Hi all,

I’ve decided to go in a different direction cosmetically with my custom Diamondback Glass builds while I wait for the blanks from the manufacturer I have been working with for the last eighteen months to arrive. I like everything about the new Diamondback Glass blanks, accept the color - something that has been a topic of conversation here on the forum. Here are some photos of my latest build on a 7’6”, 3 wt., 3 pc. blank.









Let me know what you think. I value your honest comments, good or bad. Thanks to all who take a look.

Steve Jenkins
Jenkins Fly Rods

I think you did a great job on this one and I liked the first cosmetics too, but to be honest, I'm just not a fan of the blue blank. Unless I REALLY loved the taper, it would be a deal breaker for me. I love your signature straight grain cherry reel seat you use very much (it says "Jenkins!" to me) but maybe it doesn't go with blue too well.

I really like the cosmetics and excellent workmanship but the blue blank ... not so much.

Doug

You do very nice work (glass and cane both). But I do agree that the blue color is not ideal. It's not a huge negative either, but given that there are other choices for excellent performing AND looking s-glass rods, IMO that color might tip your rods out of favor.

In particular, my personal comparison for quicker glass rods are Mark Steffen's. Their performance is as good as it gets, and you can get them built up with nice aesthetics from guys like Matt Liederman, Shane Gray, and Mark McKellip to name a few.

On the other hand, with all those Steffen-based choices already in the market, you might be smart to have chosen a different blank supplier. Only time in the market will tell. I hope it works out for you!

While the blue blanks are not my first choice (nor a preferred color), they are not terrible.

Steve, from my experience (e.g. as a rod builder in the '70s) I am sure your can find thread colors and details that compliment the Diamondback blue blanks. Possible options that come to mind are a dark / navy blue wrap with thin (couple turns wide) silver tipping or mid wrap accent, a complimentary blue color wrap with white and cyan / light blue double tipping, or for a completely different direction a 'USA' wrap of dark red with white tipping. These types of wraps would need color preserver. The only translucent (no CP) wraps that I think would look good are dark gray or black. Just some thoughts. ..

Andrew.

Steve I like the color combinations very much, they are obviously well thought out. My first choice would be an amber blank but I doubt hidebound traditionalists such as myself make up all your market.

For the rod shown the only change I would suggest is a different color reel seat as ordinarily brown and blue are not paired.

Regards,
Squire

Steve, the blank color is unconventional for sure, but the appointments and your craftsmanship are superb.

As a "traditionalist" I would personally opt not own a rod with a blue blank -- that is unless it was something very special. I'm curious to know what other color combinations you considered. What about deep yellow; or a neutral color, maybe something in the olive/kahaki family?

I am not partial to the blue ... I wish it were olive.

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I might in the minority here, but I really like the blue blank. I love the reelseat and grip and hardware, but I'm not a fan of the wraps ... I think the term "discoish" was used ... but that's just me ...

Howdy,

Thanks to all who took the time to offer your constructive your comments. Albeit the blue is a difficult color to work with, I tried another build on a Diamondback Glass 8’0”, 4 wt., 3 pc. blank and went an entirely different direction with the cosmetics. The rod pictured below is equipped as follows:
• 7" Super Fine grip
• Tich anodized IUL (Internal Up-Locking) reel seat with Walnut insert
• Pac Bay Tich guides and tip top
• Blued Nickel Silver winding check
• Signature and ferrule wraps are iron gray with black and white variegated accents while guide wraps are iron gray with black and white variegated tags





The photos are not that great, but hopefully good enough to give you an idea of what I was shooting for. Those are dust specks on the on the up-locking barrel of the reel seat, not scratches. As always, your comments, good or bad, are greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

Steve Jenkins

I like the cosmetics for the latest Diamondback Glass builds. Your latest color choice is similar to the cosmetics used for my graphite LL Bean Orions built by G Loomis. I believe these rods are the classiest blue rods I've seen. I likewise wonder how the rod would look with a darkly colored rod seat insert; black or a very dark brown. Nice looking build.

Joel

Granted, the color is "still blue" and what many consider an unappealing shade thereof - myself included. If the blanks were translucent that might make it easier, but any changes to the blank voids Cortland’s warranty. Still, I feel these are fine blanks and will continue to try to find a combination of wraps and components that will appeal to some anglers. Maybe Henry Ford had it right when he said, "Any customer can have a car painted any color he wants so long as it is black." Thanks for the constructive feedback.

Steve Jenkins