First off there are lots of blank manufactures. Some of the imports have low cost with out sacrificing quality rarely exceed 7’-1pc. in length unless you go with a 2 pc rod.
Rainshadow/Batson offers good quality American made blanks (Cascade) on the same mandrels as Pacific Bay/ Sabre for much lower cost than Sabre, Lamiglas or Loomis.
Next I would only go with Fuji guides the difference in the cost might be a couple bucks but they are by far the best quality.
There are many Blanks available in either 1 or 2pc.which can be used conventional or spinning.
Consider the grips, Cork Tape is great for surf rods but for thinner rods you might want to consider foam or real cork other wise you will have to double the cork tape.
You should at low end get away with spending approx $75. complete
Med range 8-9’ somewhere about $100. -120
To have the same rods built by a custom builder 120.- 180. avg
On my first rod I would choose colors that do not need color preserver. A different color lighter preferred as an under wrap Darker as an over wrap.
You can get away with a set of felt lined V blocks to wrap on. But you will need to adapt something to spin the rod while drying or go with multiple thin coats of finish occasionally turning by hand to prevent sagging.
Custom rods are far in a way better when properly built than production rods.
They are built to fit the individual’s body and come with the choice of colors, wraps, designs, grips, guide choice and splined.
You will see a few of the higher end rods do not come under wrapped & Fewer guides or cheaper guides no trigger seats for conventional surf rods.
some even bost using fuji guides but they use a type of fuji guides (cheeper)that no builder would consider using.
When you break in down they are saving lots of money by not offering these items.
In some cases with their Minimum retail prices they are more expensive than Customs on the same blanks.
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it don't have to be pretty,, i just hear they last SO long that your grandkids will be catching fish on them,, that sounds cool
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Like any rod they can break if improperly used , banged , dropped
or improperly built and yes there are even a few factory defect blanks that get thru their inspections.
I will be having the rod building classes at my house no charge of course. but trying to nail down a date.
I have a show in SC. I will be away from the Jan 4th thru the 13
rod crafters seminar 16-19th
then a nother tackle show 26th & 27th
I could probably do the show in 1 day and have the rodbuilding work shop on the 25th 26th of January. I put it out there in a seperate post and see what kind of response those dates get.