Never was a fan of Abu when compared to the other two, but after gen 3 Revo's, i dislike em even more. Now, their lineup looks like Quantums made to be sold exclusively at BPS🤢

What do y'all think? Is there a reel of theirs that you'd buy over Shimano/Daiwa offerings?

Since the discontinuation of the Ambassadeur, Abu Garcia is just a brand now.  How the mighty have fallen.  Their low profile reels haven't been on my radar in at least 20 years, just because they aren't involved in the designs aside from badge engineering.

The crazy thing, both the Japanese and Chinese have found upscale markets re-issuing reproductions and clones of small-frame Ambassadeur.  

Is the Morrum still alive?  Can they do what Daiwa does with the Millionaire and release special variants every so often in limited quantities as a money printer? 

Does the US market even like round reels or is this an enthusiast/japan thing?

3 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

Is the Morrum still alive?  Can they do what Daiwa does with the Millionaire and release special variants every so often in limited quantities as a money printer? 

Does the US market even like round reels or is this an enthusiast/japan thing?

The last Morrum we got was the ZX, made in 2014 and was on the market for about 4-5 years.  The ZX 1600 Mag is the unicorn.  They pop up on the Japan auction sites from time to time for $500-$600, but they are often in the $1000 range, or more for a south paw model.  That lefty tax is real for these types.

6 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

The last Morrum we got was the ZX, made in 2014 and was on the market for about 4-5 years.  The ZX 1600 Mag is the unicorn.  They pop up on the Japan auction sites from time to time for $500-$600, but they are often in the $1000 range, or more for a south paw model.  That lefty tax is real for these types.

Jeez.  They could have kept the tooling and production alive even if only in limited runs for special editions but nope.  Plastic asymmetrical abominations it is.

2 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

Jeez.  They could have kept the tooling and production alive even if only in limited runs for special editions but nope.  Plastic asymmetrical abominations it is.

That's not on them, but their parent company, Sycamore Partners.  They're in the process of relegating Abu Garcia to a brand only, with no in-house engineering or production.  There was even a drive to petition the Royal Family of Sweden to step in and try to purchase Abu Garcia and keep it in Sweden, but it fell on deaf ears.  Bummer.

Other than them stopping their production in Sweden, i didn't even knew Abu is about to become nothing but a brand. When this happens, i don't think we can even consider them being in "the big three" anymore.

I miss the Team Diawa from back in the day. I wish they still made those. No the new ABU are not the quality they were . Sign of the times I guess 

Abu has just never been a reel on my radar. Some of them have looked nice and got great reviews. But not one have I really ever felt the need to purchase. 

I think my favorite Revo is the first generation base model, the Revo S. Aluminum frame and side plate on the drive side, muti disk drag, lots of bearings. I don't think any of the newer models have made any measurable improvements.

 

The Zata has a plastic/graphite frame. At that price point, that's a big "no thanks".

If you aren’t buying Shimano or Diawa you are missing it. Sorry not sorry 

Abu GarDoyo

Is there somebody forcing you to buy them?...

5 hours ago, BradH said:

I think my favorite Revo is the first generation base model, the Revo S. Aluminum frame and side plate on the drive side, muti disk drag, lots of bearings. I don't think any of the newer models have made any measurable improvements.

 

The Zata has a plastic/graphite frame. At that price point, that's a big "no thanks".

i still have, and fish, several gen 1 revo s reels. they are workhorses

Still using my made in Sweden 6500's for Saltwater Striper fishing, pretty much indestructible.

Been using em since the 90's, someone mentioned to me oh, you mean last century.

I felt old,,,,,,,,,,,,

@herder

Here's my CS Rocket built on Akios barstock frame. 

  

17 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@herder

Here's my CS Rocket built on Akios barstock frame. 

  

I know you've posted that reel numerous times, but today is the first time I noticed the hook keeper under the bridge screw.  Very trick, love it.

If i buy a non Shimano or Daiwa, i just get a BPS house brand reel when they have sales and have a club member discount.

I have nothing but Abu on my boat. I guess we will just have to see what happens. I don't want to make a brand switch but it is not out of the realm of possibility. I had heard pure fishing has been in financial trouble for years. The Abu I have onboard now work well and I love them. It's no big deal to replace them with something else as they wear out. I'm gonna hate the day my SX Rocket fails me though. I've caught hundreds of fish on that reel since I use it for my fluke rod.

Well, of course, they’re no zillion after all! 

In my travels I see more casuals with plastic clamshell ABUs than any other reel brand by a huge margin. Those users never have and never will hear of the reel test or fishing forums or would ever want to be like fishing forum hardcores that think about fishing reels in any depth.

 

What they think about fishing reels if they think about them at all is budget and that their Uncle Schmoe or grand pappy had an ABU and that's good enough for them. What the same 20-30 forum addicts and navel gazers who cross-post across a few fishing forums say, myself included, means little in the real world.

2 hours ago, PhishLI said:

In my travels I see more casuals with plastic clamshell ABUs than any other reel brand by a huge margin. Those users never have and never will hear of the reel test or fishing forums or would ever want to be like fishing forum hardcores that think about fishing reels in any depth.

 

What they think about fishing reels if they link about them at all is budget and that their Uncle Schmoe or grand pappy had an ABU and that's good enough for them. What the same 20-30 forum addicts and navel gazers who cross-post across a few fishing forums say, myself included, means little in the real world.

True and the only way to reach them is with mass advertising.  I've it 1st hand on this forum so can only imagine how it is irl.  I can recommend an aliexpress reel with an aluminum frame for $50 and people will "Huh?" like I am speaking Greek or something then go ask about with genuine curiosity about some $20 plastic abomination aliexpress reel being advertised on Facebook or wherever else for $60 like this Obalus thing. When you point out to them that if they want to spend $60 for an aliexpress reel then they should at least look at something with substance with real feedback they will again "Huh?"  I'm convinced the only solution is beatings.  

 

https://obalus.com/pages/about-us

31 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

I'm convinced the only solution is beatings. 

Absolutely😁

Garcia Corp became part of Pure Fishing, the Abu Made in Sweden reels stoped about 25 years ago. Advertising and legacy name can only carry a company so far. Today the USA Garcia Abu is long gone, a brand only.

Tom