Custom bows-An honest question...

[LBR]

Another thought...a well made string can make a huge difference in how a bow shoots.  I've seen some of the most expensive custom bows on the market delivered with a junk string...makes no sense to me.

[McDave]

Originally posted by LBR:
Another thought...a well made string can make a huge difference in how a bow shoots.  I've seen some of the most expensive custom bows on the market delivered with a junk string...makes no sense to me.

I remember a discussion on here about 10 years ago, shortly after I joined TradGang.  Some bowyer was asking for opinions as to what people expected to get with their new custom bow.  He suggested just sending a new bow out without a string, since “most people were just going to put another string on it anyway.”  Made about as much sense to me as sending out a new car without a steering wheel on it.  

As you note, I think this feeling persists, and some bowyers throw in a junk string in a sealed package without stringing up the bow with it to see if it really fits.  I’ve had new bows sent with strings that were too long and too short, even though marked to fit the bow.

I would imagine most people will use the string that comes with the bow, if it can be made to fit, even if it is too short to untwist to the correct brace height, so long it has to be overtwisted before the first use, or less than optimal in more subtle ways, like too many strands, suboptimal material, etc.  This is a shame, because it means the purchaser may never get the maximum performance out of his new bow, and is something that would have been so easy to correct!

[LBR]

Spot on McDave.  They are shooting themselves in the foot.  Makes no sense to me to put a junk string on ANY bow, but putting one on a bow that costs $1,000 - $2,000?  That's nuts, but not uncommon.

[stonewall]

When you are like me to get the best performance I don't have much of a choice but to get custom with my short draw. I totally agree about the bow strings.

[kat]

Custom or production is kind of a personal choice.
I buy mostly custom, because I like the looks and feel of certain bows. The wait for new bows is a killer for the patience impaired like me.
I sure would like to buy more off the classifieds. With a longer draw, and dropping weight due to age; left handed used custom bows at my specs. are like hens teeth.

[BigJim]

Of course you don't have to have a custom..

Will it make you shoot better? that's entirely up to you. Will it give you more confidence? only if it feels better.. looks better or whatever it is about it that makes it yours.
But without that confidence, it doesn't matter who made it or how new it is, your not going to shoot any better than your last one.

Then you've got those guys who exude confidence and they can take any bow and shoot it well.
                  or
The guys with no confidence that have tried every bow in the country and can only shoot on tuesday's if they have a bow with the grip that is just so and arrows that are 3 spines too stiff. Ooops, this one isn't magic, time for a new one.
It all works ok for me.. see, i'm here to feed the addiction.
Want a new custom or mfg bow? I can handle that.
Want a used custom or mfg bow? I have that too
Want to trade or sell all those bows you built up trying to figure this thing out... step in to my office  
Let me introduce my self...They call me, BigJim

[huskyarcher]

Originally posted by BigJim:
Of course you don't have to have a custom..

Will it make you shoot better? that's entirely up to you. Will it give you more confidence? only if it feels better.. looks better or whatever it is about it that makes it yours.
But without that confidence, it doesn't matter who made it or how new it is, your not going to shoot any better than your last one.

Then you've got those guys who exude confidence and they can take any bow and shoot it well.
                  or
The guys with no confidence that have tried every bow in the country and can only shoot on tuesday's if they have a bow with the grip that is just so and arrows that are 3 spines too stiff. Ooops, this one isn't magic, time for a new one.
It all works ok for me.. see, i'm here to feed the addiction.
Want a new custom or mfg bow? I can handle that.
Want a used custom or mfg bow? I have that too
Want to trade or sell all those bows you built up trying to figure this thing out... step in to my office      
Let me introduce my self...They call me, BigJim

Greatest post on TG right now        

As far as that just so so grip. I have found that with custom or standard recurves, there are lot of different grips out there and most of them are odd in one way or the other.  However, a rasp and sandpaper will make any one of them custom.  I am not a big fan of metal and phenolic grips.  You can fix phenolic, but stinks funny when using a power sander on it.

[RON ROMAN]

I agree with Jhawk on this question. Absolutely! Lots of fabulous used "customs" made  custom for someone, and way less  cost than new. And as Jhawk said, if it doesn't "fit" you, a "quality" custom in a draw weight under 50#, is pretty easy to sell or trade. Best of luck to you!

[Captain*Kirk]

Originally posted by BigJim:
Of course you don't have to have a custom..

Will it make you shoot better? that's entirely up to you. Will it give you more confidence? only if it feels better.. looks better or whatever it is about it that makes it yours.
But without that confidence, it doesn't matter who made it or how new it is, your not going to shoot any better than your last one.

Then you've got those guys who exude confidence and they can take any bow and shoot it well.
                  or
The guys with no confidence that have tried every bow in the country and can only shoot on tuesday's if they have a bow with the grip that is just so and arrows that are 3 spines too stiff. Ooops, this one isn't magic, time for a new one.
It all works ok for me.. see, i'm here to feed the addiction.
Want a new custom or mfg bow? I can handle that.
Want a used custom or mfg bow? I have that too
Want to trade or sell all those bows you built up trying to figure this thing out... step in to my office      
Let me introduce my self...They call me, BigJim

Well, with that post you just moved to the top of my list for future custom bow consideration, Big Jim!  

[DeerSpotter]

I've had a number of custom bows,  I had a couple of Whips, one custom bow out of Texas, and I got my fourth 1 from Chad holm. just 2 weeks ago.  I have had 17 bows in all.  

I stopped hunting, and shooting stick bows because of shoulder problems.  Now thankfully are solved. The first person I went back to was Chad Holm, I've had 3 custom bows from him, and 1 of his off the classified on Trad Gang.

I personally think, the equipment you have and how are you use it, is totally mental.  You train your muscles, your habits, and your repetitiveness on perfection. And thankfully it takes time and practice. Your bow and your arrow become an extension of yourself.

Many have said, a custom bow can make you have a completely different attitude about your shooting. You know you spent good money for that bow, so you'll pay closer attention how are you using it.  IF, the bow is set to your body and style, you have got 2 thirds of the problem solved.   I picked Chad holm to make my Bows, because he greets me like a brother, and every time I see him he's like an old-time friend.  He live about two hours from me, and his bow making skills sure do match his personality and talent.  For me personally, it means a lot to know the man behind the making of the bow.  To some, it is all about the wood used to make the bow.

But I think you were given good advice, I think you should go to Michigan.  You'll get a chance to meet the maker of the Bows, and you will get to try the Bows first hand.  Matter fact that's how I met Chad, at a traditional shoot in Anoka Minnesota.(Bunker Hill traditional archery club)

And when you go to Michigan to try those bows, leave your emotions at home.  The only thing you should pack for the trip, is money and common sense lol.

Good luck on your search Sir !

DS

[dirtguy]

Its not about need.  Its not about a custom bow making you more accurate.  

You can do just as well with a $150 used bow that you get here on Trad Gang. Practice hard on your form and you can soot any decent bow that fits you with a high level of accuracy.

Its about what you want and how much you can afford to spend.  If you have the money, Go for it!

Me, I get my kicks out of shooting tight groups with a used DH Hunter I bought here and a budget takedown I picked up new for $150.

[Woodpuppy]

As a new archer shopping for a bow 18 years ago, all the used customs had too-heavy draw weights for my 30+” draw. All the vintage bows were a combination of too short and too heavy. I didn’t know about tradgang. So shopping the racks at shoots in the SE, bowyers websites and brochures from friends, etc., I got hooked on the craftsmanship and fine detail work over the basic bows.

A fellow local club member had a Brackenbury, and I loved the lines and the feel. It was not for sale, and I’ve never actually seen another in person. Researching Brackenburies I found Wes Wallace and Norm Johnson. Both extremely personable men with outstanding reputations as bowyers.

I wound up placing my order for my first Blacktail after talking at length with Norm, I was frankly in awe of the detail work. His order policy meant if I didn’t like the bow, I could send it back and only be out the deposit. I figured this was the best way to get into a bow made to the specs I wanted at nearly no risk to me. But it left me with a year wait, and no bow to shoot. I e-auction-bought a 64” Gull Wing that was a reasonable performer, stable and forgiving, but otherwise uninspiring. I also found a plain gray Bob Lee takedown on the 'bay. The Bob Lee was like new, and I shot quite well with it. After the Blacktail was delivered, I sold the Bob Lee to a friend looking to get into archery. He got to start with a fine bow for a good price.

I’ve since ordered more bows built my way, and finally found a vintage bow like I wanted back in summer camp 30 years ago, and I got it right here on tradgang’s 2017 St. Jude auction. If I’d found that 38# 64” Kodak Special when my search began, who knows where I’d be now...

In any case, while need and want aren’t the same thing, they aren’t mutually exclusive either. The joy in using functional art that does more than hang on a wall.... the appreciation of craftsmanship...

So it’s persanal. What makes yer putter flutter?

[Crittergetter]

Originally posted by BigJim:
Of course you don't have to have a custom..

Will it make you shoot better? that's entirely up to you. Will it give you more confidence? only if it feels better.. looks better or whatever it is about it that makes it yours.
But without that confidence, it doesn't matter who made it or how new it is, your not going to shoot any better than your last one.

Then you've got those guys who exude confidence and they can take any bow and shoot it well.
                  or
The guys with no confidence that have tried every bow in the country and can only shoot on tuesday's if they have a bow with the grip that is just so and arrows that are 3 spines too stiff. Ooops, this one isn't magic, time for a new one.
It all works ok for me.. see, i'm here to feed the addiction.
Want a new custom or mfg bow? I can handle that.
Want a used custom or mfg bow? I have that too
Want to trade or sell all those bows you built up trying to figure this thing out... step in to my office      
Let me introduce my self...They call me, BigJim

Pure Greatness!!!

[tecum-tha]

In order to get the personality of a particular bow, a shooter needs to shoot it for a while. I say minimum 6 month. Other things like a fitting grip can be determined pretty much right away, but how forgiving a bow is and if it shoots where you look and if it is tunable to your style cannot be determined after 5 min of shooting with questionable matched arrows at a shoot or show. What a large shoot does is narrowing down the choices and options to your liking.
If you buy used, ask the right questions about grip for example first. Pictures cannot replace measurements. Most sellers have no problems using a tape measure.
Is your draw length less than standard or much longer than standard, a custom bow will offer you generally either a smoother draw or more suitable working limb length than a standard.
Want to shoot a 58" Red Wing hunter with a true 30" draw? I bet you will experience stacking.
What a person needs is defined by the person aside from food, shelter, clothes...