I received the G-Blanks rod I ordered, Ive fished with it and below are my opinions.

G-Blanks Custom Rods (Larry Mitchell,918-341-4523)

Type: Casting

Length: 6' Med Heavy

Blank: Shikari

Grip: EVA Split Foam

ReelSeat: Split style

Guides: H-Ring (9)

Color: Black

NO Logo or Markings

Delivered: 3 weeks

Cost: $150

The G-Blanks is a nice rod for $150.

Larry Mitchell was a pleasure to deal with and provided me good pre-sales information and everything I specifed in the order.

Most of my rods are either Steez or G.Loomis GLX and I will NOT try to compare the G-Blanks rod to my expensive rods. I received exactly what I expected and that is a good quality rod that I think most people would enjoy fishing. The weight, power and action is very reasonable compared to rods in the same class and price range. I really like the look and style of the rod and its very comfortable in my hand. The split reel seat is different but seems to hold the reel secure and firm. It is a medium heavy rod but has good flexibility and power but is still more on the stiff side so I primarily use it for frogs. The quality of workmanship is very good and I expect it to last a long time. If youre looking for a custom in the $150 price range then I would recommend G-Blanks.

thanks for taken the time to post this review  

Well done Steezy, glad you like her. Those are some nice shots, whats your plans for a reel?     You should look into the RX8+, I think you'll love those.

I thought he quit building on shikari blanks because they went out of business.

I had a choice between an RX8 or Shikari. I don't know the difference so I told the rod builder to pick the best (in his opinion) of the 2 blanks. I would have asked on this forum but didn't want to hear all the crap from the people that have never owned or touch either blank.

My G-Blanks is a good rod for $150 and I don't regret the purchase.

My next custom will be from Matt at OtterRods. I decided to go to the other end of the spectrum with this rod and after exchanging about 20 emails, all the components have been selected and Matt is working on a quote for me now and hope it can be built this year. The biggest delay will be waiting on one of Gary Loomis new (North Fork Composites) blanks. It will be a lot more expensive than any of my Steez or GLX rods and will look out of this world sick!

Thanks for the review.  The rod looks nice and I really like the stealth look.  

Good stuff!!  Thanks for the quick review and taking the time to contribute your thoughts on the rod!

How many guides are on this rod?

That's an old school cut on the Tharp seat.  

That's an old school cut on the Tharp seat.

flechero, Im ignorant (but learning) on rod building terms, whats a "Tharp seat"?

If I remember correctly, I think that someone else implied that it was as good as a GLX and/or a Steez.  

I may eventually go the custom rod route myself but I would probably get mine from one of the talented builders here on this site.

A split seat...  

they used to be called (and still are by some of us) a Tharp style seat...  Tharp is the guy who is credited with starting it.  

If I remember correctly, I think that someone else implied that it was as good as a GLX and/or a Steez.

I may eventually go the custom rod route myself but I would probably get mine from one of the talented builders here on this site.

Im sure there are talented rod builders here, as a matter of fact I'd love for Flechero to build me one of his, the rods in our flea market are amazing, as well a George's rods from GBlanks, there are several quality and talented rod builders.  These rods will never compare to the fore mentioned, but these are truely nice rods for their worth.

looks basically the same as my Gblank just different action/power

looks basically the same as my Gblank just different action/power

I was going for a black stealthy look, nothing flashy (this time).

i think that g-blank looks pretty stealthy, would look great with a core 50mg!!

So Steezy: how do you think that rod will handle a Zebco 33, the Platinum model of course

So Steezy: how do you think that rod will handle a Zebco 33, the Platinum model of course

Now Muddy, dont you man the Zebco Omega Z03?  

If I remember correctly, I think that someone else implied that it was as good as a GLX and/or a Steez.

Here is one such comment:

The one I just had made he told me 4 weeks but had it done in 3 weeks, don't you love it when you get one sooner. Great rod too by the way and I have owned them all presently I have 11 Glx's 3 Imx's 2 Kistler Helium LTX II, 4 Falcon Expert series, 3 Falcon Lowriders, and 1 Powell Frog Rod, the G Blanks is build every bit as good if not better than all of these. I am sure that this will not be my last G Blanks

i have to chime in

i have owned 4 gblanks they are a great rod

but i will never buy another

my newest rod from g-blank was bought in 5-27-09

well it broke 4 days ago i emailed Larry and his response was we are not a big company and cant replace our rods when they break we don't make enough money to be able to do that

well that really ticked me off

i own 4 of his rods i guess customer loyalty means nothing

we went round and round about the rod

i was using 40lb braid fishing a crank bait over rocks

crank bait was a dt6 so it wasn't over loading the rod but since i was using 40lb braid he said i was nuts oh yeah he did offer me $50 off on a new rod

i was using his newest blank the 1 he claims is better then glx or any other 400 plus rod

i also pointed out on all his eBay adds he compares his rods to rods 2 if not 3 times as expensive and says he puts ring lock guides on his rods so u can use braid

but when u use braid it better be that 2-6lb braid

Sept. 1 was his last email and he told me to send the blank to the company and have them send the new blank to him and he would redo me a new rod

i told him that was a fair compromise but on the warranty card which says lifetime warranty they want you to send them just the blank not guides reel seat and such

i told him what if i pay the shipping to you and i will give you $50 in pay pal for you to tear the rod down to just a blank and send it in the company

they wanted 20 enclosed to cover shipping and the other $30 was for him send send it back to me

i haven't heard a word from him in 3 days

so like steezy said if u want a rod that's worth a 150 dollars then this is a good rod but if something happens don't even bother trying to get him to warranty it even when the blank carries a lifetime warranty

he lost a loyal member I'm headed back to the big rod companies

I TOLD YOU GUYS..................................................stick to your usuals rods,    :

Well you can't expect much as far as warranties when you buy a custom rod. Have you tried calling the blank company? Maybe they will take the rod as a whole and look at the blank and determine that it was faulty. Gblanks says right off the bat that they aren't able to offer a warranty on their rods and that any issues with the blank must be taken up with the blank company.

he probally added that after this happened

i have talked to larry many times

i traded a shimano cumara for 1 g-blank

i also traded a Kistler II LTX for his best g-blank which is the rod that broke

i never exspected him to send me a new rod for free

but to knock $50 off the price of a new and i still have to pay shipping

i guess i  am spoiled from all the other rod companys i have dealt with

added what? If you mean the warranty stuff, it's been like that since I ordered mine back in November 08

taken right from 1 of his ebay adds

COMES WITH LIFETIME GUARANTEE ON BLANK. MONEY BACK LESS RETURN SHIPPING IF NOT SATISFIED.

please enlighten me so he doesn't cover what the reel seat guides thread wrap handle

like i said i wasn't expecting a free rod

Dan i was like you

but when u get burned a few times by the same guy you learn quick there was another issue the first rod i got from him had a big run down the blank which i returned for a new rod