Look what I found----Blast from the Past :garrett:

[Sven]

Garrett Master Hunter ADS7, in excellent shape.
It's the AD7 model that came before the newer version with the Crossfire search coil.
Included stock 8" coil a, owners manual that had stapled inside the orig. purchasers receipt.
He paid a whopping $980.00 Canadian for it on July 4, 1987.

Popped in a bunch of used 9 volt batteries I had around and checked it out on the bench and tuned it with a ferrite core.
Gotta say this machine rocks! Nice analog audio, really talks to you........ like I remembered when I used to hunt 8 hours at a time
back in my younger years with the ADS units I had. Just forgot that it is a bit on the heavy side....

Will take it out for a test drive hopefully this weekend.
Not 100% sure if I will keep it...my elbow will decide...LOL

 

[downeaster]

Great detector Sven. I really like those old Garretts and had several years ago starting with the VLF/TR models.Keep us posted on how it does. If you decide not to keep it, keep me in mind.

 

[JB(MS)]

Mine has some scruffs on it but it still works as well as it did when new. I have the standard 7.5 inch coil, 12 inch coil, two box "Blood Hound" depth multiplier, soft case and manual. I still use it occasionally, but it's weight and balance is hard on an old arthritic geriatric to use for any length of time.

 

[HaroldILL.]

I was wondering did these machines have some type of tone I.D. ? How deep could they hit a silver dime in moderate soil. And lsstlt did it have modulated audio where the deeper targets sound softer? Thanks.

 

[JB(MS)]

The Master Hunter ADS 7's give a belltone, Charlie Garrett called it the "sound of money", audio response on zinc pennies and higher coins and a flat tone on targets lower than zinc pennies, but there's enough variation in the belltone that after using one a few times you can tell zincs from higher coins. Copper pennies and dimes give a harder, if that's the correct wording, sounding signal than zincs, and quarters a harder signal than dimes. In my mild ground my MH 7 with the standard coil will get dimes at 6 to 7 inches and quarters a couple of inches deeper. It does have modulated audio, higher conductive coins that are deep give a weak belltone "tink" response and coins from surface to about three inches deep give a very loud response. The all metal mode is two to three inches deeper than disc mode and the meter still ID's. In all metal mode with the 12 inch coil it gets some serious depth. I found a lot of silver coins with the MH 7, and enough newer coins in the first 9 months I had it to pay for it, but only I and one other guy in this area detected so there was no competition. Since Sven started this thread I've used it several times, and found as many coins with it as I usually find with the detectors I normally use. Super detector for it's age, but heavy and tiring to use after using lighter weight, more ergonomic, detectors, especially for an old arthritic geriatric like me.

 

[HaroldILL.]

Thanks for the response JB! When it comes to these older units you are the man! I guess I'm like alot of people on this forum who could not afford these machines when new that I lusted after so I find myself still wanting to give them a spin as long as my shoulder and elbow hold up.

 

[Flintstone]

If a man could find one of these detectors in good condition, how much do you think they would sell for?

 

[Square Nail]

Good find Sven! If I remember correctly, I paid $599.95 for my MH7 back in 1986. I still have it, and it still works great. This one eats the oats and 9v batteries add up, so using rechargeables will help keep the cost down. Give the all metal mode with good Ground Balance a whirl. Disc mode is good, depth okay, but in AM mode, my oldie still rocks. I have seen some of these sell on feebay for as low $200.00 USD.

 

[Sven]

I actually ended up selling it, too much weight for my elbow.
It did end up selling for $265, so there is still a strong market out there for them.