Abu Garcia T5600c

[lastmanstanding]

I have an Abu Garcia T5600c reel that's been collecting dust in my shop that I'm interested in letting go of. I've seen a few online anywhere from $400-$800. Would this reel be considered a collectors item now? Mine has the engraved side plate intact with no dents or scratches. I have a few pictures of it if anyone is interested.

[Eric 26]

@lastmanstanding I’m going to sound like a broken record but this is right up @bulldog1935 and @redmeansdistortion’s alley and hopefully they will chime in 😉 By the way that is a cool side plate to boot.

[lastmanstanding]

56 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@lastmanstanding I’m going to sound like a broken record but this is right up @bulldog1935 and @redmeansdistortion’s alley and hopefully they will chime in 😉 By the way that is a cool side plate to boot.

@Eric 26 It's pretty for sure and unlike most of them I've seen on the internet it's not beat to death.

[redmeansdistortion]

These were a Bass Pro exclusive and some even came in a CDL variant with gold accents and gold stamping on the palm side.  They are mechanically identical to the Black Max/Pro Max/SMax 5600.  They're very nice reels with the same drag stack as the 5500C/5600C but feature a lower reel foot to facilitate palming and a one piece aluminum frame.  The CDL variants typically go for ~$300 to $500 new old stock with the wooden box while the non-CDL variants usually fetch $50 to $100 or so depending on condition.  Nice reels but not highly sought after yet.  The market can change but in general, the market for this style of Ambassadeur has yet to emerge unlike the classic Ambassadeur and Morrum line.  Once the Japanese "discover" them, the market will reflect that and prices will go up like other desirable models.  The 1600 and 3600 sizes are much more desirable to both collectors and fishermen alike due to the disengaging level wind and finesse fishing capability.

[lastmanstanding]

@redmeansdistortion what parts are the gold accents. This reel has gold accents I'm just trying to make sure they're the right ones.

[redmeansdistortion]

4 hours ago, lastmanstanding said:

@redmeansdistortion what parts are the gold accents. This reel has gold accents I'm just trying to make sure they're the right ones.

The engraving on the palm side of the CDL is gold as is the level wind pipe and line guide.  It also comes with a wooden box.  Here's a completed eBay listing. 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305539033445

[lastmanstanding]

On 6/4/2024 at 2:43 PM, redmeansdistortion said:

The engraving on the palm side of the CDL is gold as is the level wind pipe and line guide.  It also comes with a wooden box.  Here's a completed eBay listing. 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305539033445

Does the CDL have a different engraving than the standard one?

[lastmanstanding]

It also says made in Sweden on it 

[redmeansdistortion]

37 minutes ago, lastmanstanding said:

It also says made in Sweden on it 

Every Ambassadeur was made in Sweden until about 15 years ago when some of the lesser models started being made in China.  Every one made prior to 2010 was a Swedish made reel.

[bulldog1935]

@lastmanstanding, what you have from limited photo appears to be an excellent condition example of the 75th Anniversary  Commemorative Ambasssadeur Pro Max.  It you compare to Sold ebay listings, mint boxed examples of Pro Max stand out and bring about $175.  The mean for used reels is about $50 - the Tournament embossed fishing scene adds $10 to $20 to overall value.  A note about myself, there was a time when I set the market on antique fly reels, and people still trust me to clean and restore their valuable antiques.  I'm also breaking a personal rule by posting a $ value.  

 

 

Your reel is different from Ambassadeur CDL versions with gold-plated trim and sold in a wooden box w/ gold-plated tools.  These reels were made for collectors, and mint reels bring collector prices.  

Note there was an EX-condition T5600C like yours sold in '05 on Stripers On Line for $100 shipped.    

There's a dearth of internet buzz from Ambassadeur collectors about the reel.  

You do find people talking about Silver Max, Black Max, and Pro Max, but Morrum rises above as the reel people want to fish.  

 

Of course, the biggest Ambassadeur audience for selling your reel is ebay.  Old Reel Collector's Association bulletin board is a more focused audience, with at least a few there who might be intereted - you'll find them a pragmatic and possibly frugal lot, but a good source for elusive history.  

 

Compare prices to Sold listings. @lastmanstanding

Why do people list inflated asking prices?  -

(1)  Lack of Knowledge combined with Avarice.  

(2)  Fishing for a sucker.   

(3)  Mint boxed reels may bring somewhat higher prices in Japan collector's market, but anything less won't.  

Your questions have been generously fielded by the people who know these reels and market. 

[redmeansdistortion]

11 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

There's a dearth internet buzz from Ambassadeur collectors about the reel.  

You do find people talking about Silver Max, Black Max, and Pro Max, but Morrum rises above as the reel people want to fish.

To add to this, the Max series reels were the bridge between the Ambassadeur and Morrum.  Much of the more contemporary Ambassadeur design was pulled straight from the Max reels, like the drag stack and forgoing a spool shaft in favor of locating the bearings inside of the spool and having them rotate on a stationary axle.  The Max reels debuted in 1992 and the Ambassadeur would see those features implemented as well from then to present.  The Max reels only saw a couple of revisions, but stayed in production until '97, while the Morrum was released in 1998 with the most recent being the ZX which debuted in 2014.

[lastmanstanding]

6 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@lastmanstanding, what you have from limited photo appears to be an excellent condition example of the 75th Anniversary  Commemorative Ambasssadeur Pro Max.  It you compare to Sold ebay listings, mint boxed examples of Pro Max stand out and bring about $175.  The mean for used reels is about $50.  A note about myself, there was a time when I set the market on antique fly reels, and people still trust me to clean and restore their valuable antiques.  I'm also breaking a personal rule by posting a $ value.  

 

Your reel is different from Ambassadeur CDL versions with gold-plated trim and sold in a wooden box w/ gold-plated tools.  These reels were made for collectors, and mint reels bring collector prices.  

 

Note there was an EX-condition T5600C like yours sold in '05 on Stripers On Line for $100 shipped.    

 

There's a dearth of internet buzz from Ambassadeur collectors about the reel.  

You do find people talking about Silver Max, Black Max, and Pro Max, but Morrum rises above as the reel people want to fish.  

 

Of course, the biggest Ambassadeur audience for selling your reel is ebay.  Old Reel Collector's Association bulletin board is a more focused audience, with at least a few there who might be intereted - you'll find them a pragmatic and possibly frugal lot, but a good source for elusive history.  

So basically all the other listing's I'm seeing of these reels are just way overpriced? I'm not trying to sound rude, I'm just curious as to why I've seen this exact reel listed for hundreds of dollars in a few different places if it's not actually worth that much? I'm just confused on why people would overprice it so much, is there a special niche or a specific type of collection/ collector for these reels or something?

[redmeansdistortion]

15 hours ago, lastmanstanding said:

So basically all the other listing's I'm seeing of these reels are just way overpriced? I'm not trying to sound rude, I'm just curious as to why I've seen this exact reel listed for hundreds of dollars in a few different places if it's not actually worth that much? I'm just confused on why people would overprice it so much, is there a special niche or a specific type of collection/ collector for these reels or something?

There is often a huge rift between an asking price and a selling price.  It's pretty common with quality, yet minimally desired products.  The market on those reels are slowly growing.  In reference to the listing @bulldog1935 mentioned above; at the time, the other Max reels could be had in excellent used condition for as little as $40, even on eBay.  Many people bought them by the boat load.  I owned 8 of them because they were cheap and high quality.  Some of them I paid a whole $20 for which was a bargain considering what I'd have to spend on something newer and as capable.  As with many things fishing, once the Japanese fall in love with them, the market will reflect that.  

[lastmanstanding]

4 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

There is often a huge rift between an asking price and a selling price.  It's pretty common with quality, yet minimally desired products.  The market on those reels are slowly growing.  In reference to the listing @bulldog1935 mentioned above; at the time, the other Max reels could be had in excellent used condition for as little as $40, even on eBay.  Many people bought them by the boat load.  I owned 8 of them because they were cheap and high quality.  Some of them I paid a whole $20 for which was a bargain considering what I'd have to spend on something newer and as capable.  As with many things fishing, once the Japanese fall in love with them, the market will reflect that.  

@redmeansdistortion @bulldog1935 so what I'm understanding is probably my best option would be to hold off on trying to sell this reel until the market changes, or list it but I can be more selective on taking what's offered to me because there might be a market change for it. Or something along those lines. 

[bulldog1935]

Everything you've showed us of this reel is a macro of an embossed fishing scene in the side plate (ala engraved Moscrop reel counterfeited in India for half a century).  

We haven't seen the overall condition of the reel, box, paper and tools.  

If your reel has been used and doesn't include the above, $70 value is spot-on - might be able to stretch that by a few $ on ebay.  The embossed fishing scene is less important to people who want to acquire Ambassadeur, and it could add a few dollars to the mechanical value of the reel. 

What you've showed of yourself is a desire to make a killer sale, and no desire to go fishihg - we mostly fit the latter, though some of us figured out how to work-in the former along the way (which also meant acquiring the right stuff).  

We have no alterior motives - none of us want to buy your reel.  

Tougher to understand is why this thread returns to fraud values, especially when I linked sold prices above.  

 

Any collectible, from Barbie dolls to fishing reels, loses collector value when removed from the original packaging.  

$350 is a reasonable price for a used c.'30s Pflueger Medalist.  One or two reels still sealed in the original velum inside the box have sold for 10x that.  It's a normal desire to want more for what you have - people without knowledge may see a CDL sold for collector price, and consider their reel to be worth the same - that doesn't mean they can sell it.  

If it cost money to list on ebay, i.e., newspaper classifieds, they wouldn't be listing for that, but would first identify market value.  

[Boogey Man]

I bought the reel the OP is asking about from Fisherman's Factory Outlet a year or so after they came out, which would put the date 2000-2002 (date might not be exact, if someone knows better please say so). Used it once and put it back in the box. Sold it on the big auction site about 2 years ago, looked brand new, with box, oil, and paperwork. Had to drop the price a couple times after being listed for several weeks. Ended up getting about $120 for it. For some reason there's just not much demand/value for that particular reel. To the OP, hope this helps. 

[lastmanstanding]

41 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Everything you've showed us of this reel is a macro of an embossed fishing scene in the side plate (ala engraved Moscrop reel counterfeited in India for half a century).  

We haven't seen the overall condition of the reel, box, paper and tools.  

If your reel has been used and doesn't include the above, $70 value is spot-on - might be able to stretch that by a few $ on ebay.  The embossed fishing scene is less important to people who want to acquire Ambassadeur, and it could add a few dollars to the mechanical value of the reel. 

What you've showed of yourself is a desire to make a killer sale, and no desire to go fishihg - we mostly fit the latter, though some of us figured out how to work-in the former along the way.  

We have no alterior motives - none of us want to buy your reel.  

I'm not trying to sell my reel to any of you. I'm not trying to make a killer sale either I have a reel that I've seen huge differences in price on multiple platforms. Yes I would like to sell this reel but when I've seen so much conflicting information on it I'm not sure what would be a fair price. I did fish a lot at one point in time but now I'm working a full time job running a small business and have a small child so I  don't have the time to fish like I used to. I figured it would be better to downsize the amount of fishing gear I have instead of just letting it sit in the shop and be useless. I gave 3 rods and reels away the other day to gentleman for his grandson. This was the only piece of my stuff I was letting go that was questionable on the value. If I came across as just trying to make a sale I apologize that was not my intention but there's a reel exactly like this one on ebay right now for $600. I have no idea what affects the value of this reel like not having the box or paperwork but when i see them listed for $600 and then i get on a forum like this one and I'm told it's only worth about $70 that confuses me. I'm not doubting any of the knowledge or experience of anyone here that's just so much of a difference that I can't fully wrap my head around how someone could try to sell something for 10x what it's actually worth. that's the biggest picture it would let me upload, I have more I can send to anyone. I never used the reel personally I received only the reel from a family friend years ago we he was downsizing his stuff, I have no idea about how to value things like this that are for sale on the public market anymore and don't have a set retail price. I only have the reel no box, no paperwork, I've never fished with it but it has been used before. If it's only worth $70 that's fine by me I'll post it somewhere for cheaper than that unless I come across someone who needs it or is just fascinated by it and I'll probably just give it to them. I was just trying to figure out why I've seen it listed so high if it's not worth that, it just doesn't make any sense to me.

[lastmanstanding]

1 hour ago, Boogey Man said:

I bought the reel the OP is asking about from Fisherman's Factory Outlet a year or so after they came out, which would put the date 2000-2002 (date might not be exact, if someone knows better please say so). Used it once and put it back in the box. Sold it on the big auction site about 2 years ago, looked brand new, with box, oil, and paperwork. Had to drop the price a couple times after being listed for several weeks. Ended up getting about $120 for it. For some reason there's just not much demand/value for that particular reel. To the OP, hope this helps. 

Yes it does help I'm just dumbfounded that I've seen this reel listed for hundreds of dollars if it's not worth that. It just doesn't make logical sense to me. I'm not trying to be greedy but I also don't want to undersell myself. With the huge differences in what I've seen it listed for and what you guys (who I consider experts) have told me what it's actually worth I'm scared to even try and sell it at this point lol 

[lastmanstanding]

@bulldog1935 so this guy is pretty much off his rocker.

[Boogey Man]

If I recall correctly, within just a few years Abu Garcia had a bunch of very similar reels. Black Max, Silver Max, Pro Max, Tournament (like the one were talking about), even a greenish colored Tournament Pro. Maybe that's why there's not much interest in this one. 

 

I had forgotten I even had mine, and when I decided to sell it I thought it would bring more, especially being basically new with box and paperwork, and the fishing scene on the side. I sure was wrong😂

[lastmanstanding]

9 minutes ago, Boogey Man said:

If I recall correctly, within just a few years Abu Garcia had a bunch of very similar reels. Black Max, Silver Max, Pro Max, Tournament (like the one were talking about), even a greenish colored Tournament Pro. Maybe that's why there's not much interest in this one. 

 

I had forgotten I even had mine, and when I decided to sell it I thought it would bring more, especially being basically new with box and paperwork, and the fishing scene on the side. I sure was wrong😂

I've seen 2 more of the one like mine besides the one in the picture on ebay for like $400 and a couple of the 3600s for $250-$350. Like now that I have a pretty idea what they're worth. I wonder if those people listing them for that much have a screw loose lol

[bulldog1935]

Here's what happens when you step up to Ambassadeur CDL (Deluxe Limited edition)

these are sold listings, and you'll note UK market is stronger for these reels than US market.  

The empty wood box sells for as much as a mint T5600C.  

[lastmanstanding]

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

Here's what happens when you step up to Ambassadeur CDL (Deluxe Limited edition)

these are sold listings, and you'll note UK market is stronger for these reels than US market.  

The empty wood box sells for as much as a mint T5600C.  

Wow those are so nice I don't if I would ever get rid of it if I had one. I'd put that in a shadow box for display 

[bulldog1935]

Really nice things can burn a hole in your pocket.  

I figured out early on that Ted Godfrey had a superior design on the old-style conventional frame fly reel.  Aside from a really good externally adjustable click pawl, he invented the only design you could easily open up at streamside if your leader got between the spool and frame.  

 

I custom-ordered my Westminster for $450 through rodmaker JD Wagner, right after Ted had his first price increase.  I fished it for 5 years and sold it for $900

Here's what they sell for now.

I did basically the same thing with half-a-dozen quality fly reels, limited edition Hardy to 1917 Hardy.    The first c. 2000 St. George reproduction /500 was only offered to cane rod builders, and used c. '30's MOC and finishing, including ebonite grasp and brass foot - another score from JD - they were much nicer than the reels Hardy reintroduced 10 years later. 

 

The original St. George - one of these was the 1st thing Hemingway bought when he came home from WWI.  

[redmeansdistortion]

14 minutes ago, lastmanstanding said:

Wow those are so nice I don't if I would ever get rid of it if I had one. I'd put that in a shadow box for display 

When the DLs were first released, they were only sold through jewelry stores.  They were statement pieces that were intended to be displayed, but not fished.  They were still just as capable as their chrome plated counterparts.  That continued for about a decade then they started selling them in tackle stores.  Early DLs were all stamped in sequential order and the lower the number the more valuable it is.  I watched the reel with foot number 10, a 5000DL sell on eBay 5 years ago for just shy of $5k, and it was very well used.  Mind you, this wasn't a CDL, no C denotes a bushing reel so this was a very early example.  The side plates were scuffed, the gold finish had pitting, and it looked like whomever had it in the past kicked it around the deck of their boat.  I was shocked at the selling price, but the low stamping number was the kicker.  If that reel was mint in box, it would've brought double at the very least.  DL is Abu nomenclature for Deluxe denoting 24k gold plating.