Have a custom made with a Tennessee grip if you're wanting a super sensitive rod. I would get a Batson RX8 822.5, which is in my opinion the best drop shot out there, even over factory rods. In the price range you're looking at (gloomis), you can have a custom made. You could go with Titanium SIC guides, but you could save money and keep it lightweight by going with the pac bay minimas. This would save about $60+ on guides. Go with cork or foam/carbon fiber for the grips. Do not use a foregrip. Keep it a simple build to keep it light. The 822.5 is a 6'10" blank. For the most sensitive, lightest rod, go split grips, and pacbay minimas with a fuji alconite size tip. If you had a hook keeper, get it behind the handle.

If you're interested in custom rods, check out rodbuilding.org for info. There's a lot of options out there that most are not aware of, such as snake skin, marbling, etc. But for an actual 'fishing' rod, keep the weight down and the bling down.