Out with the old, in with the new? Maybe...

[bass raider]

Alrighty, so about 6 months ago I stumbled across a brand-new-in-the-box Team Daiwa Zillion 7:1. Brought it home, put carbontex drag washers in it, spooled it up with 18lb Sniper and headed to the pond. I’ve used several mid to high-end reels and this Zillion is by far one of the smoothest, most solid, and finely crafted reels that I’ve ever used and, well... I CANNOT STAND fishing this reel. There’s just something about it. Part of it is the way I palm it. I’ve tried with a bunch of different reel seats and grips and none of them feel good. Another gripe is the angle of the thumb bar. It depresses so much lower than all my other reels that I either backlash, or friction burn the tip of my thumb almost every time. I guess those two things combined make me dread using it. What would you do in my shoes? Would you keep it and try to learn to like it? Keep it for nostalgia’s sake and buy something more up to date to replace it? Or, Would you sell it, buy something new and forget about Ol’ Betsy? Curious to hear everyone’s thoughts!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Dream reel, donate to a hungry child named AlabamaSpothunter ?

[Pogues2300]

I wouldn’t force it. I bought a p5 x-bites and for some reason preferred my nrx 873crr. Basically was never using it so I gave my friend a good deal on the rod and went out and bought a zillion lol. If it doesn’t feel right get something that does! 

[Tatulatard]

The low thumb bar is how all daiwas are.  The shape of the reel makes it palm pretty well for a 36 mil spool reel but a bit tall.  Better than the tatula 150/200 and ct reels which are also native 36 mil platforms.  The zillion has a contoured front shape and recessed magnetic dial to wrap your fingers around the front of the reel when palming with 3 fingers in front of the trigger where as the older tatulas platfroms are much more blocky.  I'm pretty sure these older daiwa pre t wing platforms like zillion and alphas/pixy were designed for 3 fingers or more in front for the trigger palming wrapping around the front of the reel and reel t wing plagform reels are meant for only 2 with their wide fronts and their back tapered side plates.  Still the old zillion as a 36 mil spool reel will palm taller than a 32 mil spool reels that are becoming common.  What reels are you coming from and how many fingers do you have in front of the trigger when palming? 

[bass raider]

15 minutes ago, Tatulatard said:

The low thumb bar is how all daiwas are.  The shape of the reel makes it palm pretty well for a 36 mil spool reel but a bit tall.  Better than the tatula 150/200 and ct reels which are also native 36 mil platforms.  The zillion has a contoured front shape and recessed magnetic dial to wrap your fingers around the front of the reel when palming with 3 fingers in front of the trigger where as the older tatulas platfroms are much more blocky.  I'm pretty sure these older daiwa pre t wing platforms like zillion and alphas/pixy were designed for 3 fingers or more in front for the trigger palming wrapping around the front of the reel and reel t wing plagform reels are meant for only 2 with their wide fronts and their back tapered side plates.  Still the old zillion as a 36 mil spool reel will palm taller than a 32 mil spool reels that are becoming common.  What reels are you coming from and how many fingers do you have in front of the trigger when palming? 

I like to keep 3 fingers in front of the trigger. Fore finger pointed straight out, thumb on top of the frame, middle finger directly behind the gear box resting on the side plate and ring finger wrapped around the rod grip. I’m slowly switching over from Shimano to Daiwa. I have a few Curado 200E and 200i left in the arsenal, an SLX, and had a Core and Chronarch ci4+. I also have a fuego ct, tatula ct, and an OG tatula Type R. For some reason, the thumb bar on the Zillion feels lower than even the CT’s and Type R. The CT platform, to me, is the absolute most comfortable reel I’ve ever palmed. The only thing that comes close is the Curado 200E.

[Deleted account]

Ergonomics, the final frontier...

[Tatulatard]

4 minutes ago, bass raider said:

I like to keep 3 fingers in front of the trigger. Fore finger pointed straight out, thumb on top of the frame, middle finger directly behind the gear box resting on the side plate and ring finger wrapped around the rod grip. I’m slowly switching over from Shimano to Daiwa. I have a few Curado 200E and 200i left in the arsenal, an SLX, and had a Core and Chronarch ci4+. I also have a fuego ct, tatula ct, and an OG tatula Type R. For some reason, the thumb bar on the Zillion feels lower than even the CT’s and Type R. The CT platform, to me, is the absolute most comfortable reel I’ve ever palmed. The only thing that comes close is the Curado 200E.

Odd.  The old zillion should be an improvement palming over the tatula ct reels with the rough mag dial.  I palm mine the same way as you but this was a change I had to make because wrapping a finger around the front of the tatula ct reels is awful but something I always do on my old zillions and old alphas without issue.  The non recessed mag dial with rough edges and the weird ridges under the front plate make wrapping around the tatula/fuego ct and tatula 150/200 reels a no go for me.

[Darth-Baiter]

9 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Dream reel, donate to a hungry child named AlabamaSpothunter ?

screw that guy!.  sell it to a poor MOFO that goes by Darth-B.  for a very attractive price. 

30 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Ergonomics, the final frontier...

i thought the 4th dimension was the final frontier.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I dont have any Daiwas for that reason, they just dont feel as good in my hand as a Shimano.  Having said that, had the JDM zillion had a brass main I would have bought one.  If you decide to get rid of it let me know.

[webertime]

Sell it, it's still got value to many people. 

Buy something that you like. 

[BrianMDTX]

10 minutes ago, webertime said:

Sell it, it's still got value to many people. 

Buy something that you like. 

This is the correct response (sorry to poor MOFO’s, etc ?). If you don’t truly like it, sell it and get something you do like. 
 

Life is too short for cheap beer and reels you don’t like!

[Jrob78]

Yeah it doesn't matter how awesome and well built a reel is, if you don't like it and it doesn't fit your hand well there's no reason to try to force it. Sell it and get something you like better.

[Big Hands]

My $0.02: Sell it and get something you like. 

 

I have had it happens several times where I go into a store believing that I am going to get a certain rod or reel, only to find that after handling it, there's something that I just don't jive with.

[Columbia Craw]

I have one and love it. I also have a Pay Pal account.  I would be honored to do business with you.  I’m a PM away.?

[Cbump]

Bought two original Team Daiwa Fuegos. They sucked. Sold them and got some SVs. 
So I say sell if you don’t like. 

[FrnkNsteen]

I agree to sell it if you don't like it. I guarantee if you post it in the flea market for a reasonable price it will be snapped up quickly.

 

I've kind of gone down the rabbit hole on older Daiwas myself recently. TDZ, TDX, TD Fuegos, T3 1016 and T3 SV..... It's a slippery slope because I really like those reels!!

[Deleted account]

23 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i thought the 4th dimension was the final frontier.  

 

Time is the 4th dimension, but not really...

[Fishin Dad]

I would sell it.  There are a lot of high end reels you may like.   You will get good money for that reel.  Especially if you got a good deal it, which it sounds like you may have.  Good luck!

[MiceNReets]

10 hours ago, Cbump said:

Bought two original Team Daiwa Fuegos. They sucked. Sold them and got some SVs. 
So I say sell if you don’t like. 

Why’d they suck?

[Cbump]

11 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

Why’d they suck?

To me they were too big in hand, didn’t feel as nice, and were super finicky to dial in.