Here is a series of videos on rod building. I have only watched the first one and they find the spine on the rod blank. I doubt that all rod makers go to the trouble of finding the spine before making the rod.
I have had 3 rods made about 15 years ago. I was tourney fishing and wanted the handle thicker and a little shorter than what I could buy. I had a sweet cranking rod and and while traveling in my truck camper a cast skillet slid out of the oven and broke 3 rods in the floor. Needless to say I was heart broken......I sobbed like a baby. I have never replaced them. I don't bass fish much anymore. In the last 4 years I have broke all my 1st string rods and now I am using my second and 3rd string rods. I mostly crappie fish and I would love to get into rod making......maybe someday I will. I have to many hobbies already.
If you know the features you want in a rod, you can have a good builder make it for you. I wouldn't look for saving money though.
here is he link to the video.
http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building-...Video-Tutorial