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Mark Tunley specialist multi tip

I can well understand why a craftsman like Mark Tunley might take the decision not to offer custom builds. Lets face it, angling has it's fair share of Herbert's, and not every customer is going to be as knowledgeable and discerning as a Jon Frisby or Richard Isaacs. It must be pretty galling for a rod builder who takes a pride in their work to have to build a 7ft stalker rod with a 50mm butt ringing, or a 12' through actioned specialist rod with 5 rings plus tip, or with those naff hamster hoop whippings. And of the course the customary Union Jack....

They say the customer is always right, except they aren't! And these rods carry Mark's name on them, so I can see why he wants to dictate how they are built. I suppose he has earned that privilege.
 
Joe Winstanley said:
I can well understand why a craftsman like Mark Tunley might take the decision not to offer custom builds. Lets face it, angling has it's fair share of Herbert's, and not every customer is going to be as knowledgeable and discerning as a Jon Frisby or Richard Isaacs. It must be pretty galling for a rod builder who takes a pride in their work to have to build a 7ft stalker rod with a 50mm butt ringing, or a 12' through actioned specialist rod with 5 rings plus tip, or with those naff hamster hoop whippings. And of the course the customary Union Jack....

They say the customer is always right, except they aren't! And these rods carry Mark's name on them, so I can see why he wants to dictate how they are built. I suppose he has earned that privilege.
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It’s an excellent post Joe and I’m pulling my hair out trying to make a compelling argument against it.

Your right, he must get asked to do all sorts of hideous stuff and probably cringes as he scribbles his signature between 2 bright pink whippings.
 
If everyone knows someone is a custom rod builder then if it looks horrendous in some people’s eyes then surely it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s what the customer wanted and they’re happy with it? It’s no slight on the rod builder. At the same time it sounds a nice position to be in to turn down work if you're not keen on. At which point you’re a sometimes custom rod builder.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
I agree entirely. Marks configuration of those rods might be right as far as he sees them but they ain’t right as far as I see them. He’s buying the blanks and building them to his own specifications, so why wouldn’t he keep a few blanks to one side when someone wants a little change or something quite special.
One thing I can say for myself when I’m buying a custom rod, money is not a factor. I expect to pay for the privilege of having a one off bespoke thing and I think that goes for most people custom buying. So there is money in it for builders

It’s a shame mark is keeping them to a strict configuration of 1 type.
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I cant agree more. I did ask the question; are they pre built for you and your just selling them on...? Didn't go down well..
 
Christian Tyroll said:
If everyone knows someone is a custom rod builder then if it looks horrendous in some people’s eyes then surely it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s what the customer wanted and they’re happy with it? It’s no slight on the rod builder. At the same time it sounds a nice position to be in to turn down work if you're not keen on. At which point you’re a sometimes custom rod builder.
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The great thing about fishing is that most people I talk too on the bank are not only experts but keen to pass their knowledge onto all and sundry. And no one can prove them wrong. It's almost like standing in a bar listening to supporters discussing their team. Why the team needs a manager is beyond me. Whoever is in charge should just visit the nearest local and hear what needs to be done by the team and who should be part of it. Magical stuff indeed. I moved to this site to listen to people who know what they are talking about and long may that continue.
 
Joe Winstanley said:
I can well understand why a craftsman like Mark Tunley might take the decision not to offer custom builds. Lets face it, angling has it's fair share of Herbert's, and not every customer is going to be as knowledgeable and discerning as a Jon Frisby or Richard Isaacs. It must be pretty galling for a rod builder who takes a pride in their work to have to build a 7ft stalker rod with a 50mm butt ringing, or a 12' through actioned specialist rod with 5 rings plus tip, or with those naff hamster hoop whippings. And of the course the customary Union Jack....

They say the customer is always right, except they aren't! And these rods carry Mark's name on them, so I can see why he wants to dictate how they are built. I suppose he has earned that privilege.
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I got one of both and

wait for it Joe, with the rings ! Open to offers for the pair!
 
Seeing as its silly season on here here's my contribution.Having recently ordered a hand built rod,during Easter we had a full get together at my daughters house.A slap up meal +wine.Lovely.After the meal my wife mentioned that I was blowing the kids inheritance on a new rod.
The 2 grandchildren,a girl and boy,both now young adults asked me what type of rod it was.When I told them they were both immediately on their phones googling it as kids do nowadays.Old person dig from me.They must have found some rod reviews somewhere on there and I think they tried to outdo each other to find the review which had the most double meanings when taken out of context.On about taking the Mick,they were ruthless.
'what size rings do you prefer grandad?'.'How far apart do you prefer your rings grandad?'.
'OOH,does your rod have a responsive tip,but a progressive bend in the middle grandad?'.'What size butt do you prefer grandad?'
'Do you like to have extra power in your butt if required grandad?'.A ll this was asked with a perfectly innocent straight face. By this time I was trying to move the conversation away from my rod which made the situation worse.I retired to the other room with a bottle of wine after the quote of the day.
'Grandad,apparently you will gain immense pleasure when you hold it in your hand and give it a waggle'.
Northerners taking p***.Never.Stay safe all.
P.S. two for one post,caught my first tench of the season yesterday around 2lbs.Not big but put a satisfying bend in my rod.
Stay safe all
 
Adrian Mitchell said:
Seeing as its silly season on here here's my contribution.Having recently ordered a hand built rod,during Easter we had a full get together at my daughters house.A slap up meal +wine.Lovely.After the meal my wife mentioned that I was blowing the kids inheritance on a new rod.
The 2 grandchildren,a girl and boy,both now young adults asked me what type of rod it was.When I told them they were both immediately on their phones googling it as kids do nowadays.Old person dig from me.They must have found some rod reviews somewhere on there and I think they tried to outdo each other to find the review which had the most double meanings when taken out of context.On about taking the Mick,they were ruthless.
'what size rings do you prefer grandad?'.'How far apart do you prefer your rings grandad?'.
'OOH,does your rod have a responsive tip,but a progressive bend in the middle grandad?'.'What size butt do you prefer grandad?'
'Do you like to have extra power in your butt if required grandad?'.A ll this was asked with a perfectly innocent straight face. By this time I was trying to move the conversation away from my rod which made the situation worse.I retired to the other room with a bottle of wine after the quote of the day.
'Grandad,apparently you will gain immense pleasure when you hold it in your hand and give it a waggle'.
Northerners taking p***.Never.Stay safe all.
P.S. two for one post,caught my first tench of the season yesterday around 2lbs.Not big but put a satisfying bend in my rod.
Stay safe all
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Brilliant 😂
 
Alec Hague said:
I got one of both and

wait for it Joe, with the rings ! Open to offers for the pair!
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Problem is Joe, I ordered one in blue the other yellow. When delivered made them up and had one butt blue and the tip yellow.. strangely had the other had a yellow butt and a blue tip. Never been truly happy as the look odd. Got to laugh.
T
 
Ian Woods said:
I think you hit a nerve!


He has made a series of these short clips, very interesting they are too.
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That’s just frustrating to watch because he makes it look so straight forward and simple.
To be fair I can actually do the things he shows in the clips. The bit where I’m a bit crap is the bit he won’t share.🤣 high build
 
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