I don’t like Abu...

[Justbass11]

After cleaning my one and only Abu Garcia Revo 4 baitcaster, I must say that I’m going to get rid of it. I have cleaned it twice now and after both times I just don’t like them. I’m going back to Lews...just saying 

[ironbjorn]

In my opinion the only thing that Abu excels at is really good low cost offerings like the Black Max. Amazing reel for the price. As you go up in price they just can't compete with Shimano, Daiwa, or Lew's imo. Several other companies like 13 are arguably better too. Shoot it's even arguable that the rest of the industry has caught up with Pure Fishing on low cost options. The modern Presidents aren't what they used to be. You'd be insane to pick a heavier, lesser quality President ($65) over a Daiwa Legalis ($70). A Daiwa CC 80 at $60 makes a Max series reel look unappealing. I don't know who Pure Fishing really caters to anymore. Pure Garbo.

[jimmyjoe]

28 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

In my opinion the only thing that Abu excels at is really good low cost offerings like the Black Max. Amazing reel for the price. As you go up in price they just can't compete with Shimano, Daiwa, or Lew's imo. Several other companies like 13 are arguably better too. Shoot it's even arguable that the rest of the industry has caught up with Pure Fishing on low cost options. The modern Presidents aren't what they used to be. You'd be insane to pick a heavier, lesser quality President ($65) over a Daiwa Legalis ($70). A Daiwa CC 80 at $60 makes a Max series reel look unappealing. I don't know who Pure Fishing really caters to anymore. Pure Garbo.

 

   The bean counters just can't get it through their heads that algorithms don't produce acceptable quality. Not in reels, not in shoes and not in airplanes.       jj

[MN Fisher]

30 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

The modern Presidents aren't what they used to be.

They don't even have them anymore. Only baitcaster Pflueger has left is the President XT - the rest have disappeared from their site.

 

Shame really - I wanted more Patriarchs...now that's a nice reel.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Lews and ABU share parts and tooling being manufactured in the same couple of factories along with lots of other labels. If you’re dissatisfied with ABU, going to Lews isn’t the answer. 

[bulldog1935]

Like everybody else, Abu makes their range of reels. 

Before I bought my Zillion 1000 for inshore ML, I was really close to buying the JDM LX992Z, which comes with two spools, shallow and mid.  The FishingShopKiwi price of $300 and change looked very inviting. 

Part of that was watching Mr. Yamaga fish his Elite on this shore light game rod I was planning to match with it. 

 

ZPI has basically stuck with an Abu design in their Alcance, adding magnesium/titanium spool and tuned mag-brake plate.  I'm more impressed with this reel for at least "off-the-shelf" reliable distance than any other I own,

   

[Justbass11]

9 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Lews and ABU share parts and tooling being manufactured in the same couple of factories along with lots of other labels. If you’re dissatisfied with ABU, going to Lews isn’t the answer. 

I have heard that they do share the same place and parts but for some reason the lews seams easier to clean. And of course this is my opinion. 

[bulldog1935]

One thing I like better in Lew's is the more-positive palm plate lock. 

 

However, the Revo palm-plate latch complaint is eliminated when you fully relax the spool tension knob before trying to install and fasten the palm plate. 

One thing I like better about Abu is the range of aftermarket parts available - lightened and shallow aftermarket spools are nonexistent for Lew;s. 

 

While they share many common parts, and are built side-by-side in Korea, they are different designs. Spools will not swap between them, etc.   Their closest common designs are in dual-brake models. 

 

Edited October 5, 2021 by bulldog1935
below

[fishballer06]

10 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Lews and ABU share parts and tooling being manufactured in the same couple of factories along with lots of other labels. If you’re dissatisfied with ABU, going to Lews isn’t the answer. 

This was my exact thoughts. They're the same reel, with a different logo on the outside...

[N.Y. Yankee]

There is a video on Youtube of a guy showing he can cast super-light lures with a Black Max. Haven't tried with mine yet but I thought it was interesting.

[Chris186]

I have had my share of Abu Revo’s, and I will never buy another one. I started out with a Revo S first gen, which was ok. Then I bought a 2nd gen STX that what a POS from the start. Made so many noises I wasn’t sure what to think. I sent it in and they actually sent me a brand new one which within 2 weeks started grinding and the worm gear broke. I decided to give them one more shot and bought 2 3rd gen Revo SX reels. They were both so finicky I had to adjust them  literally every cast.Every. Single.Cast. A buddy of mine who loves Abu has the same problem. I finally said enough is enough and switched to Lews. I now have 13 Lews reels and never hand an issue with any one of them. They are by far not the same reel with a different badge, switching to Lews did seem to be the answer for me. 

[garroyo130]

1 hour ago, Justbass11 said:

I have heard that they do share the same place and parts but for some reason the lews seams easier to clean. And of course this is my opinion. 

 

Is ease of cleaning the reason you want to swap??

[Justbass11]

That and I have a few Lews and like them better. I do have a Abu spinning reel and I do like that one but if Lews sent me one of theirs to try I would take it...

[PhishLI]

4 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

They're the same reel, with a different logo on the outside...

nope

[ajschn06]

I have had a handful of Revo X reels and would personally recommend them to anyone.  Didn't own them long enough to comment on longevity, but right out of the box they casted great and felt smooth for what I paid (less than $80 new).  Paired with the Vendetta series rods I think they are a steal....

[NYWayfarer]

Love my Lew’s, love my Abu’s can’t really go wrong with either.

 

My Abu Black Max is the most trouble free reel I own. Casts great and hard to backlash. My Revo X is one of the farthest casting reels I own. As others have mentioned the only problem I have with my Revo X and Revo SX is the side plate. You have to make sure it is locked after making adjustments. This is more of an issue with the SX and accessing the dual brakes. Lots of reviews of people losing their side plates due to the manual lock.

5 hours ago, Justbass11 said:

That and I have a few Lews and like them better. I do have a Abu spinning reel and I do like that one but if Lews sent me one of theirs to try I would take it...

I have come to love my Abu spinning reels more than my Lew’s. They cast better IMO. Farther casts and better line lay on my Elite Max and Revo X reels over any of my Lew’s. 

[Darth-Baiter]

I have a Revo SX a friend gave to me.  Free.  
 

I took it thinking I would use it until I bought a reel I liked.  I’m still using it.  It’s sitting on my Dobyns Sierra 734.  It casts like a dream.  Sometimes I send out such a good cast I have to look down at my hands to remind me which reel it was.  I fussed a bit adjusting it but it wings out unwieldy things well.  Really well. 
 

I took it and lubed it once.  It’s fine.  Not sure I’d ever consider buying one.  

[LrgmouthShad]

Well so far my Revo Winch is the bomb diggity so I sure hope it stays that way. It’s literally awesome right now. Everything I want in a reel for spinnerbaits

[JustJames]

Which part of cleaning process make Abu different than lews? Just wondering. Most of baitcasters are pretty straightforward and about the same. If talking about more process to clean, Daiwa is the worst, a lot of parts connected to each other.

[MAN]

I love ABU and am becoming a bigger fan every day.  I actually just watched a complete documentary on the company last night.  Having said that....I am only a fan of their Swedish made round reels, abumatics and cardinals. I don't touch their low pro's.  

[Boomstick]

On 10/4/2021 at 10:58 PM, MN Fisher said:

Shame really - I wanted more Patriarchs...now that's a nice reel.

I have a Patriarch and my kid has a Supreme XT. Both are nice reels, super light etc.

 

I use the Patriarch with 12lb mono for topwater, including poppers and it throws lighter poppers well.

[Spankey]

Been fishing a couple of Revo Winches here no issues all. One was at a close out price, the other at the holiday sale. Have them on Veritas Winch rods. Has made my crankbait fishing more fun and more rewarding. 10 years ago I would never gave Abu a thought. 

[MrFishALot]

I only recently started fishing again but I got the new (white/black) MaxPro and I generally like it. Especially the size. NOW, I don't have comparison to anything else (waiting for Lew's Super Duty G) but it is very nice and smooth.

[Bankc]

Abu's spinning reels, round reels, and rods are for the most part, excellent.  And while I don't think their low profile baitcasters are bad by any means, I think they're usually a bit more expensive than their competitor's for models of similar quality.  And while Lew's reels strike the value balance a little better, I still have a hard time recommending them over the likes of Daiwa, Shimano, or even something like a Bass-Pro/Johnny Morris brand reel.  

[HaydenS]

Does Abu market the Silver Max Combo under a bunch of different names?  They've got a couple combos in my local Cabelas, MLF Combo and the Jordan Lee Combo.  The reels look exactly like my Silver Max and all have the 6.1:1 gear ratio, which is all the Silver Maxes come in.  The silver max come is $95, and so are these too.  What do you guys think?

 

On 10/4/2021 at 9:07 PM, Justbass11 said:

I’m going back to Lews...just saying 

Try Shimano ?