The REVOlution Continues, Abu Garcia’s New Gen 3 Premier

[Pegasus]

I'm of the opinion that my Gen 3 STX is a great reel in comparison to other $199 MSRP reels. I'm going fishing today and I'm going to try and remember to compare the "smoothness" between it and one of my Gen 2 Premiers. But I feel it smoother than any of my Zillions or green Curados.

Please lets not compare the smoothness of the Zillion to the STX there must be something wrong with your Zillion.

Well I'm making a concrete comparison rather than offering a meaningless opinion. Sorry, but IMO my STX IS smoother than the Zillions. I've also fished them both quite extensively and am not offering my opinion based on fishing a friends for a few minutes or handling a display model in a store.

I have owned a gen. 2 Stx for a whole year and no way I could ever compare it to my Zillion,never mind a Gen.3

[Buck2thPerch]

I see Zander had the same impression and issue with the big gear box as I did. Zander solidifies what Steezman started on his gearbox thread. Hate to beat an old dead horse on this subject.

http://forums.tackletour.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=45817

The Revo STX Gen2 were smooth but never in the class of the Zillions. The build quality of the Zillions are higher and better than any of the Revo reels - durability, finish, precision, and pure cranking power. The only thing the Revo's have a leg up on is Drag Power. And Drag Power is not the "End All" for any reel. Even my Liberto Pixy Amber Orange at 4lbs of Drag Power is far superior in many ways versus the Revo Permier.

If Abu Garcia went away from Brass Gears for the Revo Gen3s, I don't know how the Gears will hold up with that much Drag Power. It would be very interesting to see what alloy or metal is used for the Pinion and Main Gear in the Revos. I am pretty sure Pure Fishing did all of thier testings and research already but....there is always a "but" in there.

I'll keep my few Gen2 STXs vs buying new Gen3s as the money would be better spent on a new Core 50MG7 or Pixy-R.

[Reeltor]

Just read the review about the 3rd generation revo on TT. For one I don't understand why there was so much praise for this reel
They are by no means smooth and the big gear bulge. I have fished both a friend of mine couldn't stop talking about how great they were, well he had to return both one for gear failure and the other for noticeable wear.
I wasn't surprised when the review mentioned similar gear wear.
That is probably why they come with the lube port hole, they anticipate the reel will loose smoothness early.
Something that didn't happened when they had brass gears
I read a post not too long where the member couldn't help but feel that the great reviews on TT was partially responsible
for the success of the Revo line

The Premier has always had duraluminum gears.

[jeb]

I see Zander had the same impression and issue with the big gear box as I did.

No, he did not. He said "Most anglers, including myself, are okay with how the reel feels in hand, though I do find myself holding the reel a little differently with my fingers split around the bulbous gearbox."

Also, he has actually put time on the water fishing one, which is different from you or Steezman.

[justgopen]

I’ve had all three generations of the Revo series and in comparison I feel like the Gen 3 Premier is just as smooth out of the box. After about three months the reel did lose some of this but I never felt like it wasn’t “smooth.” When you take the reel apart the one thing I noticed was it had a lot less lubrication on the gears than reels from some other brands where the teeth are all really greased up. I’ve actually personally found that the new Premier is a big improvement ergonomically, its lighter more compact and palms fine to me. That said my brother doesn’t like the way the reel feels, and definitely is bothered by the gearbox. I think the article is right on when it talks about how “polarizing” the ergonomics can be.

But I feel like at least Abu is pushing the envelope. I used to be all Shimano and Daiwa but the latest reels are so plain vanilla, sure they don’t rock the boat but why would I buy a magnesium reel like the Core which weighs more, or buy a Chronarch that is a rebadged Curado? Daiwa reels are nice but to get the really good stuff the reels are simply out of reach, at least for me.

[runmax08]

I agree with all of the above with the exception of the "importance of drag pressure"...... Comparing a Revo Premier a reel that weighs less than 6 ounces with a Zillion, one that weighs more than 8 ounces. Drag pressure also indicates cranking power or torque IMO. My concern would be using no drag with a reel that is less than 6 ounces. Only time will tell.

[Pegasus]

I see Zander had the same impression and issue with the big gear box as I did. Zander solidifies what Steezman started on his gearbox thread. Hate to beat an old dead horse on this subject.

http://forums.tackletour.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=45817

The Revo STX Gen2 were smooth but never in the class of the Zillions. The build quality of the Zillions are higher and better than any of the Revo reels - durability, finish, precision, and pure cranking power. The only thing the Revo's have a leg up on is Drag Power. And Drag Power is not the "End All" for any reel. Even my Liberto Pixy Amber Orange at 4lbs of Drag Power is far superior in many ways versus the Revo Permier.

If Abu Garcia went away from Brass Gears for the Revo Gen3s, I don't know how the Gears will hold up with that much Drag Power. It would be very interesting to see what alloy or metal is used for the Pinion and Main Gear in the Revos. I am pretty sure Pure Fishing did all of thier testings and research already but....there is always a "but" in there.

I'll keep my few Gen2 STXs vs buying new Gen3s as the money would be better spent on a new Core 50MG7 or Pixy-R.

You are so right on the comments you made about the Zillion , I forgot to mention the far superior quality, I do however realize
that it cost more so I don't understand why the comparison was made to begin with by the earlier member not even the Premier
is in the same class yes bigger drag but so what ? precision and quality is what counts a Zillion is like a little jewel.

[Pegasus]

I see Zander had the same impression and issue with the big gear box as I did.

No, he did not. He said "Most anglers, including myself, are okay with how the reel feels in hand, though I do find myself holding the reel a little differently with my fingers split around the bulbous gearbox."

Also, he has actually put time on the water fishing one, which is different from you or Steezman.

Come on Jeb I read your first post when you got the reel you had a few complains about the tension knob , the bulging gearbox, and that you didn't find it to be as smooth as you thought it would be you just thought it was an ok reel now what?
I understand people buy things and defend their purchase but be sincere if you are going to comment.

[muskyhunter]

Lol....I just sold the last of my zillions and got some lighter reels as replacements. Included are two stx reels. Love them so far.

[Pegasus]

Lol....I just sold the last of my zillions and got some lighter reels as replacements. Included are two stx reels. Love them so far.

Well good for you LOL I am sure you will come to regret the move.

[jeb]

I see Zander had the same impression and issue with the big gear box as I did.

No, he did not. He said "Most anglers, including myself, are okay with how the reel feels in hand, though I do find myself holding the reel a little differently with my fingers split around the bulbous gearbox."

Also, he has actually put time on the water fishing one, which is different from you or Steezman.

Come on Jeb I read your first post when you got the reel you had a few complains about the tension knob , the bulging gearbox, and that you didn't find it to be as smooth as you thought it would be you just thought it was an ok reel now what?
I understand people buy things and defend their purchase but be sincere if you are going to comment.

I disagree. I did complain, or at least express concern over, the spool tension knob force needed. But I only mentioned the bigger gearbox as noticeable, not as a problem or a complaint as some here are suggesting it is. And I have never said the reel was not smooth, only that it makes more gear noise at times. It reminds me of my Calais DC that way, smooth but noisey.

[muskyhunter]

Lol....I just sold the last of my zillions and got some lighter reels as replacements. Included are two stx reels. Love them so far.

Well good for you LOL I am sure you will come to regret the move.

maybe i will maybe i wont but i prefer my gen 2 premiers and stx to my zillions so i highly doubt it. time will tell.

[KCL655321]

Don't have a G3 Premier, probably won't ever pick one up do to not being an IVCB fan compared to dual braking, but the more I fish my G3 STXes, which unfortunately are in hibernation, the more I like them. They're not quite as smooth & a bit noisier than my G2 Revos, but they're close along with being really light & disappearing in my hand. Good to read in the review that pesky boat rash issue on the G2's has apparently been fixed, although I never had an issue with it, but I baby my stuff & don't catch enough big fish to do the "OMG, BIG FISH, DROP REEL, GET FISH!" enough to really test them out, which is the only time I don't carefully set them down.

I just don't get your persistence in coming into every(or starting in this case) G3 Revo thread & ragging about the same stuff & how they don't compare to Shimano/Daiwa while acting like anyone that likes their Revos is some kind of diluted Abu fanboy. I've dabbled in just about every brand of low profiles except Daiwa(on the water, not display fondling or borrowing) & from everything I've experienced, you take a price point, the differences are personal preference & branding/marketing, the quality is comparable across the major brands. If you don't like the new Revos & think they're junk, there's a world of reels out there to suit your needs.

[Pegasus]

Don't have a G3 Premier, probably won't ever pick one up do to not being an IVCB fan compared to dual braking, but the more I fish my G3 STXes, which unfortunately are in hibernation, the more I like them. They're not quite as smooth & a bit noisier than my G2 Revos, but they're close along with being really light & disappearing in my hand. Good to read in the review that pesky boat rash issue on the G2's has apparently been fixed, although I never had an issue with it, but I baby my stuff & don't catch enough big fish to do the "OMG, BIG FISH, DROP REEL, GET FISH!" enough to really test them out, which is the only time I don't carefully set them down.

I just don't get your persistence in coming into every(or starting in this case) G3 Revo thread & ragging about the same stuff & how they don't compare to Shimano/Daiwa while acting like anyone that likes their Revos is some kind of diluted Abu fanboy. I've dabbled in just about every brand of low profiles except Daiwa(on the water, not display fondling or borrowing) & from everything I've experienced, you take a price point, the differences are personal preference & branding/marketing, the quality is comparable across the major brands. If you don't like the new Revos & think they're junk, there's a world of reels out there to suit your needs.

You also missed the point completely I know there is a lot of choices and nobody is forcing me to buy anything I just posted my opinion about the reel after reading the reviews. I don't find it as good as people make it out to be there are many on this forum who share the same opinion that is all. and yes to each his own, my God what this forum has become I can't believe it.
I don't know what you mean about coming into every trend and ragging about it isn't what this site is all about how many trends
did you stick your nose into I bet plenty so what are you talking about ? I have my opinion you got .

[Boondock]

You have measured weight at 7.7 but later in the article at 5.87...
Good read