Which Tesoro model???

[jbhau]

I am new to metal detecting. Was originally going to go with a Whites MXT detector (a great detector but more than I really want to spend), and I'm having 2nd thoughts about needing a display & spending the extra $. I do plan on getting a good set of headphones (probably Sun Ray Pro Gold, because I have some hearing loss in 1 ear & need separate volume controls).
I will be doing mostly coin & jewelry hunting, some fresh water beach hunting, and maybe someday relic hunting. I live in Michigan, & from what I understand the soil is not too highly mineralized around here. I don't like a LOT of bells & whistles to adjust BUT manual ground balancing does seem like a good feature.
I don't want to spend a ton, but I want basically something w/ good depth & discrimination that doesn't require a lot of adjusting. Some minimal adjustments are OK.
I've heard & read a lot of good things about Tesoro detectors. I'm looking at the Silver U-Max II, Cibola, & Vaquero. Advantages & disadvantages of each?
Any & all advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks much.

 

[tabdog]

Welcome Jbhau,

The Sunray Pro Gold sound like a good choice.

I think you are looking for the Vaquero. If you have mild enough soil
the Cibola will be a little less hassle.

The Vaquero will get better depth than the MXT and give better a lot
better responses to gold jewelry.

The quick response and smooth operation make the Vaquero a very
pleasurable machine to use.

The light weight of Tesoro is a big advantage over the Whites. You
can spend more time having fun with far less pain and fatigue.

I suggest you get a Compadre and a Vaquero. Two wonderful MD's.

Total cost = $572.....Life time warranty

If you buy used it would be something like $450 for two nice machines.

Just my way of looking at it.

I like love my Tesoro's

HH,

 

[TonyTX(MXT)]

The MXT is a great detector for coin shooting and relic hunting. I've used one for several years! But they are heavy weighing in at over 4lbs. Recently bought a good used Golden uMAX and it has pretty much become my main detector. Great discrimination, nice features, and light weight. I really like one 9V battery instead of the double A
's. I could certainly recommend the Golden but I do think that the Vaquero is one nice detector. I think I'd want the GB that the Vaquero has. Though I didn't buy my Tesoro new, you can get a lifetime warranty if you do. That beats the Whites warranty. Good luck with your decision and I'm sure you will get some good advice from the group here. HH TonyTX

 

[Jerry Ga.]

Welcome Jbhua,
If you can afford $420 I would go for the Vaquero. It has manual ground balance and great depth and can be supertuned. You also have the great lifetime warranty and several accessory coils to chose from. This machine along with the Tejon is the first choice of many Civil War relic hunters.

Much success to you, Jerry

 

[jbhau]

Thanks, everybody. I appreciate all the feedback. It looks like the Vaquero w/b the best Tesoro for me. Much appreciated.
HH

 

[RG]

Question, I'm hearing that the Vaquero is a relic machine. Does this mean that if I wanted to use it for gold jewelry it would be the wrong machine for that? I wan't to be albe to hunt and find coins, relics, or jewelry. Whatever the coil passes over...

RG

 

[dlkamp]

Hi,

You can't beat the Silver U-Max for coin/jewelry hunting! Not too bad of a machine for 250 smackers. Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[tabdog]

Hi RG,

The Vaquero is a very good machine for finding gold jewelry. It is also a very
good all around metal detector.

I have owned a Cibola, Silver Sabre uMax, EuroSabre, Eldorado, Compadre
and now a Vaquero. I do not have a 5.75 coil for the Vaquero yet, so I have
not used it for hunting jewelry. I have used it with the stock coil long enough
to know that it performs like a Cibola, but has a manual ground balance.The
Cibola found a lot of gold jewelry for me.

Almost all of this was found with my Cibola in few months.

HH,

 

[Beale]

[quote tabdog]Hi RG,

The Vaquero is a very good machine for finding gold jewelry. It is also a very
good all around metal detector.

I have owned a Cibola, Silver Sabre uMax, EuroSabre, Eldorado, Compadre
and now a Vaquero. I do not have a 5.75 coil for the Vaquero yet, so I have
not used it for hunting jewelry. I have used it with the stock coil long enough
to know that it performs like a Cibola, but has a manual ground balance.The
Cibola found a lot of gold jewelry for me.

Almost all of this was found with my Cibola in few months.

WOW!! That is some very good digging. I am still waiting on my Vaquero. I called the dealer that had the contest. He had not sent it yet? I placed the order 3/12/08, Beale.

HH,[/quote]

 

[RG]

Hi Tabdog,

One more question and I'll quit bugging. I'm hearing the compadre is such a good machine because it has a true ED180, and not all Tesoros do. Does the Vaq have that, and if not, does it matter?

Thanks again,

RG

 

[tabdog]

Hy RG,

The Vaquero is advertised as an ED-180 but it doesn't have the ability to accept
very small iron like the Compadre does.

This difference does not matter much to a new comer. It may actually be nice to
not have to deal with the extra noise and stuff to have to deal with.

I know that when I got my Cibola I fell in love with the way it worked. The Vaquero
is the same way.

The way I look at it, the Compadre only cost about $100 used. How you not own
one?

If you move up to the Tejon you get a true ED-180 and more power and features.

All these differences in capabilities takes some acquired knowledge to understand

what best suits your personnel needs. That's why I think it is wise to start cheep.

The Compadre is such a good starter that it can not be out grown. It can always

be a great addition to any one's arsenal.

HH,

 

[tabdog]

a used 5.75 concentric.

He said it was bairly used and he had to check it out first.

He said I could save myself about $40.

That would be great.

I hope RichardnTN comes through.

Hope your V somes in soon and works out well.

I hate it when they don't ship fast. I'm not good at waiting!!!!!

HH.

 

[jmaryt]

i second that!..a quality detector with a terrific discriminator,and just a lot of fun to use!..very lightweight!...lifetime warranty too!

9h.h!)
j.t.

 

[Elton]

TD Richard is one of the best..

 

[luckymindy]

Hi, I'm a newby land detector with about 100 hours under my belt, all with a CoinStrike. I've had good luck with it and like its features and ease of operation. Tho I've never tried any of the higher-end detectors, I'm happy with this one (I'm sure I'd change my mind if I tried more). Now I want to try water detecting, and I'm low-budget. I've found a used Sand Shark PI with both 8inch and10 inch coils for $399. They also have a Pro Pirate, for $299 new.

I probably won't be able to hunt too much, but I want a machine that won't frustrate me. I live in MN with lots of lakes and that's where most of my hunting will take place, although I'm sure I'll eventually get to hunt salt water too. I want a machinethat's user friendly and has good discrimination features.

Would appreciate your feedback, or if any of you have machines that you think I'd like, tell me what your price is. Our lake ice is still 3 feet thick, so we've got a little time here, lol!

Remember, I'm really a beginner, but I don't want a junky machine. Just can't afford anything high-end.

You can post to this forum, or email me at luckymin@hutchtel.net
Thanks so much!!!!
Mindy

 

[rmptr]

Hello Mindy,
Global warming should take care of that ice pretty soon...

Wow! 3' thick!
You must be a tad north of me!

Folks in various places have been pleased with the Head Hunter PI units, but I don't think I'd care to have an RF generating device clamped on my noggin.
When I did the ham radio stuff, they told us RF affected the eyes, and other things.
I'd just as soon have the electronics in a shielded box on a stick, I think.

Folks seem to be pleased with the Tesoro underwater units, but it seems rare that spectacular posts are presented.
Maybe they are doing great and NOT talking about it???

They seem to like the tiger better for fresh, and sandshark more in the salt water.

Someone will come along and give you better info than I can... I'd have a preference for the Tesoro, though.
rmptr

 

[jbhau]

Hey Tabdog,
Will you be getting a 5.75" widescan or concentric coil, and why?
Thanks much. Still learning.

 

[tabdog]

Hay Jbhau,

you asked:

Hey Tabdog,
Will you be getting a 5.75" widescan or concentric coil, and why?

I will be getting a 5.75 concentric coil for my Vaquero.

The reason is because that coil is a really good coil.

The concentric works a little better in mild to mderate
soils, in my openion.

The smaller coil is more sensative than the stock coil.
That and the smaller foot print make it a better coil for
me. I get my best finds in congested areas.

When I put the 5.75 on my Vaquero, I may not take it
off. It goes almost as deep as the stock coil.

I may use the stock coil for relic hunting. I haven't
decided yet.

I have a 12X10 for my Euro Sabre, so I have options.

The Vaquero may be my best all around machine.

I'm just lucky to have these fine machines and coils
to choose from.

Hope you have good luck also,

 

[dahut]

Sounds like you've done your homework, although you didnt say where you live. Geography plays a part. That being said, here's one you may have missed. I like just enough ID to help me "range" a target, and I dont like gawking at meters to get it, so I enjoy the Tesoro Golden.

I've used SS's, SSumax's, Bandidos, Eldorados and you know the truth - there aren't about a spits worth of difference between these for 80% of ALL detecting. I also have a Vaquero, and had a go at the Cibola, last year. Theyr'e good, now, and you can hardly go wrong with them in as much as solid, basic detectors go. But for me, the problem is they are monotone. So guess which Tesoro I haul out the most. Yep - the Golden. It has all the ooopmh of the uMax series, with that sweeet TID.

Some will now whine that it aint deep, so go ahead, get that out of your systems. We'll wait.................

However, give the Golden a chance to surprise you. No it's not a Tejon, but is IS a hot uMax, with TID added in. For a darn longed time that was the ticket - I know plenty of SC relicheads who still swear by the little Silver uMax. For most hunitng where trash will be present (which is precisely where you plan to go), the Golden will do it.

Of course, no one wants to take my word without a Golden depth story, so here you go:

I hauled a quarter from 10"-11" last season, measured. I needed my deep digger, "the Badger," for this job and it has graduated inch marks along its length, so I know how deep it was. I was almost out of handle and that quarter kept giving a nice clear signal. But, had I been using a monotone Tesoro, I wouldn't have heard that sweet, high silver tone singin' to me - and may have been tempted to quit digging. BTW, this was right in with the pulltabs and foil at a trash infested fairground site.

The Golden also has the expanded midrange of all Tesoros and let me tell you, once you get to know it, this helps. It has let me hunt in some trash littered places that my VID detectors wouldn't touch.

The Golden can use the more "common" coils from Tesoro and doesn't require the proprietary ones for the V/C series, so that is a minor plus. You can often get the Golden for less money on the used market, too, which as a newvcomer you should do. That is a big plus.

For a newbie with the itch, but a limited anount of "scratch," drag along the Golden.

 

[dahut]

If youre going in fresh water, dont get a PI. It will kill you on iron, which is going to be abundant up there.
Fresh water allows you a serious advantage - you can use a VLF detector with DISC and not lose depth due to salt effect. I've tried all sorts of freshie units, from DetectorPro to Whites and I recommend you get a Tiger Shark. Turn down the DISC to 2-3 and have at it.
I own one and swear by it.