A customer walks into your shop and says. "Tell me why a custom built fly rod is better than the same off the shelf model?"
How would you answer?

Put a rod in his hand to compare. Let him know that if he has special needs in the handle ( big or small hands or a disability) you can make the necessary adjustments.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

For the same reason a portrait of Elvis by Andrew Wyeth would be preferable to an anonymous painting of Elvis on black velvet.
Same subject, same purpose, different inherent value.
Now, if a rod is seen strictly as a way of harvesting fish, a gallon of rotenone or a crate of hand grenades would be a better choice.

You can't get line tamer guides, grips to fit your hand, reel seats with windows that have inscriptions, feather inlays, grip inlays or the choice of guide styles and types on any off-the shelf rod including sage and winston. If a customer is interested in something unique designed just for him to fit his castying style, then he should consider a custom rod.

If he just wants to grab a stick and go fish, send him to the box store.

Terry

Just sent you an email with an attachment -

Print it and show it to him -

If that does not work use the last line of Terry's post above.

If by "same model" they mean the same manufacturer's blank then the difference is "everything else".

Bill please send me the same list

Thanks
paul

Paul@soonercustomrod.com

I'd wager the guy already knows. After all he did walk into your shop. Not like you dragged him in from off the street.

I'd say most guys that are considering a custom anything are trying to rationalize the cost. They just need to be reassured that it is a smart move.

I have seen guys do custom work at extreme ends. Some will build whatever the customer asks for (even if they think it isn't suitable). Some will ask, listen, measure, and size up the individual and tell them what they need.

1. Cuz you can get ceramics instead of snakes
2. Cuz the guides are put on correctly so they stay on the rod
3. Cuz you can size the reel seat specifically for his reel and make it out of almost anything
4. Cuz you can mock one up and have him try it and make adjustments for his casting style
5. Cuz you can put the stripper just where he needs it to be and maybe add a tamer
6. Cuz you can look up the CCS data for a bunch of blanks and come up with a model that's just right
7. Cuz the finished rod won't have a big ugly factory label; instead it will have his name neatly written on it (and hopefully won't say CUSTOM MADE FOR BLAH BLAH BLAH BY BLAH BLAH BLAH CUSTOM RODS)
8. Cuz it will be the rod he always wanted, he will have a blast fishing, and he will be the envy of his friends

Tom White
Rod & Reel Restoration

[www.tackleworks.org]


.............

Bill can i get a copy aswell.

"Because its built by me for you.....not by some non caring outbuilder"

NERB that types with a bar of Ivory soap in his mouth.

Bill,

I'd like to jump on the bandwagon and get a copy as well.

thanks,
jeremy

I have a rifle built to my specifications. It is constructed on a Remington 700 action. That is the point at which comparisons to a factory made rifle end.
The barrel was hand crafted by Dan Lilja of Idaho, who makes barrels for world champion shooters. It has 3 rifling grooves instead of the usual 6, and is hand lapped and polished. It was also fluted to reduce weight but to retain stiffness (stiffness contributes to accuracy).
The action was hand polished and blueprinted. The barrel was chambered in a caliber unavailable in commercial ammunition. (I have to make my own).
The trigger was replaces and a match trigger installed, and it requires 2.25 lbs of pressure to fire. The factory trigger requires 10 lbs of pressure, degrading accuracy.
The stock is kevlar and graphite, and because I have very long arms, the "length of pull" is longer than normal. The action is bedded into the stock for optimal accuracy.

The optics are made by Carl Zeiss.

Now, my son has a rifle that is "off the shelf" in a similar (not the same) caliber. The rifle, scope and ammo are available at any sporting goods store. He can get 1.5" groups at 100 yards (plenty good for deer or woodchucks. I paid $450 for his rifle/scope combination. He likes it fine.

I was a competitive shooter. My SCOPE cost $1,500. The rifle (custom made to my specific needs and wants) was another $3,000, and I supplied the action (I had to buy a Remington 700 action with a barrel...the barrel, trigger, etc, were all discarded), for $350. Total: $4,800, and I needed custom dies with which to make my own ammo.

The difference: 5 shots at 200 yards will group as a single hole just slightly larger than the bullet diameter. I feel GREAT when I shoot this rifle. I can tailor the ammo for specific game or target use. And I LOVE the envious looks I get when I bring it to the rifle range (even from the military snipers who love shooting it.

So...anything in the above you can use to answer the question?

Hi Bill, I'd also like a copy.

Thanks
Mike

How about... "Because Gary Loomis doesn't make rods, just blanks." :)

If you have to ask that question then you have not been fly fishing long enough to have to ask that question.

The reason I ask is that I've got a spot a a fly show coming up next month. There is a local guide who will also be there, who in the past has not talked kindly of custom builders and is an "off the shelf" guy. I think part of that is because he is sponsored by one of the rod companies.
I found out what rod he likes, and it's a nice rod, i'm thinking of getting the same make and model of blank and doing the custom route on it. I think If i can show how an already good product can be improved then I may get a few new customers.

I would make the case that just as in many sports or hobbies, commercially made goods suit the needs of 95% of those participating, but there will always be a small number of participants at the top end of the spectrum that desire, and demand, something different or perhaps better in some way. You might also bring up the point that there are plenty of anglers who have physical requirements that are not able to be met by commercially made rods - the guy with arthritis who can't hold onto the small grips offered on most commercially made rods, or the woman or child with very small hands or reach that can't easily utilize an off the rack rod. The key is to plainly state that you aren't building for the masses and are more than willing to concede that ground to the commercial makers, choosing instead to cater to that small group of dedicated anglers who either want or need something which they cannot obtain in a commercially made product.

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