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Posts: 190
Location: Savage, MN | On a whim I ordered a 8' TI XH Mag rod as it was a ggod price a $5 flat shipping for that and 3 lures. Was this a good decision? I have never used one but the components and handle length seemed right based on my others. My others are St. Croixs and a TB custom competitor. I would like to hear from anybody that has one and would you reccomend a 9' as well? |
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Posts: 981
| I had 2 of the 9' XH rods they are awesome...I sold them to get a st croix LT big nasty and then after holding the LT rod in person I had jeremy at tuscarora make me a custom with the 9' TI XH blank. you will love it |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Ronix
You are going to love the rod Jeremy will make you. I was dropped to see one of my rods he stripped and remade at the MI show. Incredible work.
Here is a picture of that rod:
See the bottom of this page and then flip through the pictures. Fantastic work he can do. Custom rods start at $225 on my blanks! I think on some of the "premium" name brand blanks his custom builds start around $400+
http://tuscaroratackle.com/rods/
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Posts: 150
Location: Central Minnesota | The TI 8' XH is an awesome rod. I own one of every power and in varying lengths and I will never buy another brand. They have such great balance and just feel good in your hands. I have held some other brands and they dont have the same feel. Even rods that cost 3X as much. Get a 9' er as well you wont be sorry.
Also, James when is your jerk bait rod comming out? |
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Posts: 292
Location: SW MI | +1 on the TI rods. I have a 9' XXXH rod and a 9' XH blank to build. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Jerkbait rod will be ready in abotu 5-6 weeks.
I am also starting a full line of 7'6" rods too. Hope to get them ready to ship by late summer.
James |
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Posts: 457
Location: Minneconia | So what are the differences between the TI blanks and the Predator/St Croix blanks? |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Technically speaking I could not even start to answer that. I am not aware of the materials and adhesives used to make a St Croix blank. Do you have more specific specifications in mind? |
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Posts: 457
Location: Minneconia | Nope. Just want to know what makes it worth buying a TI over a Predator/St Croix if price was taken out of the equation, blank for blank. |
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Posts: 190
Location: Savage, MN | James- is the 9' XXH often times to stiff for double 10's or smaller swim baits. I wouldnt mind a 9' for those types of baits in order to get wider figure 8's, but would like the versatility to throw pounders or larger plastics if needed. Thanks in advance for the help as I am new to your rods. |
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Posts: 908
Location: South-Central PA | Dirt Esox,
We all know that the Predator blanks that St Croix builds for Thorne Bros are very high quality just like the blanks St Croix builds for themselves. I've built on the Predator, St Croix LT, and Premier blanks- all are very high quality and I would be proud to own a rod built on any of them.
I've found the TI blanks to be of equally high quality. They are super light blanks, right on par with the LT if not lighter. Part of what allows the TI blanks to be so light is that they do not get a heavy coat of paint followed by a clear coat. Painting and clearing a blank add about 5-7% to the total weight. Doesn't sound like much but it makes a noticeable difference. I've found the TI blanks to be just as straight as the St Croix made blanks.
As a custom builder, I can get any blank I want. I've built myself muskie rods on St. Croix, Lamiglas, and TI blanks. To me, what makes the TI blanks so appealing is the price/value factor. The TI blanks are very close in quality to the others but at a fraction of the cost.
jeremy
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | I own both Predator and TI, if I had to choose 1 it would be the TI, 4 of my 5 rods I carry in the boat all season are TI's...The Predator is not one of them either... |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Dirt Esox - 3/9/2012 4:53 PM
Nope. Just want to know what makes it worth buying a TI over a Predator/St Croix if price was taken out of the equation, blank for blank.
Remove the retail price point...
-TI rods are similar weight inch per inch (and some lighter for the power rating)
-Both brands of rods are not built on standard raw materials. I do know that some St Croix rods are built on some really cool 3M nano material/technology but I am not sure if the musky rod blanks are built with that technology. I can only speak for my TI rods and they are built using trade secret materials and adhesives typically used for very high end sports equipment that is made to be super light but very very strong. I took a chance and paid about $3000 for my first prototype and it worked amazingly well for us.
-Touching on price just a little, Tackle Industries has a very low advertising budget and I can pass along much of the savings in the form of lower retail. My wife and I also own our warehouse and do all of our own website development, accounting, shipping, etc which saves a lot of money.
-Production: While my rods are rolled and assembled overseas the raw materials are sourced from USA companies and some of the components (Fuji) are sourced from Japan and cork from Portugal.
-Last, customer service. I treat everyone like I want to be treated. I feel it is your hard earned money and I need to respect you as a customer.
Not trying to brown nose my competition but, if and when the day comes that I can afford a custom St Croix rod I will have one for my personal use. And I can not wait for that day to come! St Croix sets the bar for all rod companies and will be one of those companies that leads the pack for years to come. They make a premium product that anyone will be happy to own. I hope to be half the company they are someday.
Thanks,
James
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Posts: 457
Location: Minneconia | Thanks guys, that's what I was wanting to know! |
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Posts: 180
Location: Elgin, IL | Received my TI 8' MH and 9' XH recently and have not fished them yet. But took a practice with them and felt real nice. First time out pkg rods were impressive. Get some, period |
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| Best rod I own and I own a Thorn Bros Predator. The TBP cost me 3x more than a TI and the TI is far better. I plan on having Jeremy making my next rod on a TI blank for sure!
jim |
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| Hands down the best rod I have ever used |
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Posts: 190
Location: Savage, MN | Got home from work today to a wonderful gift of my new TI rod. Everything looks great and feels wonderful in my hands. I have to say the thing that I enjoy the most so far is the "fat" grip. I am 6'6" with big hands and I see this being a great feature for increased comfort. Ordering a 9' as soon as I end this post. Super impressed thus far. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Skyblaster,
Thanks for the good feedback! Just finishing up my next production schedule.
Adding 7'6" MH and XH rods to the mix and also a Hot Pink 7'6" MH rod to the lineup.
Looking into using my blank design for walleye rods now too. Plan on working with one of the top walleye pros in the industry to finalize the blank design.
Thanks!!
James
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