I can assume you get these questions alot but I would really like your opinion and the opinion of forum members. First let me say that I am going to pick up your book about the Explorer / E-trac this weekend at my local dealer to help me with my decision. My last detector was an AT Pro which I really liked. I was recently offered a trade for my AT that I could not pass up. I'm in the process of saving up for a new detector. I have almost enough for a new AT, however, I have been considering saving a little more and going with the Explorer SE Pro or the E-trac. I can honestly say that it will be tough for me to save enough for the E-trac, but I can with enough time. This may sound crazy but I do not want to buy used. Would it be worth starting out with the SE or should I really try and get the E-trac? I have read on some posts that it might be hard to get work done on the SE due to it being discontinued. I do not feel like I get good depth from the AT, and I really like the multi-frequency feature of the Minelabs. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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Andy Sabisch Explorer SE Pro / E-trac?
- Thread starter kelpike
- Start date
I started cold with the Etrac when it first come out, saved my ass off for it too. Logic was that I wanted the latest technology to capture any advances since the Explorer and have the advanced options that the Safari didn't allow as well.
I'm glad I did, I 'clicked' with the Etrac straight away and very happy with all aspects it. I lot of the Explorer guys seem to have trouble 'converting' to the Etrac 'language'.....yet others don't, pick it up an run with it. What I'm saying is that you might click with one and not the other.
You'll find fanboys on this site for both models both saying they find more than the other. Both are outstanding machines in the right hands.....and that just takes practice.
So my advice would be to engage a club and ask members to run you through both machines and have a play, and make your decision based on that experience. Some stores run courses/demo sessions that will give you exposure to both machines.
If you lean toward the etrac, take the hurt and keep saving, you'll be glad you did, it's a great machine.
I think your comment reference the Explorer being discontinued in the near future would could be worth investigating. Ring Minelab and ask for the Obsolete year and the year they intend to stop supporting it (support for a product can continue many years after obsolescence is declared)
Good luck mate
I'm glad I did, I 'clicked' with the Etrac straight away and very happy with all aspects it. I lot of the Explorer guys seem to have trouble 'converting' to the Etrac 'language'.....yet others don't, pick it up an run with it. What I'm saying is that you might click with one and not the other.
You'll find fanboys on this site for both models both saying they find more than the other. Both are outstanding machines in the right hands.....and that just takes practice.
So my advice would be to engage a club and ask members to run you through both machines and have a play, and make your decision based on that experience. Some stores run courses/demo sessions that will give you exposure to both machines.
If you lean toward the etrac, take the hurt and keep saving, you'll be glad you did, it's a great machine.
I think your comment reference the Explorer being discontinued in the near future would could be worth investigating. Ring Minelab and ask for the Obsolete year and the year they intend to stop supporting it (support for a product can continue many years after obsolescence is declared)
Good luck mate
Samuel_Champlain_FTW
New member
I bought a used and it works great. I paid half the price of what a new one is.
If there is warranty left, why wouldn't you want to buy used?
Sell your AT Pro and spend a few hundred more on a used model. Thank me with pictures of the deep silver you'll be finding on a regular basis.
If there is warranty left, why wouldn't you want to buy used?
Sell your AT Pro and spend a few hundred more on a used model. Thank me with pictures of the deep silver you'll be finding on a regular basis.
Since I'm going to a higher end machine, I would just like to know exactly what the machine has been through. Has it been dropped or knocked over, has it seen moisture or rain, has it sat in the trunk of a car in the heat of the summer? (you get the point), Even if it has a warranty left, the last thing I want to do is buy a detector and then send it in under warranty. At this point I think I am going to go with the Safari, it is a little cheaper and it still uses the multi-frequency feature that I really want to try.
Tenspeed
Member
When Andy was teaching me how to use my ETrac (I bought it from him and watched him hunt with the prototype a little over four years ago), he commented that both machines were similar, but that the ETrac would be easier to learn due to the nature of the ferrous line. The ETrac has a straight across (around 12 ferrous for good targets) whereas the Explorer has an S shaped ferrous curve for good items that is harder to learn.
Also, the Explorer handle is an angle that is harder on your wrist (unless they have changed it) which was one of his complaints that they fixed with the ETrac.
I would save and go for the ETrac. I know I will never sell mine and it ahs gotten me 97 of my 112 silvers so far this year.
Buy Andy's book, but also find an experienced ETrac user that can give you some insight on what it is telling you. These techniques will have you up and running very quickly.
Good luck in your decision.
Also, the Explorer handle is an angle that is harder on your wrist (unless they have changed it) which was one of his complaints that they fixed with the ETrac.
I would save and go for the ETrac. I know I will never sell mine and it ahs gotten me 97 of my 112 silvers so far this year.
Buy Andy's book, but also find an experienced ETrac user that can give you some insight on what it is telling you. These techniques will have you up and running very quickly.
Good luck in your decision.
rarysgaard
New member
I've had both. In my opinion there is no comparison. I started with the explorer and had a hard time identifying the sounds. It always sounded like a caliope to me. For me it was also very hard to pinpoint with. The Etrac was much easier to learn, sharper clearer tones and easy to pinpoint with. If you can get a good used one buy it. Just my opinion.
I started with the AT Pro at the start of this year, it's a good all round machine but I felt I was missing good targets, so after three months sold it. I bought a used E Trac with nearly full warranty for about $600 less then new. It was the best decision I made!
I found it straight forward to use out of the box, and for me, I go by the tones and rarely look at the numbers, it gives you plenty of target information.
I have found so many coins with it this year I was amazed, particularly in areas where I was told it had been hunted out.
If you get one you won't regret it.
Good luck with whatever you go with.
I found it straight forward to use out of the box, and for me, I go by the tones and rarely look at the numbers, it gives you plenty of target information.
I have found so many coins with it this year I was amazed, particularly in areas where I was told it had been hunted out.
If you get one you won't regret it.
Good luck with whatever you go with.
E-Trac-Ohio
Well-known member
Yes ... yes ... yes ... buy a good, clean, used E-Trac before you by a new Safari !
I bought a new Safari 3 1/2 years ago - it's a great machine but the E-Trac is a much better detector - the E.T. has dual target ID's - more control options, a lighted display panel and very important ... the E-Trac has a 15 degree angle change on the handle compared to the Safari's and Explorer's - believe me ... this makes a huge difference in how heavy the machine feels !
Also - now's a great time to by a used E-Trac - a lot of people had to sell their E-Trac's so they could afford to buy their new Minelab CTX 3030.
This forum is a great place to find a good package deal on a machine ( try to find a smaller trash coil included in the deal if possible) - just scroll down to the metal detectors for sale forum.
If you contact a forum member about a used machine - just exchange telephone numbers - talk to the owner in person - you'll probably feel pretty comfortable about the machine your buying and how honest the owner is by the end of a 10 min. phone conversation -there's lots of good people here !
Good luck !
I bought a new Safari 3 1/2 years ago - it's a great machine but the E-Trac is a much better detector - the E.T. has dual target ID's - more control options, a lighted display panel and very important ... the E-Trac has a 15 degree angle change on the handle compared to the Safari's and Explorer's - believe me ... this makes a huge difference in how heavy the machine feels !
Also - now's a great time to by a used E-Trac - a lot of people had to sell their E-Trac's so they could afford to buy their new Minelab CTX 3030.
This forum is a great place to find a good package deal on a machine ( try to find a smaller trash coil included in the deal if possible) - just scroll down to the metal detectors for sale forum.
If you contact a forum member about a used machine - just exchange telephone numbers - talk to the owner in person - you'll probably feel pretty comfortable about the machine your buying and how honest the owner is by the end of a 10 min. phone conversation -there's lots of good people here !
Good luck !
Joe Diggerall
New member
I didn't check the explorer forum or the at pro but if you post the same question on those other two forums you will then have three different answers.
Estilldigger
New member
You can find new e tracs just as cheap as se pro or safari bought one last week from one of the sponsors on here got the e trac for $1150 and I don't regret it it is one of the best machines I have ever had in my hands
I buy all my gear from my local dealer. He gives me good deals on everything I buy from him and tonight he really hooked me up. I had gotten prices from him on the E-trac, the Explorer SE Pro, and the Safari. I kind of had my mind made up on the Safari just because it was obviously the lowest priced of the three. He ended up selling me the SE Pro for the price he had quoted me on the Safari. I am so psyched to start learning this machine.