>there is a bearing upgrade there called abec

ABEC (Annular Bearing Engineering Council) isn't a type of bearing--it's a numerical precision rating. Shimano stock bearings have an ABEC 3 rating. ABEC 5 and 7 bearings will give better performance (easier casts, smoother retrieves) but a precision rating higher than 7 won't yield noticeable gains in a fishing reel.

Shimano uses very high quality bearings to begin with and the stock bearings can be improved by cleaning them with lighter fluid (soaking then drying) and re-lubing with a drop of premium lubricant like Yellow Rocket Fuel, Reel-X or Speed-X.

Shimano did upgrade the bearings across most of their spinning, large conventional and higher-end baitcast reel lines this year. The new bearings are called AR-B (antirust bearings) and as the name implies, they offer greater corrosion resistance. These are supposed to be rated ABEC 5 and may spin a little faster since they don't have dust shields. I took out a pair from a Quickfire and put them into a Curado BSF and there is a noticeable improvement in casting distance/ease.

FIT--three really quick and easy things to improve your Curados' performance:
1. Clean and relube your stock bearings. Or upgrade them.
2. Take an oil soaked cotton swab and clean the brake residue from the raceway in the left sideplate. After cleaning off the residue leave a very light film of oil on the raceway.
3. Clean the spool shaft and leave a very light film of oil on it.

Since you're in SF you can get Shimano parts at Hi's (authorized Shimano repair/warranty center).