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Oh no you didn't! I've been telling myself that same thing for years now. But I still get that itch every time a new release comes out or one of the buy and try guys on the forums posts a machine after they realize the same thing.Maybe it's because people are waking up to the fact that none of the newer high spec wonder machines do any better than anything else in reality.
That might be true for some, but Fishers, Whites and Garretts seem to hold a decent resale value like F75's, CZ5's, 3d's AT pro's, MXT's., Tesoro's. To me, it's the newer machines that are taking a beating.
I used to tell myself and my wife that same thing until that new shiny detector caught my eye. All it would take is a buy and try guy post how wonderful that machine was and it could detect a dime at 12 plus inches in a field full of nails, horse shoes, being embedded in concrete with 6" of water on top of all that and salt water to boot. I was all in. So I'm skeptical of that suggestion.Maybe everyone finally found what they wanted!!
Once again you need to check out pirateship.com I did a write up awhile back. It saves you a ton of $$.. All done in the comfort of your own home and no standing in line.
I tend to agree with you to a point…Maybe it's because people are waking up to the fact that none of the newer high spec wonder machines do any better than anything else in reality.
To be honest i did buy an xterra pro myself........but because it is lighter than my main detector and fully waterproof.I beach hunt now ,(although i have'nt been for a while) and the water resistence of the pro was a plus for when the weather is bad.My other detector is a sovereign GT and it will still find the stuff just as good as any of the latest machines.
Since Im a beach hunter for the last 25 years, Ive only used Minelabs Sovereigns & Excaliburs. Probably went through a dozen Sovereign because they werent water-proof and hip mounted.This has to be the first time in history that people seem to be happy with what they are swinging. I see the classifieds are the most quiet I can recall seeing them. I'm guessing most folk are finally happy with what they are using, or is there something else afoot. Could it be the $600.00 transactions limit? The economy stupid? It couldn't be the price of the detectors, back in the day most good detectors were $700.00 to well over $1000.00, but now detectors can be had for under $500.00 and even cheaper on the used market. Or could it be most all of the try buy, try and sell guys have died off or smartened up like I did and realized and came to realized all metal detectors go beat when passed over metal. Now some can argue depth, target separation, masking, but unless your a professional hunter all that stuff might stoke your ego, but in reality, most of us are tot lot hunters with the occasional beach hunt thrown in the mix.
I'm just curious where all the detectors have gone. Or could it be I'm mistaken and all this is just a bunch of rambling from an old man and who is a reformed buy and try guy and metal detector hoarder.
I knew you had the XTerra Pro and were impressed with it.
I liked the Sovereign for beach hunting also, but only go to the beach about once a year.., mostly inland user, but was afraid of salt environment getting into the electronics over time.
Continue.....Then the Equinox came a long just in time as my last Sovereign Gt bit the dust. The Nox was plagued with all sorts of problems and only lasted 3 years when it died.
Good write up… even though not gold, it is still better than a bottle cap in my book…Continue.....Then the Equinox came a long just in time as my last Sovereign Gt bit the dust. The Nox was plagued with all sorts of problems and only lasted 3 years when it died.
Crack in the handle. Luckily Deus 2 came along and solved all the chattering issues with multi-frequency. For the last few years I only had 2 machines in my car, Deus 1 & 2,
land & Sea !!!! Before, I carried 4 machines, always needed a back up unit.
Since most beach detectorist will attest to the fact, that finding gold has fallen off a cliff. I went from finding 35-75 gold rings a year down to just 5 this last year there's no reason to drop 1k on a new back up unit when you can barely pay for the primary one. All previous machines were paid off in no time. Now not so much. Id like to have a back Deus 2 as I sometimes forget to charge the batteries. However, unless I can get a really good deal on it, Ill make do with what I have.
PS.. 2 of my best hunting pals have given up detecting because there hardly any gold to find. Unless you are able to get to some old beaches that havent been hammered. Chances are you'll do well with the newer machines. I remember the days after a storm there would be up to 20 guys hunting a beach. Nowadays u are lucky to see a few.
Long story short, the good machines today do an excellent job and no need to keep trying new ones. Sorry I dont want to dig 4-5 feet for a coin !!!
PPS Here's the latest POC.. Looks great, gold ion plating inside ring... Nothing even written on the inside to say its stainless or anything else !! MIC crap !!! Wont even pay for a battery !!!
HH
Donna(NJ
Never really had a problem with soil over here in the uk with any machine,any soil that has been difficult has been the dame for all machines......i think you guys have more problems in your neck of the woods.As i said,i hunt the beaches almost exclusively now but the Gt has found me some cracking inland finds too,even on difficult ancient sites.
Yes, i neglected to mention the clad... gas money. I use to do over $1,000 a years. I live at the Jersey shore.
Those Troy's were some great detectors.
and she's still going strong.....
And yet Dirt, you own more detectors than you have arms to swing. So go ahead and admit to yourself that even if your not one of these buy and try guys, you are a detector hoarder and bask in the reality along with the rest of us. It's OK, you don't have feel ashamed, we aren't judging you we are the support group.
I swing a Sovereign Elite and can totally relate. Seems on just about every beach hunt I've had at least 1 or more targets that had me digging 1/2 way to China, like those rare & elusive soda cans and kids fruity drink pouches, lol. And let's not forget those coins that tend to be about 15" - 18" deep. That said, I just returned from a few years hiatus and just picked up an X-Terra Elite. I didn't buy it to replace my Sovereign, but to augment for beach hunting and for coinshooting on land. I think Sovereign owners will understand, but I really don't know or care if the X-Terra Elite will detect "deeper" than my Sovereign. If it does. that's fine. But if it just equals the depth of my Sovereign, I'll be happy. I know that many guys/gals, especially if they're coming from an SF detector, will be looking for more depth. But IMO, I don't think Sovereign owners buy a new detector with high expectations of getting more depth. I think we tend to buy a new detector, at least in my case, because it may have features or other creature comforts that we don't have on the Sovereign, like VDI screen, waterproof, wireless headphones, lightweight, etc.Long story short, the good machines today do an excellent job and no need to keep trying new ones. Sorry I dont want to dig 4-5 feet for a coin !!!
Man, I can relate to “Buy & Try” lol, but not with detectors. When it comes to detectors, I’m more of a “Buy & Use” kinda guy. Over the last 57 years I think I’ve owned about 9 detectors. I’m probably forgetting 1 or 2 but here’s what I remember: Heathkit, Whites Coinmaster IV, Fisher 1220X, Garrett AT Pro & Ace 350, Minelab Sovereign XS-2, Sovereign XS-2a-Pro, Sovereign Elite, and most recently a X-Terra Elite. For the last 10+ years, I’ve been swinging my Sovereign Elite because it’s just a beast on the beach, and along with the Excalibur, they ruled the sand for a long time. Yeah, I know, there’s also PI’s, but those are totally different animals, and I don’t think I’d have the patience to learn to swing one of those.And yet Dirt, you own more detectors than you have arms to swing. So go ahead and admit to yourself that even if your not one of these buy and try guys, you are a detector hoarder and bask in the reality along with the rest of us. It's OK, you don't have feel ashamed, we aren't judging you we are the support group.
