ABU GARCIA Ambassadeur Classic C3 – Fishing Reel review and price compare 2024

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Product overview

Brand	Abu Garcia
Material	Stainless Steel
Hand Orientation	Left Hand
Color	METAL
Handle Material	Stainless Steel
Item Weight	11.3 Ounces
Bearing Material	Stainless Steel

product features

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Left-hand retrieve baitcast round reel with free spool baitcast design
Allows for superior accuracy and long-distance casting
Stainless-steel roller delivers instant anti-reverse hook-setting power
Ultra-smooth Carbon Matrix drag system; 5.3:1 gear ratio
Spool capacity of 14 pounds/245 yards (mono); weighs 11.3 ounces

product description

The Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 casting reel offers you the smooth casting action of stainless-steel ball bearings. A stainless-steel roller bearing delivers you the solid hooksetting power of instant anti-reverse (except 7000 model).

product details

Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 4.8 x 3.1 inches; 15.2 Ounces
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2007
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Abu Garcia
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B098XFP4N1

important information

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Questions about ABU GARCIA Ambassadeur Classic C3 – Fishing Reel

how do you use it?

Answer: If you mean, what do I use it for, usually for Catfishing. The free-spool feature of most bait-casters allows you to set a bait, and when the fish picks it up and runs with it it will feel almost no resistance. Great for Catfish, Carp, etc. If you mean technically, how does one use it. That is a difficult thing to describe because there are many steps (adding line, setting drag, casting, etc.). I would go to Abu Garcia's website. You can download manuals and schematics for all of their products. I will say that I've bought two of these, and they perform VERY well. Excellent products.

Answer: You place your thumb on the spool pull it behind your head and throw it forward as any casting reel while removing your thumb from the spool. Be sure to place your thumb back on the spool before it hits the water otherwise the spool keeps turning and you get a bird's nest and have a mess.

Answer: Usually attached to a rod.

What pound test line MONO works best for this reel? 17 Pound or 14 Pound?

Answer: both work but using a braided line will offer a significant advantage. You can spool more line in and the casting and retrieving will be much smoother. I use a 40 lb braided line on this reel which would equate to a 10 0r 12 mono. a braided line is more expensive but worth the money.

Answer: There must be very little difference between 14 and 17. I personally used power pro braid. 15 lb test with the equivalent to 4lb test mono. Works great for me.

Answer: 14 works the bests !!!

Answer: Both! Equally! Reel is wary good and useful.

Answer: I've got 20 lb on mine.

how to get parts like the crank handle?

Answer: do you have the manual that came with the reel .or go to abu Garcia website and see if they can help you

Answer: Try e-bay, if not there you can go directly to abu.

Is the embassadeur c3 good for salt water?

Answer: yes....its an acceptable salt water reel. most guys i know that fish in the ocean prefer the Penn reels...but I know of quite a few guys that use the c3 for the salt. The reel is not conditioned...that I am aware of....for the corrosive affects of salt water and so extra care may be required.....but any reel exposed to salt water should be cleaned regularly anyway. the drag is 15 pounds;not the highest in the industry. Abu's wench being at 24 pounds, if I remember correctly, but I use my c3 for salmon in swift water and can keep up with most chinook.

Answer: Yes. I Always use for salt water fishing. Just remember to rinse with tap water every trip

Answer: Have used it in the piers, beaches and rivers of the Puget Sound for a while now with no problems. Rinse well in fresh water and wipe dry then air dry after each use.

Is the warranty valid when purchasing it online through amazon?

Answer: To my knowledge, Abu Garcia does not use an "Authorized Retailer" type of system. It shouldn't matter where the reel is purchased so long as you can provide proof and date of purchase. If repairs are needed, you would want to use an Abu-Garcia Authorized Service Center for warranty purposes. See Abu-Garcia warranty information here: http://www.abugarcia.com/support/warranties

Answer: yes it is. I received mine back but it tookabout 4 months for them to fix it & send it back.you also pay for shipping & include a check for $7 or $8 S&H. If you can live with that, then the reel is worth it.thanks

Is this reel made in Sweden like the other high quality Abu Garcia's or is this one made in china?

Answer: The 46/55/6500 C3s are still made in Sweden. While some will argue quality changes over the years, they are still solid performing reels.

Answer: It's definitely made in Sweden and I will back it 100% I haven't oiled the durn thing skin nearly 2 years and it still throws like a brand new reel!

Answer: Hello Jake. This one is made in Sweden (not like others ones). It' s a great fishing reel! You will not regret about it!

Answer: This is a real Abu Garcia, high quality made product as always, and yes, it's also made in China. Unfortunately

Answer: It's stamped made in Sweden on the reel. I've had good luck with it.

Answer: This reel is made in Sweden.

Answer: China. Look at a c5 if you want a good reel

Answer: Jake,

Answer: This one is Swedish made, stamped on the side. I believe only the BCX series is made in china.

Answer: Yes this is Swedish

what the max line #

Answer: For mono, 20# is about the most I would do. For braid, 50#+. Your limit will be how much drag force you can get without totally locking up, maintaining smooth drag, castability (lighter lines cast better), and your rod. This reel can hold more than enough line of the heavy stuff.

Answer: I use 14-17lb mono, 20 ok. Braid or other small diameters can go higher.

Answer: I used 12-20 mono, but mostly 25-35 braid. I'm sure it could go higher for braid, probably around 50.

where is it made?

Answer: look on the side, they are made in Sweden and China. i buy only the ones marked " MADE IN SWEDEN" if it doesn't have that marked it's made in China.

Answer: The 6500C3 is MADE IN SWEDEN

Answer: MADE IN SWEDEN

Answer: Svängsta, Sweden.

dose this modle come in rigt

Why can I not received it to my Arizona adress ?

Do they have in red

What is the warranty on this item?

where is it made?

Answer: look on the side, they are made in Sweden and China. i buy only the ones marked " MADE IN SWEDEN" if it doesn't have that marked it's made in China.

Answer: The 6500C3 is MADE IN SWEDEN

Answer: MADE IN SWEDEN

Answer: Svängsta, Sweden.

what max line #on 6500c

Answer: I fish Muskie and I run Cortland 36 Lb. braided dacron with no problems. Have been using this reel since the 1980's. Good heavy duty reel.

why are you charging $530 for a $119 reel?

Does 6500c3 have a clicker setting?

Answer: Yes. I assume you mean the setting that "clicks" when a fish takes the line out.

Answer: Sorry, I don't know. I just paid for these for a friend, and they were delivered to him. It should state whether or not it has a clicker in the description. Try looking on the Cabela's or Bass Pro sites.

Answer: yes it is one of the reasons I bought the 6500 series . Use them for stripper fishing , all good .

Answer: Yes, it does.

Product reviews of ABU GARCIA Ambassadeur Classic C3 – Fishing Reel

Rita Quick : For my fisherman son

My son loves this reel. He fishes all the time in ponds, lakes and rivers. Wanted it for catfish and he says it is the best reel he owns!

tim hakenson : fantastic

made in sweden and works and feels great. this reel casts great and the drag does handle LARGE catfish with ease.

Rita Quick : For my fisherman son

My son loves this reel. He fishes all the time in ponds, lakes and rivers. Wanted it for catfish and he says it is the best reel he owns!

Ashley : Great reel

It is exactly what I wanted.

Andre Paixao : Good quality

Good quality product, I have used a few times for now and it works just fine. I got a few fishes using it. :-)

Scott Shea : 4 star pending.

Bought this reel for an annual trip on a party boat. First trip the reel performed well. 1 year 1 month later, second trip the reel failed while pulling in a fish. Turned out to be a short fluke. Hardly a fish worthy of breaking a reel. Broke down the reel and found the bearing directly beneath the crank locked up unable to be freed. Everything else is in order. Rod and reel have been stored indoors wrapped in a neoprene case. Clearly a defective part. We will be seeing how Abu Garcia handles the warranty a month overdue with less than 10 hours of use. I trust the name but it's the service I'm about to get that will determine if I ever buy another Abu Garcia again.

J. Willis : Musky/pike reel

Good fro musky or big pike. Good drag, enough line with these new hi tech thin lines for most application.

Tim Wagner : Five Stars

Smooth casting and durable reel!!

federico w. : Five Stars

Great

Spooky D : Does what it done do and did it well.

I'm a noob to baitcasters; been using spinners my whole life but I dig this reel. Casts nice, easy and far with minimal effort. I filled it with 15lb mono using 3/4 ounce weights. Bird nested it real nice once but that was just user error. Still getting used to these things.

The only thing I don't like about the reel is the switch for the bait clicker. It is the only part that feels weak and partly because it is made out of plastic and partly because it is a little wobbly. I do a lot of shore fishing and I feel like if I accidentally dropped my rod onto some rocks this would be the first thing to break.

Other than the bait clicker switch it feels solid overall. I don't see this thing breaking any time soon. I did a bunch of research on this reel and finally decided to drop my dough on it when I saw a video on youtube of some guy rebuilding a C3 his friend found at the bottom of a lake. The guy did a minimal part replacement if any and just cleaned and lubed a reel that was sitting at the bottom of a lake for ages.

Fede_ : Four Stars

Great value for money. Simple baitcasting reel but very reliable

FriedFish : Abu Garcia 5500C3 Ambassadeur C3 Baitcast Round Reel, get one for yourself!

Lost my first 5500 to an overly aggressive jack a few weeks ago and since the first lasted for almost 20 years I figured why change. The new one is even smoother than the first and the first one never had to be professionally serviced. Get one of these reels for the long run!

Fede_ : Four Stars

Great value for money. Simple baitcasting reel but very reliable

gelrod : quality basics

Good to see that the trusted ABU product is still at high standards. The week after receiving caught a 40+ redfish. Reel worked flawlessly. I learned to throw a level wind with a Garcia 40years ago, but there are more forgiving reels out now.

cecil : This is a great reel for strippers and cat fishing

I have had one for several years. I thought this one had the clicker on the left side so it would steal when a fish hit but the pic I was looking at when I ordered it appeared to have one. The 5500 I have was only 79.95 when I purchase d it. Prices have increased considerably.
This is a great reel for strippers and cat fishing.

doebranch : Catfishing

If you're into catching big Blues and Flatheads then you can't go wrong with this reel. It will handle anything any catfish dishes out regardless of it's size. I own several 6000's but this 6500C reel is just a cut above it. I plan on ordering several more of these reels since I fish with 8 to 10 rods most of the time. Currently I'm fishing the Wateree River and six rods is about the max you can handle in the river so I'll have six of these 6500C's behind the boat. We catch a fair number of 20 to 45 pound Blues and Flatheads and these reels are so smooth and extremely dependable. I would recommend them to anyone since they'll last you a lifetime.

Derick Dennis : Worth every penny!!!

Just got this in the and cannot wait to try it out this weekend. Doing some surf fishing in Sargent TX. This reel is everything that you could possible ask for. Large spool for plenty of line, big handle to help bring in the big ones and also love the bait clicker. Just some advice I bought 300 yards of 80lb suffix braid and probably over filled it to get the line on. So if you are going with braid you may want to try 65lb if you want to put 300yards without over filling it. Over all very satisfied and very excited. Third abu I've bought, also have two bcx 6600's. Cannot say enough about Abu's, they are work horses for sure!!

john Barrow : proven brand

i have been fishing with garcia for years and it is as good now as it ever has been. for the money it would be hard to beat.

Robert G.Snite : Don't leave the dock without one.

I've had a C3 on my boat since 1975 and consider it an essential piece of equipment. While technology seems to have passed it by, don't believe it. It's basic, tough, and reliable. Today I use it on my light action rod for casting shallow water crankbaits with 8# mono and it's perfect for the job.

Mark combs : Won't do business again.

Would have been a great deal other than the reel did not work. When I took it to a tackle shop, they said it had a busted drive gear. Thanks a lot guys. Won't be back.

Ahmad A. : expected better for the price

this reel had some problems mainly casting distance & line retrieve speed.frankly I expected better for the price,nevertheless i did land a 40 lb black drum using it.after using it 3 times the handle that secures it to the rod broke off. I decided to send it to Abu Garcia to fix. I still think it's worth it but it may be wise to invest in a better reel if you can afford the price tag
Update:
I have sent it to Abu Garcia to fix 2 months ago & I have yet to get it back. questionable customer service. I'm starting to regret this. Thanks

Charles Jackson : Great reel for the money!

Its a great reel for the money, so far I have land a Drum and some Turtles on it.

smorty : Great quality, reasonable price

Love the simplicity of the ambassadeur. Easy to cast, alarm clicker is essential for baitfishing.
Highly recommend abu garcia ambassadeur reels.

John Black : Five Stars

fantastic reels. smooth and priced right.

BT : Good reels

I use these reels for salmon fishing. I think I have 7 different ones. I still use c3's and c4's that are over 15 years old. I just clean them up at the end of the season. Clean out any grit and lubricate, just need to change the ' Paul' every 2-3 years. That's it.

Mark combs : Won't do business again.

Would have been a great deal other than the reel did not work. When I took it to a tackle shop, they said it had a busted drive gear. Thanks a lot guys. Won't be back.

tim hakenson : fantastic

made in sweden and works and feels great. this reel casts great and the drag does handle LARGE catfish with ease.

Richard Stade : Built for a lifetime of fishing!!!!

I own three of these reels. The first one I bought 30 years ago and used it for bass fishing. I then went out and bought 2 more for a saltwater fishing trip 20 years ago. the 30 year old reel still works and casts smoothly and it is mounted on a 6 foot Berkly Lightning Rod. The other two are mounted on Bass Pro Shops 7 ft medium casting rods and are used mainly for catfishing. I couldn't believe how much the have gone up in price, but what ever price they are, you will only have to pay it once. These reels last forever and are simple to tear down and clean. The only difference between these reels and it's bigger brother the 6500c is line capacity and price. So unless you are fishing for Marlin or Sailfish, theis reel will suit your purposes!!

Craig K : Great baitcasting reel

This is my first baitcasting reel. Very easy to use and very smooth. Highly recommended.

SevereWX : Bulletproof Performance

My Abu-Garcia 6500-C3 has been going strong for over 15 years now without any problems. It's just as strong and smooth as the day I bought it.

The reel is built with quality, durability, and ruggedness in mind. Handling it lets you know that you're holding a reel that won't let you down. I've winched in some huge channel cats on this reel without any problems. It handles everything from light monofilament to heavy braids with equal ease. Casting is smooth and trouble free so long as you do your part, and retrieval is just as smooth.

The only area of improvement that the reel could use is to upgrade the drag discs. Though the drag is fairly smooth, it could use some extra smoothing out and more hold when cranked all the way down. This is not a big deal as upgraded drag discs are readily available, and it's best to change out the drag washers every year or two anyways.

Adrian : i love this product, is perfect for mi

Perfect product, god seller. the product is exactly as described by. thank you very much. I look forward to buying many more things !!

Got Here As Soon As I Could : great reel

Reel(s) works as advertised , use them for striper fishing on fresh water lakes in SC and GA . Once I got use to casting a baitcast reel vs the open faces I have used for years all good , great drag system all in all a quality reel . I do think they are more expensive then they should or could be which I did not top rate it , ie good deal but not great .

hog182 : Slaying Catfish with 6500C3

I love to tight line for Channel cats and I do it old school. No special rigs, a hook a sinker and bait.
I have always used cheap reels and they would wear out pretty fast with big fish.
I decided to take a chance on the 6500C3 even though I have never used a baitcast before.
Wow! What an amazing reel. One reviewer mentioned returning it because of the backlash. That's all about the user. After a few cast I had it down pretty good and have had no major problems with backlash.
I've had a few occasions when I had to adjust the drag while reeling in a fish. It's a piece of cake with this reel.
The reel is very strong and smooth. The only problem I have is it is too smooth. If I leave the reel "open" and a fish takes it, the line comes off so smooth that the pole doesn't move. That's easily fixed by turning on the bite alert.
I'm getting ready to order another one.
If your willing to try it and practice with it, I don't think you can beat this reel.

Mark combs : Won't do business again.

Would have been a great deal other than the reel did not work. When I took it to a tackle shop, they said it had a busted drive gear. Thanks a lot guys. Won't be back.

Anthony Lamia : 6500c3 abu garcia baitcast reel

these reels are a fantastic piece of workmanship, i have been using them for years,use them with a bit of common sence and they will last a lifetime.

skuehnle : Seems like a very nice reel…

I purchased 2 reels back in early May 2014. I actually love the reel. It seems pretty well made and feels good in my hand. I already have caught a few big catfish and a few really nice sized stripers. But, only after using the reel for about two months, one of them is already have gear problems. I never misuse my reels and keep them clean. When I try to reel in…the gears lock up and will not let me reel in line until I press the button to disengage the reel and then re-engage. This may have just gotten a bad reel, but, I will now have to start using the second reel much more and see how long that lasts. I'm disappointed I finally found a nice compact size round bait cast reel with line clicker and I have doubts on the quality. I wouldn't have thought this problem from an Abu Garcia reel.

S. Fassett : Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 Series Rule!

Great reel works great for side drifting on river. I use it for Salmon steel head fishing on rivers in the great northwest. Not much more to say except every fisher person should have one of these reels in their arsenal.

HIRAM FOSTER : Bomb proof reel

This reel is bomb proof. I’ve had mine sine 98 and I’ve tried to kil it. It can’t be done. It’s been dropped,I’ve missed a good fish and slammed it on the ground. Go two years without cleaning or lubing. It doesn’t matter it just keeps fishing. I run 20lb stren mono on it,and it’s basically a winch. I’ve been hooked on downed trees in the water and just pull the whole tree to the shore. Lol Mine sees duty every now and then,as she’s semi retired. My Revo SX does most of the heavy lifting now. Don’t hesitate getting this reel guys, you won’t be sorry.

Tim Wagner : Five Stars

Smooth casting and durable reel!!

Mark : Five Stars

super great reel love the left hand cranking

al hill : Five Stars

no issues

Ashley : Great reel

It is exactly what I wanted.

Joaquin Leao : Impecable

Es una marca que es muy recomendable, se disfruta al pescar con este reel, vale la pena y es recomendable

N. Seltzer : solid as a rock

I use this reel for salmon fishing on rivers in NW Washington. It was recommended to me by many generations of anglers. It is old school but works very well and is tough as nails. As always Amazon has the best price. For the money it is hard to find another reel with better quality. I am new to baitcasters and learning how to cast takes some time. It doesn't seem to be the best caster but there are ways to adjust the brake internally(lots of stuff online). This helped take some drag off casting ligter rigs. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a solid, long lasting reel who doesn't need tons of features.

CeeZer : Very good reel for the money.

I got one thru Amazon when it was $98 and that's the most I'd pay for it. The reel is a backup to another 6501 that is about 10 years old now. As a backup rod I got Okuma Celilo, also thru Amazon; very nice rod for the money ($50).
Older reel was bought at Walmart back in the day at $68 on sale. Honestly, I feel the older reel was better built, a bit smoother and better drag control. It looks a bit different too.
Both reels landed me a few salmon and they are pretty good reels for my use. If I wanted to spend more, I'd go with Shimano Calcutta 400 series or Daiwa Luna 253 or 300 series.

I too don't really get it why 6501 is called 'lefty' (and other reels with handles on left side) as I cast with rod in right hand and retrieve with left hand, as normal right handed person would do.

Thomas : Not what they use to be. sold out, parts made in china. doesnt even have made in sweden mark! Sad

Like everyone else, they sold out to china. The 7000ic3 doesn't even have made/assembled in Sweden mark on it anymore. It does have made in china mark on the back. I've been using abu Garcia reels for 20years and the quality is not what it use to be. If you don't believe me, they only carry a one year warranty now. They use to last ten years or more, now your lucky to get a few seasons out of one. You would think they would be cheaper, seeing that the parts are made in china.

Janet Romero : He loved them.

This was a Christmas gift for my great-nephew. They were shipped fast and he absolutely loved them.

Craig K : Great baitcasting reel

This is my first baitcasting reel. Very easy to use and very smooth. Highly recommended.

doebranch : Catfishing

justAreviewer : Nice, durable casting reel

I used this reel all last summer and it was my first casting reel. Overall, it is a great first casting reel if you are looking into baitcasting. Reel is very durable and it still looks brand new after fishing almost every day last summer. Only thing I dont like about the reel is the drag action. Other than that, this one does the job well.

you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you