Does anyone have access to and build custom rods using their blanks? 

The blanks are their own and not available. I've never found them to be anything more than "workhorse" rods, nothing that other blank companies aren't doing better. The guides seem to need work more than others.

On 12/28/2020 at 5:06 PM, fishhook said:

Does anyone have access to and build custom rods using their blanks? 

Falcon doesn't make blanks. They never did. They used to use American made blanks. (I can't remember exactly whose, but I'm thinking it was either Ark or ALX). But whose ever blanks they were, they no longer have access to them and have been using blanks made offshore for the last few years.

Very interesting! I wonder whose blanks they were using? 

13 minutes ago, fishhook said:

Very interesting! I wonder whose blanks they were using? 

It was ARK Rod in Harrison Arkansas. (Not the Same Ark that sells fishing rods out of Florida)

ArkRod has gone out of business, or at least is no longer rolling blanks. Falcon says that they are now using proprietary blanks made overseas.

 

I disagree somewhat with Spoonplugger on Falcon rods. He is right that there are other companies doing it better, the thing is that there aren't many better for around $100.

Yeah that BuCoo series of rods is hard to be for the money. I appreciate the info!

Manufacturers shop blanks from various sources.  Buy a rod now and it was made with Brand X blanks, buy that same rod in 6 months and it's in Brand Z blanks.  Very few rod makers roll their own blanks.

 

I posted this before, I did a regrip job in 2014 on a Kistler.  When I stripped the old cork off, there was a Rainshadow label on the blank.  They also used Rogue and another I can't remember.

 

I know of another company that was using Rodgeeks, but was having problems with breakage, so they switched to NFC.

 

Blank suppliers do this too.  Back more than a few years, Rainshadow had the RX8+ line, those were rolled by St. Croix.  More recently, the now discontinued Eternity line, those were NFC.  I'm not 100% certain, but i think the Judge series is rolled by Lamiglas.

Honestly for the price of rods now days that seems like it should be information that is disclosed. The blank used is what matters most in my opinion.

Doubt disclosure will happen we can't even get that on the food we eat. Go to EU and you know what's in the package, who produced it and country of origin, and it's not in fine print. 

My Batson RX8+ dropshot rod is still the best I've ever used, my RX8 salmon/steelhead rods are dandies also.

G.Loomis, Lamiglas, Batson all make rod blanks in the USA for sale. Fresh water bass rod blanks range from $70 to $350+. Good choices in the $110 price point, then you add guide train, handle/ reel seat components and skilled labor time.

I suggest start with Mike at DVL or Alex at ALX, tell them you want a rod like your old Falcon.

Tom

On 12/30/2020 at 7:14 AM, S Hovanec said:

Manufacturers shop blanks from various sources.  Buy a rod now and it was made with Brand X blanks, buy that same rod in 6 months and it's in Brand Z blanks.  Very few rod makers roll their own blanks.

 

I posted this before, I did a regrip job in 2014 on a Kistler.  When I stripped the old cork off, there was a Rainshadow label on the blank.  They also used Rogue and another I can't remember.

 

I know of another company that was using Rodgeeks, but was having problems with breakage, so they switched to NFC.

 

Blank suppliers do this too.  Back more than a few years, Rainshadow had the RX8+ line, those were rolled by St. Croix.  More recently, the now discontinued Eternity line, those were NFC.  I'm not 100% certain, but i think the Judge series is rolled by Lamiglas.

Kistler says they are using all NFC blanks now, except for the low cost model.

2 hours ago, WRB said:

G.Loomis, Lamiglas, Batson all make rod blanks in the USA for sale. Fresh water bass rod blanks range from $70 to $350+. Good choices in the $110 price point, then you add guide train, handle/ reel seat components and skilled labor time.

I suggest start with Mike at DVL or Alex at ALX, tell them you want a rod like your old Falcon.

Tom

My son has been a fan of Falcon for years but now makes his own. He's been using Liberty blanks. Made in the USA in the more or less $100 range. he says they are like his Falcons except for better.