I've been an Abu user for 30+ years now, and have rarely had an issue. And when I have, I've not experienced any issues with getting parts or service. But I doubt that's any different from any other brand of reel out there. Properly used and maintained, any reel will last a lifetime.
Although I obviously like Abu, I enjoy checking out reels from other brands and even trying out a few. It's always good to keep an open mind because there's a number of innovations out there. I'll be going to ICAST next week, and you can bet I'll be checking out all the latest reels. Last year, U.S. Reel introduced an innovative line level system that I found fascinating. And Pinnacle's selection is really amazing. They cover a very wide budget spectrum and have some really cool features not found on other reels.
I've always thought Shimano had excellent spinning reels, but last year's ICAST showing was a big disappointment. The only new thing they offered was a "kickstand" for spinning reels. That's not a slam on Shimano. But after they released the Core the year before at ICAST, I was expecting more from them.
I think last year's standout was Quantum's EXO series. They're incredibly lightweight - both rods and reels - and very smooth.
That said, the new ABU MGX reels were almost as light, and huge leap forward for Abu. I bought 7. They work great, and are definitely the lightest, smoothest reels from Abu to date.
Looking forward to seeing what's new at ICAST this year!
