Abu Garcia
Ambassadeur 7000C3
Specifications |
Weight |
17.8oz |
Gear
Ratio |
4.1:1 |
Bearings |
3BB |
Line
Capacity (lb/yds) |
17/325, 20/270, 25/230 |
Additional Features |
Synchronized Levelwind, Precision brass gears, line out alarm, assembled in
Sweden |
MSRP |
$129.99 |
The Ambassadeur 7000C3 comes with
a reel clamp and oil for routine lubrication
About Abu Garcia: The history of
Abu Garcia is rich with heritage and reverence. By the river of Morrum in
Svangsta Car Borgstrom founded the original company in 1921. Originally the
company manufactured watches, telephone timers, and taximeters. But at the time
of World War II a sharp decline in these goods caused the founder's son, Gote
Borgstrom, to redirect the company's focus to that of the manufacture of
precision fishing reels. The first reels were marketed in 1939. The Ambassadeur
reels got their start in 1954 at the New York World's Fair, and one year later
ABU introduced the ABU444, their very first spinning reel. Since that time Abu
is considered among the most influential companies when it comes to fishing reel
design and development.
Impressions: Over the past few years larger
big game reels have gone from a focus on raw power to a balance of power and
refinement. While reels just a decade ago were capable of hauling in the largest
fish, many felt just about as smooth as hand held coffee grinders. The 7000C3
comes from a long line of reels that for the most part has not changed for over
a quarter of a century, except for advances in gearing and the adoption of
hardened materials for key components.
When you first pick up the 7000C3 the thing you
notice most is how simple the reel is in design. There is no fluff here, no
plastic accents, no gold finishes...just a utilitarian reel housing comprising
of two plates. There is one traditional Abu badge on the left plate, and the
rest of the information is found on two labels that extend around the reel
plates. These are the same type of labels found on the majority of all
Ambassedeur series reels. The build quality looks good, and the only plastic
that can be found on the reel is the actual hand grip. One very nice addition to
the overall package is a reel clamp for heavier salt applications.
Complete Rig
for Abu Garcia
Ambassadeur 7000C3 tests |
Rod |
Ugly
Stick BWC/AO 2201 |
Reel |
Abu
Garcia Ambassadeur 7000C3 |
Line |
20
lb. Trilene Big Game |
Real
World Tests: The Anbassedeur C3 series comes in sizes ranging from the
medium sized 4600 to the large 7000. The 7000 is a good crossover reel which can
be used for heavy fresh up to medium salt applications. The majority of our
tests centered around light to medium saltwater fishing for rockfish as well as
ocean running Salmon.
|
The
freespool button is placed on the right plate and is little more than a
metal switch |
Casting: Casting the 7000C3 may be tricky for some anglers, and
requires some adjustment to compensate for varying lure weights to prevent nasty
backlashes. For maximized casting distance anglers should first tie on and allow
the lure to freespool, then adjust the mechanical brake knobs on the reel
plates. If the lure falls too quickly it is too loose, and if it doesn't move at
all the lure will not cast well. While this is easy the adjustment of
centrifugal brake weights in this reel is awkward. Unlike competitor brake
weight systems that allow anglers to open a plate and snap weights forward and
back, the 7000C3 requires that anglers not only disassemble the right side of
the reel but rather than snapping weights forward and back they need to be
removed and switched with either lighter or heavier weights. Since there is
nothing holding the weights in place they can fall off or easily become
misplaced during the process. We highly recommend that you switch the brake
weights to match your preference at home and avoid doing so in the field.
The centrifugal system requires
the changing of weights, but because they slide freely they are easy to lose
Anglers that are fans of traditional baitcast
reels will also find the freespool button on the 7000C3 inconvenient. Unlike
thumb-bar freespool systems that can be activated and cast with one hand the
pushbutton on the 7000C3 requires your right thumb on the spool and your left
hand to activate the free spool. The button on the 7000C3 also leaves a lot to
be desired in terms of comfort, as it is simply a raised steel switch.
Once you are ready to toss lures the 7000C3 does
cast quite well, and can achieve a good distance with even light jigs and
poppers. The overall feel of the cast is good, and anglers will find the spool
quite easy to control despite it's wide diameter. Another plus for both casting
and retrieves is the use of titanium nitride plating on the line guide to
prevent abrasion.
Not all the gears are Swedish
machined brass
The Retrieve: The 7000C3 makes use of Swedish cut brass gears for a
smooth cast and retrieve. These gears are not cast, and are instead machined
from solid brass blocks for very tight tolerances. But we discovered that all
the gears in this reel are not brass, the levelwind gears for example make use
of both brass and composite plastic gears. Overall the combination of gears
results in a smooth retrieve, but one that is still unrefined. While fishing for
rockfish the fish would often snatch up the bait during the decent and we found
that disengaging the freespool with the handle requires more than half a turn of
the handle to employ a two-stage mechanism bringing the spool back in line with
the main gearing. This results in a slow transition back to the retrieve.
While the reel offers mid range cranking power it also exhibits some serious
slip when reeling quickly. When reeling in Salmon for example the fish would
often run towards the boat as it was brought closer the surface. To eliminate
slack in the line I cranked speedily on the reel and found the spool to slip
unnecessarily, reducing my overall control on the fish. Another complaint about
the retrieve is the excessive backplay found in the handle. While many saltwater
reels don't utilize roller bearings many of the new reels are implementing these
bearings for a more responsive retrieve. Finally, the 7000C3's hard plastic
handle leaves a lot to be desired in terms ergonomic comfort, with extended
fishing the hard plastic square does little to conform to the natural shape of
your hand.
The reel's simple design makes it
a good light-medium saltwater reel (here the reel is clamped in for still
fishing with the clicker engaged)
The Drag: The 7000C3 implements a multi disk system for solid drag
performance. In recent years the drag size has increased, and the upgrade in
overall drag surface area has helped the 7000C3 deliver very respectable drag
performance. During our tests even 25lb Salmon could do little to resist the
strong pressure exerted by the 7000C3, and quickly tired. Playing large fish was
enjoyable, and anglers can make quick corrections to the drag pressure by
rotating the adjustment star.
Line Out Alarm: The
7000C3 features a simple on-off switch to engage a audible clicker alarm. This
handy feature makes it possible to use the 7000C3 for trolling or still bait
fishing. Just make sure to disengage the clicker when casting or retrieving, as
it will interrupt normal operation.
The best attribute of the 7000C3
is the solid drag performance
Durability: One major plus in terms of
simple design is that there are few things that can go wrong. After months of
testing the 7000C3 continues to perform within normal parameters. The gearing
has held up to countless fish and the only maintenance required has been a quick
rinse in freshwater after each use and periodic lubrication of the main and
levelwind worm gears with the reel oil supplied with the reel. Abu Garcia
recommends a thorough cleaning requiring disassembly by you or an authorized
service center each season, though we didn't find this necessary as the reel
continues to hold up nicely after all our testing.
Ratings:
Abu Garcia
Ambassadeur 7000C3
Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
Good construction quality, materials are solid, and the brass cut gears help
make the reel more durable and smooth in performance |
8.0 |
Performance |
Good casting performance, but archaic centrifugal controls and a definite
lack of refinement in terms of retrieve. Overall power and reliability of
the reel is average, but drag performance is respectable |
6.0 |
Price |
A
decent price for a proven reel that is reliable, but there are plenty of up
and coming competitors offering new features and performance for close to
the same amount of money |
7.0 |
Features |
Basically a no frills reel that is designed to be reliable and long lasting.
Don't expect cushy options or new fangled features here, the 7000C3 is more
of a utilitarian reel |
6.0 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Comfort needs improvement on this reel as the hard square plastic knob
leaves a lot to be desired after a long day fishing. The freespool and
centrifugal weight controls also require renovation |
4.0 |
Application |
A
good reel for both large freshwater applications and light to medium
saltwater fish. The reel held up well to saltwater punishment with very
little maintenance necessary. But if your looking for a refined crossover
reel you should explore the many options available to you, as there are
others offering a better balance of power and refinement. |
7.0 |
Total Score |
6.33 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Reliable and durable gearing |
L
Unrefined retrieve |
J
Casting distance |
L
Uncomfortable plastic knob |
J
Respectable drag performance |
L
Outdated centrifugal system |
J
Comes with reel clamp |
L
Plenty of more refined and feature rich
competition to choose from out there |
Conclusion: There is no doubt that Abu Garcia has helped
define fishing today, but personality can only go so far, and the 7000C3 is an
example of a reel that 5 years ago would have been considered top notch, but
simply put...falls short by today's standards. The lack of refinement in the
retrieve and old centrifugal weight system is disappointing, while the hard
plastic knob just isn't up to par to the competition's new ergonomic knob
designs. While this reel is reliable and will do exactly what it is supposed to
do the fact is that it is a buyers market for anglers today, and newer more
innovative alternatives will capture the interest of anglers that no longer need
to compromise. Hopefully Abu Garcia's newer and more innovative EON and new
Morrum reels will offer a better balance of power and refinement. If your in the
market for a good crossover reel the 7000C3 is just one choice out of many worth
exploring.