GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
General => General Topwater & Jigging Discussion => Topic started by: Mark Gwynne on July 08, 2013, 10:34:43 PM
-
Alan Hawk has done his review.
http://www.alanhawk.com/reviews/13SW.html
-
Thank's Mark. I think I'm going to stick with my 08 Stellas for a while longer :D
-
Got to love Alans attention to detail, i still want all of them with pubes or not.
-
Interesting
I bought the 6000 and the 14K.. .. I found a huge amount of play in the shaft as Alan reported. The reels were strong and I better check for crrsion as I left the line on!
better go
rob
-
I would expect a very quick response from Shimano to correct the shaft play, replacement of the Thailand bearing (what the hell were they thinking) and upgraded pinion gear and waterproofing issues.
Its up about 25% in price and made decontented as well as running greater tolerances in key areas.
From the company that always got it so right with the Stella this is hugely disappointing.
Yep. 2008 Stella for now and wait for extended usage reports from heavy users.
-
All I can say is WTF were they thinking.........they were at the top of their game with the SW, but have certainly let it slide.
I hope it is not a case of profits before quality!
Not happy Jan!!!!! >:(
Cheers,
Ian
-
Interesting about the drag knob spring. I used a friends' 14K and really didn't like the drag at all. Not because of any lack of smoothness, but that it took too long to lock it down after the strike. For my own self, i prefer the feel of the original coil spring because of the fact that you get a quicker and stronger response at the higher end of the drag setting. We wondered as to why that was with the new reels, and i guess now we know!
-
Nathan - so far that drag which takes forever to tighten is my only negative comment on the new Stellas. Not that I change drag after the strike very often but I would like to know that to do so I do not have to keep turning the knob forever.
Alan's reviews are always quite remarkable in their attention to detail and this one is no exception.
In his conclusion he states that the 2013 Stella will not make it to his top five list of the "Finest Offshore Spinning Reels". Wow :o. That, in Alan's opinion, makes it a worse reel than Van Staal Bailed and the Accurate Twinspin!
-
Think the whole thing is a bit over-hyped anyway.
I wasn't ever going to replace my 08 reels and the 13 reels I did buy just completed gaps in my ever expanding collection of rods and line weights.
It's incredibly annoying that these weaknesses are built into the new reel and Shimano need to retrospectively fix these issues quickly for their reels to maintain their dominance. However, I don't overstress any of my reels, not even the old ones, by upgrading drag systems and using non-standard oversize spools so I guess I am unlikely to have any issues with the 13 reels in terms of their use.
Think that placing it below reels like the Accurate is a bit of a knee-jerk, or at least I hope so.
Regards,
Trevor
-
Let's not burn the new Stella at the stake and let's put things into perspective. Every single Stella since release has been a great reel but not a perfect reel. I expect the current series to be no different to that. I have owned Stellas in every series since the F series and the large majority of each model in each series. There have been small faults in every series and I make the point that I have broken nearly every reels in every series. That said, I continue to buy Stellas as my reel of choice and the reason is simple - I haven't found a better reel on the market for what I use them for. On my current series Stellas, every 10000 and 18000 has had something break that has required an expensive repair.
Alan is a technician and a very capable one at that. He is able to pull a reel apart and get right into the minutiae of its construction. I am not but I don't need to be. I only need the reel to perform as it has been designed to perform. This is analogous to the car I drive.
Alan did say (quote from his review):
Let me put it all in perspective. The reel is immensely strong. They went for maximum rigidity as a design concept and this was undoubtedly achieved. I jigged, popped, trolled, and live baited, and landed a combined total of roughly 2.5 tons of hard fighting pelagic fish, including BFT up to an estimated 180lb, without a problem. The reliability is unquestionable and I can't see them failing on fish
I think what he has written there is enough for me. The main issue is whether there is any need to rush out to replace your 08 Stellas and I think we also have the answer to that. In fact, I am sure Shimano will respond quickly to any faults that become apparent so there may actually be good reason to wait.
I suspect that part of the problem here was the ridiculous hysteria on the part of some anglers that accompanied the announcement of the reel. I made the comment at that time that I couldn't see what this reel was going to do that the F Series or the FA or the 08 didn't do. I still don't but I have said that at the release of every new reel and I still went out and bought them!! :o
-
You have to respect Alan Hawk's thoroughness, but sometimes I think he neglects the obvious. I remember reading his review of the Tica Talisman reel with no mentioning of the fact that the reel has a handle the size of a mid sized salami - kind of impractical for a reel that is supposed to be used for casting.
In the Stella review, strangely he does not touch upon that great, great mystery: Why oh why did they keep the egg handle... :'( :'( :'(
-
Alan clearly thinks there is a down grade from the SS pinion in the SW-A to brass pinion. To those of you who have fished long enough to have punished both the FA and SW: Do you think there is a big difference between the life time of the brass pinion in the FA and the SS pinion in the SW-A? Just curious to hear the practical side of it.
Cheers
-
Nathan - so far that drag which takes forever to tighten is my only negative comment on the new Stellas. Not that I change drag after the strike very often but I would like to know that to do so I do not have to keep turning the knob forever.
Alan's reviews are always quite remarkable in their attention to detail and this one is no exception.
In his conclusion he states that the 2013 Stella will not make it to his top five list of the "Finest Offshore Spinning Reels". Wow :o. That, in Alan's opinion, makes it a worse reel than Van Staal Bailed and the Accurate Twinspin!
Mark, what dont you like with the twinspin accurates ?
I would expect shimano to be looking at this asap, given the marketing hype & cost of the reels. Leigh
-
Leigh, it might be easier if you ask him what he likes about the reel! ;D
-
Peter i think it would take an extensive amount of use to notice a difference between the brass and stainless pinions but brass is obviously the softer metal which made this the most disappointing thing for me in the review. As it was a conscious decision to go backwards.
As soon as i read the review i checked the new 20000 against the old 18000 and sure enough the play was there and its not hard to notice, I'm going to check the smaller sizes today and see if the play is constant across all sizes
Sean
-
It's obvious that Alan is a very skilled and articulate person in this respect.
I'd take it for what it's worth and don't claim that the sky is falling like a few comments I disappointingly read above. You know what Ian and Trevor - don't buy it?
I'd rather see reviews after a season or 2 of heavy GT and Bluefin fishing. Then I'd be able to associate more valuable data that actually relates to how it realistically performs in the field.
The Top 5 is a list based on scores - based only on his appraisal.
It doesn't reflect the opinion, performance and popularity amongst top-end reels according to the man on the street. Something to put into perspective!
-
As soon as i read the review i checked the new 20000 against the old 18000 and sure enough the play was there and its not hard to notice, I'm going to check the smaller sizes today and see if the play is constant across all sizes
Sean
It is there is there with the 5000 as well but perhaps less noticeably.
-
All quite correct Luke - as captivating as Alan's reviews are, extensive field use is what will determine any reel's success or failure.
On the top 5 lists thing, I am wondering whether Alan just might have (for once) become wrapped up in the emotions of his own disappointment with certain factors of the 2013 Stella. If he did, that would be understandable. Objectively, I am truly struggling to see how the 2013 Stella can be a worse reel than "some others" on that list!
I guess many of us were a bit surprised about the fairly rapid appearance of a new Stella when the 2008 was such a fine model. There is nothing too unusual about that though when you look at other consumer industries - model replacement is the way with so much of modern-day commerce, no matter how good the preceding model may have been.
It's obvious that Alan is a very skilled and articulate person in this respect.
I'd take it for what it's worth and don't claim that the sky is falling like a few comments I disappointingly read above. You know what Ian and Trevor - don't buy it?
I'd rather see reviews after a season or 2 of heavy GT and Bluefin fishing. Then I'd be able to associate more valuable data that actually relates to how it realistically performs in the field.
The Top 5 is a list based on scores - based only on his appraisal.
It doesn't reflect the opinion, performance and popularity amongst top-end reels according to the man on the street. Something to put into perspective!
-
Think the whole thing is a bit over-hyped anyway.
I wasn't ever going to replace my 08 reels and the 13 reels I did buy just completed gaps in my ever expanding collection of rods and line weights.
It's incredibly annoying that these weaknesses are built into the new reel and Shimano need to retrospectively fix these issues quickly for their reels to maintain their dominance. However, I don't overstress any of my reels, not even the old ones, by upgrading drag systems and using non-standard oversize spools so I guess I am unlikely to have any issues with the 13 reels in terms of their use.
Think that placing it below reels like the Accurate is a bit of a knee-jerk, or at least I hope so.
Regards,
Trevor
Luke,
If you interpreted my comments as ' the sky is falling' then I suggest you read them again.
I actually said that I've bought the new reels and am happy to use them and I also stated that in practical terms the issues raised in Alan's review are unlikely to affect me. It is, however, an issue that Shimano chose to downgrade some of the engineering in a reel that now costs some 20% more. The market will decide whether that's an issue or not.Not me, nor you.
Regards,
Trevor
-
Sustained Trevor ;)
Lars: this is very valid and quite frankly, hilarious!
"You have to respect Alan Hawk's thoroughness, but sometimes I think he neglects the obvious. I remember reading his review of the Tica Talisman reel with no mentioning of the fact that the reel has a handle the size of a mid sized salami - kind of impractical for a reel that is supposed to be used for casting."
-
Phew, that's a relief ;) ;D
-
"1-Love. Mr Skinner has one challenge remaining."
:)
-
Marko,
Damn, I've pulled a hammy.
Trev
-
Seriously though, Luke can pull me up for whatever he thinks he needs to. Surely that's what an exchange of opinions and information is about. I just thought he hadn't got my point properly.
He's a much more experienced fisherman than me and he's a guy I respect and like having spent time both fishing with him and as a roomy (tour rules apply mate).
Either we have a community or we don't.
Just my thoughts.
Trev
-
Spot on Trev. That's always been my view about on-line groups :)
-
I think there has been a huge amount of hype and anything that comes out is going to be a big talking point both negative and positive. I personally think that with the huge amount of R&D Shimano has at its disposal and also the number of extremely talented designers they have, a lot of the decisions are based on sound reasoning, from durability to cost to performance which we may never find out but if there is a problem I'm sure then it will be fixed if required. I have used a lot of reels and seen every major brand of reel being used on our boats in the last 10 years and there is no reel that does not break. The Stella has by far outperformed every other reel I have seen on GTs. So we do expect a lot from the Stella and I'm sure it will produce like every other previous model but we just have to give it time to come into its own and not believe everything we read. Alan Hawk's insight and amazing thoroughness is unmatched but also to get the following he has he also has to be a bit controversial in my opinion.
The same thing happened when the SW got launched there was a huge rush to get the SW and then a couple of months later there was a rush to try and buy the FA again. Change is always going to be hard and there will be new things we don't like and preferred on the previous models but over time the new will become the norm.
I for one have enjoyed using the new Stella and think the extended range it great. This next season we will see how the reel really holds up to a full GT season. I think the best review is our own as a fisherman. We still have FAs and SWs as charter reels so adding the 2013 will be a welcomed addition to the boats and our personal equipment, but it is definitely the case of not getting rid of all the SWs as they are still perfectly good reels. Must say the only thing I don't like is that the smaller Stellas have a great handle knob and then on the bigger models and the egg knob. Think this was an error in judgment but easily solved with an after market knob. But I also think has to do with the knowledge that most anglers will want to change the knob and there is more money to be made??? A bit of pimp my reel scenario!
Cheers,
Nick
-
Damn Trev I thought I was your roomy!!!
Back on topic the review has stopped me in my tracks - I need another 18000 for my MH80H ... and I am really sitting on the fence on which way to go - although I haven't seen a significant drop in prices for 2nd hand 2008 18000 SW's so it will be more than likely a 2013 model
Can always replace the bearing that is lower spec - not an issue but the play bugs me ... I did have hands on with a 14000 at the weekend but hadn't seen the review and I will need to check it out again.
-
Hey Alex... there are some real deals around for 2008 18000s if you look hard. Eg: http://www.gtpopping.com/forum/index.php?topic=6262.0 .
-
Hi Alex, I have a few clients that have wanted to sell their 18000SW I'll see if they are still available. Send it for a bit of Clem magic and they will be better than new!!
Cheers,
Nick
-
Thanks chaps - keep me in the loop if there are any!
-
It's obvious that Alan is a very skilled and articulate person in this respect.
I'd take it for what it's worth and don't claim that the sky is falling like a few comments I disappointingly read above. You know what Ian and Trevor - don't buy it?
I'd rather see reviews after a season or 2 of heavy GT and Bluefin fishing. Then I'd be able to associate more valuable data that actually relates to how it realistically performs in the field.
The Top 5 is a list based on scores - based only on his appraisal.
It doesn't reflect the opinion, performance and popularity amongst top-end reels according to the man on the street. Something to put into perspective!
Luke, as you state the sky isn't falling in, but none the less it has opened up some controversy on such an anticipated release and I guess it creates some negative thoughts to come out.
That's the great thing about forums such as this one, it allows free speech and the word to get around, so at least if there are any issues that need resolving, perhaps they will reach the right people to investigate them and make changes to correct them, which is good for all in the long run.
I hope it is the case with this one as well.
Cheers,
Ian