Always use snake guides on the tip section. They are practically weightless, but windings aren't, so don't use more thread than necessary. Too much weight will slow tip action. Placing the tip section bottom guide as close to the ferrule as possible reduces line leverage and the likelihood of fracture. Reworking rods you already own is often worthwhile.
All blanks have one stiff side.
This is called the spine. Fly rods shoot line best with the guides mounted exactly opposite the spine. This stiff side is much more pronounced in some blanks than others. As a rule, if you have a choice of more than one blank in the length and action desired, the one with the most decided spine will be best from a line-shooting standpoint. To locate the spine, lean a blank against a table or chair and, pressing down slightly, roll it back and forth.