I have a ss101ms, which is the factory 1 piece rated 1-4. It is the ultimate bucktailing rod. I normally throw 1 to 2.5 bucks with it. However, it is not a topwater rod. It can be used for it but it's not as good as the gsb line. For what you want it to do, I'd go with a gsb1321L, you won't be dissapointed. I use this gsb rod for bucks at 1oz to ss bottles/darters/poppers at 2 3/8 AND AH sliders up to 3oz with ZERO problems. Works pencils with little to no effort too. The SSU's will tire you rather quickly when properly trying to work a pencil. Keep in jind, both blanks serve a purpose. The SSU is EXTREMELY light weight and will prolong your fishing time without getting tired, but it does not work topwater that well. The GSB is a little heavier and has reverberation in the cast causing your arm to take more of a beating, tiring you quicker, but it works a pencil alot better. Hopes this helps...

Jeepy:
Thanks for your helpful response. The SSU 120 1L would be used primarily at night and therefore, pencil popping would not be on the agenda. I am greatly intrigued by the light weight and ease of fishing without getting arm-weary. But it seems the blank is rated 1-3, and I wonder if it will load properly with a 2 3/8 oz ss darter, as well as with a 1 oz bucktail. Often the advertised range is off, sometimes way off. I don't need to cast 3 oz lures with this rod, but I'm looking for some assurance that a 2 3/8oz lure can be loaded, not merely lobbed. (an 11foot GSB would be too big to transport, but would a 10 foot GSB 1L be better for my purposes than a 10 foot SSU 1L?)

That ss blank will cast a super strike with no problem. I had a gsb 1201l a long time ago and I think I sold it because it was a little to light for me, the 101ms is it's replacement and it's worked out great.

Jeepy I agree and disagree. The SSU is no good for top water? I too have the ss101ms which is built on the SSU 120 1M blank. I used the rod exclusively the entire season all over L.I. including many many times in MTK. The rod does it all from bucktailing to pencil popping and everything in between. It's an excellent top water rod and bucktailing rod. It can throw 3/4oz bucktails all the way up to almost 4oz. The rod is amazing and I think in a few years from now will go down as the most versitile 10ft surf Blank yet.

For the record the SSU 120 1L is not made into a factory rod. Judging by how my factory ss101ms (SSU 120 1M) can throw I would assume the SSU 120 1L can throw 1/2oz - almost 3oz. BUt I have not tried one yet. I'm just basing that off of what the M can throw. :)

surflawyer, for something in the ~1-2.5/3 ounce range and if you want a super surf, i'd consider the ssu1201m. it can handle more than 3, but really shuts off at 3. the gsb1201L is another option that has about the same range and the blank is less expensive. the ssu1201L doesn't throw over 2 ounces well to me.