Components & Custom Builds

A custom build is not simply a different handle or a different set of guides. It is the process of matching every contact point, every guide choice and every finishing part to the way the blank is intended to work. We stock a broad range of guides, handles, reel seats, collars, butt caps and specialist fittings so that custom builds can be specified properly rather than forced around whatever happens to be available.

The aim is always the same: to keep the rod balanced, comfortable, durable and true to the action designed into the blank. Component choice can change recovery, feel, line flow, protection against wear and the way the rod sits in the hand, so each part should be chosen as part of a complete build system.

How We Present Component Choice

Rather than list every part as a long catalogue, the website section can work better as a visual component guide. Each component family can be shown with a representative image, a short explanation of why it matters, and a compact list of the options we normally stock. This gives customers confidence in the depth of support behind our custom builds without overwhelming them with technical stock codes at the first glance.

1. Choose the blank

Start with the action, length and material platform that suits the fishing.

Options:
Hi-‘S’, ‘S’-Range, Seeker, ‘E’-Class, Tel’E’-Class, predator and cat blanks.

2. Choose the guide system

Balance line flow, durability, weight and the way the rod will actually be used.

Options:
Free Spirit guide ranges, titanium options, SeaGuide, American Tackle and specialist tip guides.

3. Choose the handle feel

Cork, EVA, shrink or mixed builds all change grip, comfort and character.

Options:
A-grade cork, flared cork, straight EVA, flared EVA, hard EVA cat grips and shrink builds.

4. Finish the details

Reel seats, collars, butt caps and trims complete the build and keep it durable.

Options:
Clone seats, DPS/DNPS, ALPS, stainless steel, black Acetal and net fittings.

Guide Choice

Guide choice has a major effect on how a rod feels and performs. The size, frame style, frame material, liner material and total set weight all influence recovery, balance, line flow and long-term reliability. A guide should never be chosen just because it looks fashionable; it needs to suit the blank, the line, the venue and the job the rod is built to do.

Guide sizes are normally measured by the outside diameter of the frame, not the internal hole. The liner reduces the working aperture and adds weight, so a nominal 50mm guide can behave very differently depending on the frame and liner used. This is why we test guide patterns carefully and choose complete guide systems rather than treating each guide as an isolated part.

Guide Weight: Small Numbers, Big Difference

Guide weight is one of the most overlooked parts of a custom build. A few grams may not sound significant, but guide weight sits along the most active part of the blank, and weight in the upper third has a much greater effect on recovery, balance and how alive the rod feels in the hand.

This is why we look at a guide set as a complete system rather than choosing individual guides in isolation. Frame style, liner material, frame material and step-down pattern all affect the total set weight and where that weight sits on the blank.

T-style often saves weight

A well-chosen T-style guide pattern usually keeps overall guide weight lower, helping preserve crisp blank recovery and allowing the rod to retain its natural action.

K-style adds anti-frap security

K-style guides help reduce line wrapping around the rings during casting, although they can add weight and slightly reduce the working aperture.

Titanium changes the feel

Titanium guide frames can dramatically reduce total guide-set weight, particularly towards the tip of the rod, improving balance, recovery and overall responsiveness.

Guide Set Weight Examples

The figures below show how quickly guide choice changes the finished build. The comparison uses typical carp-size guide sets and is intended as a clear guide to relative weight rather than a rigid rule for every rod.

Guide / Build Style

Typical Set Weight

What It Tells Us

Hi-‘S’ Standard Build

41.7g

Ceramic-lined T-style gunsmoke guide set; durable and proven.

Hi-‘S’ Black Build

39.5g

Ceramic-lined T-style matt black guide set; slightly lighter than the standard gunsmoke set.

Hi-‘S’ TDG Build

29.0g

Stainless-steel lined T-style with Adaman black frame; very light and crisp.

Seeker Braid Friendly

32.1g

Ceramic-lined T-style matt black guide set; extra protection for braid and fluorocarbon use.

Seeker Standard

29.0g

Stainless-steel lined TDG style; very light with excellent line flow where conditions suit.

‘E’-Class / CTX / Helical Braid Friendly

40.7–40.8g

Ceramic-lined T-style guide systems with strong all-round durability.

Helical Standard

26.4g

Stainless-steel lined T-style with black frame; one of the lightest standard guide sets.

Hi-‘Q’ Titanium K Build

26.8g

Titanium K-style guide set; anti-frap benefit with much lower weight than many stainless K-style options.

Hi-‘Q’ Titanium T Build

22.9g

Titanium T-style guide set; the lightest example here and ideal where maximum recovery matters.

What the Weight Comparison Shows

A light set is not automatically the best set. Durability, line choice and venue conditions still matter, especially with braid, fluorocarbon, heavy leads and abrasive water.
Ceramic-lined guides offer stronger long-term protection. They are normally the safer choice when line wear, heat, grit or braid use are real concerns.
Stainless-lined guides can make a rod feel very crisp. They are slim and light, but the liner is naturally softer and can be more easily scored over time.
‘S’-Lite Slims sit in an important middle ground. They offer a light, slim, modern guide with a super-slim liner while retaining the protection advantages expected from a lined guide.
Titanium is the premium weight-saving route. It is especially useful where the guide pattern would otherwise place more weight higher up the blank.

Used properly, guide weight data helps explain why custom build choices are not just cosmetic. It shows why the same blank can feel different with another guide system, and why we guide customers towards the option that best suits the finished rod rather than simply the most expensive or fashionable part.

Free Spirit Guide Ranges

These are the guide ranges we hold to support Free Spirit builds and rebuilds. They allow us to match current rod specifications, build custom versions of established ranges, and keep replacement options available where possible.

‘S’-Lite Guides

A long-established Free Spirit guide family used across carp, specialist and predator builds, available in black and gunsmoke finishes with twin-leg, single-leg and matching tip options.

Options:
Twin-leg 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 16, 12, 10, plus smaller single-leg and tip options.

Stock codes:
RSL black, RSL gunsmoke, RSLS single-leg, RSLT tips, RSLBT braid tips.

‘S’-Lite Slim Guides

Our new slimline guide option and a key upgrade route for custom builds. Designed as the ideal solution for lightweight guide sets with super-slim liners, they retain the protection needed against line wear while keeping the build neat, sharp and modern.

Options:
Matt black twin-leg guides in 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 16 and 12mm.

Stock codes:
SSL50B, SSL40B, SSL30B, SSL25B, SSL20B, SSL16B, SSL12B.

‘E’-Class Guides

Black frame guides held for ‘E’-Class builds and rebuild support, keeping the look and guide sizing consistent with the range identity.

Options:
Twin-leg 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 16, 12 and 10mm.

Stock codes:
REBTZLG50 to REBTZLG10.

CTX Original Guides

Gunsmoke CTX guides for matching original CTX builds and supporting repairs or rebuilds where maintaining the original look matters.

Options:
Twin-leg 50, 40, 30, 20, 16 and 12mm.

Stock codes:
RSX50GS, RSX40GS, RSX30GS, RSX20GS, RSX16GS, RSX12GS.

Helical Guides

Matt black LS guides used to support Helical builds, with a practical size spread for carp, short rod and heavier applications.

Options:
Twin-leg 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 16 and 12mm.

Stock codes:
RHCLLS50B to RHCLLS12B.

Spotlight: why ‘S’-Lite Slims matter

‘S’-Lite Slim guides are offered as an ideal solution for anglers looking for a lightweight, cosmetically clean guide set without sacrificing the protection expected from a lined guide. The super-slim liner keeps the guide profile neat and helps reduce unnecessary bulk, while still providing excellent protection against line wear.

They are particularly well suited to braided lines, fluorocarbon lines, or venues where abrasive materials such as grit, silt, weed particles and debris can be drawn through the rings. They also provide an excellent alternative to stainless steel-lined guides, whose liners are naturally softer and more easily scored over time.

Other Guide Makers

Alongside Free Spirit guide families, we also stock selected guide ranges from specialist makers where a particular frame style, liner material or weight saving gives a clear benefit. These options allow a build to be tuned towards minimum weight, maximum durability, braid use, anti-frap performance or a specific cosmetic style.

SeaGuide Titanium Framed ‘K’ Style

Premium forward-facing anti-frap guides with titanium frames, chosen where lower weight and corrosion resistance are important.

Options:
Black or gunsmoke titanium frames, sizes 50, 40, 30, 25, 20 and 16.

Stock codes:
HBTiTCRSG / HUTiTCRSG

SeaGuide Titanium Framed ‘T’ Style

Straight-frame titanium guides for builds where low weight, line flow and crisp blank recovery are priorities.

Options:
Black titanium frames, sizes 50, 40, 30, 25, 20 and 16.

Stock codes:
HBTiXCRSG

SeaGuide TDG

Black Adaman frame stainless steel guides used where a light, clean stainless-lined guide is preferred.

Options:
Twin-leg sizes from 50 down to 6mm.

Stock codes:
RABTDG50 to RABTDG6

American Tackle Ti-Forged Air

A modern guide option for distinctive custom builds, offering a matt black look and a technical frame style.

Options:
Twin-leg sizes 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 16 and 12mm.

Stock codes:
Z-TFABBDF-50 to Z-TFABBDF-12

Tip Guides

Tip guide choice deserves special attention because it sits at the very end of the rod, where even small differences in weight can affect response. It is also the first guide to see constant contact during retrieval, so liner choice and bore size matter. We stock standard tips, screw-thread tips, braid tips, anti-frap tips and range-specific CTX tips so custom builds and repairs can be finished correctly.

Standard ‘S’-Lite Tips

Black and gunsmoke tip guides in common sizes and bore diameters for carp and specialist builds.

Options:
Sizes 8, 10, 12 and 16 with bores from 2.6mm to 4.0mm.

Braid Tip Guides

Tip options designed to add protection where braid, fluorocarbon or abrasive conditions place greater wear on the tip liner.

Options:
Sizes 8, 10, 12 and 16 with multiple bore options.

Anti-Frap Tips

Kigan 3D anti-frap tips in black and gunsmoke, used where line control around the tip is a priority.

Options:
Sizes 12 and 16 with bore options from 2.6mm to 3.6mm.

CTX Tip Guides

Range-specific CTX tips stocked for replacement and rebuild work across creeper, travel carp, carp and SPM models.

Options:
Dedicated CTX tip references by model and bore.

Handles: Cork, EVA and Shrink

Handle choice changes how a rod feels every time it is picked up. Cork brings warmth, feedback and a traditional finish. EVA gives practical durability, comfort and consistency. Shrink is the hard-use option, offering dependable grip and a clean, understated look. For custom builds, the aim is not just to choose a material, but to make sure the bore, taper, length and outside diameter suit the blank.

A-Grade Flared Cork Sections

Short flared cork pieces used around reel seats and transition areas where a shaped traditional finish is required.

Options:
27mm, 50mm and 75mm lengths with multiple internal bore options.

Stock codes:
CORKF1 to CORKF7

A-Grade Full Cork Rear Grips

Long flared cork grips for full cork builds, selected by length, internal bore and outside diameter to suit the blank taper.

Options:
320, 390, 410, 430, 450, 470 and 485mm lengths.

Stock codes:
CORKR7, R13S, R13, R20, R3, R8, R16, R17, R19, R21, R22, R9, R10, R11, R12, R15

EVA Cones and Short EVA Sections

Short EVA parts for clean transitions, butt detailing and compact practical builds.

Options:
10mm and 65mm cone/straight pieces with 14-18mm bore options.

Stock codes:
REVA1, REVA2, REVA3, REVA23, REVA29, REVA30, REVA31

Straight EVA Grips

Long straight EVA grips for modern full EVA builds where consistent feel and durability matter.

Options:
550mm lengths with internal bore ranges around 13-18mm.

Stock codes:
REVA14, REVA15, REVA32, REVA520

Flared EVA Grips

Flared EVA grips for shaped handles, balancing practical grip with a more refined profile.

Options:
324mm and 550mm lengths with a wide range of bore/taper options.

Stock codes:
REVA19, REVA11, REVA17, REVA27, REVA40, REVA41, REVA42, REVA43

Hard EVA Cat Rod Grips

Dedicated shaped hard EVA fore and rear grips for heavy cat builds where leverage, comfort and long-fight durability matter.

Options:
Shaped fore grip and shaped rear grip.

Stock codes:
CATEVA1, CATEVA2

Reel Seats and Finishing Hardware

A reel seat is one of the main contact points between angler and blank, so it needs to fit the build both mechanically and visually. Collars, butt caps and trims then complete the rod, protect the handle ends and give the build its final character. We stock carbon Clone seats, DPS/DNPS style seats, selected ALPS seats, and both stainless steel and black Acetal finishing parts.

Clone Carbon Reel Seats

Carbon-effect Clone seats used across Free Spirit builds, available in 1K, 3K and SEA-3K finishes with black or Fuji silver hoods depending on the build style.

Options:
Size 18, 16mm or 17mm bore options.

Stock codes:
HCSM-18S variants, CSM-18GS-ISO, ESM-18S

DPS and DNPS Reel Seats

Practical, robust seat options for specialist, spod, marker, cat and heavier applications where secure reel fitting and comfort matter.

Options:
DPS 18 and DNPS 20 in black or silver.

Stock codes:
SCXDPS-WN18SC, SCXDPS-WN18B, SCNPS-CN20SC, SCNPS-CN20B

ALPS Reel Seats

Premium reel seat options for custom builds where a distinctive look and high-quality hardware are desired.

Options:
Matt black and frosted grey titanium finishes.

Stock codes:
ALPS ARD18-KLN-MB, ALPS ARD18-KLN-SGT

Stainless Steel Butt Caps

Durable stainless butt caps for traditional and premium builds, available in radial or flat cut formats with different spigot sizes.

Options:
8, 10, 11 and 13mm spigot options.

Stock codes:
RSSBC2, RSSBC2/F, RSSBC4, RSSBC5, RSSBC5/F, RSSBC6

Black Acetal Butt Caps

Light, clean black finishing caps for modern black builds where a more understated finish is preferred.

Options:
11 and 13mm flat cut spigot options.

Stock codes:
RSSBC2/F/BA, RSSBC5/F/BA

Stainless Steel Collars

Stainless collars for full cork, EVA, shrink and abbreviated builds, selected by bore, length and outside diameter.

Options:
Radial cut collars in short and standard lengths with multiple internal diameters.

Stock codes:
RSSFSC5, RSSRSC1/4, RSSRSC2/5, RSSRSC2S, RSSRSC3, RSSRSC6/7, RSSRSC8, RSSRSC9

Black Acetal Collars

Black finishing collars for understated custom builds and modern black range styling.

Options:
Radial cut collars in short and standard lengths.

Stock codes:
RSSRSC1/4/BA, RSSRSC2S/BA, RSSRSC3/BA, RSSRSC6/7/BA, RSSRSC8/BA

Landing Net Hardware

Stainless replacement and custom build fittings for Hi-‘S’ landing nets, including blocks, pole ends, pins and tulips.

Options:
Blocks, pole ends, arm pins and tulips including 6mm tulips.

Stock codes:
XSN480/BLOCK, POLEEND, PIN, TULIP, TULIP/6MM

Why This Matters on a Custom Build

Balance and recovery: Guide weight and handle choice can either protect the action of a blank or make it feel slower and heavier than it should.
Durability: Correct guide liners, tip guides, collars and butt caps help the rod stand up to the lines, venues and treatment it will face in real use.
Comfort and control: Handle material, reel seat choice and grip length determine how secure the rod feels during casting and when applying pressure.
Cosmetic identity: The right component choices allow a build to match an existing range, create a clean modern look, or produce something more traditional.
Build support: Because we hold a wide component stock, custom builds and rebuilds can be specified with genuine choice rather than compromise.

The best custom builds are not the ones with the most expensive parts added at random. They are the builds where every component earns its place and supports the blank’s intended performance. That is the purpose of our component stock: to give each build the right options, the right fit and the right long-term finish.

Representative images can be added for each component family to show material, finish and style without turning the page into a parts catalogue.