No doubt stuff is light and smooth today. But last year I burned out two Shimano's due to nylon gearing that did not stand up to the pounding of heavy jig fishing.
I have made a transition to Lew's for metal gearing. To get the same features in a Shimano we are at $400 plus.
Point is make sure the reels will withstand the abuse. If you go gentle on those Gander mountain reels they may last a long time.
Don't trash the Ambassadors. Google up "Boca Bearings" for an upgrade in quality and smoothness for those durable old reels.
What model Shimanos were they that you "burned out" the nylon gearing? Where was the nylon gearing? It certainly wasn't the main or pinion gears but if there were nylon gearing it was something like a cog gear to turn the level wind. These gears are actually designed to give and break if the worm gear gets something stuck in it, this way a $2 nylon gear goes out instead of blowing out a $20 worm gear or warping a $100 frame. Ambassadeurs also have these nylon gears to run the level winds.
