Tesoro Silver uMax VS Garrett Ace 250

[gallahadion]

Hi all,

I'm new to detecting, I don't even have a detector yet which is why I am posting. I'm not wanting to spend
more than $300 on my first detector and have been researching the Tesoro Silver uMax and the Garrett Ace 250.
Can anyone give me a 1st hand comparison between the two and any good reasons to go with one over
the other?

thanks
Todd

 

[lovepulltabs]

Hi there, go with the silver umax. I had an Ace 250 and I didn't care for it, they're still using 20 year old circuitry/technology in these machines. If you need a T.I.D. get the Fisher F2. Actually I ordered a silver umax last Sunday from a Tesoro dealer in Connecticut told him I needed it by Friday, still don't have it, no communication on his side, I heard great things about this guy too, so go figure. Next time I'll buy from Rusty. Definatelty the silver over the ace, it's well worth the few extra bucks.

 

[gallahadion]

Next time I'll buy from Rusty. Definatelty the silver over the ace, it's well worth the few extra bucks.

Who is Rusty?

 

[Beale]

IMHO I would go with the Silver. Lifetime warranty, nice easy to use unit. Do a search on this site for Silver U max and see how much good stuff you can read about it, Beale.

 

[markg]

I sent my Tejon in for a tune up. Left Virginia on Monday morning and it just got to Arizona on Friday and won't be delivered until Monday.
UPS is slow.

 

[lovepulltabs]

Rusty Henry is IMO an icon in the metal detecting world, and one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to talk to. He's the service manager at Tesoro. He has his own dealership, so who else is better to buy from? I was just plain stupid on this one, I'm still kicking myself for buying elsewhere. If you want his phone # PM me.

Gary

 

[marcomo]

In all fairness, you are on the TESORO forum here... I don't think you'll get a unbiased opinion here, including mine.

I've never used the Ace 250, but apparently it is a low priced TID detector with a decent amount of bells and whistles including TID, notch discrimination and tone ID. The UMax is a low priced detector without bells and whistles. I don't have a UMax, but if it's half as good as Tesoro's other low priced detector, the Compadre, it's a great machine. And from what I read a lot of people love the UMax and stick with it as a main or regularly used detector. From what I can see, anyone who sticks with detecting eventually wants to step up from the 250. Logically when you put a lot of bells and whistles and bonuses with a low priced detector something's got to give performance wise...

But having said all that, I will say this from my experience: unless you are very committed to sticking with this hobby you might want to start off with a TID detector. Especially if you are going to be detecting in trashy areas. I feel like starting out with a non TID detector has really helped me learn in a big way but with the learning came a lot of frustration!

Just like Tesoro, Garrett has a lot of fans too. Ask this same question on the Garrett forum, read the reviews of both models on other sites and make an educated decision based on what kind of detecting you're going to do

 

[tab-nabit]

The 250 has ID, 5 modes, and the 4.5 sniper coil is affordable and works well for trashy areas.
The Silver has the Tesoro audio that I prefer over the 250 bell tones.
If you feel you must have ID, then the 250 is easily affordable. I just can't depend on the screen display - I always prefer audio.
I'll grab the Silver before the 250. Takes a little to get used to the audio, but better for especially lower conductive targets than preset tones on the 250.
Silver uMax
My $000.02

 

[dan b]

I had an Ace250 and was not very impressed. I followed up one area that I had hunted with the Ace with a Tesoro (not the Silver) and found a lot of coins that the Ace missed. (found 105 coins with the Ace, and another 52 when re-doing the same area with the Tesoro). My opinion is that the Ace is over-rated, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it. I'm sure there are lots of people that would dispute that, but that's my experience.

I would take any Tesoro made now, or in the past, over the Ace250.

Dan

 

[treasurefiend]

I am a Pilgrim in an un-safe land... I have an Ace 250, it works good. I am upgrading to a better machine here in the next 2 weeks though. I need more depth and better separation. I haven't used any other machine, so I couldn't tell you if its any better. Below are my finds starting on March 8th to the present:

 

[marcomo]

I have an Ace 250, it works good. I am upgrading to a better machine here in the next 2 weeks though. I need more depth and better separation.

A lot of people have good things to say about the 250. But I'm seeing that like treasurefiend they soon want to upgrade. But that's not a knock on the machine, I haven't used it so I can't say. Looks like treasurefiend is doing real well with it!

A big positive for the UMax: like all Tesoros it has a lifetime warranty. Garrett warranties their detectors for 2 years.

 

[gallahadion]

Thanks for all the help guys, I've purchased my Silver uMax and now only have to wait for it to arrive. Can't wait
to get out in the field with it.

 

[shadow0966]

I have the ace 250 and have to be honest, it is a god starter machine for learning this great hobby but the deeper the coin the harder it is to pinpoint for the beginner.
When I bought my tejon , I thought I was in over my head but like every other machine you MUST give yourself time to learn the different sounds(pitches,volunes,beeps,blips etc)

If I wouldv'e tried the silver umax before I bought the ace , it wouldv'e been my choice to buy for a starter machine -- Lighter,deeper, easier to pinpoint & learn the sounds.