If I still have some, I'll post pics.  i usually just toss them in the trash, but there was one in particular that I might have saved.  It had 5 or 6 different grooves in it around the diameter.  Worst one I've ever seen.

I just got a rod in for repair.  It is one of the rods I replaced the grooved tip on a few years ago.  2 of the other stainless ringed guides are grooved.  I'll try to get some good pics.

Best I could do with my phone.

 

Here's one that came in today.  Worst tip I've ever seen.  Rod is an Abu Garcia Villain, less than 2 years old.  Every guide has some degree of grooving.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Wow, that's incredible. I thought it would only be the tip top but I guess the others are affected as well. What brand/type are you putting on for replacements?
Thanks TA

I'll be replacing the tip with a Fuji Alconite.  Not doing anything with the other ones.  They aren't sharp or as deep as the tip.  Totally replacing all of the guides would cost over half what a new rod would be.

Learned about this the hard way years ago when I used spiderwire on an ugly stik.

jug
Learned about this the hard way years ago when I used spiderwire on an ugly stik.

that's odd I've had braid on several ugly sticks for years and have never had an issue. Rods are used hard too. I use power pro and suffix performance braid.

I know that this is an old post, but I had to comment on this.  I recently experienced this issue with two of my GX2 rods, and when I brought the issue to the attention of a sports fishing group on FB, quite a few people have never seen this issue either.  I use braids on all of my rods.  I have two $15 Telespeed rods, one $17 Tiger rod, one Tide Water, one Big Water and then two GX2 rods (1 for me and 1 for my lady).  My Telespeed and Tiger rods were purchased from Walmart waaay before the GX2 rods and do not have any cuts in the guides from braid.  I fish all of these rods in both fresh and salt water most from piers.  It turns out that the guides on the GX2 may have declined in quality, as stated by someone who saw my photos.  I saw a few responses in relation to people hooking their hook on the guides.  I do not do that.  I also do not lay my rods on the floor / sand, nor do I fish them in any silt.  These cuts are clearly from braid.  This also has nothing to do with 4 strand vs 8 strand braid.  Only my Tide Water and Big Water rods use 8 strand.  If this was a 4 vs 8 strand issue, then the cheap Walmart rods would be cut.

Wow. That's really a shame if they're using soft metal like that on the guides of those new gx2 rods. I haven't purchased any because my other ugly sticks will probably be fine forever.