Above photo: “In the strings,” final calls, a butt section ready to be heat-treated. When I send a message to my customers that says “In the strings,” it's a signal that it's the last call for any changes to all hardware and cosmetics, including wraps and agate strippers. The cork is on the mandrel, and everything is ready to be put together. I don't think I have had many customers who haven't made edits to their rods. It's a pretty standard back-and-forth for months on end. Custom rods come with lots of phone calls. Above photo: It just threads, “make it yours bro,”  my coined phrase that people tease me about. Because I come from an academic design background and have a father who was an MIT engineer, we are seasoned veterans of last-minute changes, edits, post-mortems, and often strange requests. It's safe to say it's all part of being a custom rod maker. After 30 years, you become very patient with people in general, and I enjoy talking with them most of...