ChiCityBasser Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 I saw the smoke spinning reel in the display case and had to give it a few turns. I thought the look was awesome, love the blacked out paint, but when i started reeling it i realized how cheap it felt. My $80 sahara is a smoother reel, my Ci4 is in a whole other world... For baitcasters, i was shopping between quantum pt's, curado's, and revos. I thought the finish and smoothness totally went to the curado, ended up getting the 201e7, absolutely love it. Ive tried to like quantums but if im putting the money out its going to be a shimano with pflueger and abu at a close second... Display case models are not usually as smooth as the display models that have had some turns on them. Quote
WookieeJedi Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 I have an older Quantum EX200 baitcaster that I have had since the 90's. It was on a crankbait rod for a long time, then I switched it over to a 7'6" striper rod, just because it has more capacity. As you can imagine, both of those roles have sorely mistreated it, yet it still casts and retrieves well, and the drag is silky smooth. I'm thinking maybe stuff used to be made better, because I'm also still using a Shimano B100 from the 80's and a Shakespeare Alpha 1982 (my first baitcaster). Neither looks new, but they both still work like new. Quote
basscatcher8 Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 I still run a couple of 40 dollar quantums that I bought at walmart back in like 04/05. They have been tanks for me, still cast like a dream and work great. I use them mostly for flipping so I dont know if that has anything to do with them still working so good or not. Quote
Elk River Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 I made the choice today to buy a Quantum Smoke spinning reel I got it for $127 from TW on a price match. I have already made one mistake just hope this isn't another. I bought a Powell Diesel rod and a Abu Orra S reel. Love the rod but Im sorry to anyone that has one the reel felt cheap and was defective had to send it back(didn't have threads in it to screw in handle). This is why I ordered the smoke, I have had the chance to try one out and fell in love with it. My point is all I use are Shimano's and just cant say anything bad about them but the ones I have and tried on the rod just dont feel right with it. So that meant trying another brand and so far it hasn't worked out. Quote
Super User NorcalBassin Posted March 7, 2012 Super User Posted March 7, 2012 They just got a great review from TT about the new Exo... they're pretty influentual with their reviews, so I imagine Quantum is pretty happy right now. Quote
slowpoke274 Posted March 8, 2012 Posted March 8, 2012 ive got a couple quantum energy reels that i bought in 99 and with a cleaning and lube job at the beginning of every season they still work as well as the day i bought them even have a 40.00 cx 200 combo from wal mart from around 2000 that i still use every year for my buzzbaits and its a little champ so you never know until you get it on the water i love my quantums and am loyal to the brand as i grew up fishing zebco 33 reels that my grand dad passed down to my dad just my 2 cents Quote
TrippyJai Posted March 8, 2012 Posted March 8, 2012 My first baitcasting reel I've ever bought was Quantum Energy PT and the finish was awful. After a couple of weeks from leisure fishing, it started to flake. I was not impressed to say the least. After that, I purchased my first Curado D and was extremely happy with the reel that I hopped on the Shimano bandwagon. Shimano isn't perfect either because I've had many problems with my Curados and Citicas, but they are usually minor. I love the value and performance of these reels. I feel that they will last me forever as long as I clean them and don't abuse them. All I can say is I feel comfortable with a Shimano in my hand. I had a chance to play with the Smoke and it looks like a great reel. Quantum has really stepped up recently. On the other hand, I was really disappointed in the new G series launched by Shimano. Quote
The Next KVD Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 Made in China. Enough said. Rather send my money to Japanese reels and American rods. Shimano and St.Croix can't get much better than that. Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted March 9, 2012 Super User Posted March 9, 2012 Made in China. Enough said. Rather send my money to Japanese reels and American rods. Shimano and St.Croix can't get much better than that. My stradics are made in Malaysia, not Japan. My Penns are made in China and every bit as good as my stradics. My Quantum Cabo is on a par with both Penn and my Shimanos and they aren't made in Japan. My Sorons are the smoothest of the entire bunch and they are made in China. I like my Shimano equipment, but I like the other brands equally as well. I have an American made Avet, is it better than it's Chinese counterpart, I doubt it. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 9, 2012 Super User Posted March 9, 2012 I'm guessing TNK was making a point about not sending his money to a communist country, and quality. Just a guess - and remember, let's keep the politics out of it, and leave it at that. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 9, 2012 Super User Posted March 9, 2012 "My Brand is better than Your Brand" threads are perhaps my least favorite topics on the entire BR fishing forum. Rarely if ever, do these threads add anything constructive to what is otherwise such an excellent site. I can't even call them entertaining as they routinely cause disharmony. Questions regarding certain brands / models are routinely answered with adequate information provided by members who have experience using the equipment. Posts offering the opportunity to debate brand quality, performance and dependability, elicit responses that appear defensive, misrepresented and hard to interpret; completely different from so many of the high quality responses elsewhere on the forum. Opinions regarding tackle inferiority are a waste of time. It doesn’t matter. This site is loaded with photos of amazing fish landed with every brand imaginable, How is that possible . . . . . . . . . . . . A-Jay 2 Quote
The Next KVD Posted March 10, 2012 Posted March 10, 2012 My stradics are made in Malaysia, not Japan. My Penns are made in China and every bit as good as my stradics. My Quantum Cabo is on a par with both Penn and my Shimanos and they aren't made in Japan. My Sorons are the smoothest of the entire bunch and they are made in China. I like my Shimano equipment, but I like the other brands equally as well. I have an American made Avet, is it better than it's Chinese counterpart, I doubt it. I have nothing against Chinese made products, but if given the choice I would choose an American product over a Chinese version everyday. If you like them and they work great for you thats cool. Look at KVD, the guy is my idol but he uses alot of non american products and I'm cool with that. As far as the Shimano products, I only buy the ones made in Japan with the exception of the 2 spinning reels due to all them in my price range being made in Malaysia . Sadley I will not be buying the new curados or citicas anytime soon which is okay because I love the chronachs more and have quite a few of the older versions along with th older citica e's. Too me, I'd much rather put my money towards as many American products to help produce/substain jobs for my fellow citizens. I know I can't always buy American because there is no American version but if the choice is there I'll almost always take the American product even if it cost me more. I say almost because I don't think I'll switch over to Ardent reels but than again I haven't seen or get a hold of one yet. If your not into that thats cool with me, use what you like. I'm guessing TNK was making a point about not sending his money to a communist country, and quality. Just a guess - and remember, let's keep the politics out of it, and leave it at that. Sorry, didn't mean to make this about politics. But your right about not sending money to a communist country. I will say some products out of China have excellent quality but those are far and few between that meet my standards of "quality". Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted March 10, 2012 Super User Posted March 10, 2012 I don't disagree with anything said about buying foreign products. The reality is this, a good portion of American Companies don't care about putting people to work, their priority is profits and making money for their investors. Just approaching this from a business standpoint, if companies can produce products cheaper in another country, then that's what they are going to do. Consumers want the best product at the best price, whether it's fishing gear, a screwdriver or, a no.2 leaded pencil, that's human nature. The point is buying products from companies outside the United States, communist or not reduces American manufacturing jobs. Being true to the conviction of supporting American labor, Shimano and other foreign products would be eliminated from many people's arsenal, doesn't seem to be the case. I'd love to see my stradics made here, but I doubt that will happen. It's a good product and that's why I own it. Quote
Al Wolbach Posted March 10, 2012 Posted March 10, 2012 I would like to see the charter of any company change from, "how do we make it just as good cheaper" to "how do we improve it". When the front office is separated from the manufacturing facilities by thousands of miles and different languages quick mods or improvements are not going to happen. Just a sign of the times I suppose......................Al Quote
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