|
Cranking at a Higher Level, the New G.Loomis GLX
| Date: |
1/3/13 |
| Tackle type: |
Rod |
| Manufacturer: |
G.Loomis |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.16 -
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Introduction: Whatever your target
application chances are G.Loomis has a rod offering, or two, from their vast
lineup for you. Over the last few years the company
has continued to refine and reinvent a number of their rod lines, and it was just a matter
of time until the GLX Series was also due to receive an update. Two decades
after the original GLX rods were introduced G.Loomis took to the task of
reinventing one of the most popular series of rods the bass world has ever seen.
|
G.Loomis
GLX 783
CBR
Cranking
Rod Specifications
|
|
Material |
GLX
(Gen 2) Graphite |
|
Length |
6'6" |
|
Handle
Length |
13.5” |
|
Line Wt. |
8
- 14lb |
|
Lure Wt. |
1/4 - 5/8oz. |
|
Pieces |
1 |
|
Guides |
8 Guides + Tip Top
(Fuji
titanium
Fame/SiC
guides) |
|
Power Rating |
Medium |
|
Taper |
Moderate |
|
Rod Weight |
4.2 oz |
|
Origin |
USA |
|
MSRP |
$395.00 |
To help separate the new GLX
Series from other G.Loomis lines the company created a new reel seat
Impressions:
There are only
a handful of major rod manufacturers that still build premium rods right here in
the U.S., and perhaps best known of all is still G.Loomis. Over the last few
seasons G.Loomis has been introducing new lines like the NRX which illustrate
just how far the company is willing to go to deliver premium performance as well
as redesigning mainstream offerings like the GL2 Series which provides anglers
with a more cost effective foray to the brand.
If the ergonomic handle looks
familiar it is because it is every similar to the design first implemented on
the redesigned GL2 Series rods
With the
introduction of the NRX series
G.Loomis made a major statement, they managed to honor tradition while embracing next generation split
grip design as well as leveraging new hi-tech materials to ultimately deliver a rod that
exhibited a very unique character, one that has become very desirable among
enthusiasts looking for a lightweight and sensitive premium domestic rod.
The GLX rods make use of the
popular open hook hanger design
Last ICAST
G.Loomis continued the refresh and took on a major undertaking, updating
their eminent GLX line. GLX is the material and series that really put G.Loomis
on the high performance map over 20 years ago and the company knew that getting
this right was critical. Factors like strength and power were prioritized but
with the caveat that sensitivity would not be negatively affected whatsoever.
Justin Poe, Global Product manager for Loomis explained at ICAST 2012 that the
new rods are designed to be “up to 35% stronger than traditional GLX rods yet
still deliver the same sensitivity the rods have long been known for.”
The rod also features a split grip
design
While G.Loomis
implemented a very similar ergonomic split grip design as the one they recently
introduced on the GL2 redesign they went back to the drawing board for the
implantation of the new reel seat. Unlike the minimalistic skeleton seat
employed on the NRX and rather than use an off the shelf Fuji seat they created
their own sculpted seat to better balance and match the look and feel of the
freshly designed rods. This custom reel seat utilizes less material than a
standard Fuji ACS seat featuring aggressive sculpted edges from front to back,
and is finished with a soft touch finish.
Each GLX cranking rod is finished
with Fuji titanium SIC guides
All the new GLX
rods feature lightweight Fuji titanium SIC guides and the series includes Jig &
Worm, flipping and a complete assortment of new cranking rods. While I really
like the previous GLX casting rods, especially the multi-talented 783C the
previous generation GLX crankbait series, while sensitive, didn’t always exhibit that
perfect moderate taper and the ability to absorb enough shock to keep
those treble hooked pinned, something traditional glass rods are so good at doing.
Cal checks out the soft parabolic
action of the GLX 783 CBR rod at the lab
Next Section: Time to cast those cranks GLX style
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