anyone use any of the older carbonlite reels? found a couple in classifieds that are an orange color and look almost identical to a PQ. just wondering if these are good reels?

Are you talking about the gold ones?  Those are the best ones made 95% of people will tell you.  I agree...rock solid.

yea sort of goldish orange color.

yea sort of goldish orange color.

Those are the ones.  Hard to find in my area. 

The original Carbonlite is basically a PQ minus two ounces. For a used one, the primary wear areas to be concerned about are the brass brake drum and the centrifugal brake shoes.

Great reels. I have two in service...and two more NIB waiting for the first two to wear out...

The Carbonlites are the two reels on the left and the two on the boxes: