Should I go Tesoro??

[backlashd]

Hi all, New guy here but I've been reading on the forums for a while. I currently have a BH505 but I'm planning my next detector purchase. Several have recomended the MXT or M6 to me and I'm leaning that direction, but I want some Tesoro users' input. I will mostly coinshoot and do some relic hunting, but mostly hunting in parks and schoolyards for coins, hopefully some old silver. The deleon and cortes look appealing with the visual ID, but I'm open to any suggestions. Which direction should I go and why?


Thanks!
Backlashd

 

[Charles (Montreal Canada)]

I won't say a word on White's since I don't own one.

But Tesoro are 1)very light which will allow you to detect without arm pain for hours. This doesn't look like something people look at first, but I swing a Sovereign sometimes.. and I wish all detectors could be light like Tesoro.. 2) The new generation (Cibola, vaquqro and Tejon) have a new discrimination called 180. I use Tesoro for about 9 years (120 and 180). Some will say that they like the 120 discrimination better but I double my glad coins harvest since I use the Tejon with the 180. If you hunt for coins, you may want to have a Tesoro with the 180 and run the discrimination low. i like the broken sounds of the 120 over rusty iron, but the new generation very deep and are sweet machine, I dug much less for nothing (I don't have much time to detect and I appreciate this capability). The ID meter is fun at first, but any experimented users will tell you that they go with the sound, not the ID. I had a meter on my Sov, but I gave it away because I always follow the sound of my detectors. It's important to learn the sound to understand how broken iron and other trash sound in your headphone. Nothing can beat a user that is willing to put 40-60 hours on his detector to learn the sound. 3) Tesoro Lifetime warranty.. can't be this.. 4) You can probably get a used top of the line (Tejon) for very little. If you are "jumping" from a BH to a Tejon, you will realize that the machine worth every penny you spend.

I never sold any of my Tesoro.. just to say..

Good luck, you can't go wrong with a Tesoro.. 120 or 180.. go ahead..

Charles

 

[snoop & scoop]

I have a tesoro Tiger Shark, Cibola, and a Vaquero. I would not trade any of them. The Cibola is great for the type of hunting you described, if you don't want to ground balance yourself. If you like a little more control the Vaquero is the way to go. I had a Delon, and found that I did'nt use the screen much, mostly went by sound. also the readout is hard to see in sunlight. I lived in Arizona at the time.

 

[backlashd]

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I understand what you mean about the sounds being superior. Even on my BH I don't look at the screen until I can tell it is a coin from the tone, I really only use it to verify what I've already heard. I'm curious about how the 1 tone on the Tesoros work. Is there any way to tell before you dig the probability of a coin by the sound alone, or do you have to "thumb" the discrimination? I could see the advantage of the Tejon here with the trigger discrimination. Also, on the Deleon and Cortes, are they generally considered inferior to the non-ID tesoros in some aspects, maybe depth or noise? I live and will hunt mostly in the Mississippi delta so I think most of my soil is low mineralization, but I'm not positive??? Are there any videos of the tesoros in use that you know of that I can check out? I know I have alot of questions, but i have 0 experience with these machines and I'd have to buy one to try it as there are no detector stores locally.
Again, THANKS for the replies!
Backlashd

 

[fowlercharles]

While you are getting some input from some of the folks and deciding whether or not/or which it to be, a Tesoro or whatever, get some serious input on reliability, service, warrantee,repair etc. that Tesoro has" proven", compared to ANY other brand. Then you will have a much better idea of which way to go.

 

[marcomo]

Backlashd - I don't know where you live, but keep in mind that the Deleon has a preset GB which could be a problem if your soil is highly mineralized. When I first bought a used Deleon it was a constant noisemaker. I had to send it in to Tesoro to have them calibrate the GB to a bag of dirt in my area. When I sold the unit, the guy I sold it to had the same problem and had to send it in to Tesoro to have the GB tweaked.

If you want the VID in a Tesoro, the Cortes and Deleon are your only choices.

As far as the one tone goes, I can tell you that the Tejon will chirp at small iron by design even when you discriminate above iron, but the sound will be chipped and broken. A coin will sound different, more solid.

Good luck with your decision. I never used a Tesoro I didn't like. For whatever it's worth, if you buy a Tesoro and decide you don't want to keep it, they hold their resale value very well.

 

[digitaltim]

I tried the Cortes and a few VID BH's.....I think if you want the VID than you should just stick with your BH......there's mixed opinions the Tesoro VID detectors.....I'm on the side of nay ;-)

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the Tesoro single tone detectors.....its amazing how much you can decipher from a single tone.....

I haven't tried the Golden UMax, but I used a few machines with multiple tones as my primary machines for years and after using the single tone Tesoros I'm not interested.

My personal preference for a unit with ground balance is the Vaquero.... I tried the Tejon briefly....

Right now my 3 personal fav's are Cibola, Silver Umax, and the Compadre..

Any Tesoro is worth trying.....I think you'll be amazed..

 

[AUDuke]

I currently own 6 Tesoros, a vaquero, Cibola, Golden Sabre, Sting Ray, Compadre and a original Bandito II, I have owned other Tesoros including the Tejon,and my favorite is the Vaquero and the Bandito 2nd. If I could only own one detector it would be the Vaquero. I also own 2 Minelabs, 2 Whites & a F75.

 

[amcjavelin]

I have to say out all the Tesoro's i beleive the vaquero is the most versitile (1) for the manual ground balance ability plus the frequency runs at 14.3 14.5 and 14.7khz which i honestly believe is a better coin hunter than the tejon and is a little bit lighter also,the tejon which runs in the 17khz a true blue relic hunter for sure. and 1 9volt vs 8 AA batteries just my 2 cents worth

 

[dahut]

I'm planning my next detector purchase. Several have recomended the MXT or M6 to me and I'm leaning that direction, but I want some Tesoro users' input.
I will mostly coinshoot and do some relic hunting, but mostly hunting in parks and schoolyards for coins, hopefully some old silver. The deleon and cortes look appealing with the visual ID, but I'm open to any suggestions. Which direction should I go and why?


Thanks!
Backlashd

For casual and crusing styles of detecting. I would suggest the Golden.
I very much like the Whites units, but they may be overkill for you. If I were to go with one of those, I'd take the MXT, simply because of it's diverse applications. It is also very deep, but is not really a "coins shooters detector." The M6 is billed as that, but frankly from my view, it is a bit overhyped.

Now, I prefer tone ID, and so I like the Golden . With four basic tones and three additional sounds, it is a nice blend of ID - without tying you to a display. It is deep enough, too, although at first blush it seems deceivingly shallow. In fact, I've found good coins at surprising depths with it.
It is also light as a feather, uses only one 9V battery and can be had for half the cost of those Whites models, when purchased used.
It has a notch feature, too, which can be an aid in target ID.

You should at least give it a look.

PS I would also recommend a totally different detector for you, but you'll need to PM me for that recommendation - since it 'aint a Tesoro.

 

[backlashd]

Wow, great food for thought! I do really like Tesoro's lifetime warranty, and it seems I could get one for alot less money than the Whites I'm considering. Now I just need to figure out which model I like the most. The main use will be for coins and I'm pretty sure I can do without a visual ID. I guess out of the new models either the Cibola, Vaquero, or the Tejon would serve me best. Any depth numbers on coins with these machines? Some of the older models may serve me well also. If I can find a good deal on a used model I might go for it in a few days. Like you say I can always sell if its not my cup of tea, but I don't see that happening. I hope to purchase one detector that I won't outgrow . Any other comparisons between these models that might make a difference??

Edited to add, I didn't see that last post when I posted, I will definitely consider the Golden also!
Thanks!
Backlashd

 

[backlashd]

I'm planning my next detector purchase. Several have recomended the MXT or M6 to me and I'm leaning that direction, but I want some Tesoro users' input.
I will mostly coinshoot and do some relic hunting, but mostly hunting in parks and schoolyards for coins, hopefully some old silver. The deleon and cortes look appealing with the visual ID, but I'm open to any suggestions. Which direction should I go and why?


Thanks!
Backlashd

For casual and crusing styles of detecting. I would suggest the Golden.
I very much like the Whites units, but they may be overkill for you. If I were to go with one of those, I'd take the MXT, simply because of it's diverse applications. It is also very deep, but is not really a "coins shooters detector." The M6 is billed as that, but frankly from my view, it is a bit overhyped.

Now, I prefer tone ID, and so I like the Golden . With four basic tones and three additional sounds, it is a nice blend of ID - without tying you to a display. It is deep enough, too, although at first blush it seems deceivingly shallow. In fact, I've found good coins at surprising depths with it.
It is also light as a feather, uses only one 9V battery and can be had for half the cost of those Whites models, when purchased used.
It has a notch feature, too, which can be an aid in target ID.

You should at least give it a look.

PS I would also recommend a totally different detector for you, but you'll need to PM me for that recommendation - since it 'aint a Tesoro.

Dahut, I guess I'm an idiot cause I cant figue out how to PM??? And I appreciate any recomendations from those with experience!

 

[digitaltim]

you said, "I hope to purchase one detector that I won't outgrow "

with that said I think your decision is cut down to the Vaq and Tejon, because of their ground balance........I say go with the Vaquero then. It may be more than you'll ever need though...It can pick up the tiniest of foil flakes when super tuned.

personally...do to time constraints I try to focus on coin size targets and feel the cibola is enough for me

 

[AUDuke]

IMO The Vaquero is the best all around detector Tesoro has ever made and I have owned almost all of them starting with the Mayan thru the Tejon. In my dirt it has more depth than the Tejon and is lighter, and not nearly as fickle.

 

[Brokensignal]

AUDuke i am with you on the Vaquero.I pack up my detectors to go hunting in swampy remote areas and the Vaquero packs the best and is the smoothest detector i have or had.The 9v battery operation is great.The Vaquero is super light.The Vaquero has found missed item's the heavy minelab BBS just could not get.You can buy two or three Tesoro's for the price of one of the minelabs.I checked a fresh hole that the day before with the Sovereign pulled out a wheat and the detector said nothing else there.I even had a high dollar large coil on the Sovereign.The next day i went over the hole with the Vaq and pulled a mercury dime out of the hole!.If i only could have one detector it would have to be the Vaquero.