To buy or not to buy- Red racer

[Tom Slick]

Monte,
I agree with your two or three or four detector choice but I still need the Tesoro Tiger Shark for freshwater hunting, and the Dual Field for saltwater hunting. I need my DFX/BigFoot coil combo for shallow coins and jewelry and then there's the modified IDX Pro I can't seem to part with along with the Tesoro Silver Sabre µMax. I am selling my M6's and Minelab Sovereign GT though. (thinning the herd)

 

[Monte]

Monte,
I agree with your two or three or four detector choice but I still need the Tesoro Tiger Shark for freshwater hunting, and the Dual Field for saltwater hunting. I need my DFX/BigFoot coil combo for shallow coins and jewelry and then there's the modified IDX Pro I can't seem to part with along with the Tesoro Silver Sabre µMax. I am selling my M6's and Minelab Sovereign GT though. (thinning the herd)

Okay, I get the beach-specialty models because I am not a saltwater beach hunter and they wouldn't be in my arsenal. I do hunt beaches, mostly freshwater, but I don't wade or dive, and most of the single frequency models that have worked best for my Relic Hunting and Coin & Jewelry Hunting needs have also been able to handle most beach conditions quite well.

I had a real struggle parting with my pristine condition modified IDX Pro, but needed the $$$ after my move. My Silver Sabre [size=small]micro[/size]MAX is not going anywhere, just like my Bandido II [size=small]micro[/size]MAX, as they are both solid performing models that will stay in my personal detector arsenal. Other than those two favorite Tesoro models, the rest of my very service oriented battery are Nokta or Makro models and search coil assortment.

I'll see you and the better half at next week's WTHO.

Monte

 

[amberjack]

I don't even go detecting

spent my fuel money on detectors

and now am starting a 12 step group so feel free to share

right now I can only think of 5 more detectors I need and about 30 coils and my last purchase was 12hrs ago.

AJ

 

[hrefab]

And here I thought it was just me...

I started out with a Bounty Hunter... It's amazing that I stayed with the hobby using that thing... Then I bought a Garrett AT Pro. Super nice machine, simple, sturdy, didn't lie to me on hunts and was completely waterproof (I live close to teh Atlantic Ocean). Before I got a chance to try it on the beach, some "experienced" guys told me that it would NEVER WORK IN SALT WATER...I was disappointed for about a month until I got to the beach and found.. lo and behold, it worked just fine... (YOu don't think they were trying to sell me one of THEIR models do you?) Then I went big time and got me a V3i which I 'know' how to use, but really don't 'know' how to use it... From what I've learned about that machine and conversations with other owners is that in another 10 years or so, I may be able to consider myself 'proficient' with it. Then I got a Makro Racer 2... It pains me to say it, but I think it's my favorite. I took it to the beach and it was solid as a rock. As I said elsewhere, if Makro would make the Racer waterproof, Garrett would have a big problem selling AT Pro's.

I'm kind of tempted to actually sell my V3i. It's heavy even with a sling (or just poorly balanced), complicated and doesn't always outperform my other machines despite using every recommended setting and experimental settings that I can devise (even resorting to the stock plug and play programs. I have 3 different coils for it, but my dealer keeps telling me that I need a 200.00 Detech coil to have the machine work well... WHAT? I spend almost $2000.00 on a machine and extra coils and you tell me I need an Aftermarket coil for it to 'work right"???? THAT'S discouraging! I Love the 3 frequencies, I Love the way it can tell you so much about the target, The Screen is the best out there bar none, but it seems like I have to almost prepare for war for an outing with it. My other machines are just put 'em in the jeep and go detecting..and my elbow is much happier when I use the Makro or the Pro. Not so much with the V3i...

I probably won't sell it unless I could make a deal for an XP Deus which I had originally planned on getting before the Makro Racer came along. I love the Makro screen and it's ability to hit targets with the big coil that are pretty deep. The small coil I have learned, is not so much for depth as for separation and in that role, it is unbeatable. I'd love to make it my beach machine, but for now, the ATP will fill that slot. The Makro is too nice to risk in the ocean.

 

[Monte]

Well not sure about thinning out just yet. First I want to run them for a while to see which I get along with best
I like the deleon because it's tesoro beep and dig with the twist of the display. Without GB, I'm pretty much leaving the troy coil on because tesoro rebuilt/tuned that coil and then my units insides to that coil.
I didn't get to use it but one time before sending it in and they said that coil was so bad that they were surprised it even ran at all lol. But bow it's like a brand new coil. Should arrive by Friday I hope. So definitely want to get some time in with that. And, depending how my Cibola GB mod goes, I might do the same with my deleon to be able to tune it for all my other epsilon coils.

You should have the repaired DeLeón now and I hope all is working okay with it for you. I also trust the modification to the Cibola goes okay. It can make some models more difficult to sell, if you decide to do that.

As for modifying the DeLeón, I think it might have two GB pots, one for the All Metal mode and a different pot for the Discriminate mode, much like the Cortés has an external for the All Metal mode and a trimmer pot inside for the Discriminate mode. The DeLeón has more 'weaknesses' or 'limitations' as I felt, and so have many others with the limited display, etc., and I think the time and effort to modify a model that was a 'turn-on-and-go' design might not be worth it.

The compadre will most likely stay just for the fact that it's nice to just turn the knob and go sometimes like last week. Didn't wanna fuss around and wanted a relaxing hunt so for two days u used only that. Plus it's cheap and I wouldn't get much for it towards the racer2. In my opinion I'd rather have the compadre than the 100 I'd be lucky to get for it. Bow, if I could get all 160 back (never would happen) I can see it being worth dropping it.

I think, if the Compadre is in decent condition, you could get your $$$ out of it.

The ace, I haven't even touched since I got my compadre, but it never fails that when showing a new person my detectors before a hunt and asking which they'd like to use, 9.5/10 times they pick that ace lol.

Yes, the Ace seems to have beginner appeal, to some beginners at least, for urban Coin Hunting uses.

As for the cibola and bandido they arrive today.
As I said in another thread, the cibola was an accident when I bid on ebay, so I figured I'd make orange juice out of lemons and try modding it with the GB knob.

I'm not really sure what I'll do for now.

I'd pass on the modification and use it for the model that it is, if you don't sell it.

I ordered the 5.5X10 for my relic yesterday and kellyco swore they had two in stock when I spoke with them, but now it says it's a preorder, order on my account. They did that to me my first time purchasing with the lesche shovel and I was pissed. So I hope they ship it to me, but that's a whole other conversation lol.

Yes, and I wish I had the finances to become a Makro & Nokta Distributor because I would have ample inventory which my friend Oregon Gregg and I have frequently discussed the poor inventory Kellyco has ... often.

I do like having extras that are easy for new people to use so they can focus on the hunt instead of the settings.

It's always good to have at least one good 'loaner unit' but not to short myself on having more versatile models for my own use.

This season I will probably keep all mine I have to see which I like best and next year (hopefully the impact is released by then....lol) I can thin them out.

Time will tell.
Thanks for the reply!!

Yes, I am also looking forward to the Impact and believe it will end up being my main-use Coin Hunting model. The Nokta/Makro folks are taking their time to get things as right as possible before they release any preproduction units for evaluation, and that is commendable. Until then, I am quite satisfied with the performance I am getting from the racer series and FORS series models I use. Matter of fact I will be loading a few more in my vehicle with other supplies as I am heading out later tonight for some interesting ghost town hunting, and at least three of the six sites we plan to hunt I have never visited before.

All the best in your mastering what you have and making decisions down the road.

Monte

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Thanks monte.
Sent a private message to vent...
But I agree with much of what you expressed.
Selling units isn't that high on my list...
Sad to say but I'd rath r just give them to those interested but only ones in their range of Knowledge.
I.E. wouldn't give them the relic with never hunting before.
But another part feels bad giving the ace because of all the limitations I found with it.

True that all will find metal, though.
At any rate the only thing on my mind is what went wrong, if anything, with them mod.
Funny because it's not like I don't have another model that can do the same....
Funny how cetain things are pressing in your mind at times.... haha.
Again thanks for the thorough reply, sir.
And as always... happy hunting!!

 

[Monte]

our severe thunderstorm is over.

2 hr. 24 min. of thunder, mostly dry thunder, but the past half-hour lightning, heavy rain, hail, winds to 35 mph+ ... and power outages. After the storm I'll get to PM's and, if lights stay on I'll finish packing to head out on a metal detect6ing trip.

Weather conditions are about as frustrating as the info you sent me.

Monte