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| | | noj | | Posts: 11459 | | | Social photographer... | |
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 #26 31 May 2021 at 7.25am | |  |   |
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In reply to Post #25
That’s what I’m getting at mate, I’ve left jobs before because the work wasn’t up to the standard I’d expect of myself. It’s not on for one or two people to carry a company/brand and risk their own reputations through being associated with cowboys.
There’s far too many accounts of bad building with their rods. Ffs if you’re selling a factory finish have a precise layout or template for every model and stick to it. Rod assembly really isn’t hard, time and equipment consuming, but for 98% of the build you can move and align guides anyway. How professionals manage to **** it up I don’t know. Either they don’t give a **** or they are actually 7 year old Korean orphans who build them in the dark in the container en route from source 
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#25 30 May 2021 at 10.51pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #24
I've had custom builds on all my Free Spirits, bar my 10ft Hi S. Got them built by Vic Gibson via Johnson Ross, zero issues and build quality is second to none. FS use different rod builders, so there the issue - you could potentially be buying the same rod, but from different builders - which I found when I ordered a third 10ft Hi S 2 3/4 - it's ring spacing was completely different from the other two I already had. Some might not be bothered, but I was. So I drove all the way down to Johnson Ross and they kindly found another rod from stock that did match the two I had. As to S lites? I don't like the handle fittings at all, just feels odd in the hand and purple whipping, no thanks. I'd go up a notch and get an S series rod or get the Hi S, which are just awesome.
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| | | noj | | Posts: 11459 | | | Social photographer... | |
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#24 30 May 2021 at 6.51pm | | | |
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I know somebody who waited months for a custom set of hi-s
Turned up with completely the wrong build, rings spiralled around the blank and not lined up with the other rods.
Nice blanks, let down by shoddy workmanship that reflects badly on other builders they use who do a good job.
If people carry on paying over the odds they’ll keep churning out crap and keep inflating prices
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#23 30 May 2021 at 5.54pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #21
The Tackle box definitely dont check all the rods they sent out as i bought two free barbel seekers a few years ago and the whippings either side of the logo were spaces out totally different on each rod and even worse one had dark burgundy whippings and the other one had black whippings and the top section on one of the rods had a terrible knock on it when the tip section was on.
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#22 30 May 2021 at 3.38pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #17
I had my e class custom built through Jr and can't fault them, however I also ordered the landing net to match at the same time. Rods took 9 weeks(they had told me 12weeks)but the landing net took 16 weeks to arrive. Went and collected it and Checked the handle was OK, wasn't until I got home and unwrapped the actual net to net to find it had a massive rip in it!!! 😡
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#21 27 May 2021 at 1.36pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #12
The Tackle Box wouldn’t have sent those out. When I bought my Hi S Barbel rods over the phone, it was the last two they had in and the woman I spoke to said they’d check them over then call me back.So I assume they do that with all rods they post out.
I bet you’re gonna say yours were from there now….
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#20 27 May 2021 at 12.43pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #16
For 200-250 have a feel of the daiwa longbow x45 3.75. Dont be put off by the tc rating.. its softer than it suggests and will do all you want. Its also lighter in the hand than the s lites in the heavier tc's
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#19 27 May 2021 at 10.00am | | | |
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In reply to Post #18
I’m just saying what they told me on the phone buddy, mine turned up perfectly fine but I have seen them lining up wrong on other rods
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#18 27 May 2021 at 8.23am | | | |
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In reply to Post #17
I would question that, I ordered two of the S-lite 10' 3.25Tc with 40mm butt rings from JR, one turned up correct the other with a 30mm butt ring which had me wondering for a minute as I hadn't really checked that I just got them out the bags put them together lay them against each other and noticed the ring positioning and reel seats were off by at least 100mm it was then that I sussed what they had done, they rectified it but what a faff so doubtful they check them before sending out quite possibly check there not ferked when they turn up.
EDIT: Just to add to that though for the OP they are a lovely rod to use even in 10's they cope very well with 3 and 3.5oz leads
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#17 27 May 2021 at 6.20am | | | |
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If you do order them get them from Johnson ross they get them all out before sending out and check they all line up, spoke to them on the phone and they say they do it with all the free spirit rods
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#16 26 May 2021 at 10.49pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #15
Agreed think for that money you shouldn’t have to worry about defects when ordered ! Going to have a look and see where my closest supplier is .
Am I missing any other rod models within this (200-250) price range for an all rounder rod (to cast on the bigger pits ,120-140 yard but a nice playing action for the smaller lakes) ?
(Currently own 2x greys aircurve 3lb , love them but they are missing a back bone when fishing 100+ yards)
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#15 26 May 2021 at 4.49pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #13
Thats the problem with mail order I suppose. Hence why I travelled to get them sorted. It was a batch of a certain test curve that had the problem, the others were absolutely fine. I walked away with the problem rectified. But I'd certainly think twice about ordering free spirit online from now on.
My past experiences with other brands have been similar, ive ordered daiwa rods with different length handles and had to return them and get every single one in shop stock to get a matching set. Same experience of greys in the past too. With one blank slightly longer than the other knocking every guide out of alignment with the matching rod sat next to it.... does it affect performance? Nope! But drove me absolutely nuts everytime and couldn't settle until I got them changed.
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#14 26 May 2021 at 3.28pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #13
They're not all badly built , thats the problem. Mine are perfect but i picked them up from the TB in person so they checked them prior to me buying. Considering the prices for Hi-S rods these are a bargain , at least they were when i got mine. I'm not sure i'd buy a set on spec without seeing them first tho.
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#13 26 May 2021 at 3.19pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #12
what i can't understand is why you would pay top money for a rod with shoddy piece work finishing?
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#12 26 May 2021 at 2.55pm | | | |
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In reply to Post #11
Absolutely. Build quality can be hit or miss, I ordered online and the butt rings were out from each rod by 10mm. I drove 4hrs to get them sorted as I needed them quick. The shop had 6 in stock and everyone one of them didn't line up with each other.
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