Ambassadeur reels - anyone still use these, should I keep mine or sell for modern reel?

[Recurve1]

Hi - I have 2 Ambassadeur reels made in Sweden, 4600 C3 and Royal Express, both with fast cast thumb release.  I got these probably in the 90s and have not used them much as I have been mostly fly fishing for the past 30 years.  I got a Daiwa Fuego a couple years ago and I think it casts much easier for me than the Ambassadeurs.

Do folks still use these old reels? Any special advice for using them or should I sell them and get something like a Tatula 100 for my fishing, which is generally with lures up to 1/2 - 5/8 max, mostly 1/4 - 1/2?

Thanks

[Eric 26]

Calling @bulldog1935 and @redmeansdistortion to chime in on this one not to mention @TnRiver46 and quite a few others on here. 

Edited May 30, 2024 by Eric 26
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[Kev-mo]

Keep them. I regret getting getting rid of my 4600 C3.

[WRB]

I would put them away and buy todays reels that have better performance, instant anti reverse and 1/2 the weight.

The pre 2000 Ambassador made in Sweden will always retain market value.

Tom

[nso123]

I have a friend who refuses to use anything but these. Come to think of it, the same guy went on a buffalo hunt dressed as a cowboy while carrying a Sharps rifle. Some things are just classics that work. 

[MediumMouthBass]

I have one thats a few decades old, and a second i got last year thats their more modern version of it.

Both reels couldnt keep up with even my Abu Black Max let alone my $100-200 dollar ones but they are still really cool to fish with. The antique one will sit on my fishing desk and the newer one is used to throw 6oz swimbaits. They still have their place in bass fishing and probably always will.

They might not be up to par with todays casting reels (out of the box) but their durability and simplicity to work on is unmatched.

[bulldog1935]

I race mine out for stream BFS, river kayak niche, one 4500C casts far enough for shore fishing niche, and I've built custom surf reels in 4500CT to 6500CS.  

River extremes, stream UL 1500CI, and frogger, built on 4600C3 Express.  

 

There's a whole world of Ambassadeur upgrades out there, and you can prioritize your upgrades following this essay from Jun Sonada.  

https://japantackle.com/Tackle_topics/abu_tuneup.htm

My reels typically get Avail spool, improved spool bearings, mag brake, full-ball-bearing LW (Avail, Valleyhill and Mike's Reel Repair) alloy rider for braid and zirconia pawl.  England, France, and Italy offer the hot surf reel upgrades, stainless gears, ball-bearing drive, external variable mag.  

Here's my raciest '77 4500C, which will out-cast a new-from-box Steez or Zillion.  Shore fishing at March new moon, it was casting 3-g microjigs to surface slashes 150' out, on 6-1/2' 2-hand rod.  

This one I upgraded to full-ceramic bearings, zirconia microbearings in the LW, full silicon-nitride spool bearings.  

 

 

Barstock-frame surf reels, 4500CT and 6500CS Rocket

 

[crypt]

I still use mine, 4600c3...pro max 1600...got plenty of them. you gotta find out what works for you.

[GreenPig]

Use? Yes everytime I catfish.

[MiceNReets]

1 hour ago, GreenPig said:

Use? Yes everytime I catfish.

[TnRiver46]

4600 is the bees knees 

[Buckeye Ron]

I’ve got a 5000C tucked away somewhere that belonged to an uncle who only used it a couple of times and gave us due to excessive backlashes. I tried to clean it and after reassembly, it, well, let’s just say it no longer works!

[bowhunter63]

Keep em for sure. I used one of my Ambassador today. They been catching bass for ever . Always have one ready to go 

[redmeansdistortion]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

I would put them away and buy todays reels that have better performance, instant anti reverse and 1/2 the weight.

The pre 2000 Ambassador made in Sweden will always retain market value.

Tom

That's exactly what the Royal Express is, pre-2000 with instant anti-reverse coming in at 8 ounces, less than a Millionaire CV-Z 103 and less than a '21 Calcutta Conquest 100.  They were made in 2 runs, 1992 and 1999. 

 

In the hands of a truly competent tuner, there really won't be much that it can't do.  It's a blank slate ready to be crafted into a spectacular performer.  The plastic worm pipe is the weak point of this reel as it adds friction to the level wind.  The metal pipe used in other 4000 sized models is best.  Other than that, there's nothing a little elbow grease and a few fun parts can't address.  A lighter spool and addressing the friction points will put it in an entirely different league. 

[PourMyOwn]

Those 6.3 Royal Express were racecars in their day. I threw a lot of Silver Minnows on mine, and it still works great. If you don't have a full arsenal of reels I'm sure it will fill in a niche eventually.  

[gim]

I still have one in use for muskie fishing on my shorter rod for slash baits. Had it for almost 20 years and take it in every few years for maintenance.

[bulldog1935]

@PourMyOwn - my custom Zzeta 4500CT has 6.3 gears and just got the brass gears upgraded to 6.3 stainless from UK - everything about this reel is a joy, but it's crazy difficult to photograph because it blows so much light back at you.  Didn't start with a reel, but built entirely from parts.  I know @redmeansdistortion has built 2500CI this way.  

 

When I first tried matching my rebuilt Royal Express with a Japanese Smith SS offset-grip + separate rod blade, the graphite/plastic foot would bend and spit out from the reel seat.  So I replaced it with a NOS alloy frame with chromed brass foot - all I could get was a red frame, so I call it my Black Cherry.  

 

Another thing about these reels, they're built to last, easy to work on, parts will always be available from aftermarket makers, OEM parts from e-replacement parts and repair shops like Dad's Ole Tackle and Mike's in BC, Ebisu in Japan, Abu bench-built limited runs, and UK vendors build their own Ambassadeurs.  

RocketReelCo complete C3 drive plate, sold with stainless main gear and BB main shaft - it's cheaper to buy the complete C3 plate than buy their mainshaft and gears separately.  

[TnRiver46]

I tossed this around just today 

 

[redmeansdistortion]

12 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

RocketReelCo complete C3 drive plate, sold with stainless main gear and BB main shaft - it's cheaper to buy the complete C3 plate than buy their mainshaft and gears separately.  

I've installed a lot of those gear sets for people; hardened bronze pinion and stainless main gear.  The king salmon, musky, and sturgeon guys love them.  

[bulldog1935]

@redmeansdistortion

The bronze pinion always takes the wear, and it's nice OS is out there so we can replace them.  

The 6.3 ManFish gears include stainless pinion - been on my watchlist through the stock of this run, and I got the last set.   The maker says this will be the last pinion we'll ever need...  

[new2BC4bass]

I prefer a Low Profile reel.  I do have 3 Black Max 1600C and  a Morrum Mag SX 1600C and 1601C.  Also a 40 plus year old 5001C.  Really need to get the Black Max out again.  The couple times I used one when I first got them surprised me at how well it would cast a small fluke on a bare hook directly into a pretty good wind.  Better than many low profile reels.

[redmeansdistortion]

19 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

I prefer a Low Profile reel.  I do have 3 Black Max 1600C and  a Morrum Mag SX 1600C and 1601C.  Also a 40 plus year old 5001C.  Really need to get the Black Max out again.  The couple times I used one when I first got them surprised me at how well it would cast a small fluke on a bare hook directly into a pretty good wind.  Better than many low profile reels.

That spool in the Black Max 1600 is 10.5g, it'll throw 1/8 no problem.  Get Abu part numbers 22565 and 22567, the bearing retainer and brake blocks for the CS Rocket reels.  It's very capable.

[dave]

I've owned the Black Max 3600's in the past.  I really liked them.

[Gera]

On 5/27/2024 at 11:02 AM, Recurve1 said:

Hi - I have 2 Ambassadeur reels made in Sweden, 4600 C3 and Royal Express, both with fast cast thumb release.  I got these probably in the 90s and have not used them much as I have been mostly fly fishing for the past 30 years.  I got a Daiwa Fuego a couple years ago and I think it casts much easier for me than the Ambassadeurs.

Do folks still use these old reels? Any special advice for using them or should I sell them and get something like a Tatula 100 for my fishing, which is generally with lures up to 1/2 - 5/8 max, mostly 1/4 - 1/2?

Thanks

If you don't use them get rid of them. you will find a buyer for sure and you get some cash in your wallet.. I do not understand the need to keep gear that you no longer use for sentimental value, because maybe one day they will be wort something or one day you may need it.. (if you got newer gear, you wont)

Unless you are a collector, I'll say sell and buy new. 

[wvhunt]

Modern reals are easier for me to use, but I fished the old Ambassadeurs for years.  Last year I bought a 5000C for $10 in a pawn shop.  It works fine, but I much prefer newer reels.  For $10 I'll keep it as a loaner that won't make it cry if someone drops it in the lake.