LilloEsquilo
New member
I recently took the plunge and bought a new Cortes. It's a machine that caught my eye when it first came out, but then I was a Minelab guy. But over the years I have wondered what the machine would be like, and recently I decided to satisfy my curiousity.
I got the machine, and was able to assemble it without reading the instructions, other than about the battery doors. It's mostly self-explanatory really, if you've ever used a beeper. Normally I use a test bed to try out a new detector, but I for some reason felt the Cortes wouldn't really need that, so I just took it out in the field.
My impressions are first it's very light weight and well balanced so your arm isn't going to get tired. With most detectors there is a learning curve, at least most of the detectors I've had which include the T2, F-75, Coinstrike, E-Trac, Sovereign and Explorer. The learning curve on the Cortes is almost zero - if you've used a detector before, you will be fine right away with the Cortes, and come to feel confident in it very quickly. You really can't say that about the Explorer. (Or at least I can't). I noticed a couple of things about the Cortes - first, it really discriminates iron very well, probably better than any of the machines I've mentioned do. Also when you have multiple targets in the hole, you will know that, way better than I ever did with my other machines. This was my first outing with it, and yet I still knew when there were multiple targets in the hole, and was very impressed when I re-checked the hole and sure enough there was something else there.
I also like the fact you have multiple ways to read the target on the screen - first the "smear graph", then an ID number, and finally the text saying what the likely target is. If these do not agree, or you don't get a repeatable signal, it's very likely junk from what I saw.
In short, this is a really easy to use and fun machine that you will get comfortable with very quickly. I did notice that the indicated depth reading was off on my machine, using the stock coil. It always read deeper than the target really was. I could probably send the machine in to Tesoro for this, and probably will after I the hunt season is over, but for now I am fine with being aware of that. I've honestly never seen a machine where the depth reading was "right on" anyway, it's always a best guess, and of course size of target will skew the readings.
It's got a lifetime warranty, so that says something to me. First detector I bothered to send the warranty card in for.
I could see myself using this for a long time to come, it's a pleasure to use, and if the coins are there this will find them.
Just my initial impressions of the Cortes I hope it helps someone. I got the 5.75 inch widescan for really trashy areas but did not use it my first outing. I'm also using a Garrett pinpointer with it, no interference at all that I saw between the detector and pinpointer. That little Garrett is a great pinpointer by the way but that's another story. I really like the Cortes a lot. I should add, that I'm a coinshooter, which this machine was really made for and meant to do, as opposed to relic or beach hunting. If I was a relic hunter I may well have tried a Tejon.
I say keep up the good work Tesoro, I can appreciate this machine and the fact it's backed by a lifetime warranty. No one else does that anymore that I'm aware of in this industry (not sure about Troy?). All the more reason to appreciate Tesoro.
I got the machine, and was able to assemble it without reading the instructions, other than about the battery doors. It's mostly self-explanatory really, if you've ever used a beeper. Normally I use a test bed to try out a new detector, but I for some reason felt the Cortes wouldn't really need that, so I just took it out in the field.
My impressions are first it's very light weight and well balanced so your arm isn't going to get tired. With most detectors there is a learning curve, at least most of the detectors I've had which include the T2, F-75, Coinstrike, E-Trac, Sovereign and Explorer. The learning curve on the Cortes is almost zero - if you've used a detector before, you will be fine right away with the Cortes, and come to feel confident in it very quickly. You really can't say that about the Explorer. (Or at least I can't). I noticed a couple of things about the Cortes - first, it really discriminates iron very well, probably better than any of the machines I've mentioned do. Also when you have multiple targets in the hole, you will know that, way better than I ever did with my other machines. This was my first outing with it, and yet I still knew when there were multiple targets in the hole, and was very impressed when I re-checked the hole and sure enough there was something else there.
I also like the fact you have multiple ways to read the target on the screen - first the "smear graph", then an ID number, and finally the text saying what the likely target is. If these do not agree, or you don't get a repeatable signal, it's very likely junk from what I saw.
In short, this is a really easy to use and fun machine that you will get comfortable with very quickly. I did notice that the indicated depth reading was off on my machine, using the stock coil. It always read deeper than the target really was. I could probably send the machine in to Tesoro for this, and probably will after I the hunt season is over, but for now I am fine with being aware of that. I've honestly never seen a machine where the depth reading was "right on" anyway, it's always a best guess, and of course size of target will skew the readings.
It's got a lifetime warranty, so that says something to me. First detector I bothered to send the warranty card in for.
I could see myself using this for a long time to come, it's a pleasure to use, and if the coins are there this will find them.
Just my initial impressions of the Cortes I hope it helps someone. I got the 5.75 inch widescan for really trashy areas but did not use it my first outing. I'm also using a Garrett pinpointer with it, no interference at all that I saw between the detector and pinpointer. That little Garrett is a great pinpointer by the way but that's another story. I really like the Cortes a lot. I should add, that I'm a coinshooter, which this machine was really made for and meant to do, as opposed to relic or beach hunting. If I was a relic hunter I may well have tried a Tejon.
I say keep up the good work Tesoro, I can appreciate this machine and the fact it's backed by a lifetime warranty. No one else does that anymore that I'm aware of in this industry (not sure about Troy?). All the more reason to appreciate Tesoro.
