Ok .. I just got my new Chronarch in from Japan today .

WOW ! I’m blown away ...

Its perfect new in the box as advertised.

*More importantly it seems to have better gears or something ??? What the heck

It actually seems like a higher quality than my others bought new in USA ...

Does anyone know if this is the case ?

I only know that my Chronarchs, not bought from Japan, are top of the line in quality.  curious as to why you ordered a Chronarch from Japan.

Saving money works.

I saved a bit over $94 on purchase from Japan.  Then a paypal fee got charged to me.  Still saved over $86 from the $349.99 asking price at TW and other places.  Anxiously awaiting warm weather. 

The Chronarch was $100 less from Japan

Go figure its a higher quality reel than the USA model ...

 crazy !

$236.26 shipped from DIGITAKA, left or right hand retrieve and available in all three ratios.

I can’t get over how much smoother the Japanese reel is ...

I just ordered 2 new 2020 Metanium MGL’s

I wonder if I’m better of just buying a few more Japanese Chronarch’s ...? LOL

2 minutes ago, CapeCodSox said:

I can’t get over how much smoother the Japanese reel is ...

I just ordered 2 new 2020 Metanium MGL’s

I wonder if I’m better of just buying a few more Japanese Chronarch’s ...? LOL

The USDM and JDM are the same reel internally....the only difference is the spool depth. JDM is shallower. JDM reels are, generally, always less expensive than the USDM counterpart .  

 I’m not doubting you but there is definitely a noticeable difference...

I have 4 USA models and although they are fantastic reel .. The Japan model is smoother .

Could it be that it was tuned ? 
If so ... how much of an affect would getting the others tuned and upgraded bearings have on them ?

12 minutes ago, CapeCodSox said:

 I’m not doubting you but there is definitely a noticeable difference...

I have 4 USA models and although they are fantastic reel .. The Japan model is smoother .

Could it be that it was tuned ? 
If so ... how much of an affect would getting the others tuned and upgraded bearings have on them ?

No, the reels aren't tuned. Daiwa was the only company to do that to a reel 10 or so years ago. The reel being smoother could be attributed to grease or lack their of. The reels are identical internally. The chronarch MGL is notorious for having poor gears and developing the "mgl buzz" quickly or overtime. The fix for this is putting the Curado K gears and your problem is solved. 

Pinnacle had hand tuned reels five years ago. I have a couple. 
 

Depending on the strength of the dollar to the yen, there can be some lag in pricing where JDM versions can be had for a little less than the USDM. Seems like it is cyclical. 

They go down the same exact production line , only difference is shallower spools on the JDM Chronarch and Metanium.

1 hour ago, iabass8 said:

The chronarch MGL is notorious for having poor gears and developing the "mgl buzz" quickly or overtime. The fix for this is putting the Curado K gears and your problem is solved. 

Never heard of this issue with the Chronarchs, but I know the 16 Metaniums have issues with the aluminum gears.

Just now, matbellon3 said:

Never heard of this issue with the Chronarchs, but I know the 16 Metaniums have issues with the aluminum gears.

It's definitely more of an issue /w met due to the alloy/grass gear combo but the chronarchs have had some reported cases of the issue on TT and swapping fixed their issue. 

Never had a Chronarch problem with gears in mine.  Shimano strongly recommends that their ACE2 drag grease be used on the brass drive gears (Cal's is the same thing), which I have done since day one of purchase. I have a varied Chronarch inventory and all are humming along just fine in their original build components:

1 Chronarch 6.2:1, 6 years old

3 Chronarch HG 7.6:1, 2 are 5 years old and 1 is 3 years old 

I Chronarch MGL XG 8.1:1, 2 years old.

 

Are u referring too made in Japan or bought from Japan ?? 

Bought from Japan

Like I said ... call me crazy but I just got in a Japanese shipped Chronarch and it’s smoother and faster than all USA models that I have.

I'm kind of glad I only have 1 Chronarch MGL. The reel just doesn't feel as well built. Mine needs much more maintenance to keep it running smooth. My Metaniums are great! Lower maintenance and they stay working. Of course they're more expensive, but if you're ordering from Japan and can shell out the extra coin, they're worth it. If not, my K's are a much better value than the Chronarch. They're heavier and bulkier, but they stay smooth. 

The Metanium comparison to the Chronarch I totally get.

Yes super nice and smooth ... 2 new 2020’s on the way.

They are insane ... 

However a Curado K to a Chroanarch 

That’s a Camry to a Cadillac comparison.

1 hour ago, CapeCodSox said:

The Metanium comparison to the Chronarch I totally get.

Yes super nice and smooth ... 2 new 2020’s on the way.

They are insane ... 

However a Curado K to a Chroanarch 

That’s a Camry to a Cadillac comparison.

....I don't think anybody compared the 2 reels...but the gears in the Curado K are far better than the Chronarch MGL. The Chronarch MGL is an okay at best mid level reel. 

Camry vs. Cimmarron!

LOL

I just told our Shimano rep ...he’s laughing hysterically

He strongly disagrees 

In fact he says that there are 2wice as many complaints on the Curado K

 

Your entitled to your opinion but most people will completely disagree as well....

 

 

13 minutes ago, CapeCodSox said:

LOL

I just told our Shimano rep ...he’s laughing hysterically

He strongly disagrees 

In fact he says that there are 2wice as many complaints on the Curado K

 

Your entitled to your opinion but most people will completely disagree as well....

 

 

I'm sure he does...however...take a stroll over to Tackletour and search in the reel section for MGL buzz. There's more there than you'll ever need to know on the issue. The solution? The curado K gear swap...this isn't something new....been talked bout for a couple years now. They literally sell brass gear upgrade kits for the met/chronarch to address this issue ......little google search never killed anybody.  my goodness some people. ..but hey...shimano's probably using that hiatus from the classic this year to tune the jdm reels and make them feel silky smooth. 

5 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

I'm sure he does...however...take a stroll over to Tackletour and search in the reel section for MGL buzz. There's more there than you'll ever need to know on the issue. The solution? The curado K gear swap...this isn't something new....been talked bout for a couple years now. They literally sell brass gear upgrade kits for the met/chronarch to address this issue ......little google search never killed anybody.  my goodness some people. 

I think you are confused and/or misinformed. The Chronarch MGL uses brass gears. Only the 13 and 16 Metanium's use aluminum gears. 

4 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

I think you are confused and/or misinformed. The Chronarch MGL uses brass gears. Only the 13 and 16 Metanium's use aluminum gears. 

No, i'm not confused. The Met has it's own kit which is the curado k main gear and a met pinion and the chronarch MGL upgrade is the curado K gear. Bantam urged all of the people complaining about either to send them in,and while some did, they issue came back. Everybody that swapped to the K gear was beyond satisfied and kits were made because of it.