Brandon Moss Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Are these reels any good and what is a good price on them? Obviously the top right reel... Just want some opinions. I don't have any experience purchasing or using Shimano's. Thanks guys Quote
Super User fishballer06 Posted March 5, 2015 Super User Posted March 5, 2015 Are they any good?! Are they any good?!! Quote
Brandon Moss Posted March 5, 2015 Author Posted March 5, 2015 I've seen to many different models of the Curado. So being uneducated in the way of Shimano, I was hoping to get some good feed back. I know Shimano is one of great names in fishing. Just want to know if this is one that is a good investment. I have an opportunity to pick it up for under $50. So like I said want to make sure it is a good deal or not. Quote
Trek Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 If your talking to buy the top right reel only for $50. Then I would say no if it was me. That reel has been around a long time and who knows how much wear is on it. If it was me I would pass on the deal even if it was $20. 1 Quote
Crappiebasser Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 They are great reels especially for $50. Quote
Penguino Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 If it was only the top right reel, pass on it. 50$ for a single bantam curado in an extremely old condition is not worth it. But if it is the whole collection, then jump on it. Quote
Brandon Moss Posted March 5, 2015 Author Posted March 5, 2015 For all you guys saying it is not worth it. What would you say is a good price for it? Quote
Trek Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 For all you guys saying it is not worth it. What would you say is a good price for it? I would pass on the deal unless I got to hold the reel and see it had very little use. I have several of those that are simply wore out and only have three seasons on them. It would cost more then the reel is worth to bring them up to standard. Quote
Penguino Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Shimano Bantam Curados have been around for an extremely long time. I would not buy one, unless I could physically make sure that everything worked fine and haven't been worn out. Quote
The Next KVD Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 They are excellent reels. I have 4 of them and never plan to get rid of them. They are probably THE MOST DEPENDABLE reel ever introduced. A good majority of the important parts are still available and cheap. A new gearset is about $20. You can get them all day every day off of ebay for $60-80. $50 is a good price. 4 Quote
Basswhippa Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 Next KVD x 2. I have 4 as well, some almost 20 years old. If that reel is in good shape, it is worth $60.00 to $80.00. It is comparable to $150 reels today in terms of durability. It won't palm as well, but if in excellent condition, it will outlast any Lews or Revo or BPS reel you get today. One of our most infamous posters, "Big-0" pretty much just uses these, and look at the giants he pulls out of Falcon every years. He stated that it is the only reel that would handle those big fish on a long term basis. Another infamous poster, RM, "rel mechanic" stated this is his favorite reel of all time. The guys saying $20.00 are not Shimano guys and don't know what they are talking about. I just cleaned a 20 year old Calcutta 100 today, and it is as smooth as the day I bought it. It has been used a lot. If it is in good shape, buy it. Maintain it, and it will last a very long time. They still last a long time when not maintained well. I bought one at a pawn shop that was full of sand. Cleaned it up, dropped a new gear set in it, and good to go for another decade or two. 2 Quote
matuka Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 If the green one has been maintained decently I say it's a go. I have about eight or nine of them. Still use them too. Easy to work on for the DIY kinda person. A true workhorse in the reel lineup. Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted March 6, 2015 Super User Posted March 6, 2015 They are excellent reels. I have 4 of them and never plan to get rid of them. They are probably THE MOST DEPENDABLE reel ever introduced. A good majority of the important parts are still available and cheap. A new gearset is about $20. You can get them all day every day off of ebay for $60-80. $50 is a good price. What he said, they last forever. Quote
bass raider Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 if its in good shape then jump on it.i recently got one.it was in an open cardboard box in my buddys backyard he said "trade me your lews and you can have it".l liked the thought of taking on the challenge of cleaning it up&fixing it if need be so l brought it home wiped the mud off it opened it up cleaned the dried out grease out of the gears polished the gears applied new grease&it now runs as smooth as my new curado I! I hated the handle on it so I ordered(from shimano) a curado E handle assembly for it & its now one of my favorite reels. Quote
curtis9 Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 I'd buy it at the price, but the new handle is must. Get a handled from a 200e with the new knobs and you'll have a great reel Quote
The Next KVD Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 If it is in good shape, buy it. Maintain it, and it will last a very long time. They still last a long time when not maintained well. I bought one at a pawn shop that was full of sand. Cleaned it up, dropped a new gear set in it, and good to go for another decade or two. Funny you mention this. The guy that got me into bass fishing has 20 of these Curados, most of them from when he first got on the Shimano pro staff 15 years ago, and he abuses them and does a horrible job at maintaining them. After about 7 years of not having them cleaned or lubed I finally talked him into letting me do it for him. Long story short, of the 20 reels only 2 needed new gearsets and the rest felt just as good as the day they came out of the box with a good cleaning and lube job. Not the best in terms of palming but THE BEST durability wise, kinda like the old Abu Garcia round reels. They just keep going. Want the best bang for your buck, these are it. Quote
kikstand454 Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 These are my go to inshore reels. I love them. If you can be confident that the reel is in good working order, then get it. Trek, feel free to email me about taking those greenies off your hands for $20 a pop. DIBS! Quote
Super User fishballer06 Posted March 6, 2015 Super User Posted March 6, 2015 I was joking on my original post. To my surprise, I can't believe some people said no. I personally own 3 of the old bantam Curados and I love everyone of them. Great reels, a true workhorse,and they last forever. I'd venture to say they're one of the best all around reels ever made. Quote
plumworm Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 I have 8 "greenies" the newest is a 2005 and the grandpappy is a1996. Other than cleaning, they have never been touched. I spent $120 for each of them and wouldn't sell them for that. If you don't buy it for $50, please send me the link, so I can. Quote
Poolshark Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 I would buy it and refurbish any neccessary parts without hesitation. I still fish my originals with with my new curados. When they discontinued them years ago I bought some spare parts and have yet to need them. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 These "Old Greenies" as they are affectionately called are absolute tanks durability wise. Condition is a valid concern in any second hand purchase, but if the reel is in Good-NIB condition they go for $50-$65 regularly. Properly cleaned and lubed, they perform well and will last as long as you want. Super Tuned, they'll cast right up there with a lot of new stuff. Quote
Dockhead Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 I've been thinking about selling my 4 Greenies for about 2 years now and finally put them up on the flea market yesterday. After reading all these positive comments I feel my heart strings twinging a bit. Might need to rethink it... Definitely won't be upset if they don't sell. Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted March 6, 2015 Super User Posted March 6, 2015 I've been thinking about selling my 4 Greenies for about 2 years now and finally put them up on the flea market yesterday. After reading all these positive comments I feel my heart strings twinging a bit. Might need to rethink it... Definitely won't be upset if they don't sell. I just sold my last one. It's been a week now, kind of feel sad. Quote
fisherrw Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 I'd buy it at the price, but the new handle is must. Get a handled from a 200e with the new knobs and you'll have a great reel x2 Quote
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