Stella SW2008: JDM vs US

Now i am trying to understand Shimano Stella SW 08 series.  There 2 versions i.e. US market version and Japanese Domestic Model (JDM) version.  There are hundred of threads in fishing forum discussing the above topic.


In term of price in Kuala Lumpur, the JDM version is more expensive up to RM500-600.


From my observation, the main difference is cosmetic and the handle. JDM SW4000 to SW8000 has carbon knob and is very expensive. In 10000, 18000 and 20000 series, they have the same rubber knob.

Posting from various forum stated that there is no difference in the reel body, drag, spool etc are all the same and no need to spend up on the JDM version.


Special thanks to toppuntawong for his write up below:
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quote "First of all, the way to tell them apart between JDM and USDM is this, JDM will always have the SW in from of the number model. As you can see USDM will say ******SW and JDM will say SW*****. Also, JDM will have the "gear" PG, HG, XG on the back of the number SW*****PG (HG or XG). 


2002 (FA = US Model)
 Stella 4000FA Spool interchangeable with 5000FA.
Stella 5000FA Spool interchangeable with 4000FA.

Stella 6000FA Spool interchangeable with 8000FA.
Stella 8000FA Spool interchangeable with 6000FA.

Stella 10000FA Spool interchangeable with 16000SW or 20000FA. (16000SW is JDM upgrade spool.
Stella 20000FA Spool interchangeable with 16000SW or 10000FA. 


2008 (SW = JDM Model)
 Stella SW4000PG No spool interchangeable.
Stella SW4000XG No spool interchangeable.

Stella SW5000PG Spool interchangeable with SW6000** and SW5000S (SW6000 is more capacity and SW5000S is shallow spool)
Stella SW5000HG Spool interchangeable with SW6000** and SW5000S (SW6000 is more capacity and SW5000S is shallow spool)
Stella SW5000XG Spool interchangeable with SW6000** and SW5000S (SW6000 is more capacity and SW5000S is shallow spool)

Stella SW6000PG Spool interchangeable with SW5000** and SW5000S is shallow spool.
Stella SW6000HG Spool interchangeable with SW5000** and SW5000S is shallow spool.

Stella SW8000PG Spool interchangeable with SW10000**, SW12000, 10000SW (USDM), SOM8000, SOM16000
Stella SW8000HG Spool interchangeable with SW10000**, SW12000, 10000SW (USDM), SOM8000, SOM16000

Stella SW10000PG Spool interchangeable with SW8000**, SW12000, 10000SW (USDM), SOM8000, SOM16000
Stella SW10000XG Spool interchangeable with SW8000**, SW12000, 10000SW (USDM), SOM8000, SOM16000

Stella SW18000HG Spool interchangeable with SW20000PG, SW20000MAX, SOM18000, SOM20000
Stella SW20000PG Spool interchangeable with SW18000HG, SW20000MAX, SOM18000, SOM20000 




2009 (SW = USDM Model)
 Stella 5000SW Spool interchangeable with SW6000** (JDM) and SW5000S (SW6000 is more capacity and SW5000S is shallow spool)

Stella 8000SWPG Spool interchangeable with SW10000** (JDM), 10000SW (USDM), SW12000, SOM8000, SOM16000
Stella 8000SW Spool interchangeable with SW10000** (JDM), 10000SW (USDM), SW12000, SOM8000, SOM16000

Stella 10000SW Spool interchangeable with SW10000** (JDM), 8000SW (USDM), SW12000, SOM8000, SOM16000

Stella 18000SW Spool interchangeable with SW20000PG, 20000SW (USDM), SW20000MAX, SOM18000, SOM20000
Stella 20000SW Spool interchangeable with SW20000PG, 18000SW (USDM), SW20000MAX, SOM18000, SOM20000

2002 spool are not interchangeable with the 2008/09 spool. " end quote.




Also very special thanks to Mr Alan Hawk for his comprehensive review in stripersonline.com .
quote "Anyhow, in Japan they offer 13 domestic reels in different combinations of sizes and gear ratios. The list is too complicated to explain in whole, so check Shimano's Japanese site for the entire line up and feel free to ask me any specific questions Those Japanese models are named SWxxxxxPG/HG/XG. Where PG is Power Gear (low ratio for jigging), HG is High Gear (high ratio for popping), and XG is Extreme Gear or Extra High Gear (even faster ratio). For the US, they offer only 6 of those models. They are named xxxxxSW with no gear designation expect for a single model called 8000SW PG which is a slower ratio version of the regular 8000SW. For the US, the 5000 reels are the smallest of the series, 8000 and 10000 reels have similar bodies with different spool capacities, and the biggest are 18000 (high ratio) and 20000 (low ratio). These two big reels have the wonderful hyper twin disk drag that works on the top and bottom of the spool, and the line capacity of each is safe enough to go after cow tuna and billfish. My 20K took 650 yards of 80# Varivas Jig max power (PE5), and it's supposed to take 320 of 30# mono, but I did not load it with mono. This is roughly 20% more than Saltiga's biggest capacity models, the Dogfight and the Expedition.

It is important to mention here that even though some will swear that they are different, both US and JDM Stellas are identical except for cosmetics and colour schemes. Rumours are all over the net about the US model being made of inferior materials (!) with crappy gearing (!!!), reconditioned components (!!!!!), and cheap bearings (!!!!!!!). I did a disassembly of a JDM last summer as I mentioned in an earlier thread, then in November I was handed a US model to take apart and put those rumours to rest, and I can assure you they are 100% the same reels internally, made by the same people on the same machines using the same components. Period." end quote
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Ok, after reading the above, i am quite satisfied that there are NO difference internally in between Stella JDM and Stella US version.


But, yesterday, i came across with a topic in www.deepjigging.com , showing both version was striped down showed that both has identical parts except for the main gear which the JDM model looks polished.  The author can't tell if they are of the same material.  Please find below pics from his posting for your reference.

left JDM........right US version

main gear back : left JDM.......right US version

main gear front:  left JDM....right US version

side by side - left JDM, right US ver

I do not know the authenticity of the above pics, but at the back of my mind the are questions.
IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE INTERNALLY BETWEEN SHIMANO STELLA SW JDM and SW US version? IS THERE ANY REASONS WHY THE MAIN GEAR COLOR AND TEXTURE ARE DIFFERENCE?

Shimano Ocea Pencil

Introducing the new OCEA pencil popper from shimano. This series of big game poppers have been designed to tackle the large saltwater brutes such as GTs large Mahi Mahi tuna and sailfish. Aerodynamic bodies give these lure superior casting capabilities while lifelike appearance attracts fish like no other. A through wire construction with a tensile load capability of above 100kg gives you the assurance every time you have a monster on the other end of the line. Available in floating (45 and 90g) or sinking variants (60 and 125g), the pencil is ideal even for every rough water when a conventional chugger cannot be easily seen by fish; or situation when the fish are extremely spooky and wary of conventional poppers. The OCEA pencil has frequently been sneaking in trophy fish while other anglers miss out the action.

Lures: FCLLabo

About  Yoshitaka Tsurusaki.

He has been a lure design engineer involved in the development of DUEL and the Ａtelier GL - TSURUJIG - TOBIMARU swingminnow javelin jig and now proud to be part of evergreen pro staff. Mr Tsurusaki’s is an avid writer for top Japanese fishing magazine, his favorite fishing style is lure casting for Trout, Barramundi, Tuna, GT (Giant Trevally) and Seabass, inspired by his passion for lure production.

My humble collection

Squidpen.  Note trailing hooks at the eyes.

Squidpen

Ebipop

Sinking lure.

Ebipop Ext

Poppers: Patriot Design XTX-140

Patriot Design XTX 140 is a great rough water GT lure providing a combination of both surface and sub surface presentaions. A very easy popper to work the XTX will pop and splash when worked aggressively but when worked slower the lure will swim just sub surface with a nice wobbling action. This sub surface action sees a rise in hook-up ratios whilst still getting the thrill of a topwater explosion. Also comes with a bigger version of XTX 175.
 from the site : Patriot Design

It can dart, it can dive. It will really open your eyes with its fantastic wobbling action.
The X.T.X. is an incredibly responsive super GT lure. Whether you use weak rod action or strong; high speed reeling or slow, the X.T.X. will respond wonderfully. When jerking and twitching the X.T.X. will not only dart to the left and right but dive to between 50 and 80cm below the surface. Any following or watching GT’s will be unable to resist the temptation of the X.T.X.’s wobble as it rises back toward the surface. The X.T.X. floats between horizontal and 35°to the horizontal. Its balance is such that is always holds this pose when no rod action is applied. The position of the hooks and the excellent balance mean also that the ‘hook up’ rates are very high whatever method you are using. The great balance and the bullet like shape of the X.T.X. allows for long smooth casting. In fact, we encourage you to use the X.T.X. in a variety of ways. From no action to slight shaking of the ‘neck’, darting, diving, popping and casting with minnow like wobbling action, the X.T.X. is an all round GT hunting lure which performs at an incredibly high standard in all games.
≪How to use≫
Ⅰ	Cast the X.T.X. and start reeling to produce “minnow like” wobbling action. Stop reeling and start twitching to produce the dart/dive action.
Ⅱ	Use jerk and jerk method to produce wide left and right darting and diving. Stop jerking and reeling to allow for the wobbling action as the X.T.X. rises towards the surface.
Ⅲ	If you want to try some popping please be sure to keep the rod in a vertical position for best results. Due to the design and shape of the X.T.X. if the rod is not held vertical then it will dive instead of pop when action is applied.

Nature Boys rod case

• Stores up to 10 jigging rods, 5 GT rods, and 13 Bass rods.
• Made of recycled bumper from the car for enhanced protection.
• Equipped with 6 lock parts and two magic belt for the complete seal.
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  Includes open-slide (external side)  and non-slide (internal side) case.