Any of you Rich MD'ers own a Minelab Explorer SE and a Garrett GTI 2500?

[treasure-diver]

I am looking to do a major upgrade in detectors. I was completely sold on the Ex SE until I started considering the GTI 2500. The (Graphic Target Imaging)on the GTI really has me intrigued. I would be very interested in any comparison between the two. I have read all about the PROS and CONS on the Ex SE None of them really concern me. Weight, learning curve etc. PLEASSE Don't use this thread to bash the machines I think they are both great. Would really like to hear from someone that owns both. Any advantages over one another? Does one work better at certain things than the other? Things like that. I am in Houston, Tx and hunt parks, schools, older sites, beaches in Galveston and Florida sometimes. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and HH!

 

[Rick(ND)]

The reason is I am a multi line dealer so I just have to try them all just to see for myself what they can do.

I probably push the Minelabs and some of the Whites more because I know what they can do and I believe in them. I only order and sell the 2500 if that is what the person wants.
We have done some side by side comparison up here in ND and the Minelab Sovereigns could see the deeper coins and ID them better too. Now the 2500 will help you with the size of a target`with the image sizing on the meter, but find you have to be right on for the correct image size. with most other detectors you can tell with some experience with it.
Now on the new SE we know it will go deeper than the Sovereign does and it can ID the coins better as far as the dime and quarters the Sovereign cant. The one SE I let a guy use to see what he thought felt the VCO pinpoint can tell if the target is big or not, so he don't need a image size feature as he can tell by the sound of it.
I think you will find that those that have used both the Explorers and the GTI 2500 will tell you the depth is much better with the Explorers, but are a slower working detector so if you want to do clad hunting the GTI 2500 will get you more while the Explorers will get you the deeper ones and the once close to trash the GTI will average out and give you a trash ID while the Explorer will give you a separate ID for the trash and the coin.
The Explorers have a longer learning curve too and some don't have the patience to use it while I feel the GTI 2500 has a smaller learning curve and easier to use.

Rick

 

[treasure-diver]

Thanks Rick for the great info! That is exactly what I was looking for. I kind of thought the Explorer might be the deeper and better discrimination machine.

Thanks,
Frank

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Basically the 2500 is user friendly while the Explorer is a challenge for most..I might add the imaging factor is useless on a coin after 6 inches and many don't know the GTI 2500 all metal mode that ID's is as deep as any unit. Explorer excells with a slower swing and the GTI2500 can be swung faster..Both are big and bulky but the GTI is better balanced..Personally I prefer the Explorer as I hear tones well and it seems to get the silver where others won't and just might elect for the GTI 1500 which is a little easy to handle for shallowe targets in lower parks where an accurate ID is needed. Am sure many do well with either and would do your homework and perhaps visit a multi line dealer to try both on for size as after all we all have our favorites...

 

[willy]

..up here in B.C. (Canada) I did side-to-side comparisons between a Sov., Excalibur, GTI 1500, Cobra II (modified), and a Garrett Infinium. Sad to say, that while all the VLF detectors got about the same depth, the Sov. and Excal. couldn't touch the others when it came to depth and sensitivity to small low-conductive targets regardless of coil. The hands down winner for depth was the Infinium. This was the second test. The first took place in the Az. desert (Doubtfull Canyon) using some fair sized gold nuggets and an original Sov. (8" & s12), Garrett Gold Stinger (5x10"DD, White's 4900d (stock coil), GB1 (5x10"). Well, the Sov. got left in the dust with the 4 filter 4900d taking the crown. Must be a sucker for punishment to try again. It also is a reminder not to buy into hype and sheer misinformation. The BBS (and, presumably, FBS) detectors are NOT PI detectors (as I've read in other posts scattered amongst the forums) and will get a royal a$$ kicking in a depth contest against a PI.. unless it's in mildly mineralised soil. Just as an aside, I presently own an XTerra 70, GTI 2500, and soon (I hope) an LST. ...Willy.

 

[Rick(ND)]

I agree that is strange as nothing is getting the depth and the ID the Sovereigns and Explorer get here for the people the get to know them. I don't know of anyone with the Garrett's Infinium around here, but sure it is a good detector too and from what I hear they don't work good for coin hunting in the parks and ballfields that have a lot of trash in them.
No one detector is made for every place, but here in ND with or ground conditions and getting to know the Sovereigns and the Explorers they are doing the best over anything else we have seen.

Rick

 

[willy]

I hear ya. My main quibble is with outrageous claims made by some people, in other posts, that (aside from being innacurate) go beyond the bounds of physics. This isn't a solely Minelab phenomenon. Got into rather heated debates with some that consider the detectors the be-all & end-all of detectors. Got my dander up at the time when, after having detected for 26 yrs, my results were claimed to be due to lack of experience. As for the Infinium, where it shines is prospecting and coin/ring hunting in HEAVY iron and mineralisation. Unfortunately, it's a noisy beast that can cause extreme mental fatigue from listening to the dual tones all day. I gave up on the Infinium (and all other current PI's) for nuggetshooting due to the incredible amount of basalt and high-iron (rust on 'em) hotrocks up on the Similkameen/Tulameen Rivers. Turns out that a VLF, while not getting the depth of a PI, can actually ID most of them at the expense of tiny (<3 grain) gold. What I'm waiting for now is for the Pulse Devil to be released. PI depth with VLF disc. It should blow the market wide open, especially if it sells at a reasonable price. ...Willy.

 

[John in Florida]

I've used the Explorer and 4900 for many hours. The 4900 can't touch the Explorer regarding target separation and depth in discriminate mode. The 4900 may have an advantage in highly mineralized soil using its famous all metal mode.

 

[willy]

Can't really comment about the Explorer, but it sure gave my Sov. a whuppin. A good detector for covering a lot of ground in high mineralisation. Gotta love those 4 filters. So far, I'm impressed with the X70.. except for the pinpoint mode. Gonna try and make up an extension cable for it in order to do some water hunting (nuggets 'n such). ...Willy.

 

[RedRockNv]

As far as learning curve is concerned with the Explorer SE it is relatively easy. Just take it out and use it. Right out of the box it will blow most other away for depth. I love mine very easy to use.

 

[Rick(ND)]

I used all the different Explorers and I just got a chance to try my SE I got and will say this looks like the easiest Explorer to use and really like that new coil.

 

[Wirechief]

Hi Willy, the 4900D is really very surprising isn't it Willy?

Wirechief

 

[willy]

Yup. And here I was struttin' around with my "Boy! Ah say Boy! Gonna need a backhoe to dig that there target!" BBS detector.. ended up eating a healthy serving of crow (with the right spices almost anything can be made palatable). ...Willy.

 

[parrott]

Willy... You sure are getting around. I'm really impressed.

 

[willy]

Yah, I've been a rubbertramp for the last 20 odd years. I make a fair bit of money through detecting and that also leads me to be very picky about my detectors. They all get a serious bit of testing to make sure they'll help me bring home the bacon. If they don't pass muster.. it's out the door. Hype doesn't make my any money, performance does. ..Willy.

 

[sandy]

I do have the Garrett 2500 & Eplorer 11,and bought them at the same time. I do most of my detecting in woods,row-crop and pasture land using the Exlorer. The Eplorer does seem to get a little deeper. However, in park and lawns, I prefer the Garrett. The Garrett is easy to use, and I do not dig man-holes in these areas. Conclusion, If I sold one, it would be the Garrett. Sorry cousin Charles. P/S I am not rich. HH Sandy...

 

[jbow]

I have not used the new Explorer, nor have I used the Garrett. My first machine was and is a Soverign GT with a 180 meter and an S-1 probe. Next I bought a Tejon. Last summer I bought a T2.
I hardly ever use the GT anymore and I seldom use the Tejon. I would hyperventilate if anything happened to my T2. It is light, sensitive, and I find the goods with it. I have really come to love it. The Whites MXT is almost as good and is a similar machine. Maybe it's the soil here. Our soil is really highly mineralized and some sites where I relic hunt have lots of trash. If you are beach hunting then maybe a Minelab would be your best bet but the T2 will also hunt on the beach but it's not good in the surf. The Tejon also is a great relic machine.
If you are coin hunting then maybe the Minelab would be your best bet.
As I said before I have never used the Explorer or the Garret BUT from what others have said about them... I would not hesitate to buy the Explorer over the Garret.
Personally however... I really love my T2 and you might want to take a look at the new Fisher F-75. Especially is weight is a factor.

Julien