Epitome vs Xray

[doomtrprz71]

So I'll admit I didn't need the Epitome when edge launched the preorder last year but I did need a similar rod so I bit. After I got it I did fish it a couple times and thought it was a plain rod with a nice blank. Well hitting our local trophy PFA and fishing them head to head was interesting.

I ended up deciding to fish the Epitome along with a custom rod I had built on a MB736 Xray blank. Both had similar steez 100 reels, 40lb j braid, 3/16 bullet weights, and 4/0 hooks, the epitome was rigged with a sweet beaver, the Xray a zoom mag 2 worm. The Xray has Fuji Sic vs the recoils on the epitome so that was essentially the only difference.

After a day of getting skunked I can come to a couple of conclusions:

The Epitome is lighter for sure

The Xray is more sensitive

The Epitome felt muted compared to the xray, the weight hitting a brush pile felt mushy compared to the Xray which seemed much more crisp and much more electric.

Not what I expected at all.

[dragon1]

Excellent findings, thanks for sharing.

[_diggy_]

Interesting indeed, seems in line with:


2019 Z-Bone: X-ray (Cal)
"Among the most sensitive rods I've fished"

_

Edge Epitome (Zander)
"Very good overall sensitivity"

vs.

Trika (Zander)
"Very good to excellent sensitivity"

I always found these reviews interesting

[Hogsticker2]

I could see this being the case since one was production, and the other a custom. The only fair way to test this would be both blanks built the same way with the same components.

[a1712]

Much thanks. I have 3- custom 736's and was going to order an Epitome to compare. You've saved me the time and trouble. Brian.

[doomtrprz71]

I could see this being the case since one was production, and the other a custom. The only fair way to test this would be both blanks built the same way with the same components.

If anything the test is in favor of the Epitome since it has rec guides, that's essentially the only difference is the guides, both have carbon fiber grips and and graphite reel seats, though granted the seat on the custom does give a little more contact with the blank.

[Hogsticker2]

I could see this being the case since one was production, and the other a custom. The only fair way to test this would be both blanks built the same way with the same components.

If anything the test is in favor of the Epitome since it has rec guides, that's essentially the only difference is the guides, both have carbon fiber grips and and graphite reel seats, though granted the seat on the custom does give a little more contact with the blank.

Is the Epitome the same exact blank that you have built on your custom X Ray?

[Bigfella123]

Is the Epitome the same exact blank that you have built on your custom X Ray?

Two different blanks.

MB736 is an X Ray blank
Epitome has the MB725 X Ray C6O2 blank

[doomtrprz71]

They are as close as I know to compare an x-ray blank to the C6O2 blank.