GTI-1500 question or two...

[tincanalley]

Hi folks:

I've been visiting the forum here for a while and thought I'd join up and ask a few questions.

I've been detecting on and off for several years but have not yet found the detector that just "clicks" for me, if you know what I mean. I started out with a simple Fisher one knob detector back in the eighties and have owned a couple more better machines after that. I had a GTA-550 or similar about 10-12 years ago and liked it but sold it for some strange reason! I have been studying up on several models lately and think I would like to move up to the GTI-1500. It seems to have about everything I would look for without been too complicated. "Complicated" to me means too many options and/or confusing interface. I don't mean to say this is a simple machine, but reading the manual for it, I understood what features it has and how to use them.

So...

...I was hoping there were some users here that owned or had used this detector and could give me some insight on how it worked out for them. I understand we're all different and what is one man's meat is another man's poison, so if it doesn't work out for me I won't point any fingers

The imaging is probably the main feature that I would like to have opinions on. If it works, I can see it helping a lot where I hunt for coins and jewelry. I think I read someone say that it works OK up to about 5 inches or so, and after that is not as reliable. Maybe someone here can give some input on that.

I would like to play around with this detector at the beach this fall while on vacation (South Carolina), so if there are any tricks to get the 1500 to work in knee deep salt water, that would be beneficial. I don't think it's suppose to work very well in this situation, but maybe turning the sensitivity way down might help? I just don't want to purchase a beach only machine as I would not have opportunity to use it very much at all.

Anyone feel free to jump in and lead an old man astray

 

[Uncle Willy]

Here's my field test of the 1500. Maybe it will help you out. It's about the best coinshooter made as that is what it waS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR.

bill

 

[oldranger]

I staretd with the ACE250 and stil use it with the
sniper coil But I also have and am still learning
the GTI1500 not that its difficult but there aer
always tricks and im learing as I go along

Its capable of more than im asking of it
right now but Im sure that will change
Its a Great tector in my opinion

Ron

Ranges Lead The Way

 

[Ken in NC]

I do want to point out that the GTI 1500 is not a lighweight machine. It is 4.1 lbs.

Garrett has very good build quality in the GTI machines, but it does add the weight. Since you signed off as an "old man", I did want to give you a head's up on this point.

The imagine feature does work, and is interesting to use. Yes, the depth is limited on the feature, but for most targets it can be a real timesaver. Is it necessary? Not really. A metal probe will also give you the size of a buried target, but requires stopping and probing the ground manually.

I also detect at the beach on occasion. I would not even consider taking a GTI 1500 in knee deep salt water. It is too nice a machine for that purpose, and you run the risk of a miss step ruining your detector. For the beach, you only need a machine that will discriminate out iron. You want to dig everything else. There are not that many targets on the beach (here). In your case, for occasional beach trips, I would suggest looking for an inexpensive machine that can handle the salt sands. I do know that the Fisher 1236X2 does a fine job there, and can be found used for about $200.

In closing, I would highly recommend the Garrett ACE 250 for you as a great overall machine. Don't be put off by the low price, and think there is not much to them. They work real well.

Ken

 

[tincanalley]

Bill: Great read there! Makes one want to buy two or three of them!!!

Ken in NC: Thanks for adding about the weight. I don't think it would be a problem as I can always put the battery pack on my belt if it gets to be a bother.

It would be really nice if the 250 had imagining, but then it wouldn't be a 250, would it? I looked seriously at this detector (250) and I agree that it would probably serve me very well and the price is right. I like it's layout but it is a little short on the features I would like to have. I'm a bit of a tinkerer, so I could easily add the volume control and move the headphone jack, and even add an led light for late evening hunting. The adjustable sensitivity and thresh hold, plus 24 notches of disc. instead of 12 makes me think the 1500 might better suit me. The imagining feature is just icing on the cake! I don't doubt that the 250, being a newer design has some advantages in it's electronic design also. I think the 1500 is getting to be a fairly old design and would love it if Garrett updated it with faster processing speed and 9 volt battery instead of a shoebox full of AA's. I can't imagine wanting any more features on a detector than what this unit offers. I can't even find any mods for this machine as it seems to come fully decked out.

I think you're probably right in picking up an inexpensive beach machine. We usually don't go to the beach till the fall when most of the people have gone back home, so I would have time to look around. Maybe you or some others could point me in a good direction for a good inexpensive detector for the beach. I should have time to find a used one by then. I know practically nothing about a salt water only machine.

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[Ken in NC]

The only feature missing on the GTI 1500 was a true all metal mode. I missed that. The GTI 2500 does have all metal mode, as does the Master Hunter CX Plus. The CX Plus has a very nice audio system, and ID's in both disc and all metal. It lacks the imagine feature, but then again, that means the coils are lighter. The CX Plus also has 60 disc segments on the digital/analog dial face

Regarding the GTI-1500 weight, the battery box is normally back at the elbow anyway, and does not exert much leverage on your arm in that position. It seems to be the coil, and the quality made rod and handgrip that make the machine feel nose heavy to me after swinging it awhile. Just seems to be too much weight forward of the handgrip.

Ken

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah the 250 is a good choice and for a water machine check some of the 150 modifications to water machine on this forum. John built one and has the pics and info I believe as did Big Cat Daddy who drops in from time to time.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah it's one of the best coin magnets out there.

Bill

 

[tincanalley]

I remember reading about the Ace 150 or 250 where someone put a trigger switch on the stem to keep the detector in the pin pointing all metal mode. I wonder if the GTI 1500 pin pointing is a true all metal mode, and if so, if it could be modded similar to the Ace?

I'm still leaning toward the 1500 Bill, but if I come across a used 250 at a really good price, I'll probably pick it up just as a second detector and to see what all the talk is about!!! Sometimes a product becomes available that is just way superior to the competition for the price, and it sounds like the ACE 250 is one of those products.

Ken, is the GTI 1500 just not capable of hunting in knee deep salt water, or that it not being waterproof is what concerns you should I drop it? I tried hunting last year at the beach with a F5 but I could not get it to be quiet enought. The water didn't bother me as I don't hunt deep or in rough water. With the proper scoop, I think I would be OK. I can see why you would be concerned though. It's a lot of detector to loose over carelessness.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah a couple of guys, maybe more, converted the 150 to a completely waterproof water machine and they worked great. The 1500 has zero discrimination which is not true all metal. True all metal has the ability to ground balance out mineralization and salt is a mineral.

You can hunt in knee deep water with the 1500 but if you drop it or it gets splahed with a wave it's toast and a mighty expensive experiment. You can drop the sensitivity down to quiet it down a bit.

Bill

 

[Ken in NC]

I really don't know how the GTI 1500 would behave in knee deep water......I was saying that it could be an expensive way to test out the machine (should you lose your grip on it).

I like Bill's thoughts on converting an ACE 150 to a waterproof machine. If it works in the water, that would be economical

 

[tincanalley]

Is the general consensus that the ACE 150/250 will work in salt water fairly well? One of the Youtube guys (Crackerbarrel?) mentioned that it would work if you turn the disc. down on the 250 to about 3 or 4. Maybe someone has tried it and can tell us what kind of depth to expect at those settings. If so, it would make a great inexpensive beach detector. I wonder sometimes if everyone is finding items with the 150/250 because it's very good, or that because of the price a lot of people are buying them that normally wouldn't and adding to the mix.

Hope it's the former!

 

[Uncle Willy]

The 250 is very good which is why old farts like me that have been tecting since the dawn of time park our high-dollar machines in favor of the 250. When I field tested it a few years back I told Garrett that I hoped they were geared up for some serious production. They weren't and ran behind for months. They added a new wing to their factory and added 120 new employees soley on the profits generated by the sales of the Ace 150/250. This should give one a hint that it isn't selling because it's cheap. Other manufacturers have been racing to catch up ever since by offering a slew of cheap machines but they ain't put a dent into the sales of the Ace. I hear that White is coming out with a $179 detector to try to compete. Charles pulled a fast one on them by pumping out a $600 detector for $200 and caught them all with their pants down and they ain't figured out yet how he done it..

Bill

 

[blake_mulder]

My two cents worth on the 1500

I have had mine for several months (had a 250 previously) - and as stated its a real coin magnet - which is pretty much all I detect for. Its heavy in use but the detachable battery pack helps - but attach the 12.5' imaging coil and its a struggle to use for more than an hour or so. Imaging - as I have stated before on this site the imaging is a fabulous feature but it must be used cautiously. Over here in the UK old pennies image as size C and I have a boxfull from hunting in my local parks. I have lost count how many times I have scanned an object as size C and dug down to find more than one coin in the hole - so if you only dig size B objects you absolutely will leave coins in the ground - otherwise a marvelous machine and so much fun to use.