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Whites vs. Garretts

E

Eddie B

New member
General Question:

Is there a lot of difference between the Whites Prizm V and Garretts comparable priced model GTAx 550? I am just getting into treasure hunting and getting ready to purchase my first metal detector. I will be hunting in Southern West Virginia and at the North Carolina beaches mainly.

I know there will be pros and cons to both detectors but I was just wondering if one company has a better detector than the other same priced model.

Thanks
 
I can tell you that the Prizm IV is a pretty good beginning unit and all around good backup unit.

I forgot to add, I had an ace250 at the same time and felt that the 250 had the edge on the PIV in target separation and ID on Canadian coins.
 
I have had both units.I would choose the Prizm over the GTAx.The Ace 250 is even a better choice.The 1236x Fisher will out perform these three metal detectors.The 1236x is not a ID detector but will discriminate very well,has a good couple of inches of depth on these other units,can be hip mounted,the best competition detector made,and a great beach detector.
 
I agree the 1236x is one fastest mahines but a nightnmare in trashy areas. My vote is for the 250 also.
 
Saika,I've recovereded a lot of deep silver coins with my 1236 in a thrash laden park that I've covered with many detectors including the Ace 250.The 1236 has greater depth with a five inch coil than the Ace does with its stock coil.The 1236 will pinpoint much better than the Ace.The Fisher doesn't have tone ID,but with practice its audio can tell you the depth and the size of your target,not a lot of coke cans dug with this detector.I've owned a lot of expensive detectors and this plain Jane detector just works.Take the 1236 through a coin garden with any detector and the results will speak for itself.
 
Thanks for your response. You are not the first to tell me this about the 1236. I had three coils for mine a DD, the standard plate coil and a "hockey puck" 4" coil. They all gave me grief. The standard white coil was amazing on the beach and there was some impressive depth with it, but never with the DD. There are times I wondered whether I had a bad 1236 or not. I didn't think that it worked much or any better than my 1260 that I ran for many years. I met up with an old feller that was using another 1236 and it ran quite a bit different than mine, more evidence.

I only suggested the 250 as a good first machine really. Considering the ease of use and a bit of an idea of what you are digging can be a nice thing if just getting into the hobby now a days. The 1236 really may be better in the hands of a more experinced hunter who is looking for more raw power and doesn't mind a bit of knob twiddling. Your comment about practise is well taken and can turn off a lot of users in the beginning. Personally I really like guessing and wondering and tuning the target in and out, but only after a few years of using TID machines. I have gone back to old school hunting and really like it.

As for pinpointing, once you get onto how the 250 pinpoints at the tip of the inner ring, it is a snap and spot on.

Take care.
 
Saika,very good point.Like you I think a simple machine is more fun.My 1260 was a great unit but it didn't perform as well as my 1236.I've gotten addicted to a handheld pinpointer.I do agree with you the Ace 250 is a great detector for the beginner or seasoned hunter.
 
The P5 has nothing on the Ace 250. Its not fair to compare them as the P5 costs $500.00 won't let you selectively notch any segment out or accept any segment. P5 has 8 target segments and only an 8 inch smaller than stock coil. Runs on 2- 9 volt batteries.
The Ace 250 has full selective notch. 12 target segments. A larger than stock coil 9x12 and a smaller than stock coil 4.5 inches. Runs on 4 AA batteries and is a full $288.00 dollars less.
With the $288.00 savings you could buy a ton of accessories. Electronic pinpointer $100.00 Nice digger $40.00 Headphones $50.00 Sniper 4.5 coil $70.00 That leaves $28.00 to pack a lunch and put gas in the car for a nice hunt. I've been detecting for 22 years and I use the 250 all the time. It's a pretty smart little detector.
 
Never thought i'd see the Fisher 1236x2 discussed in a Whites vs Garrett opinion.
I had a 1236x2 about4 yrs and recently traded it.I love the 1236x2 and just bought one off the classifieds and hope it's my old one :biggrin:

I really didn't consider it a nightmare at trashy areas with a 5" coil as it did have such a quick recovery speed along with the audio differential at the disc setpoint and with a quick thumb you could verify where the target would drop on the audio. I usually set mine to accept a strong nickel response and go from there.

I can't say it's better than the other mentioned detectors because i never used them but i can say it is an excellent detector.

So far i've tried 14 detectors including a GTP 1350, a DFX and presently using an XLT, modified IDX Pro, M6 , Sovereign GT and an Advantage and for some reason i want my 1236x2:cheekkiss: HH Bill
 
Saika,on my 1236x the sensitivity is turned up until you get the threshold I think thats where this detector gets the extra depth.
 
Bill,I've tried a lot of detectors like you.I'm convinced that a hunter needs a metal detector suited for their type of hunting and conditions.There are treasure hunter's that will tell you to take 50 to 60 hours on some units to learn them.I've had detectors that I have used for five minutes and knew that it wasn't going to workout.I did have a couple of XLT's and did learn to like this detector.Anyway,at this point the CZ5 and 1236 are my preferred units.I'm looking for a water detector for next season.
 
Of the 14 detectors i've tried as you mentioned i could tell almost right away if one wasn't for me or my type hunting for various reasons.I kept trying them but realized i wasn't going to keep them.

I'm getting tired of buying hype and selling disappointment so i'm sticking with what i like and what works the best for me.
In my area the XLT seems to be very common and works well here, love the coverage speed and it's always first to hunt any new place except the beach.
After that i enjoy using the other detectors when i feel the need to go slower in the hotspots or just listen and beep dig as with the Advantage and now the 1236x2 is back and looking forward to using the 5"and 6" coils again. HH Bill
 
Bill,without the hype the dealer's would go broke. But sometimes too much hype is borderline scam.My time is valuable and a detector that takes a lot of hours to learn doesn't work for me.Some of these units will go obsolete before the owner's learn how to use them.
 
Sundance,
I gave my recomendation in a previous post. I haven't used the 550 but I know it's a lot heavier than the P5. The P5 just doesn't have as many options as the Ace 250. I like the idea of 24 segments on the 550 but have to choose the 250 for ease of use,power,weight and options. If Garrett put the 550 in the Ace configeration then of course I would be swinging a 550. Heck if Garrett modeled all the detectors in the Ace package they would really clean up in sales. To give you an idea how much I like the 250. I had a Minelab 30 and once I got the 250 the Minelab hit the door. No regrets. That's just me. Someone else might think different.
 
Khouse I had a XT50 and if I had to chose between the Xt50 or the Ace the Ace would be picked.
 
Since i began treasure hunting, ive used bounty hunter detectors. i've tried others but have like the BH ones the best. I just bought a bounty hunter land ranger for only $360 at www.ebuyersworld.com
They have great deals on alot of stuff.

A little bragging, just found a 3 carat engagment ring in a field down by the house.
 
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