Hi all I have just bought two 9" 4 piece rainshadow RX 7 blanks and I am looking for the exact spacing of the guides. one is a 5wt and the other is a 4wt. also what guide make would be reccomended for the 4wt. and sizes? I am thinking of size 12 and 10 strippers and 4 #3's and 4#5's and tip top all single foots guides except strippers they are double foots is this a good Idea this is my first multi piece rod I have built? and help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Tyler

There is no exact spacing - custom builders all need to learn how to determine guide spacing without the use of charts which are pretty much generic starting points at best. You have so many options and so much you can do to add your rod's performance by the correct application of guide spacing and sizing.

Check the online library for articles on how to determine guide placement.

If you are going to use #3's as your final guide size, there is no reason to use several #5's. Skip them. Move from the stripper guide to perhaps one more ringed guide and then on to your #3 running guides. There is no reason to go through all the various sizes simply because they're available.

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Tyler

While you are at it, try putting a #8 tamer guide 4 inches behind the first stripping guide and see how that feels. Just put it in between the first and second guides that you would normally use. Forget spacing; put it 4 inches up from the first stripper. I did this to my last fly rod (before it got sucked up in the vacuum cleaner) and really liked the taming effect on the line.

But if you really, really want suggested guide spacings, just call Batson's and they'll give them to you.

Thanks guy for all the Help
Tyler