Product Review: 21 Revelry MQ

 By Simon Goldsmith

One name, two reels, is an apt way to describe the Revelry MQ released late 2021. A Daiwa Australia initiated model added to the Daiwa spin reel line up Revelry was a reel designed and built for our incredibly diverse angling and the varied requirements that Aussie anglers have for tackle, in particular for spin reels.

All About the Body

In many ways the Revelry is inspired by Certates of the past, in particular the original Certate (2004-2009) that was available in two distinct versions, the heavy duty Hyper Custom models and the finesse focused Finesse Custom models.

The Revelry range follows a similar path and offers anglers two distinct reel options, the Revelry FC MQ (FC= Finesse Custom), and Revelry HD MQ (HD= Heavy Duty). As you would expect from two reels of the same name and of the same family there are levels of continuity in design and construction between the models, there are however profound differences. Let’s look at what they are. 

A is For Alloy

As with all the models in the Revelry MQ line-up the HD versions feature a Monocoque body. An uber tough and rigid one-piece frame the HD models feature an aluminium body, a material optimally suited for the harsh saltwater environment, and when the demand for strength and robustness outstrips that of weightlessness.

Daiwa’s nomenclature for its mid design, high strength and performance alloy body is, Metal Alloy Body. A bullet proof reel body and platform, Metal Alloy Body features in many of Daiwa’s most trusted and renowned workhorse heavy duty reels including BG MQ, 21 Saltist MQ, and Saltiga BG.

All of these reels have that ideal balance between, strength, lightness and robustness, and the Revelry HQ MQ similarly ticks all the boxes when it comes to these sought-after traits.

Top Gear

The benefits of the Revelry’s HD MQ’s Monocoque body isn’t just about the leap forward in frame/body strength and rigidity but it’s also about the improvements in gear size, strength, and longevity that it facilitates.

The enhancements to the gear drivetrain have been well stated when it comes to Daiwa’s Moncoque body, with MQ reels benefiting from larger gears, increased cranking power, and significant improvements in gear rotational ease, efficiency and longevity.

The choice of gears that are housed in the Revelry’s Monocoque body is Daiwa’s Tough Digigear gears. An evolution of the original Digigear released many years ago, Tough Digigear as the name implies was designed with strength and toughness foremost in mind, with its digitally designed, machine cut gearing system delivering ultimate gear precision, rotational smoothness, and strength.

The goal with Tough Digigear wasn’t just for it to be buttery smooth brand new out of the box, but for it to retain smoothness, strength and performance year after year, and trip after trip. Tough Digigear achieves that objective in spades and has delivered next level performance and longevity to the Daiwa reel range since it was introduced five plus years ago.

A Touch of Finesse

Like the Revelry HD MQ the Revelry FC MQ also features a Monocoque body, however it’s the material that it’s made from that is its point of difference. The Metal Alloy Body is replaced with a Zaion Body, with the high-density resin/carbon material better suited to the lightweight finesse design focus of the FC MQ. 

Zaion is highly corrosion resistant, exceeds the strength of the old school materials traditionally used in a finesse spin reel, magnesium and alloy, and heightens vibration and feel between angler and outfit for optimum finesse performance.

Zaion is one of the go-to body materials of choice when it comes to light tackle finesse reels in the Daiwa spin reel line-up with Luvias LT and Emeraldas Air FC LT both featuring a Zaion body.

The Tough Digigear gear system of the Revelry HD MQ also features in the Revelry FC MQ, with its lightweight, robust, performance design equally suited to the finesse design focus of the FC MQ. 

How Else Are We Different?

So, if we’ve now established that the bodies are different the next question is what else is different between the reels. The handle knob is the first on the list with the HD MQ featuring an round EVA Knob on all models while the FC MQ has a traditional Daiwa I Knob on the 2000 and 2500 models and a Daiwa T Knob on the 3000 model. 

The horses for courses design approach of the HD and FC ranges also applies to the drag in each line-up, with the HD models fitted out with Daiwa ATD drag system, while the FC range features Daiwa’s latest and best light tackle drag system known as Finesse Drag.

Featuring low start up inertia and incremental adjustment Finesse Drag is tailor made for ultralight angling with its finesse-tuned design minimising bust-offs, pulled hooks and missed hook sets. 

The second thing on the list of differences is spool depth with all Revelry HD MQ models featuring deep spools (e.g. Revelry HD MQ 2500D), while the Revelry FC MQ line-up features shallow and standard depth spools (2000S, 2500S, 2500, 3000). 

With a tonne of line low on the list of essentials for finesse angling a shallow or standard spool is optimum to minimise reel weight and drag start up inertia and maximise outfit balance and nimbleness. Having a shallow or standard spool also removes the need to back fill your reel with a heap of mono or fluro before top-shotting it with a 100-200 metre spool of ultra PE or fluro. A deep spool may be great for many, but for a finesse angler who only uses 150m of PE 0.6 having to back fill your reel with 200m of mono is a major pain in the neck.                            

What’s Inside

While we’ve compared and contrasted the differences between the Revelry HD MQ and the Revelry FC MQ let’s look at the things they have in common, and the technologies and features that combine to make Revelry one of the stand families in the Daiwa Australia spin reel range.

There wasn’t much that Daiwa left on the design table when it came to the Revelry with Magsealed Body, Air Rotor, CRBB bearings, ABS Longcast Spool and combining to deliver the strength, smoothness, and performance that current day Daiwa spin reels are famous for. 

Air Bail 2, Silent Oscillation, Infinite Anti-Reverse and Twistbuster II feature in the roll call of technologies for the Revelry and together ensure consistency in refinement and function hour after hour and cast after cast.

While the Revelry ticks all the boxes in design and performance when it comes looks and styling it can be a little more polarising. Sure, looks don’t influence how a reel performs they can influence whether someone will buy a reel.

Personally, I find the red and gold a refreshing change to the traditional silvers, blacks, blues and golds that featuring in 90% of reel designs. Change is a good thing, and I think the red and gold of the Revelry is a great thing. It gives it a distinct and unique look and stands it out from the spin reel pack. 

Horses for Courses

As we’ve gone through and broken down the differences between the HD and FC versions of the Revelry, their best use and design application I assume has become relatively clear. For those looking for a little more clarity or guidance here’s how I would see each version occupying a place in my tackle line-up.

Revelry FC MQ- This would be one of my go-to bream and bass outfits where light line, light drag and a light reel was a must. PE and fluro line no heavier than 8-10lb would be my line size window, while unweighted or lightly weighted lures no heavier than 1/4oz would be where I’d ideally set the range for my lures. 

Equally I think it’s important to match an ultra-light reel (sub 220gram) like the Revelry to the correct rod to achieve optimum in-hand balance. Some rods for example can have a tip down weight balance to them and as a result require a heavier reel to counterbalance the outfit.

The FC isn’t necessarily the reel that I would reach for to do this, but it is the reel I’m going to match to my 7’2” ultra-light bream crankbaiting rod, or my 6’4” finesse jerkbait bass rod for throwing 60mm Double Clutches.

If finesse angling is your jam and you love walking streams for trout, throwing plastics for bream, topwaters for JP’s, or rolling plastics on the flats for bass then the Revelry FC MQ is the reel for you.

Revelry HD MQ-For those that with bigger fish, bigger lures, and heavier drags in their sights then the HD is the reel that you want to go for. Saltwater loving anglers hooked on catching snapper, jew, tuna, and barra are all going to love the HD.

Built to handle whatever you throw at, and with sizes ranging from 2500 to 5000 the Revelry HD sits in a high demand, highly popular size and performance range with Australian anglers. Whether it’s bait or lure fishing that rings your bell the Revelry HD is a reel that will get the job done.

I have a 3000 Revelry HD in my tackle collection and it’s a reel that does many jobs. It’s my go-to reel when I need a heavier reel to counterbalance my 7’4” Rebellion rod when throwing spoons for bass on Wivenhoe, my favourite reel for hoping 3/8oz jighead rigged Bait Junkie Jerkshads for snapper in the bay or rolling deep cranks for bass and spinnerbaits for sooties.

Whatever your style of light to mid tackle angling, or the size and species that you’re looking to chase the Revelry family of reels is one that’s designed with you in mind. It’s a family that I’m confident that you’re going to love and it’s one that I highly suggest you get to know.