Thanks Monte, I used to often think about the Bandido 2 micromax I bought new in 1998 and how dumb it was to sell it later. I just didn't know any better back then but fortunately I did hang on to my Shadow x2 outfit.
Unfortunately, Tesoro didn't produce the Bandido II µMAX
(microMAX) for very long. Production was from its introduction in 10/'97 through 1/'71 and it carried an MSRP of $469. I can't tell you how many of them I have bought ot traded for and then let go, but I also have kept a watchful eye for very good condition specimens to have on-hand to sell to savvy individuals who can appreciate what they offer. I have had as many as 4 Bandido II µMAX specimens at a time.
Hanging on to the Tesoro-made Shadow X2 was a good move. Personally, my #2 Tesoro I like to keep around is the Silver Sabre µMAX which is what the Shadow X2 was designed from, and they are equally versatile 'turn-on-and-go' versions of the Bandido II µMAX.
The 3 coils I have for the Shadow interchange with the B2 so the 2 detectors compliment each other and are hard to beat.
Coil compatibility can be a handy thing, at least for some folks. For me, I have other detectors to provide different site handling and only need one coil for any of my Tesoro units, and that is a 6" Concentric. For the select needs I grab a Tesoro for, the smaller-size coil is a perfect match.
From mid-'83 I mostly used the 7" Concentric, and the only two other coils I have enjoyed were the thinner-style 'Super 7 Inch' Concentric for the Shadow X2, and then the slightly smaller 6" Concentric. One reason I also like the 6" is because it is a white-colored search coil and that lets me visually track its coverage when I can spot it as I work in and around and under sage brush and other vegetation in the older, overgrown places I prefer to search.
I have to remind myself that a sizeable number of folks in the hobby today have never used a detector without a screen and some have a hard time believing that they're any good. In truth this hobby was built on analog detectors producing notable finds. Many of which go unduplicated today.
Oh so true. They want Tone ID, visual Target ID, and most also want to have a detector they don't really have to learn. By that I am referring to the Bandido II µMAX's use, and reliance, on a proper manual Ground Balance. So many hobbyists today still do not understand what Ground Balance is, how to adjust for it, and the trade-offs of having an errant GB setting.
So, regardless of a detectors make, model, or age?. It's probably worth remembering (or learning) how it all came about and what brought us this far.
A lot of changes in detector design and performance got us to where we are today .... and a lot of good detector performance has been left behind with some of the so-called 'advances.' Heck, most detectors offered now still can't match the quick-response and fast-recovery we've been enjoying with these good analog Tesoro's for over thirty-five years now.
Physically, I just can't handle a lot of detectors I used to enjoy and have been thinning my Outfit for months now. I just received a brand new Fisher F44 yesterday to keep a different search coil mounted, and to maintain the light-weight integrity of my detector line-up, but I'll always have a couple of the light and handy Tesoro's on-hand because they work so well.
Monte