There’s a trickle down effect from the release of the “ new” Zillion.  The current model is being marked down.  I purchased a ZIllion SV TW in 6.3 to 1 today for $218.00 . ?

2 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

There’s a trickle down effect from the release of the “ new” Zillion.  The current model is being marked down.  I purchased a ZIllion SV TW in 6.3 to 1 today for $218.00 . ?

I seen that. You can also pick up the Steez cheaper too. Not that there's anything wrong with the older Zillion SV. TWS Higher than normal drag, I really like the frame, still a skipping machine, definitely not a slouch at casting distance thanks to the free spool, and relatively light weight makes the older Zillion SV TWS a reel you just can't pass at that price. It's a proven close quarter combat champion that can reach out and touch something when needed.

4 hours ago, Sir Shamsalot said:

I seen that. You can also pick up the Steez cheaper too. Not that there's anything wrong with the older Zillion SV. TWS Higher than normal drag, I really like the frame, still a skipping machine, definitely not a slouch at casting distance thanks to the free spool, and relatively light weight makes the older Zillion SV TWS a reel you just can't pass at that price. It's a proven close quarter combat champion that can reach out and touch something when needed.

The biggest difference imho is size.  I had a Zillion SV TWS and sold it but love my new Tat SV and it's a much smaller reel.  

Wowsers. Seriously nice promo. Impressive reel.

New Zillion tear down and low hours use and casting impressions. Hinted BFS capability vid in the future.

 

 

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

New Zillion tear down and low hours use and casting impressions. Hinted BFS capability vid in the future.

 

 

 

Yeah I just watched that as well.  I value TA's and other's opinions, especially about how well Daiwa handles Aluminum gears from his personal experience, but somehow I just couldn't bring myself to love the new zillion enough to spend 300 bucks on it. I don't know why, maybe it's the looks of it, maybe it's not as much a revolution redesign as the Bantam and the new Metanium but more of an evolution. I'd probably still get it just out of curiosity and being a Daiwa fan, but not eagerly. 

45 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

I value TA's and other's opinions

I just enjoy tear down vids of anything. I probably have some long term effects from when I disassembled my father's FM receiver when I was 8. Didn't learn my lesson afterward. 

 

I'll know if my opinion aligns with his after I've gotten mine. I'm holding out for the USDM brass geared version. Don't really care that it's assembled in Thailand instead of Japan. If there are any issues they'll be taken care of by TTT.  I'll be glad to have it instead of scouring the web for OG Zillions and parts mules.

Just got mine in the other day. JDM version.

 

First impressions:

 

The great - smoothest reel Ive ever felt out of the box. Smoother than my Met B’s and even my Steez CT.

 

The very good - the SV boost spool was a pleasure with 1/4 to 3/4 oz baits. Also 12, 15, and 20 pound line was handled nicely. Seems like a very good almost ‘do all’ reel. Skipping jigs was awesom

 

The good - palms very well even though initial measurements had me thinking it would be bulky. One of the best Daiwas I’ve felt in hand. Only the Steez CT feels better.

 

The ok - good long casts with medium to heavy baits. Well behind the Met B with light baits. Also seemed to be over braking when skipping light soft plastics. Never could get a senko to ‘run out’ on a long skip/ski cast. Always seemed to just die 5-8 ft. short of what other reels could do. Also light baits in general seemed to be over braked. Word on the street is a bfs spool will be available though.

 

The meh - handle knobs are crazy small. USDM version should have bigger knobs. JDM knobs are unusable imo. I had to put a Lews handle on it just to make it bearable.

 

Heres a pic of a nice one I caught in the backyard under the dock while testing out the skipping capabilities.

 

 

Some of the baits and gear tried. Realized after I took the pic I didn’t have a Met in it. Maybe next time...

 

2 hours ago, CFDoc said:

Just got mine in the other day. JDM version

Nice. Flush the spool bearings, oil, and see how/if things change. My JDM Catalina's bearings were greased. Performance and brake settings changed more than I expected after oiling.

24 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Nice. Flush the spool bearings, oil, and see how/if things change. My JDM Catalina's bearings were greased. Performance and brake settings changed more than I expected after oiling.

Thanks, I plan on spending more time with the reel apart tomorrow.

 

My JDM Mets were completely dry when they arrived. Curious as to what I find on the zillion.

 

probably should watch the tackle advisor YT video first. Ha

1 minute ago, CFDoc said:

My JDM Mets were completely dry when they arrived. Curious as to what I find on the zillion.

The lube issue is bizarre with D&S. Perhaps someday, someone on the inside will spill the beans as to why. My gears had a decent film of grease, but the clutch mech was dry other than the kick lever trough.

8 minutes ago, CFDoc said:

probably should watch the tackle advisor YT video first. Ha

Easy stuff. He broke it down in a few minutes. Nothing unusual with this reel.

16 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

 

Easy stuff. He broke it down in a few minutes. Nothing unusual with this reel.

Watched the first bit. I will say I completely agree with him on the solid and smooth feeling to this reel.

 

I was blown away at the lack of any vibratory or hollow feel. It’s as close to perfection as I’ve ever felt in a baitcaster. Noticeably better than the Met and Steez CT.

 

I would disagree in the statement that all Shimano’s have slop in the handle though. My Mets don’t have any but the gears aren’t near as smooth as this new zillion.

On 1/21/2021 at 3:50 PM, Sir Shamsalot said:

$330 for the USDM version not made in Japan. 

Is it for sale in the US yet. If so, where

They’re only available for pre-order in the US. All the major tackle shops are taking pre-orders.

 

They’re made in Thailand and have brass gears which increases the weight by about a half ounce over the JDM.

 

I haven’t seen anybody with a hands-on review of a US model yet.

21 hours ago, CFDoc said:

They’re only available for pre-order in the US. All the major tackle shops are taking pre-orders.

 

They’re made in Thailand and have brass gears which increases the weight by about a half ounce over the JDM.

 

I haven’t seen anybody with a hands-on review of a US model yet.

So how does this reel compare to the Bantam which shares the same price point? I get why everyone is comparing it to the Metanium, but build materials have a roll in choosing a reel for functionality: salt vs fresh.

Dang... TW was to send all of my order together in one package. They split the order. I'm sorry about the too soon snoopy dance.

Edited January 31, 20215 yr by Sir Shamsalot

1 hour ago, Sir Shamsalot said:

So how does this reel compare to the Bantam which shares the same price point? I get why everyone is comparing it to the Metanium, but build materials have a roll in choosing a reel for functionality: salt vs fresh.

 

Thats a good question. 
 

I don’t own a bantam but I know there’s a lot of similarities between the Mets and Bantams. My time with a bantam in my hands is maybe 5 minutes.

 

The bantam is a tank. An absolute tank. I haven’t done any really heavy applications with the zillion but my guess is the brass gear version will be pretty stout itself.

 

Casting is going to feel different between the two for sure. Now that I’ve casted this SV boost spool several hundred times with varying weights, I can say that Shimano SVS and Daiwa SV Boost braking systems feel and operate very differently.

 

Which one is better depends on the application IMO.

3 minutes ago, CFDoc said:

 

Thats a good question. 
 

I don’t own a bantam but I know there’s a lot of similarities between the Mets and Bantams. My time with a bantam in my hands is maybe 5 minutes.

 

The bantam is a tank. An absolute tank. I haven’t done any really heavy applications with the zillion but my guess is the brass gear version will be pretty stout itself.

 

Casting is going to feel different between the two for sure. Now that I’ve casted this SV boost spool several hundred times with varying weights, I can say that Shimano SVS and Daiwa SV Boost braking systems feel and operate very differently.

 

Which one is better depends on the application IMO.

I was having a difficult time choosing a reel to add to my newest H/F rod for jigging. I've been staring at the Bantam, the Zillion, the Metanium,  the Steeze A TW, and the Aldebaran. I finally decided with the Zillion based on weight and hopefully being able to skip cast then long cast without making adjustments. 

 

I watched the TA YouTube video and that solidified my choice though I'm having the "What if's" after ordering one.

53 minutes ago, Sir Shamsalot said:

I was having a difficult time choosing a reel to add to my newest H/F rod for jigging. I've been staring at the Bantam, the Zillion, the Metanium,  the Steeze A TW, and the Aldebaran. I finally decided with the Zillion based on weight and hopefully being able to skip cast then long cast without making adjustments. 

 

I watched the TA YouTube video and that solidified my choice though I'm having the "What if's" after ordering one.

You made a fine choice. Especially if you skip. Tuning a Met to skip is not easy.

I drank the hyper kool aid. Shipped this morning from Japan. There's definitely a quality difference between the Thai and Japanese reels I have. Pretty stoked to fish it soon.

On 12/26/2020 at 7:39 PM, waymont said:

That's the most dramatic promo I've even seen.

I'm. Thinking. William. Shatner. Should have been. The narrator,

52 minutes ago, Koz said:

I'm. Thinking. William. Shatner. Should have been. The narrator,

On 1/28/2021 at 6:57 PM, PhishLI said:

New Zillion tear down and low hours use and casting impressions. Hinted BFS capability vid in the future.

 

 

I couldn't bare to watch him throw around a $700 reel. 

5 hours ago, Deplorable Fisherman said:

I couldn't bare to watch him throw around a $700 reel.

That was in the Steez LTD vid. I think he controlled himself in the new Zillion vid. Only happy thoughts in this one.