Abu Garcia New Revo Series

[GoneFishi'n]

Stay away from the SX. I have one and the mag brakes are terrible on it. I've heard they're personal preference, I just can't believe it. Nothing wrong with Abu, they just dont have good enough mag brakes to stand-alone.

If you don't have the money for a new STX right now but you don't want an S, here's a few killer deals:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/119559-5-generation-3-revos-for-sale/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/119600-fs-revo-premier-gen-3-right-handed-711-and-a-black-pixy-spool/

Some Premiers there if you DO have some bread to shed.

i have never had any problems with my 3rd gen SX. Did you have an actual problem, if so what was it? I have caught some giants with this reel and no problems. The drag is 100% consistent and casts a mile.

[Brackish Angler 228]

i have never had any problems with my 3rd gen SX. Did you have an actual problem, if so what was it? I have caught some giants with this reel and no problems. The drag is 100% consistent and casts a mile.

 

The entire braking system is the problem.  It has nothing to do with catching fish; I've caught a lot of fish on mine too with no problems.  Magnetic brakes (the type on the SX) by themselves have a linear braking curve. Meaning the speed of the spool is directly proportional to the braking force (cast control is constant) throughout the cast.  Adjusting the mag brakes has no effect on the beginning of the cast vs the middle of the cast vs the end.  This is bad because the bait is accelerating at the beginning of the cast, then stops accelerating through the middle and end of the cast.  Magnetic brakes, having a linear braking curve, don't address the initial acceleration.  So the countermeasures that are taken are either (or both) tightening the cast control or letting your thumb ride heavier on the spool than it would with a centrifugal brake (alone like the S or assisting like the STX).  The consequence of both countermeasures are a loss in overall casting distance. Since the cast control is constant throughout the cast, attempting to adjust it to ONLY control initial spool speed will not work and will slow the spool speed throughout the entire cast. 

 

You can see here how adjusting the mag brake does nothing to address acceleration of the spool.

A centrifugal braking system does not have a linear braking curve.  At the beginning of the cast it slows the spool to counteract the acceleration of the bait, then when the spool needs no braking (because its speed now matches the speed of the bait), the brakes don't affect the spool.

Here's a graph of the braking curves:

[Flukeman]

Here is the problem with people when they buy reels. Most people look at price point and instantly compare that to quality and forget about mechanics. The Revo line is just like a bag of golf clubs, some people can drive, some pitch, some putt, and some can do it all. Us old guys who grew up with baitcasters with no brakes learned to excel with our thumbs. I am a thumber, little to no brake and my thumb has total control. On windy days I turn the brake up a couple clicks. The SX is perfect for a guy with my skill set. The other end of the spectrum is a guy who wants a reel that has dual braking and can be set to be practically automatic with very little human input. It is all about trade offs, downside is you are never going to cast as far as I am. The upside is you do not have to pay as much attention to the casting detail as I would have too, especially on those windy days.

 

Just like that golfer who can't use that 9 iron the best, if you are going to buy a reel that does not fit your mechanics, then you need to practice more. Or buy a reel that fits your style of fishing better.

 

Of course no one wants to admit that and most people buy according to what they can afford rather than by what the mechanics of the equipment is. Just my humble opinion and what I have observed fishing tournaments with different people over the years.

[GoneFishi'n]

The entire braking system is the problem. It has nothing to do with catching fish; I've caught a lot of fish on mine too with no problems. Magnetic brakes (the type on the SX) by themselves have a linear braking curve. Meaning the speed of the spool is directly proportional to the braking force (cast control is constant) throughout the cast. Adjusting the mag brakes has no effect on the beginning of the cast vs the middle of the cast vs the end. This is bad because the bait is accelerating at the beginning of the cast, then stops accelerating through the middle and end of the cast. Magnetic brakes, having a linear braking curve, don't address the initial acceleration. So the countermeasures that are taken are either (or both) tightening the cast control or letting your thumb ride heavier on the spool than it would with a centrifugal brake (alone like the S or assisting like the STX). The consequence of both countermeasures are a loss in overall casting distance. Since the cast control is constant throughout the cast, attempting to adjust it to ONLY control initial spool speed will not work and will slow the spool speed throughout the entire cast.

You can see here how adjusting the mag brake does nothing to address acceleration of the spool.

A centrifugal braking system does not have a linear braking curve. At the beginning of the cast it slows the spool to counteract the acceleration of the bait, then when the spool needs no braking (because its speed now matches the speed of the bait), the brakes don't affect the spool.

Here's a graph of the braking curves:

So are you saying that you weren't able to get good casting? I'm sorry if I sound dumb(which I probably do) but did you have a problem with the reel. Like was your issue with the casting? I find if I guide the cast with my thumb there is no issue at all.

[harmon]

That's makes about as much sense as whiping your ass before you take a dump. If a reel feels horrible, makes god awful sounds and has minor issues with parts, one would venture to guess that it's NOT going to perform well when you catch said fish.

You got it backwards, If I pick up a reel and it grinding than yes, it is crap. Most of the good reels you pick up in a store and turn are smooth, and most of them cast a mile. No one seems to care how it feels with a fish on the end. I don't pick up many new reels that are grinding and noisy, but I only pick up quality reels.

[jeb2]

The entire braking system is the problem.  It has nothing to do with catching fish; I've caught a lot of fish on mine too with no problems.  Magnetic brakes (the type on the SX) by themselves have a linear braking curve. Meaning the speed of the spool is directly proportional to the braking force (cast control is constant) throughout the cast.  Adjusting the mag brakes has no effect on the beginning of the cast vs the middle of the cast vs the end.  This is bad because the bait is accelerating at the beginning of the cast, then stops accelerating through the middle and end of the cast.  Magnetic brakes, having a linear braking curve, don't address the initial acceleration.  So the countermeasures that are taken are either (or both) tightening the cast control or letting your thumb ride heavier on the spool than it would with a centrifugal brake (alone like the S or assisting like the STX).  The consequence of both countermeasures are a loss in overall casting distance. Since the cast control is constant throughout the cast, attempting to adjust it to ONLY control initial spool speed will not work and will slow the spool speed throughout the entire cast. 

 

You can see here how adjusting the mag brake does nothing to address acceleration of the spool.

 

A centrifugal braking system does not have a linear braking curve.  At the beginning of the cast it slows the spool to counteract the acceleration of the bait, then when the spool needs no braking (because its speed now matches the speed of the bait), the brakes don't affect the spool.

 

The question remains about if you've actually owned and had a problem with the Gen3 SX?

 

I own a Gen3 STX. Been a pretty good reel so far, especially at it's price point. Maybe not quite as smooth as my 4 Gen2 Premier's, but very close. I also had a Gen1 SX and own a Gen2 SX. The Gen1 SX's did indeed have too little braking force, to the point that Abu replaced mine with a Gen2 version on what amounted to a word of mouth recall. It has a couple more magnets compared to the Gen1, and does a better job.

[Brackish Angler 228]

Here is the problem with people when they buy reels. Most people look at price point and instantly compare that to quality and forget about mechanics. The Revo line is just like a bag of golf clubs, some people can drive, some pitch, some putt, and some can do it all. Us old guys who grew up with baitcasters with no brakes learned to excel with our thumbs. I am a thumber, little to no brake and my thumb has total control. On windy days I turn the brake up a couple clicks. The SX is perfect for a guy with my skill set. The other end of the spectrum is a guy who wants a reel that has dual braking and can be set to be practically automatic with very little human input. It is all about trade offs, downside is you are never going to cast as far as I am. The upside is you do not have to pay as much attention to the casting detail as I would have too, especially on those windy days.

 

Just like that golfer who can't use that 9 iron the best, if you are going to buy a reel that does not fit your mechanics, then you need to practice more. Or buy a reel that fits your style of fishing better.

 

Of course no one wants to admit that and most people buy according to what they can afford rather than by what the mechanics of the equipment is. Just my humble opinion and what I have observed fishing tournaments with different people over the years.

Just out of curiosity, could you give me an example of one of those old reels without brakes?  I'm a nerd about reel mechanics old and new.

[Brackish Angler 228]

The question remains about if you've actually owned and had a problem with the Gen3 SX?

 

I own a Gen3 STX. Been a pretty good reel so far, especially at it's price point. Maybe not quite as smooth as my 4 Gen2 Premier's, but very close. I also had a Gen1 SX and own a Gen2 SX. The Gen1 SX's did indeed have too little braking force, to the point that Abu replaced mine with a Gen2 version on what amounted to a word of mouth recall. It has a couple more magnets compared to the Gen1, and does a better job.

 

Yes, I own one and had problems.  I explained what the problem is and why it happens.

[ULG]

If you dont have the money for the stx, i would say go with sx, the s only if u have to, that line only gets better as the number of letters go up! lol or the price! but really, try the sx first is my advice, and the other posters made good points, try a curado or a citica. both great reels! im not pluggin either one cz im honestly torn between the 2, i have the whole lineup of revos and even go back to gen 1, i still have a couple in the staring lineup, gen 2s and gen 3s right there beside them, iv got some curado b's, dpvs, e and g series on the deck too, they are both quality products and lets be honest and say its all a preferrence issue at some point. i would reccomend toying with a revo on the rod u will be using, the gear box from wha ppl say doesnt sit right with thier preference, i myself have long fingers and have not a problem with the gear box being moved form the previous gen 2, but that is something to think about, all in all my best advice is to play with reels at a store if possible, alot of the associates are usually very helpful, ask if u can put the reel on a rod similiar to the rod u will be using(diff rods have various reel seats that change the feel depending on how u hold you reel) to see what if it feels like and pick the best reel that fits you and go from there. hope this was helpful, and just wanted to say thanks for having on this forum and happy to b here!

[BP10]

this might be off topic a little bit but i love my abu it was a hand me down from my grandpa before he passed n works likes it brand new still and i think it was purchassed in the early 80s its a  abu-garcia ambassaduer 521 plus   no problems at allll