I just got a 6'9" Vendetta MH. I had it out for the first time today. I loved the power and the cast-ability, and the sensitivity was very good. I was using braid though, so a real good read on the sensitivity won't be in until after I put some mono on it.

That being said, I had a Revo SX on it, and the reel kept coming loose in the seat. The screw down piece is aluminum, and it just doesn't stay down and keep the reel in place as well as the plastic ones on my lightning rods. Does anyone have any advice? The Vendetta was designed for the Revo reels, so I don't think there's any excuse Abu or BPS could come up with unless I'm doing something wrong.

I had the same thing happen, after about 3 day of fishing with my SX's (I had 3 of that combo)they would loosen up a little.
I now have TD Zillions on 2 of them and they have not gotten loose
Maybe the rods broke in a little bit. ??

thats weird....I have 2 vendetta's paired up with an old and new sx and have never had an issue

Interesting. I noticed it got a little better as the day went on. Hopefully I'm headed out again soon, and maybe I'll give it one last chance. My 30-day return window is closing, and I'd rather avoid the warranty claim if I can just return it to the store if the reel seat is actually messed up on my rod.

It's not unusual for real seats to fit some reels poorly.

It's pretty difficult to get them to match all the time given there are no "standards" for reel feet or reel seats.

I'd suggest bringing the rod and your reels back to the retailer and let them tell you whether it's a poor design (likely), defect, or something that's going to break in (doubtful).

Even with rods of the same type, they can occasionally change reel seat suppliers because one of them can't make delivery, or another one offers a lower price. It happens all the time.

If you're stuck with a poor fitting seat, I sometimes put a couple of toothpicks under the reel foot and clamp down tight. It's not the ideal solution, but I've never had a problem doing it that way.

I noticed this on the Veritas rods a bit. WHat I do is squeeze the reel down and back onto the rod and then tighten up the seat screw. Because it's aluminum it doesn't form around the reel seat like fiber ones do.

Thanks for the info guys.

I think this is the real design flaw. First rod with the aluminum screw down and first time I've had this problem.

try putting a little adhesive on a few threads, then tighten down the reel seat... maybe even some teflon tape

I have a vendetta with a diawa reel. Been using that setup for a year now and havnt had that happen.

Trash them and buy CARROT STIXS!!!!

I have three vendettas and NONE of them have this issue. Like someone said, get some teflon tape and wrap it the threads a couple of times, and see if that gives you enough bite to hold the reel seat in place

Thanks for all the help. I bought this originally right before my first ever guided trip, and the reel came loose in the seat 3 times that day. Never got so loose that it came off of the rod, but I tightened it back down all 3 times. That was when I made this post. I tried the teflon tape on the 2nd trip and it went well. On my 3rd trip, the rod tip broke when I was trying to pull a jig loose from a bush.

It really wasn't anything that should have been very stressing on the rod (this is the first rod I've ever broken too), so I'm thinking I just got a lemon. I haven't heard of anyone else having the breaking issue on a Vendetta, so I have no reason to speak badly about Abu on this one. That being said, I'll soon be replacing it with a Dobyns Savvy series rod. I liked the Vendetta, but the machined metal screw-down is just a bad design in my opinion. But I really did like everything about the rod other than the reel seat issue.

My brother has four Vendettas and I have two. One of mine is the 6'9" MH like yours. I have Revo S on them and my brother uses Garcia reels too. I have not had the issue you are having with the Vendettas nor has my brother. They are GREAT rods - better than some of the more "colorful" rods and less money to boot. I like them as well as any rod I have used except a custom rod on a Batson Rain Shadow blank.

Try wrapping a small piece of electrical tape on the reel seat...I had another rod once that had the problem you have and that is what I did.