I ran a quick search, and did not find what I was looking for (but I think it was discussed here before). What should I do since the intersect point on a 7' blank with a Diawa 2500 size spinning reel is about right at the tip? I really do not want the extra weight on the tip of larger guides. I was thinking of just taking the line to the blank in 4 guides, with the first being a size 25? Any thoughts?

Has happened to me, and like you, I did not want extra tip weight. So I went with a "semi-concept" layout, put the intersect guide much further down, in a position which allowed three size 6 fly guides out to the tip on the 6'6" blank. Placed the other guides per the concept system. Test cast, built it, result was a well-performing rod. Why did this happen? Probably because the reel seat arbors were not perfectly concentric.

That could be, although I used the flex coat drill bits and arbors, so it should be pretty close and it looked good. I will check it against my shimano stradic which intersects fine on another 7-0 rod and see if the brands just have different angles for the reel.

I checked the stradic, and it intersects fine, so the Diawa (actually cabelas made just like the capricorn by diawa) must just not have a big enough upsweep.On this rod, I really wanted the little bit larger Diawa 2500 size, I think I will just build it with with small guides on the tip anyway and do a lot of test casting on this one.

Greetings Dean,

For a few years, I have been using a different technique for defining the crossover on concept spinning rods.
And I must say, I need to thank someone (or several of posters) on the phorum for the idea.
That idea came from this board.

It is ' while holding (or restraining) the butt-end, I bend from the tip and 'eyeball' for that point along the blank where I can see 'zero to less than 1" of flex (disflection) and I make that my crossover point'. Also, most of my rods use a crossover guide of about 1" or less of elevation from the foot, too. Small coincidence, huh?

Clearly, different actions will tend to produce different crossover distances from the tip. And 'they' throw well !

Good luck,
Bob