are coming from the far east[CHINA, KOREA, JAPAN] Only a slight amount are made entirely in [USA, GB, EUROPE.] they say about a SAGE rod if its under £300 its made in China, over that amount its made in the 'USA' but still american anglers try to get rid of them, because they think the fittings are cheap. Sage do a Hardy.!!!!

[storlaks]

This was discussed on another forum and it was concluded that Guideline do not use Loomis blanks. Yes, the rods are similar is many ways, especially the LPXe and Loomis GLX but that's because they had the same designer.

[ibm59]

fruin said:

That's a shame, as I really fancied building on one of the blanks. The LPXe that I tried would not accomodate a system 2 reel, so would be unlikely to accomodate any of the older Hardy's. The stripper was a bit small for a rod initially designed for shooting heads.

Nice to see you on the river yesterday , Fruin. I use a 14' lpxe with a System 2 12/13 and don't have any problems with the reel seat. When I bought the rod last summer , the salesman said that the reel seat had been upgraded very slightly so maybe that's where the difference lies. It's still a tight fit though , but seems solid and secure. By the way , the rod is perfectly matched with a Snowbee 2d 9/10 and the combination will turn over anything within reason. B.

[Fruin]

ibm59,

Likewise it was good to see you on the river again. It was my first visit this year; pity the water was so high

Fished the Chapel Hole, Double Pipes and the Craft Stream after I headed upstream, but never had a touch. Still, it's early yet

As for the reel seat on the LPXe, I stand corrected as it was actually a Magnum 200 that I had been handed to try with the rod, not a System 2.

[albyn73]

Fruin, just little bit of info, Guideline dont do any blanks of their own rods,but they do G Loomis blanks.....Now that is a cracker.!!!!! here's another one guideline rods are made in China for £50, Just like Sage rods, they reckon if they are under £300 they are made in China, but if over £300 they are made in the USA. But try persuading the yanks to believe that they are made in the States...........?

[Fruin]

albyn73,

I think that most rod blanks are being manufactured in China or Korea nowadays. It would be interesting to find out just how much it costs the manufacturers at the more expensive end of the market to have a rod made up.

In what other pastime would we spend so much on a relatively simple factory produced piece of kit. Now, if I were to buy a guitar that was handcrafted by a skilled craftsman, I could see the time, effort and experience that has went into the build, and could justify spending the money on an instrument so lovingly created. Paying silly money for a carbon and resin pole, cork rings, a few factory produced guides and reel seat, all put together with thread and epoxy / glues; well it's hard to justify it to myself at times, never mind my non-fishing family.

[Willie The Gillie]

I'll show you one in May Springer !!!!

Unfortunately for us consumers your bang on about Korea and true values. The rods I get finished for me by B & W are properly done like the way most rods used to build (no corner cutting on blank quality or fittings & built here by true craftsmen). I've tried my best to max out on the blank & component quality and struggle to be able to spend more than £300 per finished rod including everything and I mean everything.
I would doubt that the Angel 10/11 costs Hardy's very much at all to produce looking at the rod (my opinion) but they sell many on their name at £1000+
The market has obviously got so vast & competitive that all big manufacturers have been forced down the same margin retaining road - I guess its just a sign of the times.
Best Regards
Jock

[albyn73]

I think ALBA RODS boast the same about their rods too jock, no cutting of corners to get lighter rods where breakages may occur, and they say that's the way their customers like it. Some reckon Sage get their rods built built too for only £25-00, thats the ones under £300, that are made in the far east. Shakespeare seemingly has about four huge factory's in China alone, then you wonder how Hardy can justify over £1000 for a rod, and £5,000, for a reel..!

[ibm59]

Aye, the prices aren't to be "sniffed" at. You're up late tonight. b.