Question for TESORO users

[Aaron]

Hey guys,

I’ve been using a Tiger Shark for years, found my share of silver and gold with it and it’s always been my favorite water machine. I also have a GS 2, Bandido and Cibola (I’m selling).
I dont do much with the land TESOROs. As far as dirt go’s though I’m usually using my other machines unless I’m with my daughter and her Compadre.
I had recently made the comment on another forum that after over 30 years I’m still looking for my first gold coin. A couple guys told me I need to start using a TESORO.
And, I saw a post from last year somebody asked a question wether the value of these older machines would go up and Monte had given a very detailed response and basically states “yes, to those who are savy to them” So please enlighten me...
Okay, I understand their really good w small gold, and l know from the Tiger Shark, there is some since variants in sound that really help in the water.
So what’s the deal with these little beep and dig machines and gold?

Thanks,

Aaron

 

[kittlitz]

Here's my take:

The Tesoros might have an advantage over some brands because of their relatively high frequencies and ability (in some models) to detect very low conductors in discriminate mode. For example, the Compadre and Mojave both operate at 12KHz and can hit on small bits of iron if discrimination is set low. This gives them an edge when looking for small gold or gold chains.

The biggest reason, though, is lack of target ID on most models. You end up digging more of the "iffy" targets and are sometimes rewarded with gold.

When I started this hobby way back when, I used non-TID machines and was fortunate enough to find two gold coins, as well as a gold ring. Then I switched to Garretts and Minelabs for 20 years and found... no gold. Silver coins and rings, yes; gold, no.

About a year and half ago, I switched to Tesoros. Since then, I've found six pieces of gold jewelry, as well as a titanium ring and a tungsten-carbide ring. I'm pretty sure my TID machines would have detected all those but... I'd have probably talked myself out of digging them. After all, signals in the foil or pull-tab range -- probably trash, right?

The downside with Tesoros is that you will dig more trash to get the good stuff, but I don't see a way around that.

Hope this helps!

-Ken

 

[Nauti]

Good post from Ken and one i agree with totally.All the gold i have found has been with detectors with no visual display.As for digging more trash......the greatest rewards come to those who are prepared to dig more signals including iffy ones.....productive detecting is still hard work so don't think high tech gadgetry makes things easy....it doesn't.

 

[Aaron]

“The biggest reason, though, is lack of target ID on most models. You end up digging more of the "iffy" targets and are sometimes rewarded with gold.”
I totally agree with this.

For example, when I use my GoldMaxx or hunt w my daughter and her Compadre, I dig everything, no meters. When your meter reads foil, how often are you going to dig, and how often is it going to be gold?

I’ve been detecting since 86’ and I’ve still dug a lot of foil even w the metered machines. How many gold rings have I found after digging all that foil?
ONE, a 10k women’s wedding band, made in the UK over 100yrs ago w a F75 LTD. I consider that my “miracle find”.

Thanks Ken.

Aaron

 

[IowaRelic]

I smacked a men’s 10k ring with 15 small diamonds at about 7”” with a vaquero and 5.75 concentric. I rarely hunt over foil on the disc. Unless there is beaver tails and square tabs...

 

[Fish N Chips]

I agree completely with the above responses, the TID talks you out of digging a lot. The Tesoro don't really find gold any better than other machines, you are just digging off of a good tone (although you can thumb the knob to determine a target, most just beep and dig), and while you dig more trash you find more stuff! I have gone to some fancy TID machines for parks but have noticed my finds have gone down, sure I dig coins and silver and less trash, but my gold numbers and surprise finds are down as I can walk away from those nickle and foil signals so easily. I still use my Tesoro a lot for very iron laden sites, but always enjoy pulling one out again for an occasional park hunt to remind myself to hunt by sounds and not rely so much on the TID.

I find I use the detector based on my mood now, I may be in a cherry pick mood or a dig it all mood. I read a trick one time that works well, dig it all for a set amount of time and then when it wears on you start being more selective by increasing discrimination or using TID more. You still want to have fun after all, but by digging it all while you are fresh you open up the chance of finding something good you normally would not dig. I think that can work for any detector pretty well.

 

[hatpin]

I havent found enough gold with my Vaquero to know what it sounds like . But foil , it is the easiest item for me to ID , especially wads of it . Foil has a nice mellow tone and disc out early .

 

[kittlitz]

I find I use the detector based on my mood now, I may be in a cherry pick mood or a dig it all mood. I read a trick one time that works well, dig it all for a set amount of time and then when it wears on you start being more selective by increasing discrimination or using TID more. You still want to have fun after all, but by digging it all while you are fresh you open up the chance of finding something good you normally would not dig. I think that can work for any detector pretty well.

That's really good advice. I've sometimes been trying something similar when using an ID machine: making a deal with myself to dig every second iffy target. That way I save some digging but still have a chance of finding something unusual. It makes me feel like I'm hedging my bets.

-Ken

 

[oneguy]

If you want gold jewelry ya gotta dig it all. Only found 1 gold ring with my old Tesoro, found 4 by accident with my eTrac while I thought I was chasing a nickel signal. A lot of gold rings fall within the nickel range so TID can kinda narrow a lot of rings down to a certain range. If you specifically want gold coins a TID machine can help narrow those down within a certain range (increase your odds trash/treasure). If you want gold nuggets get a gold specific machine..... Last season nuggs got with gold specific Gold Monster 1000.


Good luck!!!!!

 

[fematrailer]

Charles Garrett said dig any repeatable signal.

 

[Normx2]

I've added 2 of the latest and greatest high dollar VDI detectors to my stable of Tesoros only to find that AUDIO is STILL the primary and dominant signal that says whether or not to dig something.

While I enjoy fiddling with today's gadget laden wonders so far I have no reason not to believe that any one of my Tesoros would have found the same target a lot faster.

Tesoro found my Quarter Eagle Avatar.

 

[fematrailer]

Totally agree