In reply to Post #1
Got 2 out of my 3 SS2600 reels modified by Gary from Custom reels in the time he was in business.
-Wooden Handles.
-Worm Bush bearing upgrade.
-Weston line clips.
-Rotor balancing.
-Black ball kicker.
IMO it makes the reel about 20% better compared to the original. Mainly prefer the improved line clips, the bearing upgrade make them more smooth steady with retrieve. The bearing upgrade is easy to do by yourself.
In the end prefer Tournaments. Easy to maintain reels, nothing complicated. Prefer the original felt drag washers, they are fine as what they are. Non of my Tournaments have the carbon ones.
A Nice upgrade on the original square drive SS-3000 is the Weston Developments titanium line roller. The re-released SS-3000 version already have an upgrade in the line roller.
If you didn't like the the SS2600 in the past, you shouldn't expect any major difference with the upgrades.
Got 2 out of my 3 SS2600 reels modified by Gary from Custom reels in the time he was in business.
-Wooden Handles.
-Worm Bush bearing upgrade.
-Weston line clips.
-Rotor balancing.
-Black ball kicker.
IMO it makes the reel about 20% better compared to the original. Mainly prefer the improved line clips, the bearing upgrade make them more smooth steady with retrieve. The bearing upgrade is easy to do by yourself.
In the end prefer Tournaments. Easy to maintain reels, nothing complicated. Prefer the original felt drag washers, they are fine as what they are. Non of my Tournaments have the carbon ones.
A Nice upgrade on the original square drive SS-3000 is the Weston Developments titanium line roller. The re-released SS-3000 version already have an upgrade in the line roller.
If you didn't like the the SS2600 in the past, you shouldn't expect any major difference with the upgrades.
The old emblem is a much better reel.
Old school chic, light, fast, no wobble or squeaks, bombproof.
Just quick drag and add proper line clips.
My big reels are old Shimano XT Ultegra though.
Three on my light 2.75lb carp rods...
Spod and marker...
Trent barbel rods...
Spopper...
Old school chic, light, fast, no wobble or squeaks, bombproof.
Just quick drag and add proper line clips.
My big reels are old Shimano XT Ultegra though.
Three on my light 2.75lb carp rods...
Spod and marker...
Trent barbel rods...
Spopper...
In reply to Post #17
I use emblem 5500ts on my pike rods but you cant compare them to ss 2600 much bigger and yes they are solid . I bought gs 4000s when they came out sold them after using for a week and put my ss2600s back on rods.
I use emblem 5500ts on my pike rods but you cant compare them to ss 2600 much bigger and yes they are solid . I bought gs 4000s when they came out sold them after using for a week and put my ss2600s back on rods.
Only crappy old modified SS reels for me, all the newer 'better' reels just feel cheap and delicate to me. 
have an SS2600 on my floater and stalking rods, and to be honest it's my least favorite reel, the anti reverse is too good, it doesn't feel normal to me
have an SS2600 on my floater and stalking rods, and to be honest it's my least favorite reel, the anti reverse is too good, it doesn't feel normal to me 
In reply to Post #19
Love the SS2600 for light rods & smaller waters, solid build, good clutch & the wobbles not really noticeable when on a rod.
Emblem Z or X 4500 when bigger reels needed, still going strong..bombproof.
Have tried some newer reels notably the awful Shimano XT something 5500 with the flappy handle that had a lump of plastic on the handle to try to stop it knocking lumps out of the paint & a line guard that was anything but.
Fox FX something, smallish jobs where the line spent more time behind the spool than in front, all of which got moved on sharpish so its the old faithful's all the way for me.
Love the SS2600 for light rods & smaller waters, solid build, good clutch & the wobbles not really noticeable when on a rod.
Emblem Z or X 4500 when bigger reels needed, still going strong..bombproof.
Have tried some newer reels notably the awful Shimano XT something 5500 with the flappy handle that had a lump of plastic on the handle to try to stop it knocking lumps out of the paint & a line guard that was anything but.
Fox FX something, smallish jobs where the line spent more time behind the spool than in front, all of which got moved on sharpish so its the old faithful's all the way for me.