I'll try this forum

[Greysquirrel]

I posted this in the General Interest and got no replies so I will try here on the Tesoro forum and see what those who use these MD.have to say.
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.

 

[kozyman]

A Compadre is a no nonsense detector that will find coins and jewelry as good as anything on the market at a resonable depth. If you want something that will find coins at 12 inches, a Compadre isn't the one to buy.. I have found it to be better then most in heavy minerals iron ect. As far as warranty on a used one I'm sure someone on here can answer that, but for my money a Compadre for the money and warranty can't be beat anywhere. Good luck!!

 

[BarryL]

Tesoros are Great Detectors Warranty however is not Transferrable and new policy now is fees will be charged if repairs are needed which is and should be expected on non original owend detectors sent in . The Silver Umax is a great detector My Opinion is that is the way to go over the Compadre

 

[kozyman]

Read this thread, it will help..http://www.findmall.com/read.php?17,1496294

 

[hardrockminer]

Graysquirrel,

I own a Compadre, I bought it as a second backup to my first MDer. The coil is hardwired (no switching out coils) & rather small.

Having only one detector with the option to change out coils makes it more versital...........small coils for trashy areas, but with less depth & larger coils for more depth.

The silver gives you that option.............from a 5.75 in. coil to a 18 in Cleansweep coil able to cover large areas quickly.

More coils makes a single MDer machine like owning more than one & as coils are cheaper than new MDers.......More bang for the buck.

hardrockminer

 

[Rainyday101]

I would go with a Silver uMax or the Compadre with a 8" coil. Both are simple yet extremely effective detectors. I use a Silver and am getting good depth with the max so far at 7" on a wheat penny. Last night I dug several quarters at the 6" mark and a couple of dimes. The Compadre with the 8" coil would give you a little better depth than the smaller coil yet still give you excellent target separation. The Compadres are sensitive gold finding machines. The Silver will find gold, but not the small stuff like the Compadre. Your logic is really good- keep it simple with a good quality, capable detector, and enjoy the hobby. With a little effort either of these two detectors will pay for themselves in short order. You can use the funds to upgrade if you feel the need. If you want depth, the Cibola is the next step up and a great choice. It as deeper or deeper than detectors costing much more is soil that is not highly mineralized. Bear in mind these three detectors are excellent but have fixed ground balance. If you live in an area with heavy mineralization you will want ground balance to get decent depth. Where do you live? Check this link to get a general idea of mineralization in your area, http://www.hollandsbrook.com/blog-resources/iron-content-in-soil-united-states.pdf

 

[ken ward]

I just tried a test with my silver uMax.. I used my wifes 14K gold neckless for this test.. The disc at min. I could get the chain at no more than 1 1/2 inch. I flip the disc lever to the a/m I could get about 2". When I would turn the sens. into boost mode it would get almost 3". The COMPADRE did do a little better.. So , I hope that helps just a little. You will have to work a little harder with the uMax to find the gold chains, but you can do it... KEN

 

[wheatymike]

Played around with my brothers Compadre this weekend. Nice detector that will run with may Deleon except in the depth department.

 

[kaolinwasher]

I would try the silver umax, because you can use different coils , and take care of it and it will have a good resale value ,

 

[foxhunter]

Since your not in a hurry...I would do more research on any and all brands....Whats right for one person may not be for the next..I own(ed) many different brands over the years...And I have to tell you..The compadre alone will perform as good if not better than alot of the big dogs..I like to go over an area with mine after the T2 to see what I missed..LOL...Tesoro has the best warranty in the business.And that says alot about there product if you ask me...Go with Tesoro.....Learn your Tesoro...And you will be rewarded...And don't forget to have fun!!

 

[Tico]

Ditto on the Silver Umax

 

[fowlercharles]

Hey Greysquirrel, Welcome to Tesoro, and congrats on getting there by way of your thorough and well thought out research. Since I get the impression you may be "new to detecting", other than what you have learned through your research, I would ask that you also spend some time on researching the rules and regs. of detecting. You mentioned a detector for "camping season" . First off, since you didn't say, I wondered ,Camping where? Detecting for What? Gov. Parks? Coins ,jewelry, Gold,(prospecting) Relics?You need to do some serious research on the detecting laws ahead of "camping season". As for Tesoro, I've been using Tesoro for almost 30 years and they are all you will ever need. I just wanted you to be aware of the very strict and "confusing" twists and turns of our Detecting laws etc. No one of Authority will ever "translate" them to Your benefit, so be prepared to pay strict attention to what you" can" manage to understand of the laws before heading out. HH, Charlie

 

[REVIER]

Love my first Tesoro, a Vaquero.
It goes deep and has found me many great things, jewelry and a bunch of clad.

I bought a Compadre used for $130 and that thing has found me about 8X's its cost in clad and jewelry and it is a blast to use.

I also have an F2 and use that probably the most and in 3 years it has found me more than 10X's it's original cost in clad and jewelry among other great finds.

I hunt with others from time to time with much more expensive and advanced machines and keep up or beat them in amounts and quality of finds even with my cheaper ones.
It is not so much what you swing but how well you learn them that counts more as far as I am concerned.

The Silver has the ability to change coils and has that extra sensitivity knob and will find you plenty, but I have always recommended that everyone, and I mean everyone should have a Compadre in the arsenal no matter what kind or how many other detectors they own and use.
It just does a few things easier than most others on the market no matter how much the cost.

 

[slingshot]

I have a Silver and a Compadre. I bought the Compadre after 6 years of using a Silver and that's my go to over the Silver. Now I'm gonna stick my neck out here and say you really need 2 machines because of the different location requirements. If other ID detectors had the features of a Compadre, that wouldn't be necessary. There are many good ones from many good companies and Tesoro is one of them. If I knew that a person would not lose heart after discovering the trash and oddities of detecting, I would say just get a Compadre first and then buy whatever with your finds.

 

[Greysquirrel]

Thanks everyone for the great information and the links that were posted. This Tesoro forum is loaded with information and am in the process of reading most of it when i have time. I will be hunting in the NC & SC areas most of the time. I am aware that no MD are allowed in Federal Parks and some states I go to also ban then in their State parks, KY for one that we will be in next April, SC State parks allow it but was told to check with the supervisor or ranger at each park to make sure it is allowed in that park. We have been hikers for years, not too many long hikes anymore as both me and my wife's dog are getting a little long in the tooth so we know how to treat the land and usually come back with a bag of garbage at the end of even the shortest hike. It dosen't seem to matter who you buy from as all seem to charge the same price, if there is anyone that I should avoid please let me know.
As far as Tesoro not working on used machines I can understand that and have no problem with it but if I look at a used machine I will have to consider the $50 charge in the offer price if it is not working properly, If I buy a used machine for $100 that need work add the $50 and you are better off with a new one. Of course that may be the method in their madness when it come to their low end machines.
Thanks again everyone I do appreciate the input.