Shimano core 51mg7 production update

[Roachbjm]

I just purchased 3 core 51mg7s, one for myself, one for my buddy, and one for a gift for my father(who has a core 101) and I was looking at them and realized two are the same and one has some slight tweaks, so it looks like there must have been a production update at some point, so far I can notice there is a ledge molded into the main frame body on the one, along with that one having a more rounded line guide brass entrance piece. The screws holding the side in are silver and the other two are black, so was interested to see if anyone knows anything about this (I would tag bantam1 if I knew how) looking to figure out which is the updated one which I am guessing would be the ledged one. But I have access to another core 50 and 51 aswell so will take a look at those to see if I can notice some other differences in the coming days

[Bigbox99]

Cores were just a made up thing for the US market.  I think you have both the Aldebaran 50s and Metanium that were labeled as Cores at the time.

https://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanocore.html

[FishTank]

@Roachbjm I have a Core 51MG7 that I bought used a few years ago and it was pretty much perfect except break side of the frame was scratched and my wife's cat chewed on one of the knobs. The frame part was not available on Shimano's website so I called Shimano and they had one in stock. In my conversation with them, I asked about getting parts in the future and was told, at that time, that they had plenty of everything.  I asked about getting specific parts for my reel and was told that they would all match the original schematic so no updated or changed parts.

 

Also, on mine the screws are black and based on what was mentioned, it sounds like someone might have frankensteined your reel or at least found parts from another that would work. I would post some pics to show the difference. 

 

[Roachbjm]

On 11/28/2024 at 9:43 AM, Bigbox99 said:

Cores were just a made up thing for the US market.  I think you have both the Aldebaran 50s and Metanium that were labeled as Cores at the time.

https://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanocore.html

I am going to take some pics maybe tomorrow but I believe the one may be an aldebaren because I found an eBay listing where it has the same ledge infront of the line guide, still is core colour and branding, maybe they made a couple batches and used the aldebaren molds for some

[Roachbjm]

On 11/29/2024 at 9:43 PM, FishTank said:

@Roachbjm I have a Core 51MG7 that I bought used a few years ago and it was pretty much perfect except break side of the frame was scratched and my wife's cat chewed on one of the knobs. The frame part was not available on Shimano's website so I called Shimano and they had one in stock. In my conversation with them, I asked about getting parts in the future and was told, at that time, that they had plenty of everything.  I asked about getting specific parts for my reel and was told that they would all match the original schematic so no updated or changed parts.

 

Also, on mine the screws are black and based on what was mentioned, it sounds like someone might have frankensteined your reel or at least found parts from another that would work. I would post some pics to show the difference. 

 

Will take more of a few other cores I can get my hands on tomorrow but here is the ledge I was talking about that I saw on a Japanese aldebaren, then the rounded line guide, also i believe the piece under the c clip is brass on this one and stainless on the other two

[FishTank]

 

@RoachbjmI sort of have 3 of 4 versions of the Core. The one in the middle is the JDM Metanuim MG7 Limited Edition, the top is the 51 MG7 and the bottom is the 101MG. They also made a Core 100MGFV with a supposedly heavier duty gear, a bigger handle and a different thumb bar.  The JDM Metanium is almost identical in design to the Core 101. The Met does have several different parts from the Core 101MG though, for instance it has an Aluminum gear that is 7.x:1 instead of 6.x:1.  Some of the parts are interchangeable but I have not tried to see which ones.  The parts for these reels were designed for two different markets respectively, the US and Japan. The 51MG is a totally different reel from the Core 101MG, the Core 101MGFV and JDM Metanium MG7.  

 

Editing this just in case.....

 

The 09 Aldebaran was like the 50MG7 but I remember the Aldebaran feeling completely different.  I always thought it was the next step for the Core 100. 

[Bigbox99]

The cone level wind might have been something the earlier Aldes/Cores might not have had.  I can't find a picture of one without one but my Scorpion 1000xt doesn't have one.  I don't know of this was a premium feature the alde/core had over the scorpion/curado or if this was something that was added later in the production.

[Roachbjm]

On 11/30/2024 at 11:47 PM, FishTank said:

 

@RoachbjmI sort of have 3 of 4 versions of the Core. The one in the middle is the JDM Metanuim MG7 Limited Edition, the top is the 51 MG7 and the bottom is the 101MG. They also made a Core 100MGFV with a supposedly heavier duty gear, a bigger handle and a different thumb bar.  The JDM Metanium is almost identical in design to the Core 101. The Met does have several different parts from the Core 101MG though, for instance it has an Aluminum gear that is 7.x:1 instead of 6.x:1.  Some of the parts are interchangeable but I have not tried to see which ones.  The parts for these reels were designed for two different markets respectively, the US and Japan. The 51MG is a totally different reel from the Core 101MG, the Core 101MGFV and JDM Metanium MG7.  

 

Editing this just in case.....

 

The 09 Aldebaran was like the 50MG7 but I remember the Aldebaran feeling completely different.  I always thought it was the next step for the Core 100. 

I have pictures now of a few more cores I can get my hands on, we have 2 51s with the ledge and silver screws and more rounded line guide, then 1 50 with them, then 2 51s with the black screws flat front and more angled cone line guide. It must’ve been something along the lines of using aldebaren molds for some of the cores then having another set of molds and parts bin for some of the others. No confirms just an observation and assumption looking at all of these. Would love if someone who has some more insight at shimano when they were in production could chime in. Also fish tank I have 101 mg like yours and I’ve included a pic of a 100mgfv core I believe is the model name I had my hands on. If I could find a lefty I would definitely like one for flipping but that is the NA version of your metanium, they did make them here.

[Roachbjm]

On 12/1/2024 at 2:03 PM, Bigbox99 said:

The cone level wind might have been something the earlier Aldes/Cores might not have had.  I can't find a picture of one without one but my Scorpion 1000xt doesn't have one.  I don't know of this was a premium feature the alde/core had over the scorpion/curado or if this was something that was added later in the production.

So the aldes/cores do have a different cone level wind line guide than curados/scorpions/chronarchs(I have a few 51es and a 1001xt and none of those have the bigger cone one. What I am referring to though is me being super ocd and noticing the bigger cone line guides on the cores are a tiny bit different based on whether they were silver or black, ledge or no ledge versions. The outside rim on the side that the line threads from is rounded more like the a full 180 degree lip on the silver screw ledge one, and the other entrance is closer to a rounded sidewalk curb angle. Super ocd and nerdy but things like that I find interesting to find the backstory lol

[jejenkyns]

On 11/29/2024 at 10:43 PM, FishTank said:

@Roachbjm I have a Core 51MG7 that I bought used a few years ago and it was pretty much perfect except break side of the frame was scratched and my wife's cat chewed on one of the knobs. The frame part was not available on Shimano's website so I called Shimano and they had one in stock. In my conversation with them, I asked about getting parts in the future and was told, at that time, that they had plenty of everything.  I asked about getting specific parts for my reel and was told that they would all match the original schematic so no updated or changed parts.

 

Also, on mine the screws are black and based on what was mentioned, it sounds like someone might have frankensteined your reel or at least found parts from another that would work. I would post some pics to show the difference. 

 

How does this reel hold up to Shimano's newer offerings in your opinion? There is one for sale locally atm.

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, jejenkyns said:

How does this reel hold up to Shimano's newer offerings in your opinion? There is one for sale locally atm.

 

It's kind of it's own thing. The closest that came to it was the regular Aldebaran.  What makes the Cores great to me, was that they were perfect in their simplicity. Smooth and easy to work on but also really fun to fish. 

 

Also, you have to think the technology in this reel is 15 years old. 

[ABU is overpriced]

The newer braking system from Shimano is much better for casting distance, but unless you fish from the bank, where every feet might matter, additional casting distance isn't that important. I use a Pixy from 04 a ton every season, and it doesn't feel like a 20 years old reel at all (reel isn't stock, tho).

[Roachbjm]

On 1/7/2025 at 7:59 PM, jejenkyns said:

How does this reel hold up to Shimano's newer offerings in your opinion? There is one for sale locally atm.

I have fished some of the brand new stuff and just casting distance wise you get more out of a newer reel such as a curado m, but for light weight and especially floro the cores are great because that’s what they were built for. Also the size is why I go back to some of these reels, it is much smaller in the palm then most of the new ones

[MRQturbo]

My core 101 was the 1st high end baitcaster I ever bought... The newer Shimanos cast much better and have better braking systems now... Outside dial brakes was such a game changer to allow you to adjust brakes on the fly if wind picks up... It's still in my rotation due to sentimental values though and will probably be the one reel I'll never sell off..