Ok,
I have a Rainshadow 1288 set up for conventional. BNLG guides (8 plus tip works great for spacing).
Thinking spiral wrap: first guide straight second 60degrees off third 120, fourth 180. It looks OK .
I have cast it with the normal set up and it is great. What a nice blank! I have not had a chance to set up spiral this way to test cast
Any forethought before I tape em on and go to the local football field?
less kids of course!
Thanks

Your set-up is similar to the one I have used for many years. I would try it that way but also try a set-up similar to what Ralph O'Quinn detailed for us in the Sept/Oct RodMaker from last year. The line path will dictate where the guides must go. Some people feel that Ralph's system is better for casting.

.............

I made up two rods using Ralph's system (the first guide offset to about 45 degrees) and they both work very well.

Hugh Miller

I attach the tiptop plus the next two guides. Thread the line through and note the path to the tip. This is the straightess line to the tip, so this will basically be the path of your guides. The last three rods I did this way did not require any repositioning of guides! (I tried different positions, but the initial setup was the best). The only guide that will likely need adjustment is the butt guide due to line slap, stacking, stress distribution etc.... I just follow the path of the line and position the "spiral" guides to where the line touches the top OR bottom of the ring, preferably not the sides. Standard disclaimer here......I am certainly not an authority in this area, many more on this site are well versed in this process, but this is what has proved to be the easiest and most effective method for me. I would greatly appreciate any corrections of my info if it is not correct. (Tom?, does this method sound reasonable?)

Bill,
If you are happy with the degree angles of your spiral for casting compared to the conventional then you've answered your own question. I think what Tom brought up about the line path dicatating where the guides will go is a better version and I also believe will increase casting distance.

For example, I just completed a musky 6'9" on a St. Croix blank in the spiral configuration. It has 11 guides plus the tip. The spiral guides take up 6 of the set where the line path DOES dictate where the angles of the guides are in relation to the 0 degrees from the reel.
I could cast a musky crankbait which normally at this time of season tend to be larger, but it did cast far and outdistanced the conventional factory rod with the exact blank my fishing partner was using.

I seem to be always picking up new knowledge or observations about the use of spiral wrap and in field testing is more acute. My partner indicated to me that while trolling the deep running crankbaits there was the usual sensitivity at the tip detecting the vibrations as the lure was moving, but the difference between the spiral wrapped rod and the conventional factory version being the less vibration at the handle with the custom spiral wrap. Due in part, I believe by the better arrangement of the line path of the final 5 or six tip guides promoting less torsion. This idea is often discussed as an advantage of the sprial wrap (less blank twist or torsion), but the better handle control and reduction in fatigue while holding the rod for long periods is really noticed.

Rich
Solyrich Custom Rods