This post is not intended to start a debate, nor is it to try to convince anyone to see things the way that I see them, but rather just to state my personal opinion about Machine Choices…
I’ve been Metal Detecting for about 12 years now. I started with a Garrett AT Gold as my very first detector. I found it to be a simply amazing machine and I found LOTS of great treasures with it. The very best feature of the machine, for my uses, was its’ ability to be used under water. I found that I like detecting in freshwater swimming holes, as there is far less trash in the lakes and ponds than there is on land.
Once I discovered some online Forums, I was really surprised to find that there were far more Garrett AT Pro users out there than AT Gold… Seeing so many fantastic claims about the AT Pro, I went ahead and ordered one. When I got it, I was very surprised to see just how different the machine was from the AT Gold… Not only were the Frequencies different, but the Controls and the Sounds of the machine were also completely different. I honestly didn’t like the AT Pro nearly as much as my AT Gold. Having said that, perhaps this is because the AT Gold was my first machine and all that I knew… Therefore, I was comparing everything to that machine. Perhaps it IS actually a better machine. Who knows for sure…
Later, I met another local guy that was into Metal Detecting that asked me to join him one weekend. He had a Minelab Excalibur II at that time. We each tried one another’s detectors to compare them. WOW…. Now we’re REALLY talking about two COMPLETELY different machines! Most likely, it was “beginner’s luck,” but I ended up finding a Silver Ring that day, using the MInelab Excalibur II. I also did very much enjoy the machine, ESPECIALLY the cool SOUNDS that this machine makes! So….. I ended up buying myself an Excal II !
After a few years with these three machines, I ended up selling all three of them and left the hobby for a while. When I came back to the hobby about 3 or 4 years later, I discovered a new machine had been released, called the Makro Multi-Kruzer, which claimed to be the new cutting edge detector. I went ahead and ordered one of these machines, as it was also WATERPROOF….. at least that is what it was SUPPOSED to be. The very first time that I used the machine in a local freshwater pond, the screen filled up with water and the machine died. I had to send it back to Turkey, but they did send me a replacement unit under Warranty. Unfortunately, I was too afraid of dunking the new machine under water, so I ended up selling it and buying another Garrett AT Gold.
Since then, I’ve been using and loving my AT Gold, but had been wishing that I had a backup machine that I could lend to friends once in a while that might want to go detecting with me. However, I couldn’t justify spending another $700 on a “backup machine.” So, I ended up buying a used Tesoro Sand Shark, which was a PI machine that could work in both fresh and SALT water. It was OK, but lacking iron discrimination, it was just not my style.
Finally, Nokta Makro came out with the SIMPLEX+, which IMMEDIATELY got my attention… Wait, what??? A $250 machine that was also WATERPROOF, has a BACKLIT DISPLAY, a built-in LED Flashlight, a Collapsible Shaft, and accessories available such as WIRELESS HEADPHONES and other sized COILS?????? REALLY?????? ……and it can supposedly be used in Salt Water environments?????!?!?!
Obviously, I HAD to have one! So I went ahead and bought one. Although I was very leery of their claims, I was incredible surprised to find that this machine was everything they said it was, and more… WOW…
Now, I know it wasn’t supposed to be competition for higher end detectors on the market, but it boasts all of the features of my Garrett AT Gold and cost about one third of the price. Additionally, this machine has the LED Flashlight, the backlist display, and the Collapsible Shaft, which were bonuses.
Like most people, I did several AIR TESTS and TEST GARDEN comparisons of all my machines and got similar results. So close in fact, that I finally realized that Nokta Makro’s claim of the SIMPLEX+ being “UNRIVALLED,” was actually a fact.
The SIMPLEX+ has now become my favorite machine to use and I even ordered a second SIMPLEX+ to have as a backup, as I could finally justify the price of having a spare machine on hand. It’s come in handy many times when friends that don’t own machines wanted to join me for the day.
In the end, my closing point is this… You definitely don’t have to spend a ton of money to find cool stuff. In fact, there is more LUCK involved in finding treasure than the need for expensive equipment. You have to SWING OVER the item, no matter what machine you’re using, and you have to DIG IT ALL! Don’t skip over what you “THINK” is a bottlecap!
I find just as much cool and valuable stuff as anybody else, and after trying many many different detectors, I’m using the Nokta Simplex+ all the time now, even though it is the CHEAPEST PRICED MACHINE that I have owned.
It might be fun to try a new machine like the Nokta Legend, but I don’t have any unrealistic expectations of this machine finding anything more than I will using my Simplex+.
I repeat….. This post is not intended to start a debate, nor is it to try to convince anyone to see things the way that I see them, but rather just to state my personal opinion about Machine Choices…
Just my two cents! HAPPY HUNTING!
