greentrout Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 Things are relative. Go down South in states like Alabama and Mississippi, especially in rural areas, you will see plenty of bassers using round Ambassadeur reels. Old school basser... Quote
Daniel Lin Posted October 3, 2014 Author Posted October 3, 2014 Ok, here's a link of what's available. I really don't know that much about the technical details of these reels, and I'm having a pretty tough time finding specs on them that don't regard to collecting. Hopefully someone here with a bit more knowledge can help me out a bit The photos of the rod follow the reel they're on, but I think I can probably negotiate some rod-swapping among them in a purchase. The first red reel and the silver 5500c3 are priced at 80 (not sure why they priced the red one at 80), the second red reel is priced at 40 (this is the one I'm most interested in) and the last black reel is priced at like 45 but is on a 5'6" Lews pistol-grip rod ("Ceramic Guide Inserts"!) http://imgur.com/a/075GJ#0 Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted October 3, 2014 Super User Posted October 3, 2014 Ok, here's a link of what's available. I really don't know that much about the technical details of these reels, and I'm having a pretty tough time finding specs on them that don't regard to collecting. Hopefully someone here with a bit more knowledge can help me out a bit The photos of the rod follow the reel they're on, but I think I can probably negotiate some rod-swapping among them in a purchase. The first red reel and the silver 5500c3 are priced at 80 (not sure why they priced the red one at 80), the second red reel is priced at 40 (this is the one I'm most interested in) and the last black reel is priced at like 45 but is on a 5'6" Lews pistol-grip rod ("Ceramic Guide Inserts"!) http://imgur.com/a/075GJ#0 id grab um up.but then again i collect them make a deal on just the reels 75 for all . Quote
Josh Smith Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 Ok, here's a link of what's available. I really don't know that much about the technical details of these reels, and I'm having a pretty tough time finding specs on them that don't regard to collecting. Hopefully someone here with a bit more knowledge can help me out a bit The photos of the rod follow the reel they're on, but I think I can probably negotiate some rod-swapping among them in a purchase. The first red reel and the silver 5500c3 are priced at 80 (not sure why they priced the red one at 80), the second red reel is priced at 40 (this is the one I'm most interested in) and the last black reel is priced at like 45 but is on a 5'6" Lews pistol-grip rod ("Ceramic Guide Inserts"!) http://imgur.com/a/075GJ#0 Hello, The red reel is a late '70s to early '80s 5000. It has 3.8:1 gears unless they've been changed out, and if they've been changed out, it's a 4.7:1. These are not as as slow as they sound. In that size reel, a 5.3:1 ratio would give you a 26IPT retrieve, so you're looking at around 23IPT if the faster gears are installed. The 5500c reel is an excellent reel, and was made about the same time as the 5000. It does have the faster retrieve of 4.7:1, and it uses bearings instead of bushings. This is only really an issue if you plan to throw light lures. Bearings help light lures go further. Otherwise, it's the same reel as the 5000. The 5500c3 has 5.3:1 gearing for a 26IPT retrieve. It's the newer design wherein the spool rotates around the axle, while the older designs had the axle rotating with the spool. It uses three bearings: The spool rides on two, and there is one on the right side of the worm gear. It may or may not have one on the driveshaft. In my opinion it's not worth $80 as there are some places where you can buy these lightly used for that amount, and I've even seen some new old stock versions for $90 and $95. I would probably offer $45 for one in that shape. They all look relatively well cared for but used heavily. There's some wear on the 5000's right hand knob where the axle might be trying to come through. This would happen if the shims it's supposed to ride on are gone or worn through. Any one of those you buy, you're going to want to have gone through and fixed. DVT is the site supporting vendor who does this and his prices seem very reasonable. If you decide to do it yourself, there are a number of us who can help you. The Fenwick rod is worth buying. I have one over in the corner of this room. Unfortunately, the tip snapped off this one and so I don't use it for much. I much prefer pistol grips and I think you will, too, if you give it a chance! I hope some of this helped. Regards, Josh Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted October 3, 2014 Super User Posted October 3, 2014 Hello, The red reel is a late '70s to early '80s 5000. It has 3.8:1 gears unless they've been changed out, and if they've been changed out, it's a 4.7:1. These are not as as slow as they sound. In that size reel, a 5.3:1 ratio would give you a 26IPT retrieve, so you're looking at around 23IPT if the faster gears are installed. The 5500c reel is an excellent reel, and was made about the same time as the 5000. It does have the faster retrieve of 4.7:1, and it uses bearings instead of bushings. This is only really an issue if you plan to throw light lures. Bearings help light lures go further. Otherwise, it's the same reel as the 5000. The 5500c3 has 5.3:1 gearing for a 26IPT retrieve. It's the newer design wherein the spool rotates around the axle, while the older designs had the axle rotating with the spool. It uses three bearings: The spool rides on two, and there is one on the right side of the worm gear. It may or may not have one on the driveshaft. In my opinion it's not worth $80 as there are some places where you can buy these lightly used for that amount, and I've even seen some new old stock versions for $90 and $95. I would probably offer $45 for one in that shape. They all look relatively well cared for but used heavily. There's some wear on the 5000's right hand knob where the axle might be trying to come through. This would happen if the shims it's supposed to ride on are gone or worn through. Any one of those you buy, you're going to want to have gone through and fixed. DVT is the site supporting vendor who does this and his prices seem very reasonable. If you decide to do it yourself, there are a number of us who can help you. The Fenwick rod is worth buying. I have one over in the corner of this room. Unfortunately, the tip snapped off this one and so I don't use it for much. I much prefer pistol grips and I think you will, too, if you give it a chance! I hope some of this helped. Regards, Josh Josh your good .that shim cast control issue i had not seen that till u mentioned it.your doin your homework.im impressed 1 Quote
Daniel Lin Posted October 3, 2014 Author Posted October 3, 2014 Josh, you are a hero. I'm really thinking about the second 5000 that's on the Fenwick rod for $40. While it would be nice to have the more ornately engraved sideplates of the first 5000, that one's going for 80 on a whatever-rod and it kinda operates like a bucket of bolts. There's a bunch of things obviously loose in it and I'm not sure I want to arse myself to get everything back to spec on it. It's very encouraging though, that it appears that modding an old 5000 to be modern-spec isn't too hard. A couple questions in that regard. Is it possible to put a modern handle on it? I'm really not a huge fan of the cylindrical knobs and much prefer the flatter paddle knobs of modern reels. Also, how easy is it to mod one of the thumb-hood things onto an old 5000, kinda like the 5500C3 that I posted and Abu Garcia's modern round reels? You've got me very interested in a modern restoration, old school meets new school project now, in the same vein as the 70's Camaro I saw at a car show once that had a modern Corvette engine in it and a modernized cockpit. $40 to kick off such a project (and get a decent rod too) seems like a pretty good deal.Additionally, I should also mention that a large part of my interest in one of these reels is not only a slower-than-6.3:1 ratio reel for bass fishing, but also for potential future saltwater and hell, maybe I'll give catfish a try too. Quote
Josh Smith Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 Josh your good .that shim cast control issue i had not seen that till u mentioned it.your doin your homework.im impressed Thank you sir. I'm sure if you bought enough bargain-basement abused reels from eBay like I have, you'd find trends too. Dad and I always maintained our reels, and so a lot of these negligence issues were foreign. Heck, after toothpaste, the first thing I recall seeing in a tube was Abu Garcia reel grease! Still, the resilience of the Ambassadeur line shows in that one damaged part rarely effects other parts to the degree of destroying the reel. Chances are the caps and shims can be replaced and that Ambassadeur will chug on ahead like nothing's happened! Josh Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted October 3, 2014 Super User Posted October 3, 2014 Thank you sir. I'm sure if you bought enough bargain-basement abused reels from eBay like I have, you'd find trends too. Dad and I always maintained our reels, and so a lot of these negligence issues were foreign. Heck, after toothpaste, the first thing I recall seeing in a tube was Abu Garcia reel grease! Still, the resilience of the Ambassadeur line shows in that one damaged part rarely effects other parts to the degree of destroying the reel. Chances are the caps and shims can be replaced and that Ambassadeur will chug on ahead like nothing's happened! Josh Josh im a collector of abus i have found them at yard sales for 5$ perfect condition and traded many on here for lures or reels.i currently own 65 of them and one on its way .i have everything from syncro drags to pro max's c5's 4's 3's d's 3000's s series and a few trophys. Right now im looking for that morrum that has eluded me so far.You know the one or 10 sitting in a box at a yard sale for 10$ 1 Quote
Josh Smith Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 Josh im a collector of abus i have found them at yard sales for 5$ perfect condition and traded many on here for lures or reels.i currently own 65 of them and one on its way .i have everything from syncro drags to pro max's c5's 4's 3's d's 3000's s series and a few trophys. Right now im looking for that morrum that has eluded me so far.You know the one or 10 sitting in a box at a yard sale for 10$ Man, I don't think I could be a collector. I'd want to start swapping parts around to see what fits! 65, though? I have four actively working (5000, 5000c, 5500c3, and a 5600 Mag). I just retired one '70s that was/is Dad's; it's back on the Lew's pole. I have a 5500 non-c that I want to find a place for, but that's it. A $10 Morrum would be right handy. I used to believe things like that didn't happen until I walked out of a gun shop with a Gewehr 88/05. (This was Germany's first smokeless military rifle.) Built in 1892, the gun shop owner didn't know what it was and let me have it for $37.50 OTD. I'm a believer. I'm sure you'll find that Morrum, now! Just make sure you talk 'em down to $7.50 Josh Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.