Hi all,
I'm currently looking for a set of new distance rods, so I went to my favourite tackle shop today to take a look at the Daiwa Infinity X45, Shimano TX-9 and the Korda Kaizen, the Daiwa being my favourite after doing quite a bit of research.
After handling all 3 of them the Daiwa was still my favourite ... but only until I took a closer look. Guide #4 (from the top) was so much out of line that I was actually shocked, I have not seen something like this even on budget rods. Upon checking another 4 Infinity X45 rods (both 12 and 13ft) we found another 2 where 1 or even 2 guides were not in a straight line, although it was not as bad as the first rod. I quite don't understand what is going on at Daiwa, a friend of mine bought a set of Vertice rods last year and they are perfectly fine? Is this maybe only a bad batch?
Robert
I'm currently looking for a set of new distance rods, so I went to my favourite tackle shop today to take a look at the Daiwa Infinity X45, Shimano TX-9 and the Korda Kaizen, the Daiwa being my favourite after doing quite a bit of research.
After handling all 3 of them the Daiwa was still my favourite ... but only until I took a closer look. Guide #4 (from the top) was so much out of line that I was actually shocked, I have not seen something like this even on budget rods. Upon checking another 4 Infinity X45 rods (both 12 and 13ft) we found another 2 where 1 or even 2 guides were not in a straight line, although it was not as bad as the first rod. I quite don't understand what is going on at Daiwa, a friend of mine bought a set of Vertice rods last year and they are perfectly fine? Is this maybe only a bad batch?
Robert
In reply to Post #1
You could understand it if they where made in China but they are supposedly made in Scotland, I have a set of Basia rods and I cannot fault them, maybe new inexperienced staff have been given the job but quality control should have picked up on this
You could understand it if they where made in China but they are supposedly made in Scotland, I have a set of Basia rods and I cannot fault them, maybe new inexperienced staff have been given the job but quality control should have picked up on this
In reply to Post #1
could they have been miss handled and possibly been bent in the shop ?
I find it very hard to believe Daiwa of all people quality control would have missed something like that ?
could they have been miss handled and possibly been bent in the shop ?
I find it very hard to believe Daiwa of all people quality control would have missed something like that ?
In reply to Post #3
Most definitely not, none of the guides had any sign of being bent. The staff couldn't believe it either, the guy said that they will check them all and discuss with their boss what to do with them. It's really a shame as the blank was superb and I even liked the Alps reel seat, which I did not expect. I'll probably get the Shimano TX-9, as ordering Daiwas online is out of the question for me now.
Most definitely not, none of the guides had any sign of being bent. The staff couldn't believe it either, the guy said that they will check them all and discuss with their boss what to do with them. It's really a shame as the blank was superb and I even liked the Alps reel seat, which I did not expect. I'll probably get the Shimano TX-9, as ordering Daiwas online is out of the question for me now.
In reply to Post #4
if it were me I would contact Daiwa direct with your concerns and maybe see what they say
and funny enough I recently bought a set of Vertice 10ft rods and finnish etc superb normal Daiwa quality
if it were me I would contact Daiwa direct with your concerns and maybe see what they say
and funny enough I recently bought a set of Vertice 10ft rods and finnish etc superb normal Daiwa quality
In reply to Post #5
To be honest I don't see the point, because whatever they say, if I order rods elsewhere and they are not as good as I expect them to be, it's gonna me who will have the trouble returning them. I prefer buying my rods in local shops for that very reason, the only exception being my Free Spirit XSR and JDM rods from Megabass and Evergreen, who are well known for their QC.
To be honest I don't see the point, because whatever they say, if I order rods elsewhere and they are not as good as I expect them to be, it's gonna me who will have the trouble returning them. I prefer buying my rods in local shops for that very reason, the only exception being my Free Spirit XSR and JDM rods from Megabass and Evergreen, who are well known for their QC.
Never had an issue with any Daiwa rods I have or have owned, in saying that the last set are probably 3 or 4 years old now and this could as you say be a recent issue coming to the fore as far as QC is concerned.
I have TX9's but not the intensity's they're 3.25lb test which are the same as my Daiwa X45's
for casting I prefer the Daiwa for playing fish its the TX9
I have TX9's but not the intensity's they're 3.25lb test which are the same as my Daiwa X45's
for casting I prefer the Daiwa for playing fish its the TX9
In reply to Post #1
I think with a lot of gear these days, it's better to buy second hand gear. If it's lasted ten years already, chances are it'll last another ten.
They don't make stuff like they used to. The quality control isn't there, neither is customer service.
I think with a lot of gear these days, it's better to buy second hand gear. If it's lasted ten years already, chances are it'll last another ten.
They don't make stuff like they used to. The quality control isn't there, neither is customer service.
In reply to Post #1
I had a similar experience when i purchased a pair of Daiwa Longbows online from Angling Direct several years ago.
On one of the rods the butt ring had been whipped onto the blank on the skew.
I've never seen anything like it, even on cheap rods.
Angling Direct asked me to send them a photo which i did, i used an engineers square placed strategically in the photo to highlight how far out it was.
Angling Direct agreed to arrange for a courier to collect the rod and deliver me a replacement.
The replacement rod also had a small cosmetic issue but i just decided to keep the rod and use it.
The experience did make me question Daiwa's QA Procedure as it was clearly below par of what a customer should ever be receiving.
Maybe too much Iron Bru was consumed during the night shift?
I had a similar experience when i purchased a pair of Daiwa Longbows online from Angling Direct several years ago.
On one of the rods the butt ring had been whipped onto the blank on the skew.
I've never seen anything like it, even on cheap rods.
Angling Direct asked me to send them a photo which i did, i used an engineers square placed strategically in the photo to highlight how far out it was.
Angling Direct agreed to arrange for a courier to collect the rod and deliver me a replacement.
The replacement rod also had a small cosmetic issue but i just decided to keep the rod and use it.
The experience did make me question Daiwa's QA Procedure as it was clearly below par of what a customer should ever be receiving.
Maybe too much Iron Bru was consumed during the night shift?
Ive always been a daiwa man and never ever had any issues with anything but bought a daiwa tournament 20 match reel last week from tft and the bale arm was broken, it wouldnt flick over properly. Not good from there top of the range £350 match reel but with so many being made you will get the odd issue. Total fishing tackle were spot on though sent a prepaid label and refunded me straight away. Whipping rings on out of line is very strange mind and thats not good at all, especially on a rod like the infinity.
Its not just Daiwa rods, whilst looking through some FreeSpirit rods on the shelf the differences between the rods and build quality for the prices they charge for Hi-S were shocking.
In reply to Post #11
Free spirit are probably the worst of the lot. I would never buy a factory built hi s from a shop.
Free spirit are probably the worst of the lot. I would never buy a factory built hi s from a shop.
In reply to Post #11
They have numerous people building their rods
They have numerous people building their rods
In reply to Post #1
I have a set of angling direct factory torrix that I've had for 10 years, was only after about a year I noticed the third eye down on one rod is a few degrees out of line. Every other cheap whipping stick I've ever owned has been perfect.
I have a set of angling direct factory torrix that I've had for 10 years, was only after about a year I noticed the third eye down on one rod is a few degrees out of line. Every other cheap whipping stick I've ever owned has been perfect.
If you want perfection custom built is the only way to go.
In reply to Post #15
They don't cost much more either
They don't cost much more either
In reply to Post #15
I dont think anyone does custom build on Daiwa blanks ?
I dont think anyone does custom build on Daiwa blanks ?
In reply to Post #16
My tony kay ones were slightly cheaper than factory and were absolutely perfect.
My tony kay ones were slightly cheaper than factory and were absolutely perfect.
In reply to Post #18
I was about to buy some 3.25lb infinity's. Wanted them for ages. But having had a look at a set in johnson ross, was massively underwhelmed with the build quality. This was about 4 years ago now. It was mainly the way the varnish was finished, and was instantly noticeable, not me being pedantic.
I went custom after that. Had an absolute mare with the first set, but managed to get my money back, and ordered a set of harrison aviators, built by kev clayton. There is no comparison between the build quality of them, and the infinitys i saw in the shop, and likely any good examples, and they worked out cheaper.
I went custom after that. Had an absolute mare with the first set, but managed to get my money back, and ordered a set of harrison aviators, built by kev clayton. There is no comparison between the build quality of them, and the infinitys i saw in the shop, and likely any good examples, and they worked out cheaper.
What I also don't understand is why Daiwa always choose to make their rods look like every other 20 pounds rod. Also the case with the new Korda Kaizen rods. Absolutely boring and cheap looking rods.
In reply to Post #1
My mate brought a set of infinity rods. Rigged them up chucked them out then when he put his rods on the rest 2 of the eyes on one tip section were in a different position to the other 2 rods. I will say Dawia sent him prepaid postage tube for all 3 rods to ensure that they were all lined up perfectly. They returned the rods quickly and they were fine.
My mate brought a set of infinity rods. Rigged them up chucked them out then when he put his rods on the rest 2 of the eyes on one tip section were in a different position to the other 2 rods. I will say Dawia sent him prepaid postage tube for all 3 rods to ensure that they were all lined up perfectly. They returned the rods quickly and they were fine.
In reply to Post #22
yes I have always found Daiwa aftersales and customer service simply superb and have always sorted any problems I have had
years ago they even re rung a Daiwa sea fishing rod that had roller rings to normal rings for me and at a really reasonable cost too
yes I have always found Daiwa aftersales and customer service simply superb and have always sorted any problems I have had
years ago they even re rung a Daiwa sea fishing rod that had roller rings to normal rings for me and at a really reasonable cost too
In reply to Post #1
Rod guides can move by heavy handling, and I've seen customers being a bit brutal.
I think, although I'm not 100% positive, some Daiwa rods were produced in the Far East, while some (most UK models) were made in Scotland.
Must admit I never had any complaints with Daiwa service, Simon Wheeler was the rep, and always spot on with any problems.
Rod guides can move by heavy handling, and I've seen customers being a bit brutal.
I think, although I'm not 100% positive, some Daiwa rods were produced in the Far East, while some (most UK models) were made in Scotland.
Must admit I never had any complaints with Daiwa service, Simon Wheeler was the rep, and always spot on with any problems.
In reply to Post #24
I think it's totally dependent on the price point.
I.E Black Widow, Misson etc made in far east, Infinity, Basair etc made in the UK
If i'm being honest, I was completely underwhelmed by the Basairs when I had a play with one. Straight out the box it seems it needed a service prior to use.
I think it's totally dependent on the price point.
I.E Black Widow, Misson etc made in far east, Infinity, Basair etc made in the UK
If i'm being honest, I was completely underwhelmed by the Basairs when I had a play with one. Straight out the box it seems it needed a service prior to use.
In reply to Post #1
I don't use my 3.75 test Infinity magnum tapers very often.
Went to use them on an overnighter on Friday and on one of them the spigot was very tight...to the point where if I didn't have a friend with me to undo it at the end of the session it would of been going home stuck out of the tailgate of the car.
One of the other ones was so tight it wouldn't go together at all.
Wet and dry required and a bit of fettling methinks...not too impressed on rods that cost me £400 apiece though
I don't use my 3.75 test Infinity magnum tapers very often.
Went to use them on an overnighter on Friday and on one of them the spigot was very tight...to the point where if I didn't have a friend with me to undo it at the end of the session it would of been going home stuck out of the tailgate of the car.
One of the other ones was so tight it wouldn't go together at all.
Wet and dry required and a bit of fettling methinks...not too impressed on rods that cost me £400 apiece though
In reply to Post #26
My longbows are like this.
I've found spraying them with PTFE lubricant every now and again helps.
2 of the 3 have freed up but the 3rd was a right pain last session, I had to dip the entire rod in the water to cool it so I could take it apart.
It should get easier with use.
My longbows are like this.
I've found spraying them with PTFE lubricant every now and again helps.
2 of the 3 have freed up but the 3rd was a right pain last session, I had to dip the entire rod in the water to cool it so I could take it apart.
It should get easier with use.
In reply to Post #26
That used to happen in very warm weather when i had a set of Century NG's.
It's because they are a close tolerance fit.
Dipping the full rod tip section and including the full spigot under the water for a few minutes to cool down was the way to get them apart.
That used to happen in very warm weather when i had a set of Century NG's.
It's because they are a close tolerance fit.
Dipping the full rod tip section and including the full spigot under the water for a few minutes to cool down was the way to get them apart.
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