Has anyone else had issues with this particular rod. I had fishing line grooves in mine at the rod tip, don’t know if it was a defect. I fished it mainly in muddy areas and some sandy areas. I never used braid only 12lb mono.

https://m.dickssportinggoods.com/p/lews-carbon-blue-gt-baitcasting-combo-17lewucrbnblgt6ftcom/17lewucrbnblgt6ftcom?lsft=camp:CSE_DSG_pg31352_mk_PLA_454&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5qSgiM-l3gIVC18NCh2cyAEfEAkYASABEgJ9r_D_BwE

I use SS ring guides successfully in light duty applications but never the tip top. Just replace the tip and the rest should be fine. 

Quite common, despite claims otherwise. As DVT said, those guides should never be used as a tiptop.  I have changed many many for others over the years and even a stripper guide and some runners 

SS guides are a joke even the cheapest generic ceramic guides have a higher rating then 500 like SS guides generic cheap ceramics get a 1200 even