I have really gone wild today...
I removed the overly large fore-grip from an old brown Crucial 7' MHFA, and trimmed down the reel seat to one thread in fron of the hood. In the process, I decided to sand the blank to the bare graphite. I will also split the rear-grip, and we will see what I decide to do from there.
I like the way the rod feels better already, though Shimano would no doubt take a dim view of my alterations should the warranty ever become a question...
Whatever, I paid $25 for the rod new.
SS