Tigershark vs Stingray.

[vwmanxster]

I have a hunting buddy who wants to sell me his Stingray for $400.00 I was interested in a Tigershark but I can save a few pennies with this used water detector. Anyone know the story and stats, pros and cons on the stingray? I live in Oklahoma and freshwater only here. Is the stingray just as good as the tigershark or should I hold out for the shark?

 

[Charles (Montreal Canada)]

If it's a Stingray original version, it is pretty expensive as these units are getting pretty old. Stingray original doesn't allows you to swap coil, so it's a major inconvenient.

If it's a Stingray II, this version allows you to swap coils. But these units are also getting pretty old and I track down the price of the last few units sold on Big-bay and they sell for 325 to 360$ max. They often comes with a new shaft and because of this, it is difficult to evaluate how the machine have been used. They are has good as the Tiger in my opinion, but they are getting old now. I have a Stingray II that I used since year 2001 and It's my main fresh water machine, i would never sell it as it is very sensitive on gold, but on the other end, the Stingray is not that sensitive on silver (compare with a Tejon or a Sovereign). If you adjust the discrimination properly (around 2.5), you will be able to ear a broken sound over rusted bottle caps and other rusted items, it's pretty good for that. Gold, silver, nickel, copper and aluminium will sound lound, many times I can't predict what is under my coil, so I have to dig a lot of trash. Overall, if you can pay around 325 to 350 max, it's a good buy, you may have to have it recalibrate by Tesoro, but you should be satisfy. I always used my Stingray II with a 12 x 10 land coil, since I put on, I never removed it.. just to say.

I never own a Tiger, but my bodies Martin and Luc are saying that they are very similar to the Stingray II. The good side is that this units are much more recent and you may have less issues on the long run. I think it may be worthed to spend $100 more and get a Tiger, which should cost you between $400 to $450 max on the used market.

At 400$, the Stingray of you friend might be a little overprice, but I didn't see it and its excellent conditions may justify the price. There is a guy that had one for sale not long time ago, he had both 8 and 10" coil and an extra land coil adapter. I spoke with him a little and i think he had a very good unit and his selling price at 425$ was in his case totally justified.

Good luck..

 

[Scully]

If its the orignal Stingray, I would pass. The Stingray II and the Tiger Shark are nearly identical in depth and operation, the major difference being the battery set up. With Tesoro behind in production on the Tiger Shark right now, both the String II and Tiger are a bit hard to find. I would shy away from the original Stingray and search instead for Stingray II or Tiger.

 

[Charles (Montreal Canada)]

Look at the pic, if the upper shaft is in one single piece, it's probably the original shaft that came with the Stingray II. Often, you will see a metal shaft in two pieces with a joint right below the handlegrip, this is most likely a replacement shaft. In this case, it's difficult to know how much the Stingray II was used.

The one piece shaft is a little shorter compare to the two pieces and therefore a little lighter too.

I think the Tiger originally comes with a two pieces shaft.

Hope this help you in your shopping.

Good luck

 

[David]

Why oh why doesn't Tesoro make a DD coil for the Tiger Shark?? Only 3 Concentric coils. They should make both a solid 5x10" DD and good 10x12" DD open spider coil for it and why they don't is beyond me? Write Tesoro a letter requesting such DD coils and if enough people write them they may make some available. They can use the same "molds" for their existing sizes of DD coils like for the Lobo ST's 5x10" DD, etc.

 

[Charles (Montreal Canada)]

I don't know why. This could be good for their business as it would certainly increase revenues.

The original 8" coil is very "sweet" on gold and is, in my own opinion, the best coil for the Stingray. I did found some deep one with the 8" coil. The 12 x 10 do not punch deeper than the 8", but has larger coverage, it all depand how trashy is the area. Where I go, it's clean enough to use the 12 x 10, but I feel the 8" is more stable and punch very deep sometime..

 

[grumpyolman]

I paid $425 for my used Tiger Shark, shipped. That'll give you something to go on to judge price. Jim