Thread: Ambassadeur reels 5500/6500- questions

Can anyone give me some details about the ambassadeur reels for saltwater fishing? My dad passed down the ambassadeur he had to my brother and the daiwa millionaire to me. It outcasts my spinning reels, and I'm thinking of getting another reel for the ocean. Since I'm more of an abu garcia fan (than daiwa), I was looking at the revo toro series, but have come across a lot of people who really like the old school 6500's. Problem is, there are 8 billion configurations (okay I exaggerated. There are only 7 billion.) So what is the deal with all the different colors of the rocket model? What about the striper and catfish models? C3 and c4 I understand, and I know about the reels without a level wind. I'm looking for a level wind that I can use in freshwater, from the pier, and from the surf (mostly a bait reel. I have a revo inshore that I throw lures from the pier and jetty with). Which models would suit me best? Which ones should be avoided? Help me out guys.

Thanks.

Basically avoid the Ambassadeur reels made in China.
They have an emblem stamp on them instead of the raised emblem.
The better reels are stamped "Made in Sweden".

Hope this helps!

Forget the Ambassadors and just get you a Shimano Calcutta 400 been using mine for going on 10 years now with no problems.

Appreciate the recommendation, but I've run mostly Abu's for years. One I've been fishing with for 22 years.

I also use ABu reels, have since the middel 70's, still have my first, a Brown 5500, keep them clean, replace the pawl from time to time...and maybe the nylon gear that drives the levelwind...I haven't bought a new ABU baitcaster since about 1990. All are still in use...but...sometimes I need to use a spinning reel...Penn Battles or Shimano Stradics...