Ok, I am going to pick your brains a little and ask for some input.

How do you guys feel about one of these kits:

http://www.hookhack.com/bamboo/

Could be a way to kill two birds with one stone and jump into bamboo and rod building all at once. Or it might be a way to ruin both for me very quickly. :think:

P.S. I have no affiliation with H&H, but I have dealt with them quite a bit and have always been very happy with their service.