I am in the process of having two new rods built. Both are 9' one piece blanks, Pac Bay 1087 and a 1088. I have read several recommendations for guide sizes and numbers in the past. Most have recommended 5 guides and a few have said 4 is enough. Both of the rod builders I've talked to about making these rods for me are recommending that I go with 6. Both of these people have been highly recommended and are very experienced. I was at CMS on Saturday and I noted that they also put six guides on these blanks. The guy at CMS said that one of the reasons people have graphite rods break is because of to few guides.

I understand that there are differing opinions on this like most other things. I'd like to get some more information on this from builders on this site. What do you think is the right guide set up for these rods? I will be using either a Penn 6500 or a 560 Slammer. The butt will be 20" to the beginning of the 5" Fugi reel seat. I usually like my first guide around 32 to 34" from the end of the reel seat.

Thanks for any help. Mike

I would go with 5 + Tip if I was to use a #50 stripper guide.
and 6 + Tip if I were to go with a 40HH

My 1088 has 5 anda tip never had any problems.

Hi Ive done a couple of the 1088 for myself and the boss(or so she thinks).I used 7 guides.The 1088 is a great blank.Its a little heavier than the Lami GLB108-1m but casts as well and was considerably less money.I have also done the 1088f 2 piece and used 8 guides.This rod is a dream for schoolies.I used sic single foot guides on the top Half with one double foot sic 40mm as a first guide.The extra guides dont hurt its casting and it lets the blank work well with a fish on.I had heard nothing but bad things about pac-bay blanks but after talking to Charlie at CMS I bought and buil the first one and and was thrilled with it.I did one conventional for myself and hers as a spinning using the fuji bsvlg hardloy guides. 50 40 30 20 16 12 12 + tip I find the exta guides cut down on the line angle from guide to guide with a fish on and only slightly add to building cost.Where to put the first guide depends on size of reel to be used.the Shimano 4500BR works great on the one piece at 26.5 to start of reel seat with threads towards the tip.Everybodies going to have an opion so its what YOU WANT .Thats why they are custombuilt rods