The Elkhorn bamboo rod that LadyFisher wrote about this week has raised a question in my mind. I do not own a bamboo rod, but would like to try bamboo someday. Can anybody explain to me the difference between a $600 bamboo rod and other bamboo rods that could cost $1500 or more? I find it hard to believe that there is $1000+ difference in materials of construction. If the added cost is due to labor, then am I getting something off an “assembly line” if I spend only $600? Is the quality that much lower?! The huge range of prices seems strange.
I would love to try one, but I have not even seen a real one, and not much chance of doing that here. (Guyana SA)
Once you narrow it to competent makers, they all take about the same amount of time to build a rod. A maker with an established reputation who has a backlog, will charge more. A fellow trying to become known will charge less. As his time becomes more pressed, his prices will go up too.
(The hourly wage making a $600 rod would make you cry. It is probably not much, if any, above minimum wage.)
A lot of what you are paying for is the work of a master craftsman. Usually the longer the rodmaker has been making rods the better quality rods he produces, after 1000’s of rods his tapers are more refined and the demand to own his work increases. You can buy a rod from a maker who is newer to the craft for less then a maker with alot of rods under his belt. That is not to say the newer maker doesn’t make a great rod, but imagine how good his rods will be after he builds 100’s more as he modifies his tapers and finishes.
If the average maker spends 60+ hours on a rod, then $10 an hour is $600. So a $1200 rod is $20 an hour, still no great fortune. A company may have numerous rodmakers working at different phases of the rodbuilding process (I don’t know this about Elkhorn, just speculating) and can produce at a lower cost.
[url=http://www.native-waters.com:6748e]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:6748e]
All good points, thanks for the comments. I can certainly see why it cost so much if it takes that long to build. Unfortunately, that is way too rich for my blood. Can you get good used bamboo rods for a lot less? If I am looking for a first bamboo rod (say $350 or less) what would be some suggestions for brands, places to buy, etc.?
There are always “good” vintage bamboo on ebay for less than that. You might need to refinish the rod before you fish it if you pay on the really low end (<$50). There are also some good makers that will make a blank for you in that price range or less. I just won a blank from Golden Witch for just over $100. In all I will spend about $200. on the rod and finish it myself.
That’s a great price for a quad blank, and I would be interested in getting one myself. Anyone know how to contact Bob Malucci? I looked for a web site but came up empty.
Thanks!
[url=http://www.downandacross.com/:7c6c1]http://www.downandacross.com/[/url:7c6c1]
This is for Bob’s website. I do not know if he is taking orders. He was taking some time off to fish the last time I knew.
Pete
[url=http://blacklabfliesandsupplies.com:7c6c1]http://blacklabfliesandsupplies.com[/url:7c6c1]
Check this out! [url=http://p205.ezboard.com/fclarksclassicflyrodforumflytackleforsaletradewanted.showMessage?topicID=3950.topic:53b73]http://p205.ezboard.com/fclarksclassicflyrodforumflytackleforsaletradewanted.showMessage?topicID=3950.topic[/url:53b73]
Jim:
I’d be very careful about buying a low cost bamboo rod on ebay. If it is not being bid up, there is usuallly a reason. That isn’t to say you couldn’t pick up a usable rod, but you might very well be disappointed in how it feels in action because it turns out to be a not-too-spiffily tapered mass produced rod. (An old three piece 9 ft production rod for, say, DT6 line at minmum is very apt to feel like a cudgel compared to the lighter more modern graphite rods to may be familiar with.)
Jim, ditto what Colston said. When I first got interested in cane, and being on a budget, I bought a couple of real duds. It takes a lot of time to learn which brands and models are worth the money. There’s a great column on “Blue Collar Cane” here on FAOL in the Bamboo section. Also search for “Clark’s Bamboo Rod Forum” on Google and there’s plenty of good info there.
That having been said, most of the info out there points toward high-end vintage rods or modern rod makers. There’s no doubt that modern rods are far superior to their predecessors due to modern adhesives and refining of the tapers. But you will also read that Montagues, H-Is and the like are not worth anything. This is largely, but not at all completely true. Many high-volume production rod companies made tons of “passable” rods and a few models of most excellent grade rods. Fishbanjo’s site has some great info on vintage rods and various qualities of them.
In the mid- to mid-upper range, Heddons, Grangers, certain South Bends and the like are most excellent rods that can be had for $300-400. Again, you have to know the right models to look for. Colston is right, if it’s not being bid up, it’s probably not a better model.
But a little research will help you make good choices. I have right now in the rack several cane rods, the best being a 9’ Granger Victory, along with two Montagues, one South Bend, one unknown that was probably a better Monty or H-I and shoots a 7-wt rod like a cannon, and a 6’ banty.
Hope this helps,
R
[url=http://www.native-waters.com:93249]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:93249]
Sorry to take so long to get back with you guys. Thanks for all the tips on buying a cane rod! I will do some more homework and try to decipher what are the good models to buy. Sounds like all of the major makes made at least a few good tapers, so it will just be a matter of determining which are the ones worth buying. Thanks for the help. I will be sure to post any other questions I come up with. Tight lines!