I think Abu beats Shimano at every price point up to $200. Then Shimano might take over. The new ci4 Chronarch is awesome.

Its off topic a little, but Pinnacles new reel comes with lifetime maintenance. That alone shows they are going to stand by the product.

I own six different Abu's, including a 1600 Morrum jdm that I bought last month, and six different Shimanos, including a Calcutta 50 DC jdm that I also bought last month. Both companies make some outstanding reels and some fair-to-middling reels. I did my homework before I bought, and I wouldn't give up any of them.

 

My to-buy list for the next two Black Friday sales consists of a Shimano Calais DC, an Abu MGXtreme and a Daiwa Steez EX. You can't get much more eclectic than that.

 

Ambassadeur 5001, Black Max 1600s, Morrums (1600 & 1601), STX-L, Premier, Chronarchs 100B & 101A, Curado 51E, Trions, Patriarch XTs, Carbonlites, Lews TP, and Daiwas ranging from TD-S, TD-X, TD-Z. Type R to Purple Alphas and Zillions with several in between.  Can't afford many of the reels you have, but I am kind of all over the map as well. 

 

I enjoy them all.  Don't see myself getting rid of any anytime soon. 

I have shimano , ABU and lews...I only drive ford lolol

  Found

  On

  Road

  Dead

This is DISGUSTING!!!..... I  am not used to this topic being this CIVILIZED!!!....lol.

 

Hootie

 

Boring, ain´t it ?

Depending on the era sometimes Shimano, sometimes Abu, but as of late (10 years) the Shimano reels in my opinion are a bit better, the middle of the pack Shimano Reels such as Citica and Curado compared to middle of pack Abu SX STX are about the same, with a slight edge to Shimano, I like the braking system of the Shimano's better, I like Abu's drag power better, Shimano also maintains its "out of box smoothness a bit longer" for equal amount of use.  I still have some older Curados/Calcutta/Chronarchs/Citica that are around, but you won't fine any equivalent Abu's around my garage, sold them all.

 

I have owned Morrums, STX, Premiers, Skeet Reese Revos (Best reel in Revo bass fishing line in my opinion), Records, and Cardinal Series spinners.

The new JDM Shimano reels are absolutely amazing smooth and will drive the industry forward once again, just wait. Shimano spinners also are very good.

 

I even like Daiwa better than Abu, lol, but that is another thread.

I fish both, but prefer Daiwa over both. I love the Zillion platform and plan to fish them for many years to come.

I have been waiting for someone to ask this question and thank god it finally happened.

I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST DOING SOME DIGGING AND FINDING OUT WHICH OEM MAKES SHIMANO AND ABU AND YOU MAY FIND OUT THAT THEY ARE ALMOST ALL IN THE SAME PLACE.....I WOULD SUGGEST NOT SPENDING MORE THAN $50 AND NOT GO LOWER THAN A SHIMANO IN THE AMERICAN $200 RANGE IF YOUWANT IT TO LAST...ALSO, GETTING PARTS IS A NIGHT MARE AS MY LAST FEW GARCIAS ARE COLLECTING DUST AND I WOULD SAY LOOK INTO A QUANTUM EXO AS THEY ARE DURABLE, HAVE A SLICK DRAG, LOOK TIGHT, AND ARE LEGIT.....THEY CAN DO IT ALL AND THEY ARE EASY TO FIND FACTORY DIRECT AS YOU CAN'T HIDE THAT ULTRALIGHT FRAME IN PICS AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING FOR UNDER $35 LEGIT....$41 SORRY....1 YEAR WARRANTY STILL...SHIMANO STILL MAKES NICE REALS AND I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST AVOIDING OKUMA......JUST MY OPINION...AND FOR LINE, I STILL LOVE ME SOME BERKLEY TRILENE MONO REGARDLESS IF FLIPPING 65 LB BIG GAME FOR LARGEMOUTH.