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Advice

P

Pags

New member
I have read many reviews on the Garrett AT Pro, The pros outweigh the negative comments, but some of the negative comments were very damaging. I am thinking about trading in my 15 year old White Spectrum XLT that works great on a new Garrett AT Pro. I know that is the risk I take, but I want the option to work land and the surf. I am curious to see if anyone who uses the AT Pro on a regular basis has any comments on my decision to trade?
 
I have both the Pro and Gold and like them both very much. I had a problem with my Pro and it was quickly corrected by Garrett and could not be happier with the results and their service. If you mention what the negative things you have read then perhaps they can be discussed in detail. I use my Pro in salt water and it works fine so long as you ground balance it and I have to set the sensitivity down a notch but it seems to work fine for me.
 
I can say that the AT Pro is a good all around hunting machine and I would think you would be happy with one. But you may have second thoughts after you see what they offer you on your White's for a trade on a new AT Pro. I think you would be better off buying new out right and selling your White's. You may do pretty good with trading your used machine for a used AT Pro.

I really like the fact that the AT Pro will take working around the water. Check with some of our Forum dealers, I am sure they will do their best to give you a good deal.

Good luck,

Ron in WV
 
I can tell you if I could own only 1 detector it would be the AT-Pro...Period. I say this and I have 2 AT-Pro's, a Minelab CTX-3030 (yes...that expensive new detector), a Whites V3i, and a Fisher F2. I had but sold a Fisher CZ-21. Without hesitation if all but 1 machine had to go right now, the AT-Pro would be the one staying!!! I am a member of 2 clubs. One is a smaller club. When I joined I was the only AT-Pro owner. Well after out hunting every other member, damn near everyone now has an AT-Pro. Should have kept my mouth shut on how good it is...:lmfao:

Now if you are talking salt water hunting I can not speak about its capabilities, I hunt freshwater.

The key is to really stick with it and learn it. It is a simple machine compared to many but it will take you a few months minimum to really master it.
 
my only advice to you is buy an atpro if you can but find away to keep your xlt the xlt is truly an excellent detector well worth keeping one supper back up to have
 
I've had an XLT for years and traded it for an MXT( got tired of having to scroll thru the screen to change something). MXT has 3 knobs and 2 toggles, but now that sit's in the basement since getting my AT PRO plus I have an AT GOLD. DON'T get me wrong I loved my XLT, I could tell a indian penny from a wheatie from a Lincoln just got laze to do the scrolling to change a setting. If you can swing it get the AT PRO and keep your XLT. Remember this "to each is thier own", meaning=one might like it where another can't stand it. I believe that's why when a new detector comes out there are some for sale later, simply because one doesn't like it. I can say my AT PRO struggles in the water at one beach I hunt( sens turn down to 3 and another beach I can run MAX Sens and both beaches are salt water beaches. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. Good luck on what ever you decide.
JOE in MD
 
Hello Pags,
This is Ed Huffman the owner of Treasure Mountain and Findmall Sponsor, being in this business I can hunt with pretty much any detector I want and I still grab my AT PRO the majority of the time. I do prefer the AT PRO with the 5x8 coil over the stock coil though, but for an overall good detector you cant beat it for the price. I hunt relics, coins and jewelry, and alot of river and lake hunting and I have been very pleased with it. I have a great deal going on right now for Findmall members and I do have both the AT PRO and AT GOLD in stock, let me know if I can help you out. 865-394-5200 Ed
 
[size=large]i have both machines and struggle with which one to use. i would go with save the xlt and buy the atpro outright. i too am fighting with selling my xlt . it's such a good machine. i'm afraid i'll regret it if i do sell it. the at pro works very well when it works properly. sometimes it just goes off berserk and i don't know why. then it works great and really picks out the treasures. from iron no less. much better'n the xlt at times.just for peace of mind i'd sell the xlt if i couldn't keep it and buy the other.i would not trade it. you can get much more for it selling it yourself. depending on how old and whether it's the pre 2004 spectrum or the post 2004 e series. same machine but the newer the better it would seem. you won't regret getting the Pro but maybe selling the xlt. if it's a 2004 or newer then $400 is the least i'd take for it. mine is a 2010 and i won't take less than $500. for it. now see if any dealer will give you that much. the AT pro can be had brand new for $520.00. mine cost me $515.00 when i bought it. most want $595.00 or so. some dealers will do lay-away plans if you can afford the lower payments over time. i would go with Bart@ Big Boys or Chuck @ Indian Nation. both forum sponsers and true life detectorist.

HH [/size]
 
Garrett is a top notch operation. My AT Pro was an early model, and I sent it in for the updates. It came back very quickly with the extended warranty and has worked perfectly ever since. A few months ago, I was detecting in a creek and it went screwy - I had knocked a chunk of epoxy out of the coil. I thought I'd have to spring for a new one. Nope, Sue had one sent out along with a return tag for the old one, so I didn't have any down time (just couldn't hunt in water for a couple days). Then, a couple of months ago, I was hunting a ghost town and jumped over a small ravine. Well, I landed badly and rolled onto the detector, cracking off the control box fasteners. I thought "crap, there goes a hundred bucks!". Nope. Sue had me send it in and they swapped the box and bench tested it at no charge. Now that is outstanding service! I've since purchased an AT Gold, too. I've only owned one other detector, and the one time I had an issue with it, well, it was a bad experience. After sending it in twice and paying a lot of money for a new board, it came back in poor working order. It sat in a storage locker for 15 years until I bought the AT last fall. Garrett has made a long term customer out of me!
 
Those two machines compliment each other. One being 15 KHz and the other 6.59KHz. Besides you can't have too many machines and you always need a back up anyway. So buy the Pro and keep the XLT.
 
Hi Pags!
The XLT set up right is a very good detector in its own right! The AT pro is just much easier to use, waterproof and has a great coil. Check out the videos on Garretts website. I am in a couple of them hunting with them using a ATpro. Even found a cannon ball! :jump:

Call me with questions on the best price around! Experience matters! Bart
 
I have viewed all the Garrett videos on the Pro and they are excellent. I liked the close ups of the read out, and how they walk you through the set-up of the detector. A lot has changed in twenty + years when I purchased the XLT!
 
I have had 5 XLT's and found a lot of stuff with all of them, I also have had 4 DFX's and 1 V3i. Whites are great machines and have top notch customer services. I have the newer version of the AT Pro with the 5x8 DD coil and love it. Get good depth, great target separation and being water proof up to 10' is a big plus. Best advice I can give is keep the XLT for deep silver work and add a newer version AT Pro with the 5x8 coil and you will have it covered.

Colt
 
I have been a whites metal detector user for a few years and I to had a problem with buying anything but a whites.

Last year I bought an AT Pro and I can say I'm very, very, pleased with the detector and Garretts service.

Whites are the most bullett proof machines on the planet. I was looking for a machine that I could use both in water and on land.
at the time Whites didn't offer that type of machine and still do not.

The AT Pro is the best buy and value for dollar on the market today. I will never say that my AT Pro is better than my MXT. I will say
I do find more with my Pro, it is much lighter and cost half what an MXT cost. How can you argue with that.

I will never get rid of my Whites MXT or my AT Pro. Yoy may want to consider keeping your XLT and just springing for the Pro
outright. You will get your money back it finds in a very short while. My Pro is a quarter magnet. I have not found much gold
jewelry with it, but I find a lot of silver jewelry. that is because much more silver is lost than gold. I have found over $800.00 in
clad junk coins within the last 8 months. Thats not bad for a couple hours per day. In the last week I have found about $30.00 in
clad, 2 silver rings and a silver heart. All in parks and school grounds.

You can,t go wrong with the AT Pro and Bart at Big Boys Hobbies will definately treat you right. Great people to deal with.

Garretts and Whites service departments are the best.


AT Pro, Gold Bug II, MXT, ACE 250, DFX, Excalibur II 1000 (Just received it from Big Boys Hobbies) leasch, Pro Pointer,
Sun Ray Probe, Gray Ghost Phones, RG scoop and a garage full of various coils
 
Thanks for all your advice and counsel. I just purchased the AT Pro this morning from a local dealer Gettysburg Electronics. Don Hinks the owner gave me a two hour lesson on its operation. I read the manual watched the videos, and I am set to go. You people have been great to share your knowledge with me. Thanks again!!
 
I purchased the AT Pro on Saturday at Gettysburg Electronics from Don Hinks. He gave me a hour lesson on the unit. I took it out on Sunday morning and found a good pocket hunting knife, 8 pennies, 5 dimes, and three quarters. I did not set the world on fire, but I am pleased with the AT Pro!!!
 
Keep your XLT, you probably cannot replace it for what you can sell it for. It has payed for it's self how many times in 15 years?

You never know you may find someone that you can teach the hobby to if you have a spare machine.

I have been a Whites guy all along. Still have my MXT and DFX. Great tools and backed by great service.
I just find more with my at Pro.

If you like your XLT you are goina love the AT Pro. For you, very short learning curve. Go right to pro mode
Set at 35 discriminate and max sensitivity if ground will allow it. I love the adjustable ground balance on the pro.

Remember I told you so.

HH and GL
 
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