The ACe 250 and the Silver uMax

[tab-nabit]

Some interesting replies. I have both machines among others and I see both pros and cons. Personal preference comes into play with me sometimes. Some days I want a TID display and some days I don't. Although among my machines that do have the TID display, I don't depend on the TID for the digging decision. It can be nice to have at times for certain conditions for certain applications so it has it's place. So folks who must have the display, I see nothing wrong with that. We all don't have the same vehicle. Although I have other TID machines (Explorer-II, F-75, Spectra V-3, Cortes, etc), I have always been an audio kind of guy. So can can get along just as happy on days with a non-TID machine.
The ACE does have loads of features for the price and can be effective (look at Garrett section), and the Silver can be effective for it's features (No TID, single tone etc). So both can get goods out of the dirt, well with the use of the operator swinging it.
Audio - Since I'm an audio kind for my 1st indication, I prefer the Silver audio over the ACE bell tone. I'll admit that the digital bell tone is not really my cup of tea. The analog audio of the silver has it's quality feature to me.
TID - I can use it or not use it, but audio goes first for me.
Discrimination - The ACE has it in range steps (12 notches I guess you can say) and the Silver has it non-stepped via disc knob (variable no stepped ranges).
Between the 2 machines at this moment, I have no intention of letting go of either, although between the 2 I'll almost always grab the Silver as first choice. I'll swing the ACE once in awhile but it's been mostly a loaner. I originally bought it for the wife but she didn't get into swinging a detector, although she will dig targets for me. So the ACE has been used by me a couple times and as a loaner a few times. I prefer the 4.5 sniper coil when I do use it - for my type of hunting. On the Silver, I like the simplicity, audio, recovery response.
So although I have some high end TID machines, I also have a like for non-TID machines. I find stuff with both types and I like to have both types.
This year I been mostly using the Spectra V-3 (Vision) because it's new for one thing, interesting, I have a lot to learn, like the wireless headphone system, but last Friday I did a short hunt using the Compadre taking the Silver as backup. I can find things I like about each of my detectors, and since there is a choice available, I like to have some choice for my preference whenever I go detecting, and my preference changes. Sometimes it's me, may be the type of hunting, may be the soil conditions etc. And when I go, I have to choose between my 4 vehicles - although I have taken one of the motorcycles at times, breaking down the detector and fitting it in one of a half dozen large sissy bar bags.

 

[SkiWhiz]

Reading all these post could/does persuade a person (unfortunately). A few years ago I bought a new Ace, sure looked good different than the rest nice bright yellow (I like yellow). Put it together, fairly decently made, took it out for a test run.... Was I ever disapointed, bonk bonk bonk ding ding ding, didn't like belltone sounds. Recovery time is so slooooooow, and I am a slow swinger. Couldn't sell it fast enough. Time went by and I read a ton of comments/opinions,etc. on the Ace (like what I have been reading here with the Ace/Silver post) said to myself man it must be me not the detector since so many people like it so well so I ordered another new one. Put it together took it to the park, swung it for a good solid 5-10 minutes (decided it wasn't me it was the detector) couldn't get home fast enough to put it up for sale. Don't take this the wrong way as I know that this is just a Silver/Ace comparision post, it does get sickening reading so much hype about the Ace no matter what forum you go to. This is a Tesoro forum and the main reason for me comming here is to read/learn/ask & answer questions/about Tesoro products, if I wanted anything different I would go here http://www.findmall.com/list.php?32 Steve.

Before anyone gives me the devil, I want to say - I know this is a Tesoro forum and very seldom does it stray away & I hope it never does. My reason for the comments is because I am very active on another forum and about everyday there is a handfull of newbies join and ask the same old question - What detector should I get. Most say get the Ace get the Ace, this gets real old quick with me as I believe that Tesoro has made and still makes better detectors at the same or lower price than the Ace. And I believe that Tesoro deserves a shot because they make high quality machines and are backed by the best folks in the industry. And as long as I can I will promote them any chance I can.

 

[grumpyolman]

The only Tesoro I have is the Tiger Shark and I love it. I also have the Ace 250. I don't know if you can use different coils with the Umax or not. You certainly can with the Ace and I have used both the 4" in trash and the larger 6X9 in clean areas. Don't know but the capability of changing coils might be real factor...if you can't change coils with the Umax. Jim

 

[SkiWhiz]

The only Tesoro I have is the Tiger Shark and I love it. I also have the Ace 250. I don't know if you can use different coils with the Umax or not. You certainly can with the Ace and I have used both the 4" in trash and the larger 6X9 in clean areas. Don't know but the capability of changing coils might be real factor...if you can't change coils with the Umax. Jim

You can use the 4" coil 5.75" coil 8"x9" coil 10"x12" coil and coils that were made for the Shadow X2 detector on the Silver and all the other

 

[slingshot]

It doesn't bother me that much, Steve. However, I bet that if I had the Golden umax I would be ALL Tesoro-I have the Royal Sabre, only the coil was broken and I have to use the 4" coil on it. I can just imagine that I would put my Ace for sale if I could afford one. With Mike's, David's, and others posts, it sounds like the perfect machine for me-a beep-dig machine with ID for my trashy sites that I've allocated to the Ace. Now I know I could get a larger coil for the Royal, but the ED-120 of the Golden,PLUS a/m mode WITH tones-heaven! Then you'd get sick of me talking every post about the Golden.

 

[Trackerman]

Both pretty good machines. But the Ace gives you a bit more info of what your diggen. The silver umax is a good machine. But is very simple and plain compared to the Ace. But for some reason some of my best finds have been with the Ace. Im talken jewlry and coins. Pinpointing and targetting kinda sucks on the Ace but its still a good machine because of the find factor. Frequency doesnt matter when it comes to the Ace ive seen some pretty amazing finds with it.

 

[trueblue]

Don't take this the wrong way as I know that this is just a Silver/Ace comparision post, it does get sickening reading so much hype about the Ace no matter what forum you go to. This is a Tesoro forum and the main reason for me comming here is to read/learn/ask & answer questions/about Tesoro products, if I wanted anything different I would go here http://www.findmall.com/list.php?32 Steve.

lol....sorry Steve but I gotta laugh.... not atcha juz bout this thread its a classic mines better ... an I aint giv'n ya the devil but ya just plain'ol hate the Ace and thats ok ...
Yeah agreed people do read this stuff an yeah it sways there decisions no dout about that , done it myself all the hype generated round the Compadre mainly put out there in the past " I write this with the greatest respect an no ill intent " by Tabdog ...Im sure TD wouldnt mind me say'n this ...I enjoyed all his posts mainly centred around his times with the Compadre , an I still enjoy'em over on Tesoro's Board ....Yeah its a great lil detector but its the operator swing'n it thats bloody good at what hes doin " Tabdog digs it all no wonder the fantastic jewelery finds Tabdog & the Comparde a match made in heavin .....I brought one as did many others impressed by TD's posts ...wasnt 4 me jus as the Ace dont suit some nor does the Silver....Its a good to see the differing opinions given here seems a pretty fair match so far both good detectors just gotta find one suits ya best .. I dunno whats the better if there is a better infact or just different ... but my preference is 4 the yellafella and yeah I miss the Silver a liltle ........Baz

 

[dahut]

Reading all these post could/does persuade a person (unfortunately). A few years ago I bought a new Ace, sure looked good different than the rest nice bright yellow (I like yellow). Put it together, fairly decently made, took it out for a test run.... Was I ever disapointed, bonk bonk bonk ding ding ding, didn't like belltone sounds. Recovery time is so slooooooow, and I am a slow swinger. Couldn't sell it fast enough. Time went by and I read a ton of comments/opinions,etc. on the Ace (like what I have been reading here with the Ace/Silver post) said to myself man it must be me not the detector since so many people like it so well so I ordered another new one. Put it together took it to the park, swung it for a good solid 5-10 minutes (decided it wasn't me it was the detector) couldn't get home fast enough to put it up for sale. Don't take this the wrong way as I know that this is just a Silver/Ace comparision post, it does get sickening reading so much hype about the Ace no matter what forum you go to. This is a Tesoro forum and the main reason for me comming here is to read/learn/ask & answer questions/about Tesoro products, if I wanted anything different I would go here http://www.findmall.com/list.php?32 Steve.

Before anyone gives me the devil, I want to say - I know this is a Tesoro forum and very seldom does it stray away & I hope it never does. My reason for the comments is because I am very active on another forum and about everyday there is a handfull of newbies join and ask the same old question - What detector should I get. Most say get the Ace get the Ace, this gets real old quick with me as I believe that Tesoro has made and still makes better detectors at the same or lower price than the Ace. And I believe that Tesoro deserves a shot because they make high quality machines and are backed by the best folks in the industry. And as long as I can I will promote them any chance I can.

Im with you. I try lots of detectors, mostly cause my pal goes through em like socks. I also have owned detectors from every maker and still do - right now I have a Fisher F70, 1236X2, Tesoro Golden, Vaquero Tiger Shark. And I like the Garrett concept, escpecially the GTP 1350. As for the Ace, I would say it is rough. If you like it, then all I can say is "Whatever floats your boat."
But I quit grabbing for it, a long time ago.

 

[trueblue]

by the way this brings back an ugly response I got over on Minelab section quite a while back ...I used to spend hrs readin up all I could and study all the reports by user's on the xterra 70 on this board an others ......well I started findin quite a few posts with unhappy user's state'n that they were havin trouble with the battery compartments and controil box's on the xterra's ie: detector freezing on start up and some freezing fullstop having to be returned for new control box's ...ya need to strech the springs in the batt compartment ect ...seemed like every board I visited had several members dissapointed with there xterra's for these reason's ...Now I got nothin against Minelab hey Im an Aussie an its an Aussie company as ya know but thats beside the point anyway ...what happened was I repled to a post where a member was complain'n about his xterra freezing up and not working on occasion he wanted to know if any others experiencing the same ......Well I aint got nor have I ever had an xterra so maybe I should not have made a comment ...but I did ...I just stated what I 'd read on on quite a few other forums of users havn same type of dramas with the xterras ....No harm in that I though ...I was wrong ...A Finds Stormtrooper Moderator on the Minelab section deleted my post and gave me a severe reprimand via PM .....do it again and ya BANNED
And here I was thinking finds is a democratic forum .. ...it aint by a longshot
hehe wheres Tabdog

 

[dahut]

No forum is unbiased. THey are not democracies, or Utopian societies. Many can be eclectic: this Tesoro forum and the Garrett forum moderated by Bill Revis are two examples that are. They don't feel threatened by the mention of other products - this particular thread is a good example of that.

But any moderated forum will reflect the moderator(s)themselves. It even extends to the mention of other forums. For example, attempts to make a link at findmall to another internet forum will get you a message stating your post contains rejected words or phrases. This is because this is a sponsored forum, so there is protection built in for those who pay the bills. They pay for your enjoyment, so they make the rules, as it were.
.
That severe moderation extends to less-than-positive, personal observations on a product reflects the moderator, more than anything. You can't please all the people all the time, and some are bound to have negative objections to even the best of things. But most dedicated forums are fellow enthusiasts, "preaching to the choir." THEY dont need convincing, so mod's could spend some time handling such ssues more constructively, "in-house."
They might even build some good will that way, and perhaps make another convert. "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar," after all.

That undesirables are simply eliminated or banned is utterly up the those in control. Sadly, in their zeal to "keep things in order," censors often overlook a simple fact: you can go to a more open forum and voice the same observations they don't like to hear - usually to a much larger audience.

 

[SkiWhiz]

This is one of the reasons I like comming to this forum, not only because it is about Tesoro's but a person can give an opinion even if it is negative without getting a reaming. I don't know how many times I have been knocked around on another forum for speaking so highly about the Tesoro detectors. Yeah I have been known to go over board but I don't have a problem talking about what I believe in & what I know works. Actually it isn't that I hate the Ace, I just get sick of hearing about it, I feel it is an ok machine but no where near as good as some think it is. I too enjoy reading Tabdog's posts and miss having him here. I will end in saying thanks folks for letting me speak my mind and having no one getting mad at me. As I have said many times - about the only thing better than a Tesoro detector is the people that use them. Thanks. Steve.

 

[ds6191]

Thanks for your input everyone. I will forward this info on to my sister. I'll let her do the research from now on. I guess if I had a question about the ace i should have just went over to the other forum. Thanks again guys, Dan

 

[SkiWhiz]

Thanks for your input everyone. I will forward this info on to my sister. I'll let her do the research from now on. I guess if I had a question about the ace i should have just went over to the other forum. Thanks again guys, Dan

Hey Dan don't let yourself feel that you did anything wrong, thats what places like this is for - asking questions. Its all about helping one another out. I shouldn't of let off so much steam on the Ace, what works for one might not work for another & vice versa. Steve.

 

[joe dirt_1]

it's kinda funny, but the main reason i wouldn't buy a ace 250 is i can't stand that god awful yellow color of the machine. make it in camo, or garrett green, anything but yellow, and i might be interested. i own a silver umax and love hunting with it. found many nice coins and artifacts with it so far, so i'm gonna stay with what works for me....tesoro.
i don't personally like the belltone of the garrett machines i have owned in the past. it gives no indication as to the target identity audio wise. with the silver umax i can hear the difference in some targets by the sound it makes over trash or coins. it basically comes down to what you like and feel comfortable with, not what someone tells you to buy..........
roger

 

[Old Katz]

When I posted my question about the SIlver and Ace I didn't expect to get so many
responses: >Well, I'm wondering, since the Silver operates at 10 to 12 kHz
and the Ace 250 at 7kHz, does that make the silver a better coin
and jewlery machine? Or did Tesoro make it a higher operating
frequency to handle hostile ground better?<

Thank you for all the feed back
I have the Ace 250 and its ok. I have the MXT but its on the blink at the moment.
I would like a simple machine thats really sensitive to coin and jewlery. The Silver sounds like that.

The Ace is ok but not much depth. IMO its lousy on nickels. My MXT eats them up.
The Ace doesn't have much by way of more coils. I know about the 10x14DD but I would like
very much to have a 7 or 8 inch concentric coil, maybe a spider coil. The 9.5 on my MXT is
easy to pinpoint compared to eliptical coils on the Ace.

Anyway I'm still looking. Some people have high praise for the Cibola and the Vaquero.


Katz

 

[SkiWhiz]

Hey Katz don't be afraid to check out the older Tesoro's that come up for sale on the forums quite often. I actually prefer them for tot lot/school ground hunting. I just sold a near mint little Cutlass II uMax that I didn't get a chance to use but my wife did a couple of times. First thing I asked her is did you get any nickels, because as you know if you are getting nickels you are bound to find jewelry. Well she came home with a pocketful of nickels. Some folks like the bells & whistle type detectors (nothing wrong with that) and some like the simple beep and dig detectors including myself, if we are finding goodies and most of all are having fun that is what it is all about. Steve.

 

[Old Katz]

What is a easonable price to pay for a used Silver Umax or Silver saber.
The MD dealer I usually deal with keeps trying to talk me OUT of thes, especially
$239 for a NEW Silver Umax saying I would be better off with an ACE of course I already have that.
He seems to think that its not worth the money for a Silver for what you actually get.

Katz

 

[SkiWhiz]

What is a easonable price to pay for a used Silver Umax or Silver saber.
The MD dealer I usually deal with keeps trying to talk me OUT of thes, especially
$239 for a NEW Silver Umax saying I would be better off with an ACE of course I already have that.
He seems to think that its not worth the money for a Silver for what you actually get.

Katz

I could and have many times over the years talked till I was blue in the face how good the Silver uMax is. Have your dealer read this h**p://metaldetectorreviews.net/detectors/6-1-silverumax.html (use tt in place of **). You say - He seems to think that its not worth the money for a Silver for what you actually get. Let me shed some light on this statement & I could very well be wrong but here goes -

Tesoro the great company they are has a set price that a dealer can sell their detectors at, no matter how big or how small a dealer you are. This keeps everything fair, and I think it is a great way to do business. So again I might be wrong but maybe your dealer has alot more $$$ to be made on another brand detector even if it is priced about the same or even lower than the Silver uMax. I am not a dealer and this is just a thought. My opinion is that a good condition used Silver or Sabre uMax would be $150.00 - $175.00 maybe alittle more if mint condition. Steve.

 

[Dirt Poor]

I own a Silver and an Ace. I would be a little biased toward the Silver. Both are good.

 

[joe dirt_1]

i would find another dealer to buy the detector from because this one sure doesn't know what he is talking about. i'd put my silver umax up against several other detectors costing
more and the silver will hunt right with them or out hunt them. nothing else comes close to the silver's performance in it's price range.........roger