Abu Garcia Revo Stagnation

[BassCats]

Do you think that abu will ever be relevent in the new reel market again? seems now that everyone has their own reels that are copies of each other that pure fishing has just let abu go the way side like they did with pflueger.

[jimmyjoe]

  If "relevant" means "profitable", then yes.

   If "relevant" means ""cutting edge", then I doubt it.             jj

[QED]

The Abu Garcia Zenon (which is late to market in the US but available via grey market on the large auction site) is an edgy, very light design.  If they make a similarly innovative baitcaster, they might be able to find a niche in the high end.

[snake95]

3 hours ago, BassCats said:

Do you think that abu will ever be relevent in the new reel market again?

My sense is that Shimano and Diawa are kings of the hill in terms of popularity, but I disagree with the idea that Abu isn't innovating, and I certainly don't think Pure Fishing is letting Abu wither on the vine - if you go to the Classic or any other show it's clear that at the very least they are trying.  (I am not brand-specific: I also fish Daiwa reels and have some that I love).

 

I have bought some Abu reels this year that I am very happy with.  I have a Revo Beast X that is the best reel for casting that I have ever used - I can cast a mile and its smooth and solid.  The Beast X was designed for swimbaits and other heavier baits, and they designed it to be more economical and accessible to a broader customer base.  It isn't a saltwater reel but I used it in place of my Daiwa Coastals for striper fishing this year because it is such a solid, smooth reel and great caster.

 

I also picked up an EXD which is light and ergonomic.   I agree that they don't have the reputation for quality of the Japanese brands, but don't think it is fair or even accurate to say they are irrelevant.

 

 

[bulldog1935]

You might want to take a look at some of the JDM Revos, such as LX992Z.  

Maybe you don't like mag brake, but my experience, it's the best brake for distance with light lures.  Super Duty G is my hands-down favorite Lew's - casting 1/8 oz, it will out-distance my Steez and Zillion with stock Boost spools.  (some credit to IXA spool bearing upgrade in my SDG)

 

What makes Daiwa's SV brake so wide-lure-weight versatile is the non-linear start-up with heavy lures.  But lighter lures don't jerk enough to make the SV function, and you can make a lighter spool without it.  

I mentioned on another thread from watching rod-in-action videos - Mr. Yamaga of Yamaga Blanks can fish whatever he wants, fishes Revo on his light game rod 1/8 to 1/2 oz, and fishes Daiwa SV on his MH shore game rod with 6" 1-1/2-oz plug.  

 

I think it's noteworthy that ZPI bench-raced Metanium in their sky's-the-limit ZPride, they bench-raced Bantam MGL and Tatula SV TW (but didn't give them ZPI model names).  

 

The reel ZPI is banking on, however, is an Abu - the Alcance, offered in four gear ratios from 5.6 to 8.1.  They offer 2 different spools, and also the short-pitch Alcance RC-G with yet their shallowest spool, and mag brake cam tuned just for pitching.  

These reels weight in at 170 g, which is only 10 g more than magnesium Steez SV TW.  

Their spools range from 7 to 11 g, and strong enough to handle the stretch of 16-lb mono.  

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

My friend gave me a new abu Revo sx(?). He said he hated it. It took some fiddling and I fully expected to replace it when I refreshed my fun account.   But it casts excellent. It’s a joy to use. It’s on my Dobyns 734 Sierra. 

[CrankFate]

I think abu reels are great. And terribly underrated. In my opinion, this is because the internet reel gurus (on YouTube) and in the net media show abu no love. I can say that every single review of the abu mgxtreme2 is wrong and it is a great reel, that is not limited to only finesse fishing because of its wimpy drag. I have several Abu reels, and especially in saltwater, they are hard to beat. And I fish my mxgtreme in salt only, no problem.

[redmeansdistortion]

26 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

I think abu reels are great. And terribly underrated. In my opinion, this is because the internet reel gurus (on YouTube) and in the net media show abu no love. I can say that every single review of the abu mgxtreme2 is wrong and it is a great reel, that is not limited to only finesse fishing because of its wimpy drag. I have several Abu reels, and especially in saltwater, they are hard to beat. And I fish my mxgtreme in salt only, no problem.

I feel like America is the only market that has fallen out of love with Abu.  In Japan and Europe they are much more popular than they are here.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

ABU may not be cutting edge but a lot of so called cutting edge changes are just for the sake of change giving the marketing folks something to talk about. 

[CrankFate]

9 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

I feel like America is the only market that has fallen out of love with Abu.  In Japan and Europe they are much more popular than they are here.  

 

6 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

ABU may not be cutting edge but a lot of so called cutting edge changes are just for the sake of change giving the marketing folks something to talk about. 

They make great reels. I beat the hell out of some of mine. They still work perfectly. In a lot of ways, which I can’t really explain, they are easier to cast than Daiwa and Shimano.

[Johnbt]

I have 3 Revo Gen3 Premiers from 2012 that I was using less and less as they got older. That, and I bought 2 Met MGLs and 2 Steez SV TWs.

 

This past winter I took the Premiers apart and deep cleaned them, and replaced the tiny Friction Washer and Rubber Washer under each Brake Knob. That really helped the fine adjustment. Now I use them every trip.

 

Fwiw, I like the brass gears I put in the two Mets, but still prefer the Steez.

 

I don't do much if any finesse fishing. I'm old and set in my ways.

[NYWayfarer]

I broke out my old Abu Garcia Black Max last weekend. Still casts great. It’s well over a decade old and heavy compared to my newer reels.

 

If you look at Tackle Warehouse you will see Abu has a lot of baitcasters in the $50-$90 range. They really have the market on budget baitcasters covered.