Daiwa Zillion JDM version.

[Alany1312]

Hi guys, 

 

I've been looking at buying two new Daiwa Zillion SV TW reels. I noticed on Amazon that there is a USA version and a Japanese version. I don't know anything about the Japanese version other than it's a lot less expensive than the USA version. Hopefully you guys can give me some more info on this reel. What is the difference between the two reels? Are the internal parts the same in both? I did read that it probably wouldn't have a warranty and it would take a while to get here but I'm not too worried about that. Thanks in advance for your time and any info you can give me. 

[webertime]

Aluminum gears in jdm.

Brass in USA 

[newapti5]

Consider the low price of JDM reels, it's worth the hassle.

 

 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, newapti5 said:

Consider the low price of JDM reels, it's worth the hassle.

What hassle? I order from Digitaka and usually have it to me in 3-4 days.

[newapti5]

9 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

What hassle? I order from Digitaka and usually have it to me in 3-4 days.

 

I was talking about the hassle of getting better deals on JDM reels than merchants like Digitaka. You could find an almost new JDM Zillion SV TW for about $150 if you spend some time to look.

 

I just got a brand new Conquest 201 for $200 even, but it did take me some time to sift through all the postings.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

18 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

it did take me some time to sift through all the postings

Ya - at my age, life is too short to go searching like that. That Digitaka's prices are well below USDM prices is enough for me.

 

Free shipping and no tax to boot...I'm a Digitaka fan-boy.

[Darth-Baiter]

I’m with @MN Fisher on thus one.  digitaka is my first search. 
 

OP. I think it’s less expensive from Japan because the exchange rate is in our favor.  Tears all, it not a cheaper product.   Prob the opposite. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

JDM Zillion SV TW is made in Japan

 

USDM Zillion SV TW is made in Thailand IIrc

 

For that reason alone it's a no brainer

 

JDM model is .5oz lighter 

[softwateronly]

14 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

JDM Zillion SV TW is made in Japan

 

USDM Zillion SV TW is made in Thailand IIrc

 

For that reason alone it's a no brainer

 

JDM model is .5oz lighter 

Brass vs aluminum gears^

 

scott

 

oops.  I read your post too fast.

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Yeah I was just listing stuff that I hadn't seen listed already.

 

The complete list as it stands.

 

1. Price.....JDM is significantly cheaper

2. Gears....JDM uses AI, USDM uses Brass

3. Weight.....JDM is .5oz lighter

4. MFG origin....JDM is Japan, USDM is Thailand 

5. Warranty.....USDM has full Daiwa USA warranty coverage, JDM is on the US buyer dime

 

Warranty is a non issue for me, I've never had a "Made in Japan" reel need warranty work and I started buying Team Daiwa models in the 90s, and still fish one heavily that's over 20 years old.  

 

Brass vs. aluminum......another non issue for me on the SV TW model.....the JDM Zillion TW HD model has brass gears, and it makes sense why that reel does, and why the SV TW doesn't.    The SV TW is an all around reel used for "normal" techniques.     On the other hand, the TW HD model is a true heavy-duty reel, uniquely designed for heavy duty applications.    

 

Origin of mfg......very big deal for me, and as I said in the warranty paragraph, I've never had a "Made in Japan" reel need warranty work/replacement.  On the other hand I've had numerous reels break from non-Made in Japan locations.    

 

Weight......goes back to the AI vs. brass paragraph, why not have a half ounce lighter reel if you don't need Brass gears.

 

Finally, and most importantly for the sake of the comparison, the cost......it's not even comparable b/t the two currently in terms of pricing, I could never buy a USDM model for about $140 more than the JDM model.   We're living in the salad days of JDM buying as US consumers using the dollar.  

 

I'm sure there is something else really small in nature that is different b/t the two, but that's everything that I've learned on them that's significant and worth noting.  

[Eric 26]

⬆️ This😉 I’m with @AlabamaSpothunter plus certain members on here have pointed out aluminum gears aren’t necessarily a bad thing. I will also add as a bonus if you order from Japan Lure Shop they throw in a free premium lure which in my estimation offsets the price of shipping 😉

Edited November 20, 2023 by Eric 26
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[FishTank]

7 hours ago, newapti5 said:

 

I was talking about the hassle of getting better deals on JDM reels than merchants like Digitaka. You could find an almost new JDM Zillion SV TW for about $150 if you could spent some time to look.

 

I just got a brand new Conquest 201 for $200 even, but it did take me some time to sift through all the postings.

 

 

So where did you get a Conquest 201 for $200? You know, asking for a friend. 🐒

[newapti5]

2 hours ago, FishTank said:

So where did you get a Conquest 201 for $200? You know, asking for a friend. 🐒

 

A long PM sent

[MontclairDave]

11 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

JDM Zillion SV TW is made in Japan

 

USDM Zillion SV TW is made in Thailand IIrc

 

For that reason alone it's a no brainer

 

JDM model is .5oz lighter 

I’ve got the JDM Zillion and I’ve used a buddy’s US Zillion. You’d be surprised at how noticeable that .5 ounce weight difference is on some (but not all) rods. Love my JDM Zillion. Only gripe is I fiddled with the supposedly zero adjust tension knob and it was all of a sudden a bit harder to dial in. I think I figured it out and it’s casting again like a dream. No idea if the aluminum vs brass gears over time will make a difference. But I can’t go back to 7+ ounce reels on my lighter rods any more because of the Zillion, they just feel unbalanced. Maybe it’s the bait monkey telling me that but I am definitely going to pick up a few more of these reels before the rate goes in the wrong direction. 

[Alany1312]

Thanks everyone for the info and advice. My biggest concern was buying the JDM reel and it being a cheap reel with the Daiwa Zillion name. I've never bought anything JDM before but it looks like I'll be buying them in the future. 

[J._Bricker]

3 hours ago, Alany1312 said:

Thanks everyone for the info and advice. My biggest concern was buying the JDM reel and it being a cheap reel with the Daiwa Zillion name. I've never bought anything JDM before but it looks like I'll be buying them in the future. 

It’s been said the Japanese will make the reels a little better in regards to material or features for their domestic customers as opposed to what they release to the rest of the world. 

[softwateronly]

2 hours ago, J._Bricker said:

It’s been said the Japanese will make the reels a little better in regards to material or features for their domestic customers as opposed to what they release to the rest of the world. 

Others on this site, more informed than me, have said it seems to stem from a culture/practice of part matching/tolerance checking that happens during assembly by the technicians.  Seems plausible to me.

 

scott

[J._Bricker]

Thanks Scott 

[bulldog1935]

looks like a bunch of us went shopping in Japan over the past week

 

Zillion is a reel worth your extra attention.  

[iabass8]

The only difference is the USDM uses a brass main gear and the JDM uses a duralumin main gear.  Both USDM and JDM use a duralumin pinon gear. I just had to replace my JDM gears after a couple years. Put  a USDM gear set in it. My USDM zillions are still holding up. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

20 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

The only difference is the USDM uses a brass main gear and the JDM uses a duralumin main gear.  Both USDM and JDM use a duralumin pinon gear. I just had to replace my JDM gears after a couple years. Put  a USDM gear set in it. My USDM zillions are still holding up. 

Interesting, what went wrong with the duralumin main gear, and what were you using it for?   These are 21 reels, for gears to go bad after 2 years is far from what Daiwa designed them for I'm sure.....so perhaps if anything it would be a warranty con for you're situation as they would have been fixed by USA Daiwa I'd imagine.  

[Chris Shonefeld]

On 11/20/2023 at 12:17 AM, newapti5 said:

 

A long PM sent

Can you send me one too?! Also asking for a friend😜

[newapti5]

24 minutes ago, Chris Shonefeld said:

Can you send me one too?! Also asking for a friend😜

 

Yeah, the promotion period just ended and the Yen is up a little, so it's not much different than Digitaka pricing now.