Hello all,
I was just at the Chicago Sport show and ran across a display of rods made by Jim Grandt Rods. What a great display of wraps, handles and finish. The only thing to me is most were so , dare I say "Pretty" I wouldn't want to do more than hang it on the Mantle and just look at it and say Wow! Almost oriental looking! They were nice though. Has anyone seen his work elseware?
Mark

Jim takes a lot of heat from those who consider his rods and form of marketing as something less than that of a true "custom builder". I won't argue the point but will say that he is extremely successful in what he set out to do. There could be some lessons there for rod builders wishing to expand their markets, both in what to do, and even what not to do.

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He has been to a couple of shows in New York as well. Tom said it very well - he is successful at what he set out to do - sell a lot of "custom" rods. He is a great marketer and knows what people like to see and how to sell them rods. Bright lights & metallic threads give you the impression that the wraps are much better than they actually are. His brochure is also well written and he is very seclusive of a lot of things he states in there.

The rods Jim Grandt displays at the various fishing shows are not custom built. Unless they have changed from the last time I saw them, at close inspection the wraps are not very good.