OK so as I understand it the simple spiral does not have any transition guides. the bumper guide is only there to keep the line off the rod blank as the line shoots past the blank to one side. correct? so here's what I'm thinking, since the bumper guide does not direct or transition the line, can I just leave it off and put a thread wrap coated with PG in that spot? that would give the line something hard to run against and I doubt there would be much pressure there anyway, but would get rid of having a guide stuck out there on the side. I was thinking of making the "bumper wrap" about an inch or more long to allow the line to hit anywhere along that area during different amounts of blank flex. Has anyone tried this? is there any reason it would not work or would cause trouble?

Your idea will work just fine.

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Or, you could just let the line rub against the guide. Most of the time there would be next to no pressure on the rod.

I did it that way after developing the method and it will quickly wear a dull spot in the blank's gloss finish, or through any paint on the blank. Probably better to add a wrap at the minimum.

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Makes sense!