Conquistador...maybe..
I'm looking at buying my first detector. I'm looking right around the 200 dollar range...I today found a used tesoro conquistador umax . I can take the thing home for 170. What did these things retail at new? how long ago were they discontinued and why? would you guys buy this used conquistador over one of the new ones I mentioned first? Does anyone have experience with customer service from Tesoro on a product that your not the original...
Since you're not the original owner, Tesoro will charge you $50 to check it out and make sure it's working properly. They're really good to deal with and will make you happy.
There were two versions of the Conquistador, an early and a later one. I believe both retailed for $399 new. Most people prefer the later one (plastic face), as the earlier one was known to have a glitch whereby turning the disc knob, somehow had also an effect on ground balance (from memory). Supposedly, the later version didn't have that issue. I believe that since you're refering to it as "umax", and that you're showing the 9x8 concentric coil, then it's probably the later glitch-free version.
If it's a later plastic face version with speaker slats instead of holes, it could be a great detector,
if it's in good working condition. The first version came out in 2000, and was updated about a year later. I think Conquistador was only available for a few years, then replaced by the Cibola when it came out in 2004.
$170 is a fair price for one that's in very good shape. If you can get it for less (like $150), consider buying it...
The scuff shown on top of the coil shouldn't cause any problem in use.
As others have mentioned though, the Mojave is only $250
new. It
works great and for that price, comes with a lifetime warranty. In the long run, I think it's a better deal than a 15 year old Conquistador without a warranty. I've never had a Conquistador, but do have other Tesoros from that same period (Eldorado, Bandido II μmax, Silver Sabre μmax, Cutlass II μmax), and they all
still work great.
Also have a new Mojave and it works very well too...and has a new Tesoro warranty. Get the Mojave... Hope that helps.