Awesome! Thank you!chreim20 wrote:In the last month, I have casted the Metanium MGL, Chronarch MGL, and the Bantam MGL on the same rod using 30 pound braid on each, and I can cast further, with less effort using the Bantam MGL than the other two. It's a little heavier, but palms better and feels like a quality reel. Needless to say, I sold the metanium and chronarch. Their only advantage is they are lighter in weight.
Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
Didn't want to start a whole new thread, but anyone debating about waiting might wanna look into this...
http://fish.shimano-eu.com/content/fish ... DO_DC.html
Lists micro module and all Curado specs, so i guess it is coming... Also says it can cast 5-8gram lures with the right setting...
http://fish.shimano-eu.com/content/fish ... DO_DC.html
Lists micro module and all Curado specs, so i guess it is coming... Also says it can cast 5-8gram lures with the right setting...
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Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
I just tore mine down after receiving yesterday...
What a bunch of interesting things i found...
Pics will be up and I'll link it here later.
Few wow's and a few "hmm's"... otherwise yeh solid!
What a bunch of interesting things i found...
Pics will be up and I'll link it here later.
Few wow's and a few "hmm's"... otherwise yeh solid!
Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
I saw your thread...replied to it...and then it went poof. ((I'm starting to get sick and tired of the sensorship on this forum....which is why I only come here a few times a month anymore))Slazmo wrote:I just tore mine down after receiving yesterday...
What a bunch of interesting things i found...
Pics will be up and I'll link it here later.
Few wow's and a few "hmm's"... otherwise yeh solid!
I'm curious as to what your thoughts are.
I'm on the fence.....If they put a damn T wing in it..it'd be the best reel ever made in that price at that weight.
((I say that half kidding but 100% serious))
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Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
Yeh Cal just messaged me deleted it and said its 'self promotion' - I've replied to him about that. Oh hey TT liked the images too
Anyhow anyone wants pics - on my Insta search via my name - its a "not for profit page".
My thoughts...
Nice frame and associated parts, the idler gear for the level wind is disappointingly thin, there is also a large gap between the levelwind shaft tube and body (light shines straight through in the pictures) which will allow water into the gearbox side (that is the wet bit of the reel - think capillary action) - Curado K had a O ring seal at that point now - would've thought the Bantam would've had the same treatment, considering that the Bantam being a much higher spec reel like $400 / $500 realm...
The Cu K is actually looking to be a better reel overall at this stage.
The side plate B spool hatch is a nightmare to rebuild - so many o rings and fiddly crap in there. See if those O rings are available in 5 years time huh??
Silent tune bearings - well theyre not available here in Aus "ever" so they'll go in time. Nice bearings but hard to get out of their seats - especially when the reel was built extremely dry.
Corrosion mitigation will and should be a conscious thing on people's minds owning this reel, especially with saltwater ownership and use - wont be straight away but eventually tears for those that throw caution to the wind.
Handle needs to be 100mm long - way way way too short imho!
How people are using this reel as a swimbait reel is beyond me
Drag pressure out of the box is frighteningly hard like 1kg or 2 kg possible - even upon rebuilding its still astronomically high!!! Like the wafer spring needs to be squashed a little to allow the drag to back off heaps more!!! Every Shimango reel ive owned could have the drag backed off to such a point that the spool hardly rotated while winding - this yeh nah.
Finish of the reel shows casting lines under it - could've been finished a little neater prior to painting especially for its price point... Side plate B machined aluminium and anodized - will show every scratch and blemish - will be a hard one to keep from destruction.
Overall I'm happy i got it for $300 - still not what I'd expect for a higher spec'd reel especially for the Bantam namesake. Especially compared to the old Bantam Tournament 1000 Professional - when you got rose wood handle knobs back then and gold inlay on a beautifully embossed gear and side b plates.
If someone applied a teardown like I did and I got to review those pics - honestly i would've waited a lot longer and watched for it to become a sub $250 reel or even second hander to play around - especially with some of the things I found - or waited for a series 2 uplift.
Buyers remorse yeh definitely after thinking more deeply about it tonight, should've and would've sat on the fence a lot longer than diving in based on some flakey online review's.
![Think :-k](./images/smilies/eusa_think.gif)
Anyhow anyone wants pics - on my Insta search via my name - its a "not for profit page".
My thoughts...
Nice frame and associated parts, the idler gear for the level wind is disappointingly thin, there is also a large gap between the levelwind shaft tube and body (light shines straight through in the pictures) which will allow water into the gearbox side (that is the wet bit of the reel - think capillary action) - Curado K had a O ring seal at that point now - would've thought the Bantam would've had the same treatment, considering that the Bantam being a much higher spec reel like $400 / $500 realm...
The Cu K is actually looking to be a better reel overall at this stage.
The side plate B spool hatch is a nightmare to rebuild - so many o rings and fiddly crap in there. See if those O rings are available in 5 years time huh??
Silent tune bearings - well theyre not available here in Aus "ever" so they'll go in time. Nice bearings but hard to get out of their seats - especially when the reel was built extremely dry.
Corrosion mitigation will and should be a conscious thing on people's minds owning this reel, especially with saltwater ownership and use - wont be straight away but eventually tears for those that throw caution to the wind.
Handle needs to be 100mm long - way way way too short imho!
How people are using this reel as a swimbait reel is beyond me
![Anxious 8-[](./images/smilies/eusa_shifty.gif)
Drag pressure out of the box is frighteningly hard like 1kg or 2 kg possible - even upon rebuilding its still astronomically high!!! Like the wafer spring needs to be squashed a little to allow the drag to back off heaps more!!! Every Shimango reel ive owned could have the drag backed off to such a point that the spool hardly rotated while winding - this yeh nah.
Finish of the reel shows casting lines under it - could've been finished a little neater prior to painting especially for its price point... Side plate B machined aluminium and anodized - will show every scratch and blemish - will be a hard one to keep from destruction.
Overall I'm happy i got it for $300 - still not what I'd expect for a higher spec'd reel especially for the Bantam namesake. Especially compared to the old Bantam Tournament 1000 Professional - when you got rose wood handle knobs back then and gold inlay on a beautifully embossed gear and side b plates.
If someone applied a teardown like I did and I got to review those pics - honestly i would've waited a lot longer and watched for it to become a sub $250 reel or even second hander to play around - especially with some of the things I found - or waited for a series 2 uplift.
Buyers remorse yeh definitely after thinking more deeply about it tonight, should've and would've sat on the fence a lot longer than diving in based on some flakey online review's.
Last edited by Slazmo on Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
- LgMouthGambler
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Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
Awesome job on the teardown. I for one am glad I had the self control to hold off when I was gonna pull the trigger sight unseen. Im not too impressed, and still rather a 200E. Lol. I know, hate on guys. Lol
<")))><{
Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
I would have to agree with Scooby on the T-Wing, if the level wind is not centered the casting distance suffers. It does cast well enough, not your "long bomber" but will get the job done. The 84mm handle is too short, IMO, other then that it's all good! ![big grin :big grin:](./images/smilies/ym1.jpg)
![big grin :big grin:](./images/smilies/ym1.jpg)
Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
Well Slamo what abu would you recommend if there is one?Slazmo wrote:Yeh Cal just messaged me deleted it and said its 'self promotion' - I've replied to him about that. Oh hey TT liked the images too![]()
Anyhow anyone wants pics - on my Insta search via my name - its a "not for profit page".
My thoughts...
Nice frame and associated parts, the idler gear for the level wind is disappointingly thin, there is also a large gap between the levelwind shaft tube and body (light shines straight through in the pictures) which will allow water into the gearbox side (that is the wet bit of the reel - think capillary action) - Curado K had a O ring seal at that point now - would've thought the Bantam would've had the same treatment, considering that the Bantam being a much higher spec reel like $400 / $500 realm...
The Cu K is actually looking to be a better reel overall at this stage.
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- Pro Angler
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- Joined: Fri May 08, 2015 11:43 pm
- Location: Gold Coast, Queensland. Australia
Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
Aburunmax08 wrote:Well Slamo what abu would you recommend if there is one?
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Re: Bantam MGL Who has their hands on one?
I also said that if you want to share the photos, post them in the thread. I can't help it if you're too lazy to figure out how to make that work. Driving traffic to your personal Instagram is considered self promotion.Slazmo wrote:Yeh Cal just messaged me deleted it and said its 'self promotion' - I've replied to him about that. Oh hey TT liked the images too![]()
IG interpreted my clicking on one of your photos as a "like" because I was trying to grab the URL of the images to post them into your thread and fix it instead of removing it, but IG doesn't seem to allow this behavoir. The like was removed. So I was attempting to help your cause. I will not make that mistake again.
And since you decided to take it public, you can consider this an official warning instead of a private PM.
Cal, Managing Editor
"fish with mindfulness : beware the darkside"
"fish with mindfulness : beware the darkside"