I am a beginner rod builder and have been making rods for about 2 years now. So far, I have used this guide kit for almost every rod that I have built, and they have performed very well. I have never had an issue with rust, despite using them heavily in saltwater and not cleaning them after every use. I like the spacing guide on the back of the package, as it takes the guesswork out of spacing the guides for the most part. I also like that it comes with a hook keeper. I have caught many kinds of fish, from 3 pound smallmouth to 10 pound jacks and more and have never had a problem from them, and I don't expect any problems for many years to come with proper care. The reason for only 4 stars is that some of the running guides aren't square, meaning the foot isn't aligned with the ring, so you have to move it over for the ring to be inline with the blank. That means the foot sticks out a bit, and it usually isn't severe, and I haven't had a problem with that affecting casting. The other reason is that I ordered two of the elite 6' 6"- 8 feet kits and they are BOTH missing the #12 guide! How did that happen??? It was a bit upsetting because I was planning on wrapping my guides today and I saw that I only had 9 guides instead of 10... just a bit strange. I guess I'll have to order the #12. But other than that, this kit is worth it, especially for the price. If you're just starting out, this is the kit for you. Just make sure that it's all there. Happy Fishing this year friends.