My NFC X-Ray NEO just showed up. It was love at first feel. I'm pairing it with one of NFC's soft touch grips. None of the reel seats I have at the moment fit it correctly. My last two casting builds have been with the Fuji ACS reel seat and I'm looking to try something different this time. For anyone who has already built on a NEO blank and love the way it turned out, what model/size reel seat did you choose? Thanks!

Don't fit the blank, or the soft touch grip?

Spencer,

They're exposed blank through seats that are too small for the NEO. I don't mind reaming them out a little, but they barely make it down half the blank. It'd take considerable reaming to get them to fit correctly.

I used a Fuji ECS on mine. It feels like the blank taper really straightens out at the bottom of the blank. I started with what I had on hand, a 13.5 so it was a lot of reaming. I had to put my reamer in the rod lathe to get it done. It was more work than expected. The barrel of the reel seat still fit fine though, just the smallest gap between the barrel and the blank. I am trying to use up some of my components that are laying around, so I didn’t order a new seat.

The butt diameter on the NEO is just about 15 mm. Both the ACS and ECSM reel seats come in variable IDs up to 17mm. So there should be no problem buying a reel seat that fits. Just measure the OD of the blank where you want the reel seat, and then order a reel seat that will fit.
Norm

I did as Norm suggest. Ended up using a ECSM 13.5 on the MB 7109 and ECSM 14 on the MB 7108, MB736 and SJ 736 all X-Ray blanks. Took minimal reaming. It stopped about 9 inched above location. Reamed them out by hand using a reamer. The grip fit against the real seat. As I understand from NFC the arbor is designed to go under the real seat and the grip. I did not install them that way. I used masking tape on the grips.
Pat

Hey

Little off subject


But how do you like the blank?

Is it powerful ?


Would it make a good medium duty saltwater spinning rod ???

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I'll probably go with the ECMS.


Benjie, I don't know anything about saltwater fishing. I plan on throwing large, deep diving crankbaits and heavy spinnerbaits with it. Feels like it'll load real nice on the cast but if you lean on one, it's going to bury hooks. Soft tip and then a lot of meat.