Use what ever you wish. I have a fine old Leonard that is older than dirt and the reelseat is western cedar. Used primarily because it is a light wood. I have seen reel seats made from everything from african ironwood to loblolly pine.....and as one local rodmaker put it, building your own rod is like painting a picture and it is really a piece of art of your expression....and if you can fish with it and are proud of it, who cares what it is made of!