Okay, so why then do rod makers have such different wait times for a rod. Well, it usually (& should) depend on their work load & the amount of rod orders they have. Also, what all goes into making your rod will effect how long it takes to make. Some rods are more involved & just take longer to make.
Now some rod makers have long wait times (two years or more in some cases) because they are in demand & have a lot of orders. Other rod makers like to have the rod orders pile up & then go into a frenzy of work, making several rods at once. This saves them both time & money in the long run. I don't do that. I'm always working on rods in my shop. I want to get your rod to you as quickly as possible without rushing & possibly messing something up.
Also, a rod may take a while to make for unforeseen reasons, like waiting for supplies to come in or (Heaven forbid) the rod maker makes a mistake & must go back to re-do something. Sometimes, especially with bamboo rods, a problem spot in the material may show itself while making the rod. One of the most noticeable obstacles the rod maker may encounter is a 'leaf node' in the bamboo. This is a place along the outside of the bamboo where a branch grew from the stalk of the plant. Obviously this part can't be used in a rod & must be worked around by the rod maker.
So what are my wait times for a rod? While they may change slightly depending on my work load, my usual wait times for a rod from the time you order it until it's complete, is normally like this:
Graphite or Fiberglass rods.......4 to 5 months.
Prudential & Classical Series bamboo rods.....7 to 9 months.
Custom Series bamboo rods.....9 to 12 months.
It's like they say about good things coming to those who wait!! In the end, the quality of rod you'll be getting is well worth the time it takes to make it. Try a custom made rod & I think you'll agree.