As confused as when I started looking for MD

[Greysquirrel]

[size=medium]A little over a month ago I started looking for a MD for next years camping season. At first I thought that the Bounty Hunter lone stare would do, then as I searched longer I closed in of a F2 and the Ace 250 and then was going to get a F2 after the new year. Thinking I was done with research I started to read more and came across some articles on the Tesoro MD's and the simplicity of the Compadre and Silver Umax got my attention. When I was younger I always had beed a first adopter and had to have the latest and greatest with all the bells and whistles and after getting them I found I hardly every used any of the BW and ended up using just the basic setting most of the time. I am thinking that is what will happen if I get too much too soon. A MD with lots of knobs and dials just gives me more things that I can screw up when I am setting it up. My question is the Silver Umax worth $93 more than the Comparde, it that one extra knob make it worth the extra? I know that if I got the Coparde and was going to upgrade I would bypass the Umax and go for something more upsclale I do like the lifetime warranty on these units and is it transferable, so if I bought a used one and had a problem could I get it fixed under the warranty? I think that the simplicity of these two units makes them a good choice but then I don't know anything about MD's at this time but Tesoro's Keeping It Simple approach to entry level detectors make a lot of sense, at least to me but then again I could be wrong. [/size]

 

[GeorgeinSC]

You can get a comparison of the two detectors at Detector Reviews. Maybe that will help you in your choice.

 

[Connecticut Lovejoy]

Do not buy cheap metal detectors, because you be wasting your time with it.

 

[coondog]

I agree with Connecticut, don't waste your time with a cheap M/D. If your going to get serious at all go to a local dealer and tell them what , where , when, and how much time you will be doing it. Let them earn there money. But make sure you are talking to someone who also metal detects.

I bought the ace 250 early last spring, decent detecter for the money but the stock coil does not go very deep so I bought the accelerator 14" coil for another 170 bucks. It did much better with that coil.

After a month I had mastered that machine I was ready for a deeper and faster machine that would tell me more about what I was digging before I dug it. Now I'm happy with the CTX 3030 with the 17" coil. Finding deep silver coins.

But yah don't go to cheap. But don't spend a small fortune if your not going to use it. A dealer can sure payoff in your situation.MMaybe they would rent you one for one trip see how you like it? Maybe if you out grow it they take your used one for trade on an upgrade. But they mainly give you a short class and get you up to speed before you go out..... I guess what I'm trying to say is that the machines are not so hard to learn that you have to start with a 350 dollar toy. You will probably be much happier wit h a 6to 8 hundred dollar mid range machine but you will need a good pinpointer.

 

[Southwind]

Have you ever owned a stereo with a graphics equalizer? Lots of complicated looking confusing sliders. Your stereo will sound just fine if you never touch them. Once you learn what they do you can really improve the sound by using them.

Personally I believe the term "bells & whistles" was attached to detectors with more features to confuse people new to the hobby. There are not fancy add-ons or gadgets/bells & whistles but features. Features most often improve the odds of finding good stuff.