Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Weekend Warrior on March 22, 2007, 05:01:00 PM
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If you had a choice of a top of the line Martin or a custom bow at 28 @ 50# ...At around the same price.
Other wood choice....
Would the custom bow any better shooting wise, or would it be just because it's custom made???
Which would you choose ???
:banghead:
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I would rather buy a good used custom bow than a new production bow. I think you would get more for your money. If you buy a production bow and shoot it, you now have a used production bow. The used custom will retain its value better and you will also have a better bow.
Mark
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It would depend on who was building it. :) There seems to be a custom bowyer in every other garage now days. :) Some are no where near building a bow as good as Martin builds.Others can build a good bow and dress it up for you.Custom does not in any way automaticaly mean better.jmo
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the custom bow made to fit you it will probably be worth more in the long run and they usually look nicer for the same price I know of bowyers making custom bows starting at 400 and I am sure ther are others that are cheaper than that...
also the new factory bows just dont have the feel of the older factory bows...
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You can get some really pretty custom made bows. For the price of a hatfield, you are probably limited on the fancy side. I have a hatfield and its been a great bow. It is factory made, but at the same time not really. If you wanted to spend $200 more, you can get some really good eye pleasers that are just as great at shooting. If money was an option, I would pick the hatfield, but thats coming from a martin owner.
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the custom bow made to fit you it will probably be worth more in the long run and they usually look nicer for the same price I know of bowyers making custom bows starting at 400 and I am sure ther are others that are cheaper than that...
also the new factory bows just dont have the feel of the older factory bows...
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Weekend there's a Hornes one piece MT bow on the classifieds. the bow is 2 months old the seller has taken 325.00 off the original price this bow is the same length as a Martin Hunter model. If I were you I would check out this bow . If i didn't switch to hybrids I would buy this recurve. Just my 2 cents.
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I would really would love to shoot a hybrid bow.. I have been thinking about a hybrid...
Ky Klassic is soon maybe I can try one out there...
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As earlier stated. I'll take a good used custom over a new production bow any day!
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I would go with the custom, there is a diff., sometimes a BIG diff. Alan
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I have to agree with James Wren, if ya do your research ya can buy a great custom, but a production bow can shoot and do shoot as well as most any custom out there. Performance wise there is little difference in a real good production bow and a real good custom, but ya can get more wood choices and limb options in a custom. Martin on the other hand will build ya a bow pretty much to your specs. if ya call them. Remember a lot of the bowyers out there use CNC machines, Morrison, Blacktail, Black Widow and lots more. Do what ya feel best doing, I myself would buy two nice used bows custom or production or one of each for what ya pay for one new bow! Shawn
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i agree with Leroy a good used custom any day.
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WW: Too bad about the weekends-only status. Not to worry. If you don't die young, you'll get old and have more than weekends to play with! There are two kinds of folks here in evidence among previous posts nad neither one necessarily more correct than the other including my own humble self; just different, to wit: Purely utilitarian "best bang for your bucks," versus "process over product." After 53 years of doing this, I just happen to be of the latter persuasaon, so I go with the "used custom over new factory, at about the same price" school. I mean, a really well-made bow, factory or custom will outlast all of our arm and shoulder muscles ... so who should care if a fellow archer has broke a bow in for us? Since most modern "traditional" bows are technically near-perfect, it comes down (to me at least) to aesthetical appreciation for the art of the bow, and an even more subtle desire to support the Ma and Pa bowyer who does it -- yes, for profit! but also on "spare" time because of pure love for the making and shooting and art or bowyery -- as opposed to purely for commercial reasons. You want "the best-shooting bow for your money," and we all like a new bow (new is always appealing, yes!) -- if that's your case, well, look around and go for it. Understood and no trubba. If you want, rather, a deeply soulful satisfaction, buy from Ma and Pa, new or used. I been there. Just bought a Thunderhorn and am tickled as a kid on Christmas eve. My 2 sents. Whatever. Have fun.
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In r/d longbows, I like the Martin Savannah. I didn't settle for it, I chose it.
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CUSTOM
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There is a reason that there are a lot of good custom bows for sale. They just keep being recycled from one owner to another. If you are a person that likes to buy "new" then Martin would be a good answer for you. But with their prices going up I would much rather get a well cared for custom bow. The fit and finish is going to be superior, the design is great among most bowyers today, and you have more to choose from. Like most things it comes down to personal preference. I never buy new trucks..I let others take the hit with depreciation.
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Hands down for me, a used custom bow that fits your style of shooting any day over factory bows.
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Unless your figuring on buying a Rebel ($229) or an X200 ($289) I don't see how you could get a "better" bow cheaper going with a Martin.
I just looked up the prices on the 3Rivers sight (for referance)
Hunter - $449
Mamba - $449
Dreamcatcher - $619
Hatfield T/D - $699
Savannah longbow - $459
Bamboo Viper longbow - $669
You could get a REAL nice custom for $450 - $700
The only possible reason to go with a Martin is if you want/need a bow NOW!!!!! Still.....There are bowyers out there with only a 2-3 month wait.Also,I you would be interested in an "in stock" bow,most bowyers could probly send you one right away.
(Please do not take this the wrong way,Martin bows are VERY good quality bows.I just believe that they are WAY overpriced!!!!!)
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I say buy what you want. If you dont care about showing off to the boys on the 3d course than any bow that fits you will do the job. You could probably save some dollars buying factory made stuff. My self I like to show off my equipment. I say "if I cant shoot that great at least I look like I can". I have a Fred bear mag 48 that kills for me no prob. Just not an eye catcher. I think if you really look at it all bows are factory made. You phone x-bowyer and order x-model he makes it is still factory made no matter how much he "changes" for you. Just different size factories!!
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If you buy a custom bow, then your getting a bow built just for you, right? If you buy a used custom bow form someone, you're getting a bow built for someone else, right? not much different than getting a bow built for anyone. Since the bow you're buying wasn't built for you.
Confused?.....I am....LOL
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Would you rate archery as your favorate pass time or is it down there at 4,5, or 6? If it's up there at your favorate, you owe yourself the custom bow.
Bowmania
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Are custom bows better than a "factory" bow? According to the Trad Bow Classifieds on this site... I think the answer is an NO!
I've ordered several custom bows over the years. Some turn out and shoot exactly as you want and some just don't. Bottom line is that ordering a bow sight unseen is a gamble reguardless of glowing recommendations, happy customers, numberous options, and so on. I love the fact of ordering a bow, picking woods, weight, length, all of the options. It will keep you awake at night. But it is far better to go to a local shoot, K-Zoo, retailer of bows, and TRY the bows. Don't look as them as "Factory" or "Custom". Shoot em' all. Every archer wants the same thing. A bow that shoots the best for them and the only way to find that is to put your hands on the bow and put some arrows thru it. Purchase a bow that shoots the best for you reguarless of where it comes from. Just my 2 cents. dino
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I gotta agree with Shawn, for myself.
I bought an older, new, used, Martin Mountainer from the classifieds here, I love it and it fits me, once I figured out how to hold it. I also have 2 used 60's Bear recurves. They all shoot excelent and they are excelent shape. I guess it really depends on where your at in your life. I don't think it really matters if it's custom or production, as long as it's what "you" want and you can shoot it correctly and it fits you. Other wood choices can be had in productions as well.
As far as a "custom bow" for me, it'll probably be one that I'll make myself.
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I have to agree with dino and throwit. I know Martin bows get as much hand work done as Widows and Morrisons and many other so called customs. It is just a matter of size 9of the shop and the amount produced by each manufacturer. Guys do not realize that you can call Martin and order a bow to your specs. and with different choices of woods and #age, just like the regular bpwyers(Customs) everyone else is pushing. Why is a Morrison, BW, Robertson, etc. any more custom than the Martin? Shawn
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I agree with Dino. Everyone is different and has different shooting styles. The game your hunting doesn't know or care if your shooting a factory or custom bow. You owe it to yourself to find the bow that you shoot at your best. This can only come from shooting the bows under consideration...
I think this is why you see so many nice used customs out there. People hear that this or that bow is the hot ticket, go ahead and order one only to find out it's not their cup of tea. Nothing wrong with the bow mind you but it just didn't fit their shooting style.
If you were to hand me a $5000 custom job and a $50 Wards yardsale beater and I can shoot lights out with the beater, guess wich one goes in the woods with me?
Our goal is to find the bow that fits us to a tee and helps us consistantly hit the mark, reguardless of who's name is on it.
Everything thing else is fluff...
JL
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About the only thing custom anymore, is working grips and tillering for 3 under, which I consider unnecessary. There's much more to a bow than how much you spend, or whether someone has changed the palm swell for you.
One of the most accurate bows I've shot in all my years is the Martin Hunter; the newer models with the smaller grips. I think that bow is made as well as most special order customs. I'm also a Super Kodiak guy, and like those newer models that so many people hate. They will last a lifetime and hit where you aim.
There are some beautiful customs out there, that's for sure, so I would tell you to buy some of each. Stop eating at McDonalds for a year and cut back on soft drinks and beer and you can buy half a dozen. 8^)....
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Oh...I wanted to add another kudo for Martin (Damon Howatt); that Savannah looks as good, and shoots as good, as most of the customs on the market today. My opinion of course.
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If you are going to buy a Martin do a google search for the bow that you want. You can beat those prices that are posted above by a good bit. I know for a fact that you can beat one of those prices by a $100.
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The Martin Bamboo Viper longbow is a very interesting bow. You take $100 off that bow and your are getting a bow with carbon and bamboo limbs cheaper than you can find anywhere.
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Martin made a "custom" for me so I could get the grip and poundage I wanted at no extra charge.
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George said "stop eating at McDonalds for a year and cut back on the soft drinks and the BEER" it's 230 days for me today how do you think I buy bows with 3 kids in College LOL
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my choice: custom bows(used or new) made by individual bowyers who work alone and who are dedicated to their craft. Big companies like Martin, Hoyt, Mathews, Bear and PSE, although they make good bows, only have a trad bow "division" to get a piece of our market on top of the killing they already make with their compound bows. I can't give them any of my hard earned cash
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Well said Alex
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Gary...I am not sold that a custom is always better. It comes down to what you like in a bow and what features you find important. IF all custom bows were hot stuff to everybody, why is the bow trade section so popular. You can find all sorts of bows from the top of the top end right down to 150 dollar specials.
People are trading to find one that they like. Nearly all of them are great bows, but if it doesn't suit you then it is not so wonderful is it. Check out a bunch and find the kind or the features that are important to you and then go for the ONE.
ChuckC
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Martin/Damon Howatt was making quality recurves long before most of today's custom bowyers ordered their first Binghan bow kits. In my opinion, Martin isn't a Johnny come lately tyring to cash in on the market. They kept on making the Hunter & Super Diablo recurves during the period when the compound bow's popularity had caused other archery companies to stop making recurves bows altogether. This was before the modern so-called "traditional archery" movement even got started.
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That should read - Bingham bow kits. All I'm saying is that Martin/Damon Howatt kept the traditional archery flame going during the dark ages, before it was even called traditional archery. They aren't newcomers to stickbows, they're pioneers.