from reading threads on here about 6500's i have heard that the high speed's gears where out quickly but the premium mag is the best casting reel!

 

my first multi was the hi speed mate, great little reel that got me used to casting with them. i now use the daiwa's as i prefer them. only ever had 1 nest with the abu and if the gears can cope with the bristol channel mate they will cope with any clean/mixed beach.

 

I would go with a Pro for the right price!

 

Abu c3ct mag is all you want mate.. The high speed seems prone to gear stripping while the premium uses a alloy frame & sideplates which are susceptable to corrosion.

The C3CT mag has dark chromed brass sideplates plus a decent enough retrieve of 5.3:1. Slightly heavier than the high speed & the premium but you won't notice the difference!!

The Mag Pro is the same as the C3CT mag but with a dark green frame instead of the standard chrome.. usually comes at a higher price though..

 

Or if you fancy one which isn't a mag version fitting a knobby mag to an aboo is a doddle, an evenings leisurely effort.

Great light ground reels when you don't want a winch.
The biggest 2nd advantage of abus is their ease of customisation.

My knobbied 5500, started life as a non-mag BG 6500 and uses a 5000c cage from 1980.

You only need a spare cage spindle and spool to turn a 6500 into a 5500.

 

Go for the pro, much better, they are swedish made and much beefier and more durable than the others. and as for ease of casting they have the mag and centrifugal brakes, you can keep the 6 blocks fitted and then remove 2 a time as your ability improves.

tl

dai

 

I know this is off topic:

Ive had most Abus, the 7ht mag is a better all round reel for clean beaches.

 

Abu c3ct mag is all you want mate.. The high speed seems prone to gear stripping while the premium uses a alloy frame & sideplates which are susceptable to corrosion.

The C3CT mag has dark chromed brass sideplates plus a decent enough retrieve of 5.3:1. Slightly heavier than the high speed & the premium but you won't notice the difference!!

The Mag Pro is the same as the C3CT mag but with a dark green frame instead of the standard chrome.. usually comes at a higher price though..

All the reels you mentioned are C3 CT, C3 just meaning it has 3 bearings and CT meaning its an open cage version with no levelwind.

Casting wise there is nothing between them as the only real difference is the Hi speed has a ratchet, and the pro has Brass sideplates.

The Hi speed dose have different gears and I have heard of a few people damaging them, but if you use the reel properly in the first place (pump and wind) on the retrieve when it has a bit of weight to it, they will be fine.

The Abus arn't as salt and corrosion proof as other reels like the 7HT, but if you look after them and wash them after every use they will last for years.

Personally I like the Premium and HS as they are that bit lighter and I quite like having a ratchet on the HS, none are a touch on the Diawa 7HT Mags though! If you look around you can pick up a very good 2nd hand one for £120ish

 

All the reels you mentioned are C3 CT, C3 just meaning it has 3 bearings and CT meaning its an open cage version with no levelwind.

Casting wise there is nothing between them as the only real difference is the Hi speed has a ratchet, and the pro has Brass sideplates.

The Hi speed dose have different gears and I have heard of a few people damaging them, but if you use the reel properly in the first place (pump and wind) on the retrieve when it has a bit of weight to it, they will be fine.

The Abus arn't as salt and corrosion proof as other reels like the 7HT, but if you look after them and wash them after every use they will last for years.

Personally I like the Premium and HS as they are that bit lighter and I quite like having a ratchet on the HS, none are a touch on the Diawa 7HT Mags though! If you look around you can pick up a very good 2nd hand one for £120ish

Pop along to your local tackle dealer & ask for a 6500 C3CT mag & they should give you a dark chrome on brass sideplated reel with a chromed brass cage.

Ask for a 6500C3CT high speed mag & they should give you a red anodised alloy sideplated reel with a chromed brass cage. It will have a ratchet & the higher gearing as stated.

Ask for a 6500ct premium mag elite & they should give you a grey anodised alloy sideplated reel with a orange anodised alloy cage & orange handle.

Ask for the 6500ct mag pro & they should give you a dark chrome on brass sideplated reel with a green anodised alloy cage. The earlier ones also had a green handle, now with a standard drilled alloy handle!!

All else is the same.....

The C3CT mag is the heaviest, most durable & the most corrosion resistant as it is mainly of chromed brass construction while the others all use anodised ally either in the sideplates, the cage, or both..

There is a difference!!

 

Pop along to your local tackle dealer & ask for a 6500 C3CT mag & they should give you a dark chrome on brass sideplated reel with a chromed brass cage.

Ask for a 6500C3CT high speed mag & they should give you a red anodised alloy sideplated reel with a chromed brass cage. It will have a ratchet & the higher gearing as stated.

Ask for a 6500ct premium mag elite & they should give you a grey anodised alloy sideplated reel with a orange anodised alloy cage & orange handle.

Ask for the 6500ct mag pro & they should give you a dark chrome on brass sideplated reel with a green anodised alloy cage. The earlier ones also had a green handle, now with a standard drilled alloy handle!!

All else is the same.....

The C3CT mag is the heaviest, most durable & the most corrosion resistant as it is mainly of chromed brass construction while the others all use anodised ally either in the sideplates, the cage, or both..

There is a difference!!

Didn't say there was no difference did I???

I said casting wise, there is nothing between them and there isn't.

My point was just letting the guy know that all the above are C3 reels.

 

Didn't say there was no difference did I???

I said casting wise, there is nothing between them and there isn't.

My point was just letting the guy know that all the above are C3 reels.

Fair do's.

& the point I was making is that there is a choice of four reels in the current Abu magged 6500ct range, not just the three he mentioned..

My view is the one he omitted was perhaps the best choice? You clearly think differently! No probs:thumbs:

 

Fair do's.

& the point I was making is that there is a choice of four reels in the current Abu magged 6500ct range, not just the three he mentioned..

My view is the one he omitted was perhaps the best choice? You clearly think differently! No probs:thumbs:

Is this the one you mean Trev?

http://www.wsftackle.com/acatalog/abu_ambassadeur_6500_c3_ct_mag.shtml

 

Is this the one you mean Trev?

http://www.wsftackle.com/acatalog/abu_ambassadeur_6500_c3_ct_mag.shtml

Yes that's the best one if you don't mind it being a touch heavier and funnily enough it's usually a little bit cheaper than the others.

 

Thanks everyone for your comments really appreciate the response.

Pasty Steve I know the 7HT is probably the best Mag on the market - my mate Alx has just got a couple and look v.nice, but I really like the look and feel of the ABU's so will probably go for the regular Mag, especially as I can get it online for less than £100 at the moment.

Thanks again and tight lines all.

 

Yes that's the best one if you don't mind it being a touch heavier and funnily enough it's usually a little bit cheaper than the others.

How longs your name been Trev??




The answer is just about exactly what I would have said though!!:thumbs:

 

How longs your name been Trev??




The answer is just about exactly what I would have said though!!:thumbs:

It's just a bit of a no brainer really Trev. The Mag Elite is really just the same reel as the Mag Pro and the Premium Mag Elite except it has chromed brass side plates while the Premium has orange and grey anodised aluminium ones. Personally I think the heavier brass side plates are more robust and the chrome is more resistant to scratches but the Mag Elite is usually a few pound cheaper than the other two simply because it isn't called "Premium" or "Pro".

 

I have to admit that I thought the only ABU 6500s with brass side plates made now were the Mag Pro and Chrome Rockets.. You live and learn..

 

Chris,

if you are experienced with a fixed spool reel, pump the tackle in so as to spare the gears, look no further than the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 C3 CT Mag Hi-Speed Reel.

Had mine for 2 months and, after being scared of birdsnests, I've lowered the mags etc and cast 40% further than I ever used to.

Mine was 2nd hand via EBay but still a wonderful bit of kit.

 

Thanks Nigel - cheers for the advice - now you've got me thinking lol. Decisions decisions...think I'll have to pop along to my local tackle shop and check them out in the flesh.