[Billy40]

Since there are so many (at least I get that impression) guys using custom rods on this board, I'm curious as to what likes/dislikes you have about certain guides.

Hardaloy, SIC, Alconite, Perfections, Cermet, etc. What about frame styles & colors.

For my Blackfish & Bass rods, I use all Hardaloy BNLGH guides.

Fluke I'm switching over to Alconites, just because they are so "light "and "sexy" looking. CUNAG, CLAG's.

I'm not a big fan of SIC, cannot see the cost worth the benefit, but that doesn't mean they aren't top notch.

Anyone use the SIC Oval boat guides? Likes/dislikes? How about any oddball guides, I have a set of Gold Ionized Low Riders, and have seen Silver SIC guides CHNSG as well as other styles.

 

[Leprechaun]

Wanna see a nice guide?

The new PacBay TiN - or "TiGold" guides are hot.

Same frame style as the Fuji NSG, but TiCH(Dark Silver)coated frames with the TiN goldcoating over zirconia rings - just real pretty stuff. Nice contrast.

And what's even nicer is that PacBay supplies them with the feet pre-ground AND THEN PLATED OVER WITH THE TiCH, so that you don't get that red rust bleed-thru on the wraps after a few seasons. Supposedly.

I have them on my two GX-7 flukers, look super-sharp with the black and gold "Boat Colors" wraps that all my custom rods get.

Seem plenty robust too. No issues after the first long hard season.

Nice stuff so far. Cost is approx 2/3 of Fuji NSG.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[togmaster]

Old time Guides>

Billy you can laugh at me but stainless guides are the best for sensitivity and feel.
I have many old rods which I have changed over to the sic and the BNLGH .What my buddy does to get rid of the green band insert is dye them black. This works well if you want to make it match the rod! After switching over to the sic and Bnlgh?s I still find better feel with the stainless. The only problem is the braided line will cut into them over time from what I hear. But I have not seen it happen being my first season trying stainless with braids. But I am told in time it will notch them .

Lep what?s the cost on a set of those pacbays?
For the money though BNLGH?s work fine for me cheaper and hold up

 

[Leprechaun]

Cost is approx 2/3 of Fuji NSG.

WAY more than Hardalloy.

But WAY WAY prettier.

For what it costs to get a custom rod built these days, I like pretty as well as functional.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[Leprechaun]

Speaking of Steel Guides . . .

Has anyone had the opportunity of seeing the new Daiwa "GrandWave" series of rods? I was over at J&H in Oakdale and was checkin' them out. Not cheap - about $120 a copy but really nice and light, seemingly well-constructed, but surprisingly Daiwa has gone with straight all-metal guides on them.

I think they are going for the same market as the new St.Croix woven grey rods and the Shimano Tallus rods - but both of those series are using Fuji's or Fuji-wannabes.

Wonder why Daiwa went with the Chrome over steel stuff? Intersting choice.

Stil a **** nice rod though and the GW661MH looked like it would be hot for togs. Especially with the rod cut to the first guide and then a nice Fuji CULT tip on the raw end.

I just can't resist tinkering.

FWIW.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[skatemaster]

Not that I know anything about guides, but for an inshore rod, it is hard to find anything more cost-effective than Fuji (Hardaloy) BNLGH. They run about a buck a guide and are cheaper than even chromed steel guides. Definitely a very popular guide.

I'd go with SIC if cost didn't matter. They weigh less than any other guide.

I like those Fujis with the luminous shock ring for that retro look.

The other guides that I have ever blown out the insert on, were Pac Bay. It happened several times years ago, and I have switched to Fuji whenever possible.

 

[Billy40]

Kep if you liketo match guides with blank colors, wraps, reels, there are a couple more that you may want to look into after people have crash test dummied them - Forcast &/or Amtak has some Blue ring guides, and someone has "holographic inserts as well. I'm not recommending these, but it is just something different to use.

Ruby insert Fuji's are what I really want, as well as some Titanium Cermets, but I need 2 more jobs to afford them.

Anyone like Chrome/Silver guides because of rust issues? I can get some CHNSG & CYSG guides, but I'm afraid of them rusting. I just get tired of seeing everyone using the same guides.

 

[Leprechaun]

Cermets Guides

Saw a custom Cape Fear with 8 of those things on it. Talk about gilding the lily.

But the guy wanted the best money can buy on his rod, so that's what he got - there's your $600 custom, for sure.

I wasn't wild about how they look, for all that money, though. Kinda a dull grey-sliver frame with a dull gold-brass ring insert. Not too sexy for all that money. I guess an Apache attack chooper ain't too pretty either, but it also does a nice job at what its designed for, so its all relative I suppose.

I saw a .jpeg of the new Fuji Lowrider surf rod guides done in those synthetic ruby rings, I understand that the set of guides was $650 and are supplied by Fuji direct from Japan as a custom one-at-a-time item.

They'd be nice guides to take on a party boat and rap hard against that steel rail.

I think that companies like PacBay and those others you mention are making major strides in increased quality of manufacture and material, the TiN's I used seem every bit the equal of the Fuji's to me.

Time will tell. But they sure do look sharp as **** on the rods.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[Billy40]

While these aren't the Ruby inserts, they are all "Rust resistant" guide frames. I was told Ion coated? We dont' see half the stuff available in Japan.

I think Ruby inserts would go above the Mantel in the Million dollar house I do not yet own.

 

[Leprechaun]

Big Time

These are what you want on your next rod - $600 worth of RUBY jewelry: