Abu-Garcia Star Series.

[Mike P]

Sounds to me like these are really just standard Ambassadeurs with bushings instead of ball bearings, like the old red Ambassadeur 5000s, 6000s and 7000s. Sounds like a good buy. If you blindfolded them, 95% of anglers couldn't tell the difference between the 6-star as they call it and a 6500C3.

I have a red Ambassadeur 5000 on one of my freshwater rods and in truth, it casts as well and as smoothly as the 5500C on another FW rod.

The only complaint I have with every Abu reel I've ever owned is that the drag SUCKS!! But, with the 6500 series, I've found the cure and it costs about a buck and a half. Replace the top two fiber washers in the stack with the drag washers from a Penn 704 spinning reel, and you'll notice a big improvement in the drag.