Does anyone have any thoughts on the China made Jigmaster? Built better or worse? Pros and cons?
West
It's the same as the USA model except it has ss screws instead of plated brass screws.
Well that's a plus. Any other thoughts?
West
Take your pick......6 of one or a half dozen of the other. :D
The ones I have serviced for a few friends are holding up good . No problems just regular cleaning once a year .
My buddy is under the impression that they aren't built as well. Maybe he got some bad info?
West
A lot of people just make that assumption because they see a made in China label. Do you think that Penn is risking their reputation selling an inferior product? Service a few & form your own opinion.
I probably wouldn't buy one. But that's cause I don't have any info. on the longevity and sturdiness of the H2's, and because I'm prejudiced against almost anything made in China. Not a good feeling to think of myself as prejudiced, but I believe most people are probably more so, then they think they are. Now if my wife, who in a sense is made in China, reads this, shes gonna transform form the sweet little China-doll I married, into a fire breathing dragon lady and roast me with her chinglish condemnation.
They do seem to have a diffrent look on the outside parts---a cheaper look?... Really though, I'd need some good empirical data based on time of use and strength testing.
In a pinch, if I really wanted/needed a 500, I'd buy one.
From my experiencing buying and selling several hundred Jigmasters, it appears to me that the quality of the plating of the external and internal metal parts is significantly inferior on the Chinese reels. Most of the Jigmasters that I see are twenty years old plus, and some are a lot older, yet the metal parts show much less corrosion and other finish problems than the few Chinese reels that I have seen, which cannot be even half as old as most of the USA reels. For that reason, I try to avoid them, and if I do get stuck with one as part of a large lot, I quickly unload it to one of the other local re-sellers.
Randy, the external parts are not plated, they are ss. That's why they are not as shiny as chrome plateing. Because chrome plateing is fazing out throught the world is because it is very poisonous to the enviorment. Just look at the auto industry, no more chrome bumpers or side trim. Now it's all plastic. When they start replaceing the ss rings & hardware with plastic on our reels then it will be time to look down on our reels.
Quote from: RowdyW on September 04, 2018, 07:00:46 AM
Randy, the external parts are not plated, they are ss. That's why they are not as shiny as chrome plateing. Because chrome plateing is fazing out throught the world is because it is very poisonous to the enviorment. Just look at the auto industry, no more chrome bumpers or side trim. Now it's all plastic. When they start replaceing the ss rings & hardware with plastic on our reels then it will be time to look down on our reels.
The quality of the stainless steel isn't great and it will rust faster than it should, unless you really keep an eye on it and service the reel often.
Sal
It's also difficult to find USA Jigmaster chrome that isn't pitted.
I have no experience with Chinese Jigmasters, but I did service a friend's Chinese 249, and parts were so far out of tolerance that it was hard to reassemble. Okay, sample size one, but that's enough to leave me very skeptical of the Chinese versions of classic Penns.
Thanks for the input guys.
West
Everything in perspective —
Everything said before is true, except we are forgetting this:
The 500 is a $72 salt water fishing reel that is extremely capable, versatile, has been around in the same design for many decades, plus is one of the most capable and dependable reels for a wide range of salt water.
Yes, US JM's can be modified and upgraded 100 different ways — to the point where we have $400 or $500 invested in one of these.
Maybe it is not for us Reel Nerds here on Alan's site — But as is, it is hard to beat for the average angler — whether built in China or the US.
As a repair guy, if anyone wants to know how I service and repair these profitably — and have plenty of parts in stock — PM me.
Just my opinions...
Best,
Fred
What is the story on Chinese made Jigmasters anyway? I mean, nothing in the listing for the one on Amazon mentions Country of Origin at all as far as I could tell (but I may be mistaken..), and there is only the stock photo, no box pictures.
https://www.amazon.com/Penn-Jigmaster-500L-Conventional-Fishing/dp/B00144AI58/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536103972&sr=8-1&keywords=penn+jigmaster+reel (https://www.amazon.com/Penn-Jigmaster-500L-Conventional-Fishing/dp/B00144AI58/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536103972&sr=8-1&keywords=penn+jigmaster+reel)
How do you know where it was made? Can anyone post a picture as an example?
Thanks in advance-
ETA: Is it the sideplate(s)? A zoom from Amazon shows "retrieve", I don't recall seeing that before.
Mine says
Made with pride in China
;D
Quote from: Gobi King on September 05, 2018, 02:44:59 AM
Mine says
Made with pride in China
;D
Thanks Gobi King, I think that clarifies it. I don't have any like that, but am glad I would know where to look for evidence. It is a sticker that could be removed, is that right? Does the gearside plate say "retrieve"? The pic I cropped from Amazon doesn't have the classic round Penn stamp that looks like one you might imprint in wax on a letter in the OLD days. I guess both of those are telltale signs of an import.
Thanks for the pic-
Rob
ETA: Did it come in a box that wasn't thin, brown carboard? A plastic clamshell?
Quote from: JoseCuervo on September 05, 2018, 03:04:35 AM
Thanks Gobi King, I think that clarifies it. I don't have any like that, but am glad I would know where to look for evidence. It is a sticker that could be removed, is that right? Does the gearside plate say "retrieve"? The pic I cropped from Amazon doesn't have the classic round Penn stamp that looks like one you might imprint in wax on a letter in the OLD days. I guess both of those are telltale signs of an import.
Thanks for the pic-
ETA: Did it come in a box that wasn't thin, brown carboard? A plastic clamshell?
[/quote]
Rob, it is a sticker,
yes, it does say retrieve, yes, you are correct no round penn stamp. it came in a box.
I don't have an older jigmaster yet, but from the other reels I have the materials feels/look different. especially the side plates
I am pretty sure that if it doesn't sat "Made in USA" on the side plate, it isn't.
Quote from: JoseCuervo on September 05, 2018, 03:04:35 AM
Quote from: Gobi King on September 05, 2018, 02:44:59 AM
Mine says
Made with pride in China
;D
Thanks Gobi King, I think that clarifies it. I don't have any like that, but am glad I would know where to look for evidence. It is a sticker that could be removed, is that right? Does the gearside plate say "retrieve"? The pic I cropped from Amazon doesn't have the classic round Penn stamp that looks like one you might imprint in wax on a letter in the OLD days. I guess both of those are telltale signs of an import.
Thanks for the pic-
Rob
ETA: Did it come in a box that wasn't thin, brown carboard? A plastic clamshell?
you can remove a sticker but it doesn't change the fact that it was made by under paid people who don't live in a free country.
Tut-Tut-Tut ;) :D :D Play nice.........................Joe
So how is chrome hazardous to the environment?
Quote from: nelz on September 13, 2018, 07:53:02 PM
So how is chrome hazardous to the environment?
Because of the chemicals being used and the disposal of them. A hazardous process.
Quote from: RowdyW on September 13, 2018, 08:00:52 PM
Quote from: nelz on September 13, 2018, 07:53:02 PM
So how is chrome hazardous to the environment?
Because of the chemicals being used and the disposal of them. A hazardous process.
So you're saying the production process then. Ok, makes sense.
I may be wrong. I believe the newer Penn reels from China are better than what first came here.
If fishing only US made stuff is your thing I understand. However you would be hard pressed to find a reel at this price made any where that would last as long if the internals are kept clean & lightly coated with grease... Jeff
Quote from: Gobi King on September 05, 2018, 02:44:59 AM
Mine says
Made with pride in China
;D
Yup. But didja notice WHERE they put the sticker? Don't look like pride to me...On the Chinese Jiggies, I think it'll say: 500L on the box.
Also, it looks like the "retrieve" on the head-plate is replacing maybe the "on/off" for the eccentric lever that I've seen on some Penns, i.e., retrieve=in gear, not in free spool.
LOL, yeah, and it's so easy to remove. It ain't molded onto the bakelite, that's fer sure!
Quote from: Rivverrat on September 13, 2018, 08:53:15 PM
I may be wrong. I believe the newer Penn reels from China are better than what first came here.
Jeff, are you saying the later release Chinese reels are better than the earlier ones, or that they're better than the USA made?
What are you basing your assessment on?
Quote from: nelz on September 13, 2018, 09:58:38 PM
Quote from: Rivverrat on September 13, 2018, 08:53:15 PM
I may be wrong. I believe the newer Penn reels from China are better than what first came here.
Jeff, are you saying the later release Chinese reels are better than the earlier ones, or that they're better than the USA made?
What are you basing your assessment on?
The few later model China ones I've seen seemed to be a bit better than the first China ones that came over. But I dont get to handle or see the number of them that some here do... Jeff