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DeepTech

Still Undecided

W

Wooden Nickel

New member
Hello to everyone. The name is Mike and I am new to the forum and new to metal detecting. I got started when a friend found me a cheap metal detector - an old White's Coinmaster 5000D! Ok it's old, but my first find was a 1941D walker in excellent condition. I HAVE THE FEVER!!!!! (pant, pant, pant)

Of course I want to upgrade to a better md. I posted this subject on the AD forum, and got some good input. And I read all I could find here......I want a Tesoro, but I don't know which one.

I like the Tesoro guarantee. I like the Tesoro reputation. I like the reviews Tesoro units get on the review sites - consistently the best reviews, in total, of all brands. And I have read, and read, and read, and read.............

I will be coin shooting and going for jewelry and relics. There is a small Civil War site within a mile of my house.

I like the Vaquero and it's features. It has the best overall rating.

I also like the features and the rating that Tejon has, but I am leery because it has a bit of a bad reputation because of instability in bad ground. I live in west central West Virginia and we have more than our fair share of red clay.

I hate to open up a "beat to death" subject, but if anyone could provide some useful info I will be really grateful.

Thanks in advance.
 
Welcome to the forum, I would go with the Cibola or the silver umax both have fixed GB but the Cibola is geared for coin hunting with the VCO pp but both have found a lot of relics,HHH
 
Hi Woodennickel, Do your best to find someone in your area that may be hunting with a Tejon, and get all the info you can from them. I know that is not as easy to do as we would like, but it would really be a big help. The Manual Ground Balance feature will likely be a big help too for hunting in your particular area, and I personally like to have an all metal mode for "finding" those high traffic/activity sites before doing the my serious hunting. That won't happen with a Cibola, as it is almost totally silent in the iron trash areas. Fine machine in the iron, but I like to know what I'm walking over now and then. HH,Charlie
 
Woodenickel,

I bought last week and received yesterday a very clean, well maintained Vaquero from a member of this forum.

Here's what I wrote him yesterday;


"Hi Jack,

Got it this PM.

Beautiful, clean, easy to put together.

Air tested in house, over 11 inches on a dime in super tune, up to 5 inches on .4 gram gold nugget.

Wow!

Thank you very much, I am happy!

Merry Christmas and a Happy new year!

Denny"


Did some back yard testing today, looks good.

I will take it out for a hunt Sunday and post what happens.

Good Hunting

Denny
 
Thanks to all of you for the comments so far. I can really get into the details about things like this, so hopefully more comments will be coming. Again, my concerns are with using the tejon in red clay. I would like to hear from folks who have some experience with that.

Thanks again.....
 
Get the Tesoro Vaquero you'll be glad that you did. It's super light, goes really deep and is very stable. It's a joy to use.:thumbup:

tabman
 
tabman said:
Get the Tesoro Vaquero you'll be glad that you did. It's super light, goes really deep and is very stable. It's a joy to use.:thumbup:

tabman
Click to expand...

Tesoro should use this statement in their advertising. Well said.
 
Woodennickel,

Mine arrived today. Was looking to upgrade, so I spent a couple weeks on the forum reading everything I could find. For me, perfect choice. I'm coin and relic, with about equal time devoted to both. Did some preliminary air tests, then hit the test plot. Impressive! It's everything. .. .and then some. .. .everyone's been saying it is.

Welcome to the forum, and be sure to let us all know what you settled on.

RicS
 
I would go with the Vaquero.
 
RicS,

Thanks for the comments. I'm leaning toward the Tejon. What kind of soil do you have? Would you consider it rough to md in? I have a lot of red and yellow clay.

Thanks,

m.....
 
M....

It varies. I travel all over Virginia, and ground mineralization is all over the scales. I chose the Vaquero because of simplicity and adjustable ground balance. Haven't had much time with it in the field, but when I did get out with it, GB was quick and easy. I don't see any reason this should be much different as I move around the area.

The Tejon is a sweet machine, and it had my attention when I was looking. The adjustable tone is a big plus on the Tejon, especially for folks that are used to, or are more comfortable listening to the higher frequencies.

You can't go wrong with either.. . .it's more a decision on features.
 
I believe the Vaquero will handle the clay soil better due to the lower operating frequency than the Tejon.
Definately get something with an adjustable ground balance which both machines above have.
I have some sites with red clay so bad that my vibraprobe pinpointer vibrates anywhere I touch the ground with it and still the Vaquero has no problem hunting in this type of soil.
I have seen where some complained about the tejon not performing well in red clay and they switched over to the Vaquero and are very happy with the performance in that soil condition.
The detector that I have that did the best at the site above is the Minelab Musketeer Advantage and I found several silver coins at up to seven inches with it... never found one with any of the other machines that I have yet.
I think the low operating frequency (5 khz) had alot to do with it being able to find these coins in this bad ground.
Good luck in your decision,
Felix
 
I have a Tejon and I do occasionally hunt in red clay, but that red clay can be moderate ground or it can be bad ground and I can tell you that the Tejon is not so good in bad ground. I too, would highly recommend you get a Vaquero, especially since the Tejon will severely try the patience of someone new to this. The Tejon is an amped up machine that doesn't even have a smooth steady threshold, most of the time. Yeah, get a Vaquero and learn the subtle differences in your tone, what iron sounds like, what trash targets sound like, etc. This will be easier to do with the Vaquero. Also, when you get comfortable with the machine you can hunt in all metal, with the threshold turned to where you can just hear it and listen for the repeatable bumps in the threshold that indicate deep targets (only for relic hunting where there's no proliferation of modern trash and what's left is mostly deep targets). I think its great that you want to use a Tesoro for your first serious machine. I hope you don't get a case of the "I gotta haves" that most of us succumb to, that makes us think that a Target ID machine will be the answer to our prayers (couldn't be further from the truth). Truth is, if you get that Vaquero and really learn it, its all you'll ever need to make good finds.
 
Thanks to all for the comments. I have a lot to think about before I make my decision. The Vaquero seems to be the favorite. I don't mind taking the time and TRYING to exercise patience in learning the Tejon and its eccentricities. Plus, I have the cash now to get the Tejon which I might not have later. I'm still pondering, and pondering, and pondering.....

Thanks again, and more comments are still welcome.
 
Hi woodennickel !

I just finished reading this thread and it was interesting !

It appears the Vaq is getting the most votes. Accept the advice, get the Vaquero and start enjoying it. :detecting:

To quote slingshot, " The WORST thing a detectorist can do is to fall into the trap of "paralysis by analysis".

ToddB64
 
I have a Tejon. It's an incredible machine I will never sell. If you have the money to get a Tejon then I would advise you to get the Vaquero plus the 5.75" coil. I agree with Canewrap that it will be easier to use and just as productive. I don't have the Vaquero but I do have a Bandido which has similar controls and I hope to replace it with the Vaquero some day. I know it's easier for me to say you don't need the extra features since I have one and don't have to wonder if I'm missing out on something better.
I actually get more fun and relaxation using my Compadre and I don't feel like I'm missing anything when I'm not using the Tejon.
If you want to make it easy on yourself, just flip a coin, you can't go wrong.
 
Bought my first detector 2 years ago and still am pleased with my choice, a used Vaquero. Last spring I went for garret pinpointer pro and now I have a great team. The pin pointer has given me a second set of eyes and has made hunting much more satisfing as recovery is faster and less damage to lawns so what ever you buy factor in a pinpointer too you will not regret it.

Minas Man
 
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