Broken Guides! @#$%^!

[JerseyCoast]

I still cant figure out why they use these guides on the rods that are so expensive! Offering the warranty that both you and I offer........we would never think of building with them.

Been saying it for years........once you make a decision to spend? $150 on a rod.......use a builder and go custom! We have been getting on average 2-3 a week for repairs. I probably turn away another 2-3 per week, because the people opt to send it back and pay the warranty fee!

Truth is, the guides you and I use are faster guides, so you get more distance. They will not crack, they do not fall out ( inserts) and they look a hell of alot better.

Great topic here......its 100% true!! I still cant figure out the logic behind it???? All that money spent......on a rod that a good builder would refuse to build.

Get yourself a Fish Poison......instead!!! They cast further!

[Kevin Bogan]

Tom, they pay top dolar for rods that the guides fall apart. The Tica rods have the same problem.

[Sidewinder]

The reason why is because they are using BULLSHIT PacBay guides to buid these rods.

Alconites are the only guides I build with and I never break them and they last years.

Sure you can use Hardloy but they weigh to heavy and look awful...

Thats just my .02

[Kevin Bogan]

Broken guides/we fix them!!!!

[kurtisb]

Last winter I bought a super cheap surf rod reel combo at a show because I knew I would be camping on the beach in Delaware in August.

Come August in Delaware, I pull the rod out of the camper and find the insert in the first guide is missing, no where to be found.

I fished with it anyway because all we caught were croakers that didn't bend the rod.

When I got home I bought the closest looking 40 mm guide I could find on ebay, $3.99 including shipping from Shanghai. Three weeks later it arrived.

I cut the metal ring with a dremel hoping to salvage the ceramic ring and bing it popped right out. It is press fit, only held by friction. Is this how they are all made. I was amazed. Looking at my $20 rods and my $200 rods, the guides are all made the same except for my fish poison rod.

With a little grinding with the dremel I got the ring to fit and epoxied in place. Fixed my $20 rod for $4 and an hours work.

Hope I get to use it again someday.