What are the advantages of a Tennessee handle over a standard spinning handle and seat?

It all depends on how you look at it. Some will tell you it's more sensitive - I don't believe that for a minute, but you will run across guys who want it for that reason. It's simple, it should be lightweight and it allows you adjust the position of your reel fore and aft if you wish to do so. The disadvantages would be centered around the fact that you have no positive connection to hold the seat. Tape or lock rings must be relied upon to hold the reel. Not that they can't do a good job of it, but it's not at all like just putting your reel into a reel seat and running the nut up to lock it in place.

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I use them and I like them for the comfort factor, that and if I change reels I can balance rod and reel by moving the real on the rod. I don't use rings on them, I just tape them on. I agree that they are probably not any more sensitivie that a conventional reel seat setup.

The Tennessee handles using the graphite tubing I believe are more sensative that ones with cork. I really like how the one I made turned out. I do use the sliding rings to attach my reel, but found out I need to add a small piece of rubber inside the ring opposite of the reel for the rings to hold in place on the tube. Without the rubber, the rings will not stay in place and hold on the reel.

I love them cause you can easily adjust the reel position. I REALLY love those Fuji "Cam Lock" rings..a simple twist- the reel is LOCKED. Everytime they have something good...they quit making it !

I did get some old featherweight twist lock rings ..& they work fairly well ,too..but..obsolete.

maybe some influencal person could convince somebody to make such a thing for the graphite tubing.....

Sort of the best of both worlds in my opinion (Tennessee comfort and balancing with positive seat attachment) is the old Philipson style handle with sliding aluminum seat. Pretty darn comfortable and versatile, also ideally suited for spin/fly combos. The metal can get cold of course but that's the only drawback I know of. Every handle has at least one drawback I think. If you search my name on the photo page you won't find much but you will find a picture or two of the Philipson handle I'm talking about.

Hint, hint to manufacturers. If patents don't prevent a copy of this type of seat, it sure would be neat if someone started manufacturing these things again sometime soon. There is nothing like them available that I know of and this is a very good design.

The cork ones are super easy to build. No arbors, no spine alignment, no big messy puddles of epoxy, and very low cost. The big disadvantage and the only one I am aware of is it's a big pain to change your reels around. Once you put the reel on, it's there for a while. This turns me off of these handles for the most part because I like to switch reels around somewhat often. If you don't anticipate this being a problem then I see no reason to go with any other type of handle. Bob at Custom Tackle showed how to use fiberglass backed tape and a few wraps of black tape to keep the glass tape in place. I used tennis rod wrap to cover the tape wraps.

Long threaded graphite tube with two hoods and nuts on it so the reel can be moved back and forth?? Just a thought Adjustable reel seat?

They are light.and then the 3 S's ( slick, sensitive and simple ). If you 'Concept Guide' the rod with SIC or Titanium guides, it's not only super light but is "specific" to the particular reel you like to use. I don't change reels on my Tennessee handle rods. They are custom made for a specific reel and I tape them on with half-inch, waterproof adhesive tape. Two wraps on the top of the reel foot and two wraps on the bottom. I have never had one come loose. They are not for everybody but I really like the custom feel. The first one I ever made I put sliding reel seats on. The reel did come loose quite a bit on that rod. A friend told me to take a dremmel tool and cut those off. I did and starting using the waterproof adhesive tape. Give it a try! Steve

If you're going to put one reel on the rod and leave it there you should look at silicone tape that's used on boat electrical repairs - stuff will even cure underwater . After it's been wrapped over itself it seals to itself - Permanently. Little tip from former job on boat yard repairs.

Rats! I hit post before I was done. We even used silicone tape for repairs on gas, oil and water leaks (radiator and freshwater tanks)... Great stuff - and it comes in several colors too (for color coding different line applications - water, electricity, fuel etc.)