Does anyone have info on this reel?

I’m thinking @bulldog1935 might know something about this reel. I only say this as I’ve only seen him comment about them on here.

Looks like a custom, raced out version of a normal Shimano Aldebaran.

44 minutes ago, waymont said:

Does anyone have info on this reel?

ZPI was in the custom aftermarket parts business (a sideline of motorcycle racing parts business - MTCW also, motorcycle and spinning reel parts - Livre, motorcycle parts and titanium reel handles). 

ZPI offered bench-raced versions of Aldebaran and Tatula. 

These included machined magnesium spools with titanium spindle, tuned brake cams to match the lighter spools and their hot magnets, along with their trim parts.  I believe the last ZPI custom Aldebaran was 2012 model, and the Tatula followed. 

Now ZPI only makes these parts for their own Doyo reel, Alcance. 

 

I was lucky enough to find their star drag made for Zillion in blue to match my Ray's Studio spool (there's still ONE in stock at Carolina Fishing)

Made my Zillion into a slicker-than KTF Custom (I'm using KTF spool bearings)

I believe KTF brings these reels out every now and then also, Shimano and Daiwa.

Megabass reels are just tuned Daiwa's. Brian. 

20 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

ZPI offered bench-raced versions of Aldebaran and Tatula.

So this reel in the photo was sold like this with all the mods done?

I looked up zpi and saw the handles were selling for $175. That’s crazy

Make sure this isn't just someone putting parts on an calling in a zpi custom.  Was there ever such a thing as a zpi aldebaran?  I know they did a metanium before.

1 hour ago, Tatulatard said:

Make sure this isn't just someone putting parts on an calling in a zpi custom.  Was there ever such a thing as a zpi aldebaran?  I know they did a metanium before.

I have no idea. I'm a newbie to this stuff

16 minutes ago, waymont said:

I have no idea. I'm a newbie to this stuff

That reel doesn't have a ZPI spool.  Big red flag.  It either missing or there was no such thing for this generation as a zpi official version.  If this is an ebay listing then it probably vastly over priced anyway.  If you want collaboration reel then lurk the Japanese sites.  

1 minute ago, Tatulatard said:

That reel doesn't have a ZPI spool.  Big red flag.  It either missing or there was no such thing for this generation as a zpi official version.  If this is an ebay listing then it probably vastly over priced anyway.  If you want collaboration reel then lurk the Japanese sites.  

It belongs to a friend of a friend of mine.

BTW, I was wrong - there was a '16 ZPI Metanium

Note in the ebay link that it was marked ZPI Racing. 

I suspect the ZPI marking on the reel you showed is original, and the Hedgehog Studio was added - these come with every Hedgehog order.  Every now and then, you may have a reel that looks right with the Hedgehog sticker added, especially if you modified it using parts you ordered there - nothing ZPI about this Ambassadeur, except that it borrowed the handle that came on my Alcance. 

 

Given the incremental improvements over time, a plain vanilla 22 Aldebaran BFS XG might be a better choice.

Just a ZPI handle, CC cap, and some stickers.  

Where could one buy an already tricked out reel like this? Not one some random person put parts on.