Jwags Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) I have the opportunity to buy some "unpainted" rod blanks from a rod builder. The sticker on them says that they are SCV graphite rods, but the color doesn't match. It is my understanding that SCV rods from St. Croix came with a spruce green color. When I asked him about the color, he said that they came from the factory unfinished. Has anyone ever seen blanks like this? Is there a possibility that they were left unfinished because they were flawed in the building process? Also, is there much of a market for rods built out of blanks like this? (once the blanks are finished of course) I appreciate any advice I can get. thanks, jeremy Edited January 4, 2009 by Jwags forgot a question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 My opinion is the market for custom rods depends on the reputation of the person building them more than it does the rod it self. You can build a great rod on those blanks if you are able to finish them and build them as good as St Croix can. An inexperienced rod builder can also ruin that same blank very easy and it will be completely worthless to anybody. Only you know what your skill level is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 I don't think St. Croix sells unfinished blanks...except 2nd's and blems. And they haven't stickered those in the past as they are 2nd's and blems. I'd be really leery of something like this. I'd give St. Croix a call and try to confirm. Absolutely nothing wrong with an unfinished blank. As a matter of fact, finish just makes the blank heavier and rob it of some performance. The GLX comes unfinished. The Rogues come unfinished. I even strip factory painted blanks at customer request. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Even if they are not perfect, I could not see a quality company like StCroix, selling a blank that would possibly fail, it would be bad for the reputation. I would suspect that the fault would be purely a minor imperfection, that you probably could not find without looking very closely. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jwags Posted January 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Thanks guys. As an aspiring rod builder I value your input. If anyone has anything to add, I'm all ears. jeremy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 St. Croix has a bit of a bad reputation among some in the rod building community for the practice of selling 2nd's and blems. Just using this situation as an example...I don't know all the facts here with these blanks in question so these statements are just possible scenarios... Someone buys a bunch of unfinished 2nd's/blems. They obtain stickers, either from a place like Decal Connection, or from 1st run blanks purchased and sticker the 2nd's giving the impression that they are 1st run. Rod blanks change hands yet again, now as 1st run stuff. Finished rods go to customers. Customer breaks rod. Blank goes back to St. Croix and they deny the claim as the blank is not a 1st run blank...or the warranty was voided for removal of the finish. Much less buying 2nd's/blems from one company and then saying they are Loomis or Lamiglas 1st run blanks... Without the blanks marked in some fashion (painted on the inside for example) there isn't a good way of determining whether a blank is a 1st or a 2nd. 2nd can be bought up by the pound in some cases and then turned into 1st run "on sale" blanks and someone can make a killing. This just happened with some Shikari blanks this past year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 There are known issues with people trying to sell counterfeit rod blanks. An article titled ROD BLANK COUNTERFEITING by Rodbuilding.Org. The best advise in the article is get to know the source/dealer your dealing with and don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidgrad Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 MTFishingRods - I'm confused... how does reputation trump the rods? Don't the rods, the final product, build the reputation for you? Also shouldn't a good builder be able to take the same blank and make a better rod than St Croix does? Personally - I would be leery. Let's say they truly are St Croix seconds. Yes they could have some minor imperfection. Purely a blemish or cosmetic. Then again, maybe that imperfection runs through the blank and not after 1 fish, but say 5, that "blemish" rears it's head. Couple things to consider... there are lots of lesser expensive blanks out there to built on if you are starting. Mudhole custom builder blanks are in the $15 range and are pretty decent. Just not a huge variety. Swampland is about to have, or already does have, some very nicely priced 1st quality overruns available. Another thing to consider... if you are building these for you... it's your loss. Only your pride is damaged if they turn out to be duds. However, if you are looking at selling rods, your personal rods may well become your demos until you build an inventory. I've been doing this almost 2 years now and I still have personal rods that are my demos. Plus there are lots of guys at the landing or weigh in that see my rods sitting on the deck and it causes questions to be asked and inevitably some of those end up being casted and tried out by future customers. I certainly don't want a dud then because that will spread like wildfire. So think about where you are going with your rod building. If you are looking for something to practice on, buy a wood dowel and have at it! Those are really cheap! Also, stripping finish can void the manufacturer's warranty. Check with the manufacturer and know what you are getting into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Cidgrad, I should have been a bit more clear. You are right, the blank is the blank no matter what brand it is. If you start with a quality blank and it is what it is. But its performance can be enhanced by the rod builder or completely destroyed by an improper build. I have seen it and so has anyone who has been doing this for any amount of time. That is the point I was trying to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidgrad Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 You are on the money right there MT... 100% agreement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 My issue is how would I know the blank is an actual St Croix SCV blank (blem, 2nd or whatever) SCV's are super light and have very crisp actions. I like them! But I don't think there area many guys, even rod builders, that can grab an unfinished graphite blank and tell you just what brand, grade and model it is. Trust the builder 100% or take a pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
