One thing is to look at the specs.

Another thing is having it in your hands and play with it at the store.

And a completly different thing is actually playing with it for a time, mounted on a rod, casting and retrieving.

I 'm impressed !

Time to get me an Aldebaran Mg7.  

I borrowed a rod from my brother a couple weeks ago which had an E7 on it and I fell in love with it. I've since purchased 2 E7's and 4 Citica 200E's (basically the same reel with less bearings and a few minor other things). The Citica is fine for cranks and spinnerbaits but the smoothness of the Curado really shines with soft plastics.

I recently saddled one up on a BCR854 and spooled it with

50/12 braid. Lookin' pretty good! Seems as solid and smooth

as some of my much more expensive Shimanos. I'm really

impressed.

8-)

Then imagine the Curado but in magnesium ( 2+ ounces lighter ) ----> Oh Lord !, of course, the Aldebaran is worth almost twice as much but it has never been about the money.  

Obviously, when you get to the point you think like me you know you have blown out your last functional brain cell ( something that happened some time ago   ) suddenly a 300+ dollars reel doesn 't sound THAT expensive.  

The Curado E's are very nice...  and way nicer than anything else I've seen in the $150 range.  

Can't wait to see what comes out at ICAST though!!  

The Curado E series is the best reel available for less than $250.

Can't wait to see what comes out at ICAST though!!

Me too... I've been saving my mowing money for the US version of the Aldebaran.

I bought an E7 when it first came out and think it is outsatnding (although I like the Chronarch 100B better--I don't mind the size and weight).  I was wondering how the E5 would perform given the graphite sideplate.  I think TackleTours may have addressed that, but any thoughts on that?

Ok....I've only used one for a short period of time for flipping and it was really nice, but.....Here's my issue...

The brakes are the internal type that you have to remove the sideplate to adjust.....seems like a hassle to me. Do you ever have to adjust them?

Raul, "imagine the Curado but in magnesium", it already exist, its their "Core" model.  BTW, I was talking to a Shimano rep last week at BPS and he said they will be introducing a new version of the Core at ICAST that will be even lighter.  I asked him if they were trying to target my daiwa steez and all he said was, "no comment" and smiled.

Ok....I've only used one for a short period of time for flipping and it was really nice, but.....Here's my issue...

The brakes are the internal type that you have to remove the sideplate to adjust.....seems like a hassle to me. Do you ever have to adjust them?

It's Ron Popeil, baby. Set it and forget it.  ;D I am willing to bet that you haven't changed the number of brakes as you have them set. I too had this "pre" concern. After time, I realized, I never changed the brake setting any where near how I initially thought as you do now.

Only extreme conditions would dictate me to have to change from 2 on and 4 off.

The Core and Chronarch are similar reels.  The Aldebaron is the smaller, lighter finesse version of the Curado.

The Curado looks like a better product than the Chronarch and for less $$$.  Ive looked and handled both the Chronarch and the Core and IMHO the Core is way far above the Chronarch.

Ok....I've only used one for a short period of time for flipping and it was really nice, but.....Here's my issue...

The brakes are the internal type that you have to remove the sideplate to adjust.....seems like a hassle to me. Do you ever have to adjust them?

1/2 twist and it's open, 1/2 twist and it's closed. I set my brakes when

I got the reel and I doubt they will ever be adjusted.

8-)

Since they don't have a 6.x ratio, what do you guys prefer for non-cranking?

Raul, "imagine the Curado but in magnesium", it already exist, its their "Core" model. BTW, I was talking to a Shimano rep last week at BPS and he said they will be introducing a new version of the Core at ICAST that will be even lighter. I asked him if they were trying to target my daiwa steez and all he said was, "no comment" and smiled.

Different animals, the Core is the magnesium version of the Chronarch, the Metanium Mg is the version of the JDM Metanium XT ( not quite the Chronarch ).

The Aldebaran Mg is the magnesium version of the JDM Scorpion ( Curado ).

I'm pretty sure you guys are all around the new Shimano reel.

They need a US version of a 50 size + They already have the magnesium frame Core series...

Re The Chronarch vs the Curado..I'll have to Disagree, that the Curado is a better product..

The Curado looks like a better product than the Chronarch and for less $$$. Ive looked and handled both the Chronarch and the Core and IMHO the Core is way far above the Chronarch.

I agree that the curado E's are awesome reels. I've got the e5 on my deep cranking stick and I'm about to pickup an e7 for my c-rig rod. The Core is where it's at though. I'll never get rid of mine. I even like it better than the calais. BTW if you guys haven't tried a Citica E you should. I know it's a citica, but it's a sweet reel especially for the money. Way better than the citica D.