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I have a pair of JW 1.75lb TC 11/13' barbel rods. When I started using them I'd use the extension piece, ponder which quiver tip to use. Then I stuck with the heaviest one, then I stopped using the extension, then I just used the avon tip because it had the most backbone for playing hard fighting fish. The rod is capable of landing big fish, my best on the is 13lbs. If you fish big rivers, fast flows and floods they bottom out relatively easy and they creak when really loaded up. That's not so good if you need to haul a fish away from a snag or play it in heavy conditions, and it's not like UK weather is constantly predictable.

The bottom line for me is when I hook any fish using my JW it does take longer to land than my I-power (and of course it should). However I'd rather fish just using my I-power and know when push comes to shove I can mostly get fish out quick, which is better for both of us, than use two JW's (I know that's not what your asking but I thought I'd mention it).

Personally I'd opt away from a rod package where you get the most number of sections and if I was buying a barbel rod for that sort of money I'd opt for a 2 piece where the money in production is being spent better on a higher quality blank which will serve me better because it helps me to play the fish better and because there's less to produce. Quiver tips are cool, but most of the time you know when a barbel takes your bait because it flies away, do you really need them? If you do then great, if not then find a rod with a sensitive tip and with a good action down into the butt.

I think there's a really good article on rod test curves somewhere around, might be worth reading it. If you fish big rivers I think you look at a stronger rod, maybe something like the daiwa twilight? shimano barbel power? Either way more sections isn't necessarily better value.

Dunno if any of that's useful. Hope you find what you need. Cheers,

Ken