Would I really be upgrading???

[cju7250]

I currently use a Cutlass II uMax (pretty much a Silver uMax)and love it. I've found more with it than any other machine I've used. I think the simplicity and actually having to listen to what it's telling you, rather than looking at a bunch of numbers and icons on a screen. But anyways, the girlfriend wants to give this hobby a try, which I'm all for! I think it would be a great hobby that we can share and spend time together doing it. My thinking is I get something new, or new to me, and she can use the Cutlass II uMax to see if it's really something she wants to do, ya know. My thoughts were a new Cibola for me. I've heard great things and was actually looking at this one before I came across the Cutlass. The ground I hunt is a non issue so ground balance is not necessary. I would also definitely be purchasing the 5.75" coil as well. I think that's an absolute necessity! I guess my question is, am I really "upgrading" with the Cibola, or is there another machine out there (Tesoro of course) that may be better? Money is somewhat of an issue, so something like the Tejon is out of the question. I honestly don't get to get out near as often as I'd like, so that another reason I don't want to spend a boat load of money on a new detector. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Furious T]

The Cutlass II Umax is a beaut machine.....so is the Cibola...I wouldn't use the term upgrading, but you would be getting a similar machine, but slightly different. If your girlfriend finds that she does not fancy the hobby, then you would have two slightly different machines....they run on different frequencies...one thing you wouldn't be able to do though, is interchange coils between the two machines....to get a lower end detector where you could interchange coils (and save money) you would have to go for the silver Umax, which you would probably find is a cousin to your Cutlass II, and, as you say, basically the same. I guess it is a matter of whether you want to be able to interchange coils with what might become your backup machine, or have a different machine with similar features (Cibola) with which you cant interchange coils. Whether you go with the Silver of Cibola, you will have a machine which is simple to use, but very effective. Good luck with your choice .

 

[cju7250]

Thanks for the comment. I guess the main point I forgot to mention with the original post was, is the Cibola really going to give me more depth? I've read through the post over time and everyone comments on how deep the Cibola seems to go. Until I got my cutlass, those faint but solid signals eluded me because I didn't realize that some goodies may be down there, just that they may have been almost out of reach of my coils depth. I've been to a few places that I thought for sure I'd be finding some good stuff, only to come home with with some clad that was 2-3" down. Don't get me wrong, the cutlass II uMax has found me many things 5-6" down, so I definitely can't complain! I'm just wondering if the Cibola will give me that extra bit to get me even deeper? Again, thank you in advance for any comments and suggestions!

 

[BarberBill]

I'd consider the Outlaw with the 3 coil package or a used Eldorado umax. Coil compatibility with the Cutlass and manual ground balance if you ever need it. Manual ground balance may not be seriously needed in your soil, but it will never hurt, either.
BB

 

[Monte]

I currently use a Cutlass II uMax (pretty much a Silver uMax)and love it. I've found more with it than any other machine I've used. I think the simplicity and actually having to listen to what it's telling you, rather than looking at a bunch of numbers and icons on a screen.

I use both display and non-display models, but that doesn't mean I am always using the display on those that have it. I don't use Icons, only VDI numeric read-outs and only a glance now-and-then for a hint of an idea what I might be recovering.

I picked up a very clean Cutlass II, not the µMAX version, and it was a reliable performer as well and my friend I got it for liked it.

But anyways, the girlfriend wants to give this hobby a try, which I'm all for! I think it would be a great hobby that we can share and spend time together doing it.

Great! Sometimes when hunting together finds made could cause some 'disagreement' between hunting buddies. This way you an always kiss and make up.

Always good to have a hunting buddy you can get along with anyway.

My thoughts were a new Cibola for me. I've heard great things and was actually looking at this one before I came across the Cutlass.

It's kind of a grey colored version of what you're using. Just a turn-on-and-go [size=small](factory-preset GB)[/size] model.

The ground I hunt is a non issue so ground balance is not necessary.

Are you sure? Where do you live and what makes you thing Ground Balance is a non-issue? Oh, you might be in some milder or more moderate ground, but it can make a difference due to the Tesoro circuitry designs usually used.

I would also definitely be purchasing the 5.75" coil as well. I think that's an absolute necessity!

Good idea and it will add a lot of versatility .... and possibly some problems due to the lack of 'proper' Ground Balance when using an optional search coil depending upon the preset GB.

I guess my question is, am I really "upgrading" with the Cibola, or is there another machine out there (Tesoro of course) that may be better? Money is somewhat of an issue, so something like the Tejon is out of the question. I honestly don't get to get out near as often as I'd like, so that another reason I don't want to spend a boat load of money on a new detector. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Not a real major 'update', in my opinion. The Discrimination level does adjust slightly lower, and the combination of a different frequency and a little more gain might provide a slight increase in detection depth, but nothing major.

I can understand money being tight, but you don't have to buy brand new, and there are some good and more versatile models available, if you look hard for them. The main one I'd suggest finding is a Bandido II µMAX, or you could look for an Eldorado [size=small](µMAX version)[/size] as that would also give you more performance over what you have or the Cibola. If you have a little more you could get the newer Outlaw with extra coils, including the 5¾" Concentric. That would be really nice.

I guess the main point I forgot to mention with the original post was, is the Cibola really going to give me more depth? I've read through the post over time and everyone comments on how deep the Cibola seems to go.

Depth? Possibly a little in the best conditions, but in the long run, 'depth' isn't really such a big importance to being successful. I read a lot of claim about noteworthy depth, but I haven't seen it with any of them I have used, or had it proven to me. Some of what I use easily gets better 'depth' than the Cibola.

Until I got my cutlass, those faint but solid signals eluded me because I didn't realize that some goodies may be down there, just that they may have been almost out of reach of my coils depth. I've been to a few places that I thought for sure I'd be finding some good stuff, only to come home with with some clad that was 2-3" down. Don't get me wrong, the cutlass II uMax has found me many things 5-6" down, so I definitely can't complain! I'm just wondering if the Cibola will give me that extra bit to get me even deeper?

I don't think so, especially if you're hunting older sites and going after older targets as you might be encountering as lot of smaller, shallow surface trash that is masking the desired target.

Now, it's a nice holiday weekend and perfect welcome-to-fall weather, so with my White's MX5 and Tesoro Bandido II µMAX switched to my 4X4, I'm off to an older site or two. Best of success in your hunts, in detector selection, and remember to be kind to your hunting buddy.

Monte