newbe 1st buy, Is $200 a good deal on classic 3???

[gasparflorida]

Add in local paper says 2 months old, barely used includes manual and a scoop for 200.00. I called and he is upgrading to a more expensive 1500.00 unit that descriminates better. Says this unit works great and looks like new. Do they still sell classic 3's??? If not then how is this thing only 2 months old? He says it has a black sand switch on it.

I am looking for a unit to hunt the beaches with that works good in wet sand. I have read that the classic 3's don't work in wet sand is this true? Should i just spend 600.00 and buy the pi pro??? I have never used a detector and am thinking that the classic 3 at 200.00 is a good starting price and unit that i can use as a back up later.

Any help is greatly appreciated as I have never used a detector before and this is all new to me. I know that pis don't discriminate but find deeper targets and a lot of trash. vlf's miss most of the trash so u dont spent a lot of time digging trash but they can miss deeper targets. How back breaking is the digging part of this hobby?

 

[gottit]

Little high/ me thinks!! But it is a great unit I have 1 and I use it more than the hi dollar units I have . and yes you can use it at a salt water beach (depends where). Some of my best finds have been with a stock classsic III on land and beach (wet or dry in salt water areas). Just have to learn it. Did I say it is a great machine!!!!
gottit

 

[gasparflorida]

Thanks for the reply, I'll try to get him down a bit. Using it on FL beaches this weekend I hope. Will start on dry sand and learn how it works there before moving to wet sand.

 

[Rob (IL)]

Add in local paper says 2 months old, barely used includes manual and a scoop for 200.00. I called and he is upgrading to a more expensive 1500.00 unit that descriminates better. Says this unit works great and looks like new. Do they still sell classic 3's??? If not then how is this thing only 2 months old? He says it has a black sand switch on it.

No they are not made anymore. Some dealers could have old stock. If it is 2 months old it will have a transferable warranty. At 2 months old he should have proof of this.

I am looking for a unit to hunt the beaches with that works good in wet sand. I have read that the classic 3's don't work in wet sand is this true? Should i just spend 600.00 and buy the pi pro??? I have never used a detector and am thinking that the classic 3 at 200.00 is a good starting price and unit that i can use as a back up later.

You didn't say if the wet sand is fresh or salt water. If I was hunting salt water I would get a water machine. You can get a VLF or PI water detector and not worry about getting it wet. I got a used IDX for $165 which is basically the Classic III with an ID screen. I have used it at Texas beaches and it will work if you know how to adjust for the wet sand effect.

Any help is greatly appreciated as I have never used a detector before and this is all new to me. I know that pis don't discriminate but find deeper targets and a lot of trash. vlf's miss most of the trash so u dont spent a lot of time digging trash but they can miss deeper targets. How back breaking is the digging part of this hobby?

Digging on the beach is easy you use a scoop. I wouldn't be thinking of using a PI for land hunting if I was new to the hobby. Rob

 

[gottit]

U'll be hunting in a great area this metal detector is all you will need for a while. Ive hunted with others that use DFX's/XLT's and Ive found as much and more valuable "Treasures" on our little hunts than they did call it luck maybe but that is what type of MD potential you'll have with the White Classic III. good luck and dig on! gottit

 

[GoGoGopher]

To my knowledge, the Classic III is no longer made...The Classic 4 and Classic 5ID can still be had from KellyCo, but I have heard these are not the same as the originals....So I think the guy is jerking your chain just a bit....I would not pay more than $150 for it...Also, this machine can be sent to Mr. Bill who performs some incredible modifications on it to make it even better....
BTW, I own a Classic II SL that I picked up for $99.00 and love it!!!


HH,

GoGoGopher

 

[thompy]

its not a deal, i would think more like $150, but its a very good machine

 

[gasparflorida]

He bought it new from a pawn shop that sells mds for 299.00. Still in sealed box. He has used it several times for the past 2 months and says theres not a scratch on it. If its as new and nice as he says it is then i'm gonna get it. Comes with the box and manuel and a sand scoop.

Thanks everyone for the info. I feel good about the machine after reading your comments. I'll master this classic then see about moving up. I really want a pi pro so I can take under water. Pull tabs here I come.........gasparFL

 

[GoGoGopher]

Keep in mind that the Classic III has no readout...you go on tones alone....You will not be able to tell for certain what is under the coil until you dig it, and depth is only relative to the loudness of the tone. Learning to properly ground balance the machine is the hardest thing, then learning the points to turn the DISC to to tune out pulltabs and screw caps if your hunting for coins only...you want to keep the DISC on the rings setting or below if your looking for gold or jewelry....
Your gonna love the machine...she pin-points right on the money...get the 5.3" and 4x6 coils for the XLT and Classic series, and you will have a complete package....The 15" coil is optional if your looking in non-trash areas for deep targets.



HH,

GoGoGopher

 

[gasparflorida]

Thanks gogo gopher. So loud beep means shallow or large object and soft beep means deep or small object? Any tips for properly grouding the unit or is all this stuff in the manual and I just need to read and practice and figure it out?

 

[gasparflorida]

Oh, how much does mr.bill charge to upgrade them? What does it consist of? The unit i'm purchasing doesn't have a headset so i'll be looking to pick one up. Can I use any headset or do I have to get one for a MD from White?

 

[GoGoGopher]

Mr. Bill charges $80 the last time I checked, but it might have changed, and it is well worth it, unless you can do it yourself as I did...A goo pair of headphones are essential...Killer Bees, Grey Ghost, or the standard White's phones will all do great...(I need to get rid of my cheap Audio 200s)...Any headphones wil work as long as they are comfortable and you can adapt them to the 1/4" plug...even walkman/MP3 headphones...
Someone please chime in with Mr. Bills website, as I can never remember what it is....lol

 

[crazyman]

Here's the link. The mods are well worth the cost.

http://www.surfscanner.com/Surfscan3/Modifications.html

 

[gasparflorida]

Thank you gentlemen for the info and link. I am now the proud owner of a classic III, it doesn't say sl on it so I guess it's just the basic III. It's in very good condition on the outside and seems ok on the inside too. I'm a sucker and gave him the full amount.

I was able to detect a quater and gold ring that I placed under 2 inches of dirt. I was also able to disc. a twist off bottle cap. It missed the cap and found the ring and quarter. No alum.pull tops handy to test but i'm sure i'll have a bunch very soon. Heading to radio shack for headset and will order recahrgeable batt. pack from whites.

On to the beach to try it on dry and wet sand. Hope to master this thing asap then will send to Mr. Bill as soon as I find 85.00 in change.