Well I pulled the trigger on the reel above. Got a good deal on a JDM, which according to my research is the same as the USDM. This reel is truly a thing of beauty. The only problem is that the owner's manual comes in Japanese. Shimano NA does not carry the English manual either. Would anyone out there be willing to snap a few pics or run a few copies of the English version? Right now I'm trying to figure out how to remove the black protective cover that sits over the brakes.
Also, has anyone replaced the bearings on this with the ceramic ones? Much improvement? How about drag? Do I leave it alone or upgrade. I'm not sure what material these stock ones are.
If it's the same as the Calcutta TE, the cover is held on by two screws. Never seen the Conquest though, so a photo of the cover would help.
Btw, can't imagine a brand new high-priced reel like that would need any upgrades yet. Perhaps a different handle if anything.