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Brandon Khoo

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Re: Popping Rod with Fuji K Guides
December 08, 2011, 04:36:13 PM
Mark, I can confirm that it wasn't a cost issue. As you quite correctly surmised, neither company needs to be as sensitive to the cost of the components as their customers will pay for superior performance. If I remember  correctly, Ripple had performance concerns with them particularly with clearance of the line from the blank in the guides near the tip (they were noisy and were slapping against the blank) and they were also concerned about the strength of the guides.

I know Carpenter tested them and decided against them in their GT rods. i think Konishi San did not see any performance advantages in them and had concerns about the overall strength of the guides as well.

That said, I found them to be strong enough (to date). The first trip i took the rod with the K guides on was actually with Tak and Konishi San . As it was driving me crazy rattling through the end guides, the look on Konishi San's face was one of familarity!  ;D

I do note that the company that has always had the option for the fanciest guides, Fisherman, has also eschewed them to date.

Brice, you really think premium manufacturers like Carpenter and Ripple Fisher would care about a little bit of extra cost for a K guide? No way.

Even if it did add cost, that would go onto the retail price of the rod. At that level of the market consumers are not especially sensitive to small moves in price.
If it swims; I want to catch it!

benno_reed

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Re: Popping Rod with Fuji K Guides
December 08, 2011, 05:05:38 PM
Hello lads,

I am glad this topic has opened up a bit. I see there isn't a huge amount of love for the K Guides, but I have used them a few times now (in Titanium) on some lighter rods, and they have performed well.

I am not concerned about saving cost of this rod, and if it isn't up to scratch, I can can rebuild it, or build another one! All part of the fun of learning how to build rods.

In the interest of a bit of shameless self promotion, here are some rods that have Fuji K Guides (and one that doesn't), that I have built:
In chronological order:

















Warwick Joyce

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Re: Popping Rod with Fuji K Guides
December 09, 2011, 07:52:40 AM
Some nice rods there Ben.
I have built 3 rods with the K guides, 1 is a 10lb rod for Jungle Perch another is my girlfriends 15lb all-rounder and the biggest one so far is my Lightcast 70M PE2-4.
I do like the guides very much for all 3, but i don't think I'll use the k's for anything above the pe4 mark.

Chris Webster

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Re: Popping Rod with Fuji K Guides
December 09, 2011, 01:34:01 PM
Lightcast 70M PE2-4.

Warwick i knew it was a Lightcast 70M! Post some pics mate.

Mark Harris

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Re: Popping Rod with Fuji K Guides
December 09, 2011, 01:56:17 PM
I seem to remember Warwick has posted pics of that rod before..... maybe in the Kaiser sub-forum.

Warwick Joyce

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Re: Popping Rod with Fuji K Guides
December 09, 2011, 03:55:53 PM
Lightcast 70M PE2-4.

Warwick i knew it was a Lightcast 70M! Post some pics mate.

Nope, not that one Chris. You'll have to wait a little longer to see the one your thinking about ;)

Mark is right, there are plenty of pics in the Kaiser sub-forum of my 70M