The Carbotec rods came out at a time when Geoff Salisbury moved on from Normark and when waggler fishing with maggots/casters was in vogue for commercial carp fishing for carp in the 2-4lb range so people were looking for rods that could beat these match-size carp quickly, before the days of pellet waggler rods. They are incredible rods for playing fish. I'd say the no. 1 equate to a Titan 2000, the no. 2 to a Avenger 2000, the no. 4 to the old Normark Specimen Match with the no. 3 somewhere between the Avenger and Specimen Match. To add to the mix there are the 'soft' tops for the no. 1 and 2, so maybe the no. 1 with soft top nearly equates to a Microlite. I've got the no. 2 and it's an incredible chub and tench rod though OK for roach, dace and grayling. Like Peter I wish I'd got the no. 1 plus soft tops for the 1 & 2.
When I bought - they weren't on sale that widely and no discounts - Andy Browne of Avon Angling said just lift the rod and the carp with come to the top so as a tryout I went to a commercial stacked with 3lb carp and fished 2lb line. First bite I hooked a carp and tried he lift and nothing happened, tried again, still nothing, stopped it from going in a rush bed with ease, but puzzled by the fight, all along convinced I'd hooked a 3lb carp which I couldn't see due to the murky water, landed a few minutes later, a feisty 11lber...