I used to be an exclusive Whites user. From 1984 to about 2002 or so. I never gave the other brands a look. I was just happy swinging my 4 pounder around. Then I just thought I would buy a different brand to try along my Whites. Not that Whites are a bad detectors. They are very good. So I bought a Fisher. It was nice. Liked deep iron but was hot on nickels. It also weighed about 4 pounds. Of course we are brought up to think that heavy means quality. So I was OK with the weight. Then I bought a Minelab. I started swinging this light weight detector thinking it can't be good because it was so light comparatively speaking. But it was a great detector. I was really having fun trying different detectors! I then realized that there were other great detectors of different species in the world. So then I bought me a Garrett. Very nice powerful and light. I just ordered my first Tesoro to be here in a few days. I have come to the conclusion that most manufacturers make some very nice detectors. Plus you don't have to spend $1200 to find a zinc cent. I prefer the less expensive light weight detectors. The first specification I find out about a detector is it's weight. But all in all I have had a great experience in trying the different brands. I'm just a working class guy and look for good deals. I don't have that much money involved in my 4 detectors.I have been known to sell some items at auction to build up my PayPal account to buy different detectors. I have bought some used detectors and either traded or resold them for a profit to buy other detectors. I sometimes feel like a little kid when a detector is delivered - new or used. I put it together and run to my test garden just to hear it beep over a real target. How fun is that! What I'm really saying is if you get a chance to try a different detector brand then what the heck. You just might like it? If not then trade or sell it and try another. If you find that you don't like anything but one brand of detector then it was fun trying! Well the weather is warming up around here so I hope I'm out hunting rather than sitting in front of the computer. Keep an open mind and great finds to everyone!
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Brand loyalty? :shrug:
- Thread starter khouse
- Start date
White's, Garretts, Tesoros, an Explorer and one Fisher (an F2).
For the most part, each machine has at least one or two things that it does better than the others.
The Tesoros are hard to beat in iron, though my IDX Pro isn't a slouch in iron either.
The Garretts seem better than most in modern aluminum junk.
My Explorer XS is hands-down the deepest machine I own, but doesn't do as well as some in trash.
I like a TID machine and a small coil when I'm hunting around public swimming pools and want to minimize digging, but don't much care for TID for relics, for shallow clad I like to cherry pick with a simple non-metered detector etc. etc.
Most of my machines have features that can make them the 'best' choice for certain sites/targets.
The only machine I can't seem to 'click' with is that F2... maybe I got a bad one.
As you can see, no exclusive brand-loyalty here. I think it's great that competition has pushed the various manufacturers to make such great machines... I like them all.
If you limit yourself to one manufacturer, you're missin' out!
HH!
Skillet
For the most part, each machine has at least one or two things that it does better than the others.
The Tesoros are hard to beat in iron, though my IDX Pro isn't a slouch in iron either.
The Garretts seem better than most in modern aluminum junk.
My Explorer XS is hands-down the deepest machine I own, but doesn't do as well as some in trash.
I like a TID machine and a small coil when I'm hunting around public swimming pools and want to minimize digging, but don't much care for TID for relics, for shallow clad I like to cherry pick with a simple non-metered detector etc. etc.
Most of my machines have features that can make them the 'best' choice for certain sites/targets.
The only machine I can't seem to 'click' with is that F2... maybe I got a bad one.
As you can see, no exclusive brand-loyalty here. I think it's great that competition has pushed the various manufacturers to make such great machines... I like them all.
If you limit yourself to one manufacturer, you're missin' out!
HH!
Skillet
I remember when the first uMax unit came out, the "Sidewinder". I studied that thing in the Tesoro catalog until the pages wore out... years later, I got my hands on one used. Got a Compadre too as well as a Tejon.
Amazing how they can pack so much performance into such a small, light package!
"Toysoro" indeed... I like these kind of toys...
Skillet
Amazing how they can pack so much performance into such a small, light package!
"Toysoro" indeed... I like these kind of toys...
Skillet
jackintexas
New member
Brand loyal? I own 2 of just about everything out there.......Jack
I have had most all of the Whites machines except the water machines. I have had a Fisher CZ-5 and F2. I have had a Xterra 30 and 50. I now own two Ace 250's one is waterproof and has gotten me some nice fresh water rings and chains (yes gold chains!) I also have an Xterra 70 that I expect to use this summer in Florida and Colorado (prospecting and wet salty sand). I have now ordered a Compadre for my "beep dig" hunting in tot lots. I now use both the 250 and 70 equally and don't plan on selling them. I think that says a lot for the 250's! I have yet to get the 10.5 inch DD coil for the 70 but do have the 6in dd HF coil. But the 9x12 on the 250 can cover some ground though. I think all I need now is a pretty good underwater salt machine. If anyone needs a direct comparison of the above detectors give me a shout.
GRAY GHOST
New member
hello all, k house, i enjoy your posts. i cant say im brand loyal. ive owned many like you have, its funny how we all get older and start to opt for lighter machines. spent years swinging my nautilus lf and a whites cm3,and bh 202, among others. i prefer lighter, ready to roll machines with deep tendencies. the cibola fits my needs well at the moment. hh,
GRAY GHOST
New member
n/t
There was a fella that took the Compadre and added the connector for swappable coils, and a pot/knob for something else. I couldn't remember if it was sensitivity or a ground balance mod. Sensitivity for maybe a gain circuit might sound easier.
I checked a local electronics supply house last week and they had just stop selling the Skillcraft connectors for making swappable coils. I should have snagged a handful before they sold out just in case for future use. Might someday check a few other electronics places in the area.
I checked a local electronics supply house last week and they had just stop selling the Skillcraft connectors for making swappable coils. I should have snagged a handful before they sold out just in case for future use. Might someday check a few other electronics places in the area.
Since I don't have a regular Tesoro coil I really don't know the size and type of the connector. I know it's an audio plug though. I have added ground balance and threshold to 2 of my Whites detectors so I believe the sensitivity mod won't be too hard. I have tried to buy parts from Tesoro before and they won't sell me any. Maybe I can get a dealer to get me the connector from Tesoro? It would be nice to have a souped up Compadre!
BarberBill
New member
I've often wondered about fanatical brand loyalty. I started out with Tesoro, but see people doing well with other brands all the time. I've since had a Garrett and a couple of Whites and as others have mentioned they all have some features that make them a good choice for one type of hunting or other. I do somewhat favor the Tesoros due to the weight factor and the great coil options, but my MXT has great coil options as well. White's needs to put their top detector on a reducing diet in my opinion. LOL
HH
BB
HH
BB
If you use one brand or type detector you become very good with that model..You learn all it's little In's and outs.
It becomes an extension of your arm...it's easier using other models of the brand, plain and simple, because most makers keep a basic theme on what they manufacturer.
If you switch around, sure you can still detect, and with good results, but you are then splitting time between machines, models, manufacturers, and always at a learning curve.. It's harder to have consistent good results switching from detector to detector..But then if you never try anything different you never know..so it's a two way street......One seems to always like the type they learned on more than others, because they are familiar with it...Some switch and thats the best for them..but they usually stick to what they switched to, and log lots of hours..I guess what I am saying is..Try something different. If it works learn it..but if you start jumping ,detector, to detector, every time you go detecting, you will suffer loss of good finds because you just can't tell what the detector is telling you.
It becomes an extension of your arm...it's easier using other models of the brand, plain and simple, because most makers keep a basic theme on what they manufacturer.
If you switch around, sure you can still detect, and with good results, but you are then splitting time between machines, models, manufacturers, and always at a learning curve.. It's harder to have consistent good results switching from detector to detector..But then if you never try anything different you never know..so it's a two way street......One seems to always like the type they learned on more than others, because they are familiar with it...Some switch and thats the best for them..but they usually stick to what they switched to, and log lots of hours..I guess what I am saying is..Try something different. If it works learn it..but if you start jumping ,detector, to detector, every time you go detecting, you will suffer loss of good finds because you just can't tell what the detector is telling you.