Per Brandin Says "Stop Already" — Ceases Taking New Bamboo Fly Rod Orders
By Tom Chandler on Jan 16, 2008 in bamboo
Per Brandin builds some of fly fishing’s most sought-after bamboo fly rods, and he’s developed a reputation as the industry’s “professor” when it comes to hollowbuilding and rod tapers.
His hollowbuilt quads are exceptional casters, and in fact, his tournament series hollowbuilts have placed and won the accuracy division of several casting contests, shaming high-tech graphite in the process.
Despite his CEO-only prices, his waiting list has extended to so many years that he’s no longer taking orders for new rods. From his Web site:
Please note that as of October 2007 I am no longer accepting new rod orders. As of this writing (late October, 2007), I will no longer be accepting new rod orders. It is still my intent to fulfill the orders that are already on my list; I will contact you as in the past and confirm the order and current price before starting work.
In looking at the number of orders I have in my book, my limited output each year and my age, I decided it is not ethical for me to take on orders that I can’t realistically expect to fill.
That, my Underground friends, is a good example of demand outstripping supply to the tune of many, many years. I’ve even heard hollowbuilt bamboo fly rod builder Jim Reams — whose waiting list has exploded into the multi-year range — muttering about not accepting any new orders, which paradoxically increases demand even more.
Think bamboo fly rods are dead and buried? Not by a long shot…
See you in line, Tom Chandler.
Ethan | Jan 17, 2008 | Reply
Being a mandolin player and enthusiast, I’ve witnessed this phenomenon in the mandolin building world. There were a few custom makers who closed their waiting lists due to massive order influxes in the late 90’s. The mint but used market prices for these small makers went from $5000 to $25,000 in a matter of years.
Now we are left with makers who have huge waiting lists to fulfill and obligations to build instruments at prices that are much lower than what they command on the used market, interesting times.
There are obvious parallels between fine acoustic instrument building and bamboo rod making, lets just hope the boo market isn’t as crazy as the mandolin market.
Tom Chandler | Jan 17, 2008 | Reply
A few builders no longer accept orders at set prices; your name goes on a list, and when it’s your turn, you’re told how much it’ll cost, and if you aren’t interested, you’re done.
Only in extreme supply/demand imbalances could such a thing happen, but there it is.