jtesch Posted March 24, 2015 Author Posted March 24, 2015 I think my problem with what they have done to the new Zillion is that Diawa has taken a true icon of a reel and turned it into an upgraded version of a lesser reel. I'm not saying the new Zillion is a bad reel or that the Tatula is a bad starting point. In my eyes the Zillion was the perfect top of the line '"every mans" reel. Expensive, but not crazy. Direct bloodlines to the Z. Sort of a jumping off point to the next level of enthusiast reels. I own reels from several other company's including the big S but Daiwa has always been my favorite. This feels so much like Shimanos blunder with their reels a few years ago. I may indeed have to go JDM Daiwa, Alphas SV or SS SV would be fun. I'm probably just getting older and more resistant to change but I think the Zillion deserves to be its "own" reel and not a " version" of another 1 Quote
Super User FishTank Posted March 24, 2015 Super User Posted March 24, 2015 I have the older zillion and it is good workhorse reel.  I have had one issue and that is the breaks are inconsistent.  They work sometimes but not others with no real reason as to why.  I never have this issue with any of the shimano reels I have.  When I saw the new zillion was coming out, I too saw the trend of re-masking a reel with the same design and calling it something else.  My thought on this is, almost every reel company does this now.  This trend happens a lot of things>computers, cars, cell phones, etc.  If you want to go over to shimano, it comes down to personal preference I guess.  If I had to pick a reel to bring you over, it would be the Chronarch.  I have nothing but good things to say about this line of reels.  It casts well, smooth retrieve and tons of fish handling power. Quote
jtesch Posted March 24, 2015 Author Posted March 24, 2015 Ok, I'm still not done on this. Right now the Daiwa US market go's from the Zillion TWS to the next level up being the Steez???? Unless I'm missing something. Chronarch--you win Quote
jtesch Posted March 24, 2015 Author Posted March 24, 2015 I think another casualty of the new Zillion is the 100 Z Gigas spool. Tackle trap say they are no longer being made. A real blow too guys like me who tune Zillions and Fuegos Quote
Super User Jeff H Posted March 25, 2015 Super User Posted March 25, 2015 I think another casualty of the new Zillion is the 100 Z Gigas spool. Tackle trap say they are no longer being made. A real blow too guys like me who tune Zillions and Fuegos Oy! Really? I guess then I'm glad bought those last 2 when I did. But....the Fuego still functions VERY well with the stock spool and will always be a reel worth having!  And...for what it's worth I'd rather buy old TD-Z's and Fuego's than new Tatula's Quote
SenkoGuru Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 I think my problem with what they have done to the new Zillion is that Diawa has taken a true icon of a reel and turned it into an upgraded version of a lesser reel. I'm not saying the new Zillion is a bad reel or that the Tatula is a bad starting point. In my eyes the Zillion was the perfect top of the line '"every mans" reel. Expensive, but not crazy. Direct bloodlines to the Z. Sort of a jumping off point to the next level of enthusiast reels. I own reels from several other company's including the big S but Daiwa has always been my favorite. This feels so much like Shimanos blunder with their reels a few years ago. I may indeed have to go JDM Daiwa, Alphas SV or SS SV would be fun. I'm probably just getting older and more resistant to change but I think the Zillion deserves to be its "own" reel and not a " version" of another   I must say that I agree with this very much and I believe it to be well said but I'll also add I am a Daiwa fan. Quote
jtesch Posted March 25, 2015 Author Posted March 25, 2015 Oy! Really? I guess then I'm glad bought those last 2 when I did. But....the Fuego still functions VERY well with the stock spool and will always be a reel worth having!  And...for what it's worth I'd rather buy old TD-Z's and Fuego's than new Tatula's . Oh, so would I and there seems to be a big supply of Z's from Japan on the Bay lately in the 100 range. Considering the spool runs $80 how can you lose Quote
black94gt50 Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 I don't see a problem with the new zillion being based on the tatula. I'd go as far as say the tatula is the best reel I've ever bought in the price range you can get them at. It's a strong reel with a great braking system. I Don't see a problem with a upgraded feel on the same platform as the tatula. Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted March 25, 2015 Super User Posted March 25, 2015 The argument is its not an upgrade at all. It's a Tatula with different cosmetics and a $200 price increase. I do agree with it being one heck of a reel for $85-100 though. Super solid buy! Quote
Ozark_Basser Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 Reel brands are like women... I can't just commit to one. I just got my first Lews. But isn't Lew a dude? Haha! Couldn't resist. I've only had one Lew's. It was pretty nice for the price. It was the $100 one they first came out with when they started making reels again. I haven't tried any newer models. Quote
black94gt50 Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 The argument is its not an upgrade at all. It's a Tatula with different cosmetics and a $200 price increase. I do agree with it being one heck of a reel for $85-100 though. Super solid buy! Gotcha, didn't read the tackle tour review yet. Thought the zillion sounded good from tackle warehouse specs. Well if the zillion is not an upgrade at all then, yea that a pricey tatula, lol Quote
Hogsticker Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 I think if Daiwa were to bring over the imports as Shimano did they would be on more equal playing fields. The Zillion is without doubt a bust, yet the Tatula is quite possibly the best poor man's reel ever produced. The Chronarch is a great reel, the Curado is so so. Besides that you have to pay to play. If Daiwa introduces a US version of the Alphas SV it should make a lot of folks happy. Quote
jtesch Posted March 25, 2015 Author Posted March 25, 2015 The Tatula is without a doubt a great reel for the money. I just look back at a 20 year run that started with the Z , a true legendary reel that branched off to the Zillion and Fuego in the 100 size and the Steez in the 103/105 size and have to wonder what Daiwa was thinking Quote
Super User .ghoti. Posted March 25, 2015 Super User Posted March 25, 2015 The reel missing from Daiwa's US lineup is the SS SV. I have one, and will no doubt have more. I'm with Jeff H; I'd rather have another Z or Fuego than a Tatula. 1 Quote
bass1980 Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 I just think it's not Daiwa time to explode yet. When it was Shimano times they released the Antares, Metanium, chronarch ci4, curado i, and Aldebaran all within 2 years. All went to a newer frame design. It's like auto manufacturers. They seems to do a lineup change all together. With Daiwa I believe in a year or 2 they will come out with something similar. However it seems like their current line up has too many gaps. If they want people to buy their JDM products from japan they're taking a huge loss due to the low Yen taking away sales from their USDM brand. Daiwa better hurry before Abu comes back with a Revo gen 4 lol. Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted March 25, 2015 Super User Posted March 25, 2015 The reel missing from Daiwa's US lineup is the SS SV. I have one, and will no doubt have more. I'm with Jeff H; I'd rather have another Z or Fuego than a Tatula. I agree with you. The SS SV would fill a gap in the Daiwa US line up and give people a non TWS mid tier option. Quote
jtesch Posted March 25, 2015 Author Posted March 25, 2015 Totally agree, I think the T3 Balistic and T3 1016 were meant to fill that void but failed Quote
rawjuice Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 Me personally, I dont stick with one brand, although it looks cool and all when you have all the same rods/reels lined up on your rack or boat, I am not a biased person and just go with what interests me at the time. But to each his own! Quote
bass1980 Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 Totally agree, I think the T3 Balistic and T3 1016 were meant to fill that void but failed I'm still waiting for that Daiwa aluminum 3D braking reel, and No its not the Tatula. I just don't know why Daiwa won't take the beSt out of the T3 and leave the other junk out. I'll be all for a new steez with TWS and 3D! Quote
reason162 Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 It is rather disappointing that the Zillion is just a cosmetic upgrade from the Tatula, but my main gripe with the whole line is the T-Wing gimmick. I fish saltwater mainly and I like the big gears and power of the Tatulas...but the T Wing is just one too many moving parts to fail. The entire worm gear post has to turn, and after 1 season the thumb bar is already much stiffer to depress than it was when new. Drifting from a boat where you're constantly letting out/retrieving a few inches of line to keep bottom contact, can be extremely annoying to have a creaky thumb bar. Also, vertical jigging: when you reengage the reel from free spool to set the hook on a fish, the line doesn't necessarily settle in the groove of the T wing level wind right away, and often line will pop into the groove under tension...which I don't like one bit. Â All this for a feature that as far as I can tell, is completely unnecessary on a 100-200 sized baitcaster with such a narrow spool to begin with. Â Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 25, 2015 Super User Posted March 25, 2015 I love the "moving parts" argument. It already moved!. All it does is twist backward when the spool is disengaged. I wonder if there were this many complaints when they moved from a lever on the frame to a thumbar? Or when they went to disengaging levelwinds - that extra idler gear will get you! Aside from some claims of worn out T-wing guides - of which not one picture of proof has been provided - they have the same track record as any other reels on the market. Some guys post negatively about them, others love them. As for the guts on the Daiwas...those are the same basic design on a cheap Procaster from 15 years ago to the last JDM Steez everyone loves. The newest reels vary only in the T-wing models. Think I'm kidding or exagerrating? open one up. Same goes for EVERY OTHER brand of reel. Much of the percieved quality has to do with frame components' material, fit and finish, and construction, as well as the gear set. There's huge differences in quality of frames, gears, and sideplates, but for the most part, the rest of the guts are the same old stuff. 1 Quote
bootytrain Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 I'm still waiting for that Daiwa aluminum 3D braking reel, and No its not the Tatula. I just don't know why Daiwa won't take the beSt out of the T3 and leave the other junk out. I'll be all for a new steez with TWS and 3D! Z2020 Quote
Super User Jeff H Posted March 25, 2015 Super User Posted March 25, 2015 I don't necessarily dislike my Tatula's as mine worked great last season but, I'd just rather use/buy a Fuego or TD-Z. I prefer free floating spool design but I resent (now) having to pay $300 to have that. It is for that reason alone I won't own a TWS Zillion. I had thought I might get one at one point but then I realized I can get some really nice, used Daiwa reels for a lot less than that. Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted March 25, 2015 Super User Posted March 25, 2015 Don't forget you can get a 2015 Alphas to your door for $200. Â It would make sense for them to bring that reel over here too. Quote
bass1980 Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 Z2020 isn't for everyone and less applications. It's just too bulky and I believe it's discontinued as well. I don't know why they got rid of their best braking system. Did cost to much to make? Hard to believe that. Quote
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