Regaining His Edge : Bass Rods by Gary Loomis (continued)

So why doesn't everyone use the paper scrim? The reason GLX remained at the top of the rod pyramid for so long is in order to make the paper scrim work, steps must be added into the manufacturing process to ensure a proper bond. In addition, most blanks in the industry are rolled on machines at pressures of about thirty to forty pounds per square inch. Gary's process called for more sophisticated equipment able to roll blanks at pressures exceeding two hundred pounds per square inch. This incredible pressure produces stronger blanks because the materials are pressed together that much tighter resulting in denser walls within your blank and fewer air bubbles between fibers. Blanks that are not rolled this tight are inherently weaker because of these gaps.

Once the blanks are rolled in the high pressure machine, LeAnne wraps them in cellophane in preparation for the oven.

That funky pattern you see on unsanded blanks? It's from the cellophane wrap.

Simply stated, Gary Loomis was doing things and producing blanks no one else was capable of doing and guess what, with North Fork Composites, he is at it again. All their blanks are rolled at higher pressures, but more importantly, their new, HM blanks are rolled using the same basic materials and principles as the former highest end blanks from his old company. And as if that wasn't exciting enough, many of the sticks in Edge Rods' new bass lineup will be built from the HM material.

Every single blank is hung on this wrack in preparation for the oven.