I'll give another vote for garnet (no CP) on the blue blank. As a matter of fact, I have a Forecast blue blank w/ garnet thread and gold metallic trim spinning on the dryer right now. It looks real good.

I'll be building a DanCraft rod (matte charcoal blank) shortly. I'm going with orange/black twist thread (no CP) w/copper metallic trim bands for the wraps. Here's a link of what that will look like (I hope) http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/inde...howtopic=18378. Almost any color /combo should look good on a gray blank.

You can get some nice reel seats from Les' Custom Inserts http://www.insertbyles.com/ or, as mentioned, Dave Winslow http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/winslow...at-inserts.asp . If you're into the eBay thing, they both put a couple of their products up for bid now and then. I picked up a great deal on one of Les' seats- a thuya (sp?) burl insert w/Batson BUL5 nickel silver hardware. It's a nice seat.

John