Revo Premier - Verdict?

[Micro]

I know some of you have Revo Premiers and have fished them for awhile now.  What's the verdict?  I have 5 Revos, but none are Premiers.  I love my Revos.  I've noticed some people on TackleTour complaining that the drag does not measure up to other Revos.  What's your experience?  

How is that Premier treating you?

[South FLA]

I haven't had my Premier long, but..... I already have problems >

1. The reel whines at times when making far cast and no its not the bearings it is related to the spool tension knob. (Was able to get rid of it using reel grease).

2. The level-wind spool guide went flying out after my third fishing trip. Glued it back in with an epoxy its as good as new.

If I have one more problem with it back it goes for a refund.  I am not sure whether I bought a lemon, but someone else has experienced my first issue.  The drag is not as strong as other Revos, but it is should suffice for LM/SM bass fishing.  Other than that the reel is very light and performs well, but I won't recommend one.  Get a Daiwa Zillion or a Shimano Metanium MG (Japanese Core) for about the same $.  

I wrote a full review a week ago.

[5bass]

I have 2 Premiers now and got to throw them around a little this past weekend. I was pitchin' jigs at docks with one of them and flukin' with the other. Landed a few fish, nothing huge but the reels did great. Casting, reeling, fighting fish, no problems. Plus they are feather light....I like that.

[Micro]

I've heard some Premiers are being delivered with one carbonmatrix washer (as opposed to 2 or 3 on other Revos) and that the max drag achievable is 8 lbs. Others are saying the drag equals that of the STX. I wonder if something got changed for there is a SNAFU in the production line.

I'm going to be buying a new reel in the next few weeks and I looking hard at getting another Revo - possibly the Premier. That killer drag on the Revos is a big issue selling point for me.

[Bassn Blvd]

I haven't had my Premier long, but..... I already have problems >

1. The reel whines at times when making far cast and no its not the bearings it is related to the spool tension knob. (Was able to get rid of it using reel grease).

 

Ditto.  Mine does the same thing after 2 lube jobs.  I'm sending it back to Cabellas for an exchange.  I'm going to replace it with another because I like the weight and it cast extremely well.  If the replacement does the same thing then ABU can go to #$%$

[Micro]

I've got 5 Revos and my only issue is that they came underlubricated (or less than I like) and the documentation sucks.  The little booklet doesn't even tell you how to access the spool.  Other than that, I've had zero problems with them.  No noise, sqeals, backplay - nothing.  

I'm just curious about the Premier, particularly the drag.  Other than SE_FL_BASS' and Bassn's problems, the drag seems to be the only complaints I've seen.  Not that the drag is bad, but that it's not capable of the same force as the STX/SX/SC/S.  

[Gatorbassman]

I've got 5 Revos and my only issue is that they came underlubricated (or less than I like)

IMO, you should always take a new reel out and have it lubed and greased. I take them to my reel guy still in the box.

[shortbasser]

I made a suggestion regarding some of the Revo problems folks were having some time in another thread.

I had an opportunity to contact Abu when one of my STX reels developed some "pitting" in the cross piece in front of the line guide. Sent them an email asking what might could be done. They promptly answered it and said ship it back to them ASAP that they had not seen that problem and were quite concerned. I was about to leave on a weeks fishing trip but shipped it anyway thinking it would get back in time. Well, I got caught by a holiday. Called them and the gal asked if I needed/wanted an immediate replacement. My reply....YES. Got it the day before I left and have had no problems since.

Abu Garcia customer service is quite interested in the performance of their new reels. They told me they want us fishermen to stay happy.

So I would suggest that anyone with any sort of problem with any Revo series get hold of them and I feel certain they will make it right.

I am so happy with my STX's that a 4th one is sked to arrive tomorrow.

I did think about getting a Premier but not too sure I would be happy with one. The weight doesn't bother me. So for another $60 I get 2 oz. less weight and 5 less bearings. The spool is different too. I too wonder about the drag on the Premier. Have not been able to find a firm figure for it like they listed for the STX. Supposed to be the same Linear system though. ??

Maybe I will zip an email off to them and ask for the details on the Premier drag. I'll post their reply for all to see.

Shortbasser

[Micro]

The head of the reel department for Abu in the US is Bob Hulme. I recently had a problem with a bail roller bearing on an older Cardinal 500 and called Abu to order the part - it was an easy fix. Abu told me that wasn't a part that should have gone bad and wanted to see the reel. I sent it in to the attention of Bob Hulme on a Thursday. I never said I wanted to make a warranty claim and did not provide a receipt. Nevertheless, I received a brand new reel on Friday of the following week. Abu's service is phenominal.

About the Premier, the prevailing sentiment is is that the drag has fewer carbonmatrix disks than the STX, thus lower drag weights are achievable.   But that the drag weights achievable are in line with other lightweight reels from other manufacturers.

I wonder if the Premier has an aluminum gear (as opposed to brass in the STX).

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

"I could have had a V-8".

[fishfordollars]

I have had mine for a while and have experienced none of the above problems. It's been kicked, steped on, and abused more than it should have. Above post on Abu's service is right on. Just let them know if there is a problem and it gets fixed quick.

[Micro]

Hmm...

"I could have had a V-8".

Be fair, now, RW.  The question is:  is the Premier's drag as strong as the STX's, or is it only as strong as a Shimano's?   That's what the issue is tantamount to.  Sure, a few people have had problems, the vast majority have not.  Just like with any other reel.   The Premier having a weaker drag than the STX isn't a problem, it's a characterisitc.  

[Bassn Blvd]

The drag on the Premier in my opinion is not anything to brag about IMHO.  There is not much room between loose and hammered, unlike My Shimano's, particulary my Calcutta.  Maybe I'm comparing oranges to apples though.  I also noticed that the drag will not loosen as well as my other reels either.  The line still has plenty of tension to it when I back the drag all the way down for  storing.  Perhaps I'm just spoiled with my Shimanos and few Diawas.  I do like the design, weight and castability though so therefore I will give mine a 2nd shot but I will not buy 2.  I already spoke to Cabelas ( where I bought it ) and they respectfully said to send it in for a replacement.  

[Micro]

This must be an issue unique to the Premier.  Because my Revos are clearly superior to my Curados with respect to drag.  The Revo and Curado are pretty close in most other respects, but the drag ain't one of them.  The Curado's drag is perfectly adequate.  But the drag on my Revos are super-smooth and mega-powerful.  

I'd like to know if the gear in the Premier is aluminum.  As well as the number of carbonfiber disks in the drag.   The STX has a brass gear and 3 carbonfiber disks.   I suspect the reduced drag is a weight saving measure.  This puts the Revo Premier's drag in the same class as light Shimanos and Daiwas.  I believe Daiwas use aluminam gears as well.

[roadwarrior]

The question is:  is the Premier's drag as strong as the STX's, or is it only as strong as a Shimano's?   That's what the issue is tantamount to.  Sure, a few people have had problems, the vast majority have not.  Just like with any other reel.   The Premier having a weaker drag than the STX isn't a problem, it's a characterisitc.  

Are you guys using these reels for saltwater fishing?

I have NEVER employed half my drag capabilities on

ANY reel...EVER. My MAXIMUM measured setting is

less than 4 lbs.

[Bassn Blvd]

I'm not using my Premier in saltwater, yet.  I don't hammer the drag either.  In fact, I probably fish too loose of a drag.  I'm sure I didn't explain myself correctly.

When I loosen the drag on my Shimano's and Diawas to stow them, they go from snug to very loose and you can pull the line out effortlessly with one finger.  But when I loosen the drag on the Premier it goes from snug to loose back to snug and the line does not come out effortlessly, as if the drag is not loosened all the way.  I'm sure it's nothing to gripe about though.  I was just making a comparison,

I haven't caught any decent bass yet(over 4lbs) on the Premier to really test the drag.

[Micro]

RW, I said in a previous thread that the Curado's drag was more than adequate for bass fishing, and the Revo's was WAY more than adequate.   I don't crank the drag down on any of my reels, either.  That's why I wonder what's so bad about an 8 lb drag.  The main complaint I've seen about the Premier is that it "only has an 8 lb drag" and that it's not as powerful as the STX's drag.  What's inadequate about 8 lbs?  It's as good as the Steez and Chronarch Mg.  

But my other question is about the difference between the Premier's drag and the STX's drag.  I don't know why the STXs is so much stronger, in absolute terms, than the Premier.   That's what I'd like to know.  

[Bassn Blvd]

Micro,

I don't measure my drag except by hand/feel.  I wonder if the big difference in the drag between the two is for a sales pitch? I'm curious too.  Come on RW, do tell.

[Micro]

That's what I do - by feel, and by the way my rod gets loaded.  I probably use less drag than most people.

My curiosity was piqued by comments at Tackle Tour where some people apparently did measure the drag pressure.   There is speculation that there are fewer drag disks, but no one has said for sure.  Abu's website doesn't help, and there is no schematic for the Premier available on their site.  

I understand you had problems that went beyond just the drag pressure.   I've seen fewer comments about problems similar to yours than I have about the maximum drag achievable.  So many comments that I'm sure there is a difference between the drags (Premier vs. STX).  I just don't know what it is but think the number of disks is a likely source.    I had previously assumed they were the same.  

Other than a few negative experiences, like yours, the Premier is generally well-regarded from what I have seen.  

The reason I'm interested is because I want a lightweight baitcaster and the Premier is in the running.