A said the rainshadow and hmx light blanks are a number of peoples go to blanks for the price point. I personally like the rainshadow blanks over the HMX myself. As to guides, its a personal choice. I've built the same rod with a number of different guide trains and never seen one out do the next in casting distance personally. There is a lot of hear say about it, so don't buy stock in all that. I stick to Fuji because it's what everything is compared to. Yes you pay a higher cost but In the end I've never had someone say I'm not buying that rod because it has Fuji components.