If the honey color is not good enough, you can paint a rod with Krylon Fusion spray paint.
Steps involved:
1 Scuff the blank with gray Scotch Bright to remove all of the shine.
2 Wipe down with mineral spirits and let dry thoroughly.
3 Follow the directions on the can EXPLICITLY using light coats.
4 Finish off with a couple of coats of clear. Krylon has a clear Fusion paint, too.
5 Let dry for at least 5 days before building on it.
It does work. I have done it with a couple of rods with very good results. The key is to scuff the blank, get it as clean as possible, and follow the directions on the spray can.