need help deciding

[SkiWhiz]

Originally Posted by Longhair

So you think that the OP should need to learn more than one machine because the two of you have some sort of love affair with units of nostalgic design?

Personally, you could take any two Tesoro's of a price equal to even something like an Xterra 505, and I'd jump over the Tesoro's to get to the 505. Choice of frequencies, multi tones, choice of coil sizes & search patterns, and a whole host of other features have made most of the Tesoro line a distant third pick compared to the MineLab's.

Your a good guy Longhair and I am not trying to argue with you but the reason I have the love affair with Tesoro detectors is because they have earned it, the one and only reason why I like Tesoro's so much is because the way they work, everyone is different but Tesoro's & I just mesh. I have owned and used the Xterra 50 and the Xterra 505 plus the Xterra 30 and the 305 and I would take any Tesoro over them. Jumpy meter,slow recovery,poor low conductor hunter unless you buy an expensive high frequency coil for it,not very deep, etc. I am not a Minelab basher by any means I have a Minelab Musketeer Advantage and I love it.

[Right Brain]

The OP can read through this and decide for himself, I have used a 305 myself, not a bad detector, but I'd take the Compadre and any other uMax model over any other park detector. I have already stated that I have used other brands, so has SkiWhiz and so have many others who vouch for the Compadre.

[Longhair]

Originally Posted by SkiWhiz

Your a good guy Longhair and I am not trying to argue with you but the reason I have the love affair with Tesoro detectors is because they have earned it, the one and only reason why I like Tesoro's so much is because the way they work, everyone is different but Tesoro's & I just mesh. I have owned and used the Xterra 50 and the Xterra 505 plus the Xterra 30 and the 305 and I would take any Tesoro over them. Jumpy meter,slow recovery,poor low conductor hunter unless you buy an expensive high frequency coil for it,not very deep, etc. I am not a Minelab basher by any means I have a Minelab Musketeer Advantage and I love it.

And I certainly won't argue with your personal taste and choice. I understand that for some, the Tesoro line is fine. But to recommend a Compadre, which admittedly is a fine entry level machine, to someone (as norbyx said) that has a $650 budget, that wants to do more than just hunt change and jewlery in tot-lots seems a tad silly. For God's sake, at least recommend something that he can change coils on.

I can honestly say, that if I walked into MOM & DAD's brick and mortar detector store and announced that I had a $650 budget, I would NEVER expect them to say "This $160 dollar unit can keep up with the best of them in any conditions." If they did, I'd walk straight back out the door, and wonder how they could afford to stay in business. I would consider it to be bad business to talk customers down from a bigger sale, the same as I'd consider it dishonest to make rediculous claims about a machines capability.

FWIW, you love Tesoro's....and I gave my last one away to a novice. I'll never even miss it.
I kept the F2 instead and don't regret it one bit.

[SkiWhiz]

Originally Posted by Longhair

And I certainly won't argue with your personal taste and choice. I understand that for some, the Tesoro line is fine. But to recommend a Compadre, which admittedly is a fine entry level machine, to someone (as norbyx said) that has a $650 budget, that wants to do more than just hunt change and jewlery in tot-lots seems a tad silly. For God's sake, at least recommend something that he can change coils on.

I can honestly say, that if I walked into MOM & DAD's brick and mortar detector store and announced that I had a $650 budget, I would NEVER expect them to say "This $160 dollar unit can keep up with the best of them in any conditions." If they did, I'd walk straight back out the door, and wonder how they could afford to stay in business. I would consider it to be bad business to talk customers down from a bigger sale, the same as I'd consider it dishonest to make rediculous claims about a machines capability.

FWIW, you love Tesoro's....and I gave my last one away to a novice. I'll never even miss it.
I kept the F2 instead and don't regret it one bit.

Ok I got ya Longhair & completely understand but I will say that you are one of the few in the many years that I have been in the hobby & around the forums that doesn't like the Tesoro's.

[norbyx]

I don't like tesoros eather... I had a lobo and traded it and never regreat it.

[SkiWhiz]

Originally Posted by norbyx

I don't like tesoros eather... I had a lobo and traded it and never regreat it.

Wow with a statement like that you must really not like them. .

[upstatedigger]

SO....since I am in kind of the same boat, looking to upgrade from Whites Coinmaster pro, which I intend to keep because I really like it. I had thought I had decided on the AT PRO, but also wondering if anyone could chime in on maybe the MXT pro and xterra 705. Also thoughts on the idea of used machines? The main thing I am hoping to gain is depth, but other bells and whistles would be just fine too.
Thanks,
Scott

[Longhair]

For starters, the X-terra 705 is 1.7lbs lighter than the MXT.
Beyond that, you'll run on half the batteries, you'll have three frequencies to choose from instead of just one, you'll have 8 search modes instead of 3, you'll have auto/manual GB, GB Tracking and user adjustable Tracking Offset, you'll have choice of 1,2,3,4, or 28 tones instead of 7, you'll have choice of Pinpoint ID or Pinpoint Sizing, and you'll have auto/manual Noise Cancel Channel.

[upstatedigger]

Originally Posted by Longhair

For starters, the X-terra 705 is 1.7lbs lighter than the MXT.
Beyond that, you'll run on half the batteries, you'll have three frequencies to choose from instead of just one, you'll have 8 search modes instead of 3, you'll have auto/manual GB, GB Tracking and user adjustable Tracking Offset, you'll have choice of 1,2,3,4, or 28 tones instead of 7, you'll have choice of Pinpoint ID or Pinpoint Sizing, and you'll have auto/manual Noise Cancel Channel.

Thanks Longhair, I appreciate the info.

[beephead]

I just got through doing some testing on a very fine gold chain with a few of my detectors. The only detector that I have that can beat the Compadre ($160) on getting a good signal on the very fine gold chain was the Gold Bug Pro ($649) and it wasn't by very much. My other detectors didn't do well at all detecting the fine gold chain. Spending around $500 dollars more only gets you around 10-20% better performance. Also lets not forget that the Compadre comes with a lifetime warranty.

Right Brain and SkiWhiz gave some very good advice suggesting the Compadre.

beephead

[Burbank Bob]

I've owned a Compadre, 2 Sovereigns, 2 Ace 250's, and have hours and hours with a borrowed Teknetics Omega 8000.

That Compadre will find almost anything the bigger boys will but you sacrifice adjustable ground balance, visual readouts and other creature features.

Whoever said it was "slow" has obviously never swung one or had a clunker. It keeps up head to head with Teknetics and Fishers in that department.

It is a good detector for the price and equal to many higher priced machines.

I personally think a Safari is a great detector for that budget and agree.. get a propointer WHEN you get the machine.

[lem]

Many mid price and high price detectors are good, the key is education, what type of hunting do you want to do? What is the soil type where you live, mineralized etc? If mineralized you will want Ground balancing capabilities. Determine what are must have features, and or nice to have. Whatever you buy, use it, practice, learn it, know what it will do.

White M6
At Pro
Tesoro, Vaquero
Minelab 705

[Pulltab Pirate]

Originally Posted by Longhair

Please share.
I'd like to know why you recommend a $160 beep & dig single tone entry level machine w/one function adjustment over anything else.

I was wondering the same thing.

[Right Brain]

Originally Posted by Pulltab Pirate

I was wondering the same thing.

Instead of reading the answers to that very same question.

[triplehooked]

The AT Pro would be a good choice, as would a MXT/Pro as it was built off of the GMT platform. The Tesoros are a fine detector, but I wouldn't suggest a Compadre for your only detector as the depth isn't that great if you decided to do some old coin/relic huntin'. And I wouldn't recommend the XT 705 as that's what Longhair uses..... Just kidding of course, I've never used that model, but I will say that the Minelab I had was a deep detector, although not as balanced as a Whites and the tones drove me batty....a personal preference, not a detector flaw. I think the best advice to give to a newbe is that once you get a detector, learn what it is telling you! Good luck!