Why Isn't Quantum More Popular?

[kikstand454]

I'm confused as to why the detractors here keep referring to quantums as zebcos. That's like referring shimanos to Bantums isn't it? The departments have parted ways many, many moons ago and aren't related in anyway. Comparing a quantum pt tour edition to a zebco 33 is just. .....I mean. .... that's just. ... I don't even have anything nice I can say about that.

Someone else said they couldn't throw a "zebco" all day and catch bass with it. That its not up to the task. What? There seems to be plenty of professionals that do it every day and make alot of money at it in the process.

I have lots of quantum reels and I have used them for 6-8years now and never. ....not one time ever. ...had a problem with a single one of them. Ever. From the blue PT tour all the way down to the old old grey accurist- they are solid reels that I still fish with every time I go out. Fresh and salt.

All brands have bad reels/ models. Every shimano I have used below a citica is junk. Daiwa? Tons of junk below $150. Low profile Abu that's NOT a revo? ?? Starter reels. Brand loyalty is fine and everyone loves what they love. But outright brand hate is ignorant/pointless .

EDIT: All that being said- if you have any quantums you think are zebco junk, especially accurists, energy's , kvd, or tour pros- feel free to contact me on taking them off your hands and disposing of them properly. Ill even pay the shipping.

[WdyCrankbait]

Well, I am going to demo an EXO PT here in a couple of days through TW.  I've always been curious about them, just not sure I want to pay $250/reel yet.  (I have a family of supertuned Curado E's and a Revo Rocket, but I am an engineer and really like the EXO design philosophy.)

 

I checked Tackle Tour and their rating on the EXO was higher than most reels I have, or considering.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Well might this speak to Quantums popularity

111 BR ICAST videos not one Quantum related 

[LMB KING]

Well, I am going to demo an EXO PT here in a couple of days through TW.  I've always been curious about them, just not sure I want to pay $250/reel yet.  (I have a family of supertuned Curado E's and a Revo Rocket, but I am an engineer and really like the EXO design philosophy.)

 

I checked Tackle Tour and their rating on the EXO was higher than most reels I have, or considering.

Cool. I am majoring in engineer as well. Give the EXO a try, you'll be glad you did. Its better than most reels on the market today IMO 

[J Francho]

The EXO is a pretty cool looking reel. They basically reversed the reinforcing structures in the frame and side plates, exposing and stylizing what is usually inside the reel. Does that make it lighter? I don't know, though it is a light reel. It sure is easy on the eyes, and at that price point will be quality. I think it's a better choice than the Smoke.

[FSUMF333]

I chose the smokes over the exo because I saw something I felt might cause problems down the road the reel foot on the reel is riveted to the reel not one whole peice I thought it looked like they would work themselves loose over time and the reel would wobble on the rod. But having already owned a smoke I knew it was a good buy the smokes are just awesome reels I love mine & they have never let me down.

[J Francho]

Years ago they were all riveted. I don't think I ever saw one come loose. I have seen a few cast feet break clean off, though. It's really unusual, though. Talking like twice out hundreds of reels I've worked on

[LMB KING]

Smoke or EXO both are awesome and dependable reels as all with Quantum reels. 

[Capt.Bob]

I tried em more than once, the spinning reels were very short lived, after that I tried a baitcaster, but at the time being used to Abu's, they really didn't have a chance, today I have reel's that give me no reason to give em another chance for disappointment. I do service them once in a great while though, and what I see gives me reason for doubt in there ability to keep that smooth new feeling as long as most, besides I'm helping keep the cost down for others. 

 

I have to say I think they make more lower priced models, and as far as pro's using them, they can have brand new reels every tournament and it's all on Quantum! But rely on their endorsements heavily,,,,,,maybe this is one reason???

[kikstand454]

^^^^^ while I agree that the pros certainly fish with free reels and promote whoever is paying them the most - by the same token I'm sure they don't feel confident putting their career on the line trusting cheap junk.

Pros need to stay relevent to stay sponsored, and if they feel their gear will let them down when it counts- well I imagine they wouldn't want to be involved with it. No matter how much they're getting sponsored.

Of course they over hype and over exaggerate the quality of the stuff they're pushing- that's their job. But I think there has to be a level of confidence and trust in the product for them to physically use it when there's $100k on the line. One reel failure at the wrong time could be disastrous for an entire career. I'm sure that's taken into consideration.

[Mike2841]

I absolutely love my Cabo 40 but that is the smallest reel in that series, @ 14 oz it wouldn't be my choice for some rods, like a 7' med. Mine is on a 7'6 mh Star max lure wt 2oz., it's near perfect on this set up. I'm real interested in checking out the Iron 30 and Smoke 40, don't think I want anything lighter.

What do you think of a cabo 40 on a 9 ft med rod. Right now I have a stardic 6000 but it seems too big for the rod

[Tywithay]

I'm confused as to why the detractors here keep referring to quantums as zebcos. That's like referring shimanos to Bantums isn't it? The departments have parted ways many, many moons ago and aren't related in anyway. Comparing a quantum pt tour edition to a zebco 33 is just. .....I mean. .... that's just. ... I don't even have anything nice I can say about that.

Someone else said they couldn't throw a "zebco" all day and catch bass with it. That its not up to the task. What? There seems to be plenty of professionals that do it every day and make alot of money at it in the process.

I have lots of quantum reels and I have used them for 6-8years now and never. ....not one time ever. ...had a problem with a single one of them. Ever. From the blue PT tour all the way down to the old old grey accurist- they are solid reels that I still fish with every time I go out. Fresh and salt.

All brands have bad reels/ models. Every shimano I have used below a citica is junk. Daiwa? Tons of junk below $150. Low profile Abu that's NOT a revo? ?? Starter reels. Brand loyalty is fine and everyone loves what they love. But outright brand hate is ignorant/pointless .

EDIT: All that being said- if you have any quantums you think are zebco junk, especially accurists, energy's , kvd, or tour pros- feel free to contact me on taking them off your hands and disposing of them properly. Ill even pay the shipping.

Overseas they're called a Zebco Smoke and Zebco Accurist.

[ThatZX14Fella]

Overseas they're called a Zebco Smoke and Zebco Accurist.

 

People can call it what they want. Zebco is a good company, whether anyone will admit it or not. I will call it a Quantum still, but the people who try to make the brand sound worse by calling the reels Zebco's are mainly just looking foolish. Most of the people here, I'm guessing, started out on Zebco reels.

[LMB KING]

I paired it up with an ugly stik because a bulletproof reel needs a bulletproof rod. enough said.

[SirSnookalot]

What do you think of a cabo 40 on a 9 ft med rod. Right now I have a stardic 6000 but it seems too big for the rod

Can't honestly say without fishing that set up but it is 6 oz lighter than a 6000 stradic.  At 20 oz the stradic weight wise isn't that heavy.  

The latest designed Cabo is much improved over their previous model which I own as well.  I'm not gonna say it's the greatest reel but in the $200 market it's my choice.  There is a time and place where the Cabo shines over a stradic.  In this case it's a lighter reel with similar line capacity, excellent drag with a fool proof bail.  Being objective there are set ups and situations where I would prefer the stradic, my opinion is based on the 2 4000 fi that I own, I do not have an fj so can't really comment on that reel.  

My newly designed Cabo is on a 7'6 mh Star rod, this is not just a rod and reel but a weapon that has already proved itself to me.  I field tested quite a few rods before I settled on the Star.

[Josh Smith]

Well Guys,

 

I got my hands on a Quantum that was made in Korea.

 

It's much better quality than any of this made in China stuff.  It's not up to the made in Sweden round Abu Garcias, but it's pretty good.  It has plastic in only a couple places it shouldn't compared to most of the low-profiles I see today.

 

I would own another Quantum like this one.

 

Josh

[LMB KING]

Well Guys,

 

I got my hands on a Quantum that was made in Korea.

 

It's much better quality than any of this made in China stuff.  It's not up to the made in Sweden round Abu Garcias, but it's pretty good.  It has plastic in only a couple places it shouldn't compared to most of the low-profiles I see today.

 

I would own another Quantum like this one.

 

Josh

What reel is that? And just because its made in china, doesn't mean that is a bad product. I do prefer made in usa products, but some china made products has proven it self over the years. People are just using that example to hate on a product they dont like. I bet if shimano was made in china, you would never hear a word about being made their.  

[Josh Smith]

It's an LEX200, or was advertised as such. Most markings are worn off and I can only make out a "5." on the side. Five point what? Dunno.

I have no experience -- none, zero -- with Shimano and had no idea they aren't made in China.

Oh well.

Josh

[Josh Smith]

It's an LEX200, or was advertised as such. Most markings are worn off and I can only make out a "5." on the side. Five point what? Dunno.

I have no experience -- none, zero -- with Shimano and had no idea they aren't made in China.

Oh well.

Josh

[LMB KING]

It's an LEX200, or was advertised as such. Most markings are worn off and I can only make out a "5." on the side. Five point what? Dunno.

I have no experience -- none, zero -- with Shimano and had no idea they aren't made in China.

Oh well.

Josh

are you a hater trying to be funny?

[Catch and Grease]

Let's try not to get this awesome thread locked guys hahaha

[Josh Smith]

are you a hater trying to be funny?

 

Dude, no!

 

I like what works for me.  I'm curious about what works for other people. 

 

Abu Garcia round reels are what work for me.  I bought a Black Max II to see what these were like, and I found that I didn't like it.

 

I have never used a Shimano.  No experience.

 

This thread and another thread (where I had asked for a list of reels NOT made in China) prompted me to buy a Korean-made reel.  I figured that since I had an early Quantum (a 1310) and liked it, I might as well get a slightly newer Quantum that was made in Korea. 

 

I went to eBay and found one that seemed to have been used but not abused.  It said "made in Korea" on the foot and I could make out a 5. something on the side.  It was advertised as an LEX 200.

 

The expired listing is here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quantum-LEX-200-Anti-Reverse-Bait-Casting-Reel-Good-Condition-/191224374105?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=U4rTSeBmNRf9tB01kBqE2CD3jjE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

For $8.50, it's nice.  There were a couple hangups inside, but that was due to sand and nothing more.  It's fixed.

 

Remember, I've not kept up with new stuff since 1998 or so, and even then I didn't read much but went with what worked on the water.  Dad was the one doing the reading and studying at the time.

 

I also bought a Mitchel 301 spinning for next-to-nothing.

 

The idea is that, if I buy a reel and like it, I'll fix and keep it.  If I fix it up and find out it doesn't work for me as well as I'd like, I trade it, or in what is more often the case, give it away locally to someone trying to break into the sport.

 

The last one I gave away was a spinning combo made of a Shakespeare LXIII I repaired/rebuilt/tuned/whatever.  An acquaintance of mine loaned me his flatbed trailer to move some stuff, saved me a bunch of money, and wouldn't take payment.  I spooled it with fluorocarbon and told him to enjoy it.

 

Was the Shakespeare LXIII considered a good reel?  Heck, I dunno.  It looked OK inside and felt good when I tested it.  Would it hold up long-term?  I simply do not know.  It looked like it would but it also had plastic in a couple places I wouldn't want plastic.

 

If I want to know about something, I buy it if I can afford it, and I take it apart.  Usually the thing, whatever it is, needs cleaned out anyway, so taking it apart and looking at the guts is incidental to maintenance.

 

If Chinese reels work for you, hey, I have nothing against that.  I'm glad they work for you.  I grew up on Zebco spincasting reels and later learned baitcasting on a centrifugal-braked Ambassadeur reel.  I'm therefore partial to them.

 

I have no idea the long-term quality of the LEX 200.  It looks decent and if the components are not cheap, it should hold up. 

 

May I ask, why did you think that I am a

are you a hater trying to be funny

?

 

I sincerely don't know.  I joined this board when I got back into fishing and found I was behind the curve with regard to equipment.  I'm finding the combination of new and old that I like (I love braid and fluorocarbon and hate magnetic brakes, for example).

 

From my limited experience with Quantum, they do seem good.  I'm not going to commit myself to a blanket statement like "all Quantums are good."  I won't even say that most are.  I will say I don't have the experience to say this, and that most low-pro reels look the same and from what I've heard, pretty much all use the same design from the same factories.

 

True?  I've not see it first-hand, so I don't know.

 

I'm only relating what works for me and my limited experiences.  If someone has a new Quantum they'd like to send me to clean out or tune or whatever, it would give me the opportunity to see the guts and maybe form an opinion.  It would be interesting.

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[LMB KING]

Oh ok. I thought you were trying to be funny. We all know that alot of people here hate Quantum reels and love their plastic overrated Shimano. So they use the word Zebco to make fun of quantum reels or to make them look like their bad reels. I am a proud owner of zebco brands.

[Josh Smith]

Oh ok. I thought you were trying to be funny. We all know that alot of people here hate Quantum reels and love their plastic overrated Shimano. So they use the word Zebco to make fun of quantum reels or to make them look like their bad reels. I am a proud owner of zebco brands. My experience is off the roof. I spend thousands of dollars on gears like Shimano, Daiwa, Abu garcia and other brands. I'm a true gear-head. I don't mind spending $1000 on a reel. (i'v done it before) I also have videos of a Shimano Stella($1000 reel) the new one that was not working properly and broke, but wont dare put it here because it will offend alot of people here. You can also look up on youtube and find videos of stella braking on people but people ignore that.

 

Hello,

 

Man, I don't hate Quantum and didn't know that folks here did.  I knew not to dis Shimano, but only because I was told by a friendly member via PM that it was a bad idea... that, and I have no experience either positive or negative.

 

My first reel was a Zebco.  I don't recall what it was; it was a little black thing.  The next one was a Zebco 33 (made in USA).  I still have Grandpa's made in USA Zebco 33 on a vintage Cherrywood reel in the other room.  My first ultralight was a Feathertouch combo, under-rod spinning reel.  That thing took bass, walleye, saugeye, and even a couple catfish!  

 

As far as I'm concerned, Zebco is good.  In fact, when I first saw a Quantum, I was turned off because I didn't know the name.  I found out later it was a Zebco and thought, "whey the hell didn't they just say that???"

 

New Zebco 33 reels are not as good as the old ones.  I've serviced both and the new ones seem a step away from disposable.  It's an insult to the name.

 

Likewise, I've been scared to try the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur "S".  I'm sure I won't like what I see inside it.  I might be compelled by curiosity, but am sure not looking forward to it.

 

By the way, I did a bit of research and it turns out the Quantum I referenced in this thread -- the one I just bought on eBay -- is actually an EX200, not an LEX200.  I have no idea what an LEX200 might be.  The EX200 seems like a decent reel with the only thing going against it is the magnetic braking system.  This latter is, of course, personal preference.

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Lol @ the pm to not talk bad about shimano..if someone pm,ed about that id do it just for spite to watch a thread get locked and watch diapers fill up with BS