Not much love for Abu around here, but here's my latest. 1600C IAR

[Shadowcaster1969]

With some maintenance and modifications, these reels are a joy to fish for a life time, perhaps more...

[Shadowcaster1969]

[Dalleinf]

1601c and seatrout

[Dalleinf]

With some maintenance and modifications, these reels are a joy to fish for a life time, perhaps more...

Beautiful tackle and great reels.
Just so difficult to find a 1601/2601 without paying $$$$$

[tincanary]

I was given the impression that many of the molds and stamping machines for the small 1500 and 2500 size Abu parts had been scraped after the 2011 production run, so that was the reason that they were not able to restart the production line. Building new molds and new stamping machines would just not produce a small Abu with the same feel...

You're mostly correct, but I don't believe they scrapped the tooling. According to the Small Ambassadeur book, the tooling became worn over the years and towards the end there were quality issues with reels produced in the 2000s. The 1500/2500 platform was changed very little during the near 40 years of production unlike the larger Ambassadeurs. Interestingly enough, some of the reels produced in the middle 2000s for the Japanese market had such a high rate of quality issues, they were sent back to Sweden, fixed, and sent to America to be sold here. This is a great book if you haven't read it. https://www.amazon.com/Small-Ambassadeu ... 0764348663 It contains everything about these reels; patents, history, schematics, production numbers, the whole shebang. It's an excellent read.

[Shadowcaster1969]

I was given the impression that many of the molds and stamping machines for the small 1500 and 2500 size Abu parts had been scraped after the 2011 production run, so that was the reason that they were not able to restart the production line. Building new molds and new stamping machines would just not produce a small Abu with the same feel...

You're mostly correct, but I don't believe they scrapped the tooling. According to the Small Ambassadeur book, the tooling became worn over the years and towards the end there were quality issues with reels produced in the 2000s. The 1500/2500 platform was changed very little during the near 40 years of production unlike the larger Ambassadeurs. Interestingly enough, some of the reels produced in the middle 2000s for the Japanese market had such a high rate of quality issues, they were sent back to Sweden, fixed, and sent to America to be sold here. This is a great book if you haven't read it. https://www.amazon.com/Small-Ambassadeu ... 0764348663 It contains everything about these reels; patents, history, schematics, production numbers, the whole shebang. It's an excellent read.

Half of me hope they figure out one way or another to re-start the production line... but strangely the other half hope that the legend of the small Abu reels continues with just what we have now so that people will appreciate them for what they are. Sadly, commoditization sometimes devalue our appreciation of fine things in our life...

[DirtyD64]

Awesome looking reel. I wanted to upgrade a 5500C Hi Speed I have for sale now, just couldn't find the parts to make it finesse capable. Any idea what they are worth???

[passion4perch]

The 5500 isn't really finesse. I have a couple myself that i use mainly for pike fishing as well as a 4600 which could be adapted more towards finesse but when you're tuning them its quite easy for them to end up quite nervous and hard to cast and control.

[tincanary]

but when you're tuning them its quite easy for them to end up quite nervous and hard to cast and control.

That's a fact. This can be mitigated by using a bit higher viscosity oil, but then your reel isn't going to look as cool as those Japanese YouTubers that can achieve 4 hours of free spool. A lot of surf fishermen will remove the level wind in order to achieve great distances. A NLW is usually accompanied by a mono mag brake which can be adjusted mid cast to mitigate backlashing. A good surf caster can empty the spool on an Abu 6500, reaching in excess of 300 yards. Fun fact about Abus. The 6500 CT (non level wind model) holds the world casting record at 313yd, and the 2500C holds the record for throwing a 5/8 plug. The 2500C set this record back in 1976 and no other reel has been able to beat it nearly 50 years later.

[dragon1]

but when you're tuning them its quite easy for them to end up quite nervous and hard to cast and control.

That's a fact. This can be mitigated by using a bit higher viscosity oil, but then your reel isn't going to look as cool as those Japanese YouTubers that can achieve 4 hours of free spool. A lot of surf fishermen will remove the level wind in order to achieve great distances. A NLW is usually accompanied by a mono mag brake which can be adjusted mid cast to mitigate backlashing. A good surf caster can empty the spool on an Abu 6500, reaching in excess of 300 yards. Fun fact about Abus. The 6500 CT (non level wind model) holds the world casting record at 313yd, and the 2500C holds the record for throwing a 5/8 plug. The 2500C set this record back in 1976 and no other reel has been able to beat it nearly 50 years later.

Yeppers...the OG TWS, was SANS line guide and levelwind. Also, are those Abus using the competition grade spools made in Italy and by other Euro aftermarket providers?

Those casting distance records reminds me so much of how long the Shelby Cobra held the 0-100-0 world record.

[tincanary]

but when you're tuning them its quite easy for them to end up quite nervous and hard to cast and control.

That's a fact. This can be mitigated by using a bit higher viscosity oil, but then your reel isn't going to look as cool as those Japanese YouTubers that can achieve 4 hours of free spool. A lot of surf fishermen will remove the level wind in order to achieve great distances. A NLW is usually accompanied by a mono mag brake which can be adjusted mid cast to mitigate backlashing. A good surf caster can empty the spool on an Abu 6500, reaching in excess of 300 yards. Fun fact about Abus. The 6500 CT (non level wind model) holds the world casting record at 313yd, and the 2500C holds the record for throwing a 5/8 plug. The 2500C set this record back in 1976 and no other reel has been able to beat it nearly 50 years later.

Yeppers...the OG TWS, was SANS line guide and levelwind. Also, are those Abus using the competition grade spools made in Italy and by other Euro aftermarket providers?

Those casting distance records reminds me so much of how long the Shelby Cobra held the 0-100-0 world record.

I think it was a competition grade spool. The thing I get a kick out of, 3 in 1 air tool oil was used in the spool bearings on that 6500 CT. Just an off the shelf oil that can be found at the hardware store.

[passion4perch]

That's a fact. This can be mitigated by using a bit higher viscosity oil, but then your reel isn't going to look as cool as those Japanese YouTubers that can achieve 4 hours of free spool. A lot of surf fishermen will remove the level wind in order to achieve great distances. A NLW is usually accompanied by a mono mag brake which can be adjusted mid cast to mitigate backlashing. A good surf caster can empty the spool on an Abu 6500, reaching in excess of 300 yards. Fun fact about Abus. The 6500 CT (non level wind model) holds the world casting record at 313yd, and the 2500C holds the record for throwing a 5/8 plug. The 2500C set this record back in 1976 and no other reel has been able to beat it nearly 50 years later.

I prefer mine with the slower viscosity oil if anything but I’m thinking about selling it because it doesn’t really fit my style of fishing.

[tincanary]

This one is one of my favorites. 2 spool bearings, the rest are polished bushings. I usually fish this guy for spring salmon and steelhead from the piers and float spawn, waxies, and Marabou jigs steelhead. The best part is, these are the factory installed 30 year old spool bearings. Everything is factory stock aside from the drag washers. It'll throw 3/16 Hot n Tots too.

[youtube]https://youtube.com/shorts/GQ_ZSFF8row?feature=share[/youtube]

[LowRange]

When i look at an Abu round reel, i am seeing a fishing reel from the 1930's Can't tell if its supposed to be good or not.

I have that problem when I look at loomis rods.

[dragon1]

This one is one of my favorites. 2 spool bearings, the rest are polished bushings. I usually fish this guy for spring salmon and steelhead from the piers and float spawn, waxies, and Marabou jigs steelhead. The best part is, these are the factory installed 30 year old spool bearings. Everything is factory stock aside from the drag washers. It'll throw 3/16 Hot n Tots too.

[youtube]https://youtube.com/shorts/GQ_ZSFF8row?feature=share[/youtube]

Damn homie, that's friggin' NUTS!