6500 C or C3

[SmellEsox]

How do these reels compare to the newer offerings from Shimano, Daiwa, or Abu Garcia? When I started muskie fishing 24 years ago, these were the standbys. How do they compare or hold up compared to the new stuff. My buddy has 3 Calcuttas and a Daiwa Luna but it seems like he has issues with those just like my old Ambassadors. Are they worth two to three times the price? I'd like to get a new reel but don't know what to do. I don't want to spend 2-300 bucks if the thing isn't much better than a 6500.

[pureinsanity]

A lot of the abu's are made in china now. So that will tell you the quality. However I know many people run these reels for cats and love them. Just recently someone purchased one and I looked at it and couldn't find a china sticker on it. It did have sweden stamped on it though.

I own a few abu reels and recently bought the cardiff. Who knows if i like the performance better I might be switching to all shimano!

[MuskieJunkie]

Uhoh, here comes the shimano vs abu debate.....

You'll find diehard guys on both sides.

My vote is for shimano and I use the Calcutta TEs, I subscirbe to the philosiphy of buy quality gear the first time and have it for a long time. Also just to echo the above post, there are 2 kind of fishing reels in the world, ones that are made in china and ones that are not made in china.

[RK]

Hiya -

If you have the old Swedish Abus, they're as good as anything you could possibly buy today. A new pawl and worm gear once in a while and new drag washers eventually is about all they need. I have some Abus from the late 1980s that I've used nearly every time I've fish muskies since.

I like some of the new reels too (I love my Revo Toros) but day in and day out the 6500s and 7000s are still workhorses.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[SmellEsox]

Thanks for the input guys. I think I have about six of these older Ambassadors. Maybe I should just get them serviced and go from there.

[HugoBox]

Thanks for the input guys. I think I have about six of these older Ambassadors. Maybe I should just get them serviced and go from there.

If they are the old ones that's probably a great idea!!

[Spallgard]

You are on the right track. Get em fixed and use them. I have quite a few of these older abu's and they still work fine.

[tearin' lips]

I haven't noticed any difference in Ambassadeur quality. Currently I am running two 6600 C4's and a 6600 Record. They have been real good reels for the last two summers, fishing two full days a week on average.

[simple1]

I just bought a 6500C3 and a 5500C3. They are both made in Sweeden. The 7000i is the only C3 that is made in China I believe. I did not look at the C4s though.

Thanks