That's whay you'll be hard pressed to find a "rod builder" who can pay his rent.

From what I hear.. and this is 2nd hand knowledge from those in the biz...Lamiglas has a few "agreements" w/ a few companies to sell their rods pretty cheap.. just in the region I believe.. due to the popularity of rod building among fisher people... out here in the PAc NW
Loomis has yet to do this.. once again from what I hear.. and this may be because of their growing popularity in the mid 1990's. they are selling rods due to their name alone.. as a result of their success , a larger company bought them out... and pretty much eliminating the blank sales from Loomis...
I can't save you money on a factory Lamiglas or Loomis.. I can offer a better built rod, and one that is built to your specs..

We are truly lucky to have choices in the Pacific NW.. there are blank man. out ther that saw a need for a great quality, affordable blank.. one that compete wit hthe higer end factory rods..