Ok Guys,

 

Just bought a new in box left handed Team Daiwa Sol and got it for what I think is a VERY reasonable price.

 

Just received it and as described, it seems to be absolutely new. Still in the original bag with the instruction sheet still in its original bag as well as the little bottle oil in its small little bag. The box is even pristine Took the reel out and it is spotless!!

 

So here comes the question.... Do I fish it or keep it new in box? 

 

I've got a new in box TDZ 103ML that I just can't make myself use because "They are only new once".

 

But the other side of me says what good does it do sitting on a shelf. That's like seeing an original 60's Muscle car come across the auction with almost no miles. I always think it's a shame it sat all those years and nobody ever had the chance to enjoy it!

 

Thoughts? Opinions?

I fish mines. But the way i fish them is the paranoid way of doing things. Would prefer losing a PB than scratching the reel🤣Not for everyone lol.

Fish it. But I'm not a collector of anything besides scars.

i miss my td sols. i would fish the heck out of it

Strap those two Daiwa’s on those rods you’re been planning on throwing them with and enjoy them. However, these things do work well in keeping boatrash at bay. In hindsight, I should have done this earlier in my fishing when considering this situation.

 

 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Tackle_Warehouse_Casting_Reel_Covers/descpage-TWCR.html

Save them for what?  Yo sell to the next person?

 

id fish it hard. 

38 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Save them for what?  Yo sell to the next person?

 

id fish it hard. 

3 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

I fish mines. But the way i fish them is the paranoid way of doing things. Would prefer losing a PB than scratching the reel🤣Not for everyone lol.

I'm also paranoid.  If a reel isn't in my hand, it has a reel cover on it.

 

OP, I'd fish it unless you like to keep a few collectables.  They aren't rare.  I've got two of them.  But I can understand your position.  I've got a limited edition OG Tatula that I've only taken out of the box to look at.  Pretty!!  I'll fish it eventually as I'm not a true collector.  Can't see spending money on an item only to put it away for the occasional look-see.

 

I think I've used my TDZ 103ML only once so far, but plan on mounting it on a crankbait rod.

Excellent reel and the US market variant of the JDM Alphas 103.  The differences are the level wind idler being brass and not nylon like the Alphas.  Alphas also uses a duralumin drive gear to shave about half an ounce of weight.  It uses a 33mm spool so any 33mm SV105 spool will fit.  The wider pitch worm gear from the Alphas SV105 also fits and will speed up the level wind if you choose to use thin braid.  7.2 Alphas SV105 gears also fit.  The Alphas platform is a blank slate and nearly as mod friendly as a Zillion or Steez.  It makes a nice BFS candidate if you choose to go down that path.  You could get 31mm spool spacers and run a PX68, Pixy Type R, or Alphas Air Stream Custom spool if you wanted.  

I also say fish it but will agree with keeping it covered along with just general taking care of it. Although my Daiwa Tatula Type R is nowhere near as rare when I found one for sale unused old stock from an actual shop I knew I would be using it and have zero regrets doing so. Also would love to see a picture or two. Here’s mine next to it’s cousin the Cabelas Arachnid that I also own.

Absolutely fish it. No sense in keeping it as a trophy.

I prefer older reels myself, they bring the most fun imo. 

Was it bought to start or add to a collection? If so leave it pristine.

6 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Excellent reel and the US market variant of the JDM Alphas 103.  The differences are the level wind idler being brass and not nylon like the Alphas.  Alphas also uses a duralumin drive gear to shave about half an ounce of weight.  It uses a 33mm spool so any 33mm SV105 spool will fit.  The wider pitch worm gear from the Alphas SV105 also fits and will speed up the level wind if you choose to use thin braid.  7.2 Alphas SV105 gears also fit.  The Alphas platform is a blank slate and nearly as mod friendly as a Zillion or Steez.  It makes a nice BFS candidate if you choose to go down that path.  You could get 31mm spool spacers and run a PX68, Pixy Type R, or Alphas Air Stream Custom spool if you wanted.  

Thanks for the info @redmeansdistortionI appreciate that. I actually have some of the 7.2 gears coming from Tackle Trap that I had JUST bought for my other Sol reels before buying this new one. I will look for 33mm spools as backups.

 

@Eric 26.... I will take a couple pictures when I can. My new phone takes too big of pictures and doesn't have a way to resize them, so taking pics and posting them unfortunately forces me to email them to my home computer for resizing, then sending them back to my phone to post.

 

47 minutes ago, padlin said:

Was it bought to start or add to a collection? If so leave it pristine.

 

No,... Bought them because who doesn't want a mint old classic?! Only thought about the concern with using them after the fact. My wife agrees with all of you and that I should use them when I want.

 

You all make some good points. I have extra spools for the TDZ, so I may leave the original in the box with the clear band and label on it and use one of the others in it's place so as not to deface it.

 

Thanks everyone!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am the wrong person to give advice to anyone on this matter.

I’ve got lures I don’t use  in an area I might loose them. 
I try to use my Dad’s theory…. “ I bought it to catch with it or to loose it. 

4 hours ago, Backroad Angler said:

Absolutely fish it. No sense in keeping it as a trophy.

I prefer older reels myself, they bring the most fun imo. 

Why not both?  Reels will stay in excellent condition as long as you are mindful of placement when landing a fish.  Some guys I see will drop their rod like they just witnessed a purse snatching.  I understand the excitement, but not the carelessness.  

@FrnkNsteen, I believe I have an orange SV105 spool in my parts bin.  If you are interested, let me know.  I will have to do some digging but I am pretty sure I still have it.  This is the spool in question.  https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product/1992

I take extremely good care of my tools, reels in the case. They are cleaned and maintained, always covered when not in use. That said, I don’t buy tools to sit on the shelf. But, as always, to each his or her own.

3 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

I will take a couple pictures when I can. My new phone takes too big of pictures and doesn't have a way to resize them, so taking pics and posting them unfortunately forces me to email them to my home computer for resizing, then sending them back to my phone to post.

What kind of phone do you have? I have an iPhone. What I do is take a screen shot of the picture I want to post. Then I open up that picture/screen shot and crop it. There will be a large black border on the top and bottom of the screen shot/picture. Those get cropped first and then I crop the sides if I can or want to. That's always taken care of any photo size errors/ posting issues for me. After posting you can delete said photo/screen shot.

 

I think there are other ways to reduce on iPhone but I've never figured out how.

 

I imagine you could do something similar if you have an android.

@Kev-mo I’m not sure on your phone but on my I-phone after I hit the Add Files button located on the bottom of your response page you can select the size small, medium or large sizing option located in the lower right corner of your screen.

I'd fish it!  I was just looking at prices of baitcasters thinking I might pick up a new #1 baitcaster for next season and OMG- I didn't realize how much they jumped up in price.  I'll be still using my old Daiwa TDXs and original green Curados this season (I do have newer reels as well) but you get idea.  Good luck.    

3 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

@FrnkNsteen, I believe I have an orange SV105 spool in my parts bin.  If you are interested, let me know.  I will have to do some digging but I am pretty sure I still have it.  This is the spool in question.  https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product/1992

Thanks @redmeansdistortion. That sounds good. Please let me know if you have one and what you would want for it. Just drop me a direct message when you get a chance.

 

2 hours ago, Kev-mo said:

What kind of phone do you have? I have an iPhone. What I do is take a screen shot of the picture I want to post. Then I open up that picture/screen shot and crop it. There will be a large black border on the top and bottom of the screen shot/picture. Those get cropped first and then I crop the sides if I can or want to. That's always taken care of any photo size errors/ posting issues for me. After posting you can delete said photo/screen shot.

 

I think there are other ways to reduce on iPhone but I've never figured out how.

 

I imagine you could do something similar if you have an android.

 

My phone is a Pixel 9 Pro. I have done a lot of reading online and confirmed there isn't a clean way to resize pics.

 

I like your idea of doing a screen shot. Let me try that and see if it reduces the file sizes enough that I can get them below the max for posting!

4 minutes ago, FrnkNsteen said:

My phone is a Pixel 9 Pro. I have done a lot of reading online and confirmed there isn't a clean way to resize pics.

I too have a Pixel 9 Pro.  You can go into the photo editor of Google Photos and change the aspect ratio so everything stays nice and clean.

The screenshot method and then cropping seemed to work pretty good. Let's see if this works...

 

Nice new in box Sol, I wouldn’t fish it unless you need it.

Most boat rash occurs going to and coming back trailering the boat from road vibrations. Dropping the rod-reel onto the deck is simply a stupid habit the pro’s do.

Tom

By the way... Now that I know the trick... Here is the TDZ 103ML