Friend buying machine. Ace 350 vs. Fisher F2

[stilpony]

Hi guys,

I don't know much about the Garrett Ace series, but the 350 is their biggest in that series, but is it really any better than the F2? This friend of mind is new, and this will be her first detector, so she wants simple but effective. To me, that just sounds like the F2.
My F5 is coming back from Fisher today (Thank You, Felix!), so while it was at the doctor, I went out and swung the F2...what a machine!!! Simple beyond belief, but deadly on coins! (5x10 eliptical coil). I tried to explain the 5 year warranty vs. Garrett's 2 year, the fact that the Fishers have a numeric readout, etc.
So what do you guys feel would be the better started unit. She IS serious about the hobby, and like me, she's wanted to do this since she was a kid. (She actually owned a cheaper one when young, but she's ready to get serious now)
I've seen several Youtube videos on Garrett Ace 250 vs. Fisher F2, but not a lot on the Ace 350, so is the F4 more compatible to it, or what?
I need some experienced guys to point out the pros and cons between the 350 and F2!

Thanks guys!!!

HH
Pony

 

[stilpony]

-- moved topic --

 

[REVIER]

I would compare the F2 and the DD coil to the 350.
The F4 is just about the same as the F2 with a DD coil but it does have manual ground balance that the Ace or the F2 do not have.
However, that manual GB is only in the all metal setting and DOES NOT transfer over to the disc side no matter what you might have read that says different.
If she is going to hunt in disc most of the time the F2 is the way to go.


I had to make a choice about 3 years ago when I was in the market for a backup/take on vacation detector.
I am a Tesoro guy, but I wanted something that was fun, productive and easy to use in case I ever lent it out to a complete newbie.
After a huge amount of research I narrowed my choices down to the the Ace 250 and the F2.

I wanted this unit to be as close to my Tesoro Vaquero as possible with great target separation and rapid recovery.
The VDI numbers on the screen were not that important to me...at the time, but I thought they would be much easier for a newbie to deal with.

After more research and watching many videos on both and how they work I went with the F2.
A little better in that recovery and target separation area over the Ace, in my opinion, and a pretty much free sniper coil and a crappy but usable pinpointer for the same price point in the F2 2 coil package.

After I bought it I realized how good this unit actually is, had way more fun with it than I ever thought possible, and started to find more than than I thought possible right out of the gate with it, also.
It is a beast on coins, and just about every other metal we look for, too, and I used it way more than I ever planned and still do to this day.
It has found me close to $2000 worth of clad and silver and gold jewelry, so far, not to mention all kinds of other great targets like relics.

Those numbers on the screen that I did not think much of at the time have turned into a highly valuable resource as far as information goes, and as far as I am concerned the addition of those numbers are a deal breaker between these two brands at this price range.
Once you learn the language on that screen, those VDI numbers and all the other little bits of info that screen gives you, the sky is the limit.

Unlike other lines where the lower end units seem to pale in comparison to their higher end and more expensive brothers, I think of the F2 as a top end detector because of how it works and what it can find...just missing some bells and whistles.

Add in the price of that pretty much free sniper coil, an extreme value in itself, the fact that the F2 has found some of my best targets in my career, and that a 10" concentric coil is ridiculously cheap in a multiple coil package or even after market and goes deep, this is a no brainer.

I believe there is no better value than the F2 and these multiple coil packages out there, and if you decide on the DD coil unit instead because of higher mineralization in your soil it is still a fantastic value in itself.
Be aware that the disc while using DD coils is not quite as sharp as a concentric and high end pop tops can mimic dimes and quarters...something that will happen on most detectors using this type of coil.
You still want to add a sniper coil in the mix sometime even if you decide on the DD coil.
I can't tell you how great this thing is...especially at the trashy sites that I love to hunt more than most others.

 

[stilpony]

Thanks Revier! I think this will be enough to sell her on the F2; I love mine!

You've been a great help, and I really appreciate you taking the time to write it all out in detail.

HH
Pony!!!!

 

[UK Brian]

I would advise the Fisher over the Garrett but if buying secondhand the machine was improved ( I think during the first year) so she should try and get a late model.

 

[SolidGold]

For a new detectorist i would suggest a Tesoro Vaquero very good in depth and can find things that a etrac can't a lot more bang for the buck. Out of the two you mentioned I personally would with the Garret 350.

 

[cladcanada]

Might be too late but my choices would be a compadre , the f2 . avoid ace anything at all costs . my 2 cents.....