18 and life, you got it!

[burrows]

What happened to the Abu Garcia brand? I see a downward spiral? Remember the abu for life guys it seemed like everyone was on the band wagon. I got to admit I was using their products and I still like em. But there like on the bottom of my list. 

    Abu for life! Where did they go wrong and will they make a comeback? Or will they continue on their very low Plateau?

[Johnbt]

I don't know anything, maybe they cut their advertising budget. I fished 3 Premiers for a few years and then bought an SX a year or so ago. They're very nice and still work well and have handled everything I've asked of them.

 

Then, after 5 years of retirement, I bought a Metanium MGL, a Steez SV TW and a Chronarch CI4+. I've fished mostly Shimano saltwater reels since the early '80s, along with a few medium Daiwas, so buying Shimanos is easy for me.

[Log Catcher]

I used to use Abu Garcia reels. I had 2 of the revo s generation 3 series. They both developed the same problem some one else wrote about a while back. You push down the thumb bar and make a cast. When you turn the handle to start your retrieve nothing happens. I sent one back to them and they said it was put together wrong. It worked for about a month and did the same thing. I got rid of both of them. I don't think the quality is there they once had. I will never buy another Abu Garcia. 

[CroakHunter]

Hard to compete with Daiwa and Shimano. A $2-300 abu is nowhere near a $2-300 Shimano or daiwa in my opinion. Although the orra winch is a good reel. One of my co-workers is an abu for life type of guy, both rods and reels, no explanation as to why

[KDW96]

The only thing Abu i will use and still use at times,are my 4600s and 5500s from many years ago. Anything else from Abu - its not going to happen...........

[Boogey Man]

Pure Fishing bought them out, that's what happened. I was an Abu for life guy. Years ago, the Black Max, Silver Max and Pro Max were round Swedish made reels, not Walmart blister pack reels. They had one series called the Tournament Pro, it was one low profile, and several round reels. The low profile one actually had dual breaking and a flipping switch built into the thumb bar. Weighed about 10 ounces but those older Swedish made reels were built like a tank. Man, can you imagine a Swedish made Revo. Now THAT would be quite a reel. 

[Boogey Man]

In my opinion, the Torno was their last good Swedish made LP reel. Found this pic of one on the big auction site. 

[Johnbt]

www.theoutdoorwire.com/features/231352

 

"Monday, December 12, 2016

When conglomerate Newell purchased Pure Fishing from fellow conglomerate Jarden earlier this year, Newell officials were quick to say that the acquisition wouldn't have any impact on Pure Fishing and their myriad of consumer fishing brands."

 

"Newell has dismissed Pure Fishing's entire 30-person marketing staff headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. With the cuts also including experts in everything from baits to fishing lines, it looks like the company's R&D efforts are being slashed as well."

 

"The prospect of seeing brands like Berkley, Stren, Trilene, Abu Garcia, Mitchell and Gulp! Baits coming available has Pure Fishing's largest competitors salivating at the prospects."

[NYWayfarer]

Abu for life, if your life expectancy is 3 years.

 

My Dad's 1st gen Revo SX is still going strong. Nothing I see coming out these days from Abu comes close to it.

 

Still love my Abu rods though.

[Deleted account]

Why would anyone want anything to "last a life time"

Avocado fridge from the 70s anyone?

Who is still watching their tv from the 80s?

PC 386?

flip phone?

 

[J Francho]

15 minutes ago, reason said:

flip phone?

Don't hate.

[OnthePotomac]

The Abu reels have been made in China for many years now.

[burrows]

1 hour ago, reason said:

Why would anyone want anything to "last a life time"

 

 

Because you payed for it with hard earned money! Unreasonable to think you wouldn’t want your gear to last.

[Tywithay]

I think a lot of their following left when they were bought out by Pure Fishing. Their swedish reels are still bulletproof, but the low-pros are essentially just rebranded chinese reels from a big factory. They just pick out parts from a catalog. It's hard to compete with companies like Daiwa and Shimano, that are actually innovating, and creating their own new technology, when you're just putting your stamp on someone else's work.

[Vilas15]

2 hours ago, OnthePotomac said:

The Abu reels have been made in China for many years now.

The c3, c4, and morrum are made in sweden. The revos are made in korea. The cheaper ambassadeurs and black max, etc. are made in china.

[burrows]

My zodias is made in China and it’s one of my most reliable most sensitive rods that I’ve ever owned so being made in China doesn’t necessarily mean it’s crap.

[Vilas15]

I've been happy with a revo toro S and a revo SX. And of course the old C3s are still going strong. If Abu copied the Pfleuger president (another pure fishing brand) I'd be all over it.

[WRB]

Where a precision part is made isn't as important as what it's made from, within design tolerances and processes. Parts made in South Korea have tracibility, China none.

I gave up on Abu back in 2000.

Tom

[JLBBass]

I own 4 Abu Revo Premiers, gen 2's, and they are one of my favorite baitcasters ever!!! Got them upgraded with Abec 7 ceramics, and lubed with yellow rocket fuel!

I'll use them till they fall apart! which may take a while!!!

[lmbfisherman]

I still use the Veritas v1.  Still one of my favourite everyday use rods.  7’3” Medium Heavy Fast, probably will never let it go either.  If I didn’t buy Shimano/Loomis rods, I’d Probably buy more Veritases.

 

[Patrickcatalano]

I’ve noticed one of the least talked about casting reels in my opinion is the Revo Premier Gen 4 . I bought it with a coupon and Christmas and have used it a lot with my G rods pro bass and it works perfect. I can cast far with it and the reel is very smooth. I never saw a review on it and when I tried it out at bps, I was amazed. I too have noticed that people don’t really talk about Abu anymore.

[Caliyak]

Lews is the new Abu Garcias. Same reels with a cooler name. 

[Jelvas]

 I´ve got nothing but good things to say about my 3 Abu reels (1 revo winch gen 1, 1 revo winch gen 2 and 1 revo toro winch 61), both the gen 1 winch and toro winch are on my arsenal since they came out and i have had absolutely zero problems with them. The gen2 revo winch i have it for 3 years now and so far so good.

 

 I do like Shimano and Daiwa better but Abu is still a pretty valid option for me when i´m thinking off buying a new reel, in fact, lately i´ve been thinking about buying 2 new reels for big baits, 1 of them i´ve allready decided it´s going to be the Shimano Tranx 301, but the second one will probably be coming from Abu...  i´ve been eyeballing the Revo Toro Beasts since they came out.

[Mobasser]

I still love the Swedish made round casting reels. I have 3. 5500 is my fave. 

[craww]

The internals of their current, non swedish round reels hold up ok. But the paint scratches if you look at them funny, and badges and caps fall off constantly. 

 

Also people see reels like the BCX (or whatever its called) that kindve looks like a low quality ambassaduer, (and not know that it isnt) and the brands name gets run down. 

 

They also keep slapping colors or logos on the same reels without changing things. And the value w/the round reels just isnt as good as it once was.