I had a rod builder tell me he can build a NRX equivalents or close for 170 bucks. Is he smoking crack?

You may be smoking crack with all the rod posts!

Can I get an Amen?

You've received some really good input over the last few days about a plethora of rods I-Bock--some made in the US, some in the far east, some heavily disputed and potentially unknown in their origins, some custom, some non-custom. None will be magical though. It might be time to take it all in, analyze it, and make a now educated decision on what is going to work best for you and your budget. There's no such thing as the perfect rod at the perfect price, I promise you--look at all the variance in replies you've received. Remember, it's just a rod. You've got to do the work on the water to make it work anyway.

Probably, I havent seen weights of the nrx, I weighed some of mine today my fx rods are 4.1 oz with cork or winn gripp and are 7'1" mh casting rods. They seem to work really well for me but I havent got my hands on a g loomis yet. Im going to try one and see.

Back when I worked for a Golf Shaft Company, the blanks that were built over seas, mostly Bangladesh at the time and was painted and had graphics put on them in the USA had to have "Assembled in the USA"

To make your own rod, you will need to have prepreg and keep it stored at a very cool temp.

Then you roll your blanks on mandrels and bake them to make the rod blanks.

After that you assemble them with guides, paint, handle, etc.

To say you are a rod builder is a bit misleading..........

Thanks for your input. I will continue to ask questions until I feel like I have everything I need. Thanks👍🏻

What�s up stranger?

Don't overlook the Rogue blanks. I've built on a bunch of blanks and currently fish with rogues, loomis IMX, mhx,Phoenix and others, the Rogue's are more sensitive than all of these imo. American made too. Many years ago it was rumored that the old kistler heliums (the good ones with the American flag on the blank) used rogue blanks. They were very similar. Just a very sensitive blank. There mag bass series is excellent. Around a $100 for the blank. Dang good deal. Worth looking into.

Batson I think uses Alps components
http://www.alpstackle.com/index.php?func=introduction
Located on the beautiful island state of Taiwan.......

The original question is simple. Yes, but better in quality and product may come at a precipitously higher cost.

If you are not fishing for big money, you're on a fools errand.... just like the hunters I know that have 3000 scopes. A Nikon monarch or Leopold gives you about 95% of available performance.... you spend thousands more for that last few percentage points.... same with rods

When you taking me fishing on hubbard? I have some bluegill just about the right size right now!