Megabass Levante F5-72C Diablo Spec-R Casting Rod Product Review

Rod Review

Holding Out On Megabass? Don't Read This (continued)

Design/Ergonomics: The Levante F5-72C Diablo Spec-R demonstrates how you can make a minimal build interesting with just a few, simple details. First to hit the eye is the company's custom reel seat that appears as the offspring of the Fuji ACS and ECS reel seats. The finger molded contours are not as exaggerated as the ACS, but the seat has more interesting lines and curves than the ECS. Paint the seat a glossy black so it catches light and highlights its own interesting curves, then cap it off with an interesting carbon inlay at the forenut and cap it with a custom machined accent piece with a nice, squared off edge so it's not sharp.

The reveal towards the back of the butt end helps to break up its mass and provides an accent to the end of the rod.

Lab Results for Megabass Levante F5-72C Diablo Spec-R
Model	Avg RoD (2-32 oz)	Taper	Measured Weight (oz)	Balance Point (inches)	Balancing Torque (ftlbs)
Megabass Levante F5-72C Diablo Spec-R	1.70	Fast	4.5	9.5	0.23
MBR783C GLX2000	1.72	Fast	4.8	5	0.11
TSFO 26 Rod Avg	1.69	--	4.92	7.65	0.19

At the threadwraps, sneak in a highlight color that's not too bright but still stands out (purple), and then back at the rear trip, insert a metal highlight band to break up the material monotony and define the end of the rod a bit more. The Levante is style without garishness and not enough manufacturers understand the difference.

Using the frame of the stripper guide as a hook keeper.

Taking a step back and looking at the rod's overall weight, we see the Levante Diablo Spec-R comes in at a very nice 4.5 ounces, but as one might suspect, this good weight result comes at the expense of balance. With a balancing torque of 0.23ftlbs, this stick is more tip heavy than average.

Design & Ergonomics Ratings for Megabass Levante F5-72C Diablo Spec-R
Grip (1-5)	Colors / Graphics (1-5)	Balance (1-5)	Weight (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
5	5	2	4	16	20	8.0

Levante, by Megabass, is priced at $199.

Application: If you're looking for one rod within Megabass's Levante lineup to "do it all", the F5-72C Diablo Spec-R would be your best choice. It's soft enough to be used as a crankbait stick in a pinch, has almost the perfect tip for larger sized rip baits, is excellent with jigs and Texas rigged plastics, and very reliable for lures like a chatterbait, spinnerbait, lipless cranks, and buzzbaits. There are probably sticks within the lineup that might handle specific duties better than the Diablo Spec-R, but none will fish all of these techniques better.

Bass Rod Application Ratings for Megabass Levante F5-72C Diablo Spec-R
Rip/Jerk (1-5)	Steady (1-5)	Lift & Drop (1-5)	Drag (1-5)	Twitch (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4	4	5	5	4	22	25	8.8

Ratings:

Megabass Levante F5-72C Diablo Spec-R Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	Super clean Megabass build	10
Performance	Another Megabass rod that is really fun to cast and pitch	8.8
Price	A solid offering at an almost impossibly competitive market segment	7.5
Features	Solid components but no hook keeper or rod sleeve	6.0
Design (Ergonomics)	Style without being garish	8.0
Application	A true one rod to do it all in the Levante lineup	8.8
Total Score		8.18
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ Return to more JDM Styling	- Tip Heavy
+ Even more affordable Megabass
+ Smooth casting

Conclusion: Megabass has stripped down their aesthetic and removed extras like the under appreciated rod sleeves, delivering to the bass angling consumer, a rod at the $199 price point. Yet these sticks are arguably even more JDM aesthetically, than the pricier Orochi XX series. I don't even know who this company is anymore. That's not how it's supposed to work.

One compromise to keep costs down - no logo at the butt end.

Megabass is supposed to be about high end tackle with aesthetics that ring you with guilt for using them and price points that assure you rarely do when you finally bite the bullet and succumb to the temptation. I mean, no one really fishes their gear, right? Seriously, who can afford it? That's the strategy employed by the vast majority of the bass angling public - "who can afford it" and "it's not worth it".

If you've been holding out in sampling the Megabass experience, don't touch a Levante, you may finally succumb to the temptation.

Guess what? Megabass is challenging that notion with Levante. The F5-75C Diablo Spec-R is perhaps, their most popular American action and while it is the company's most affordable interpretation of a fishing rod to date, it compromises little in aesthetic and performance. If you've been holding out in sampling the Megabass experience, don't touch a Levante, you may finally succumb to the temptation.

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