My preferences after building my first detector 42 years ago..

[LuckyLarry]

After all the hype and much consideration and use, cost versus productivity, these are the best I've ever encountered:

#1 For over 4 hours use, super light weight, all-around deep metal detecting in moderate soils, a Tesoro Vaquero:

#2 For salt & black sand beaches, high soil Fe content, and wide-open fields and playgrounds, a Fisher CZ-70

#3 For high Fe gold nugget hunting, great relic hunting, plus fine gold jewelry, a Compass GoldScanner Pro

Yes, I would consider an F75 for certain uses, or a Garrett Sea hunter II (which I already own) or a Garrett ATX for beaches, or a Fisher Gold Bug Pro for small gold, and a Tesoro Silver uMax for all around use, but they would not come in at first place in any of the three aforementioned categories..

And yes, I did not mention Whites ( I used to supervise making their circuit boards, etc), nor Minelabs, nor Nautiluses or Teknetics, and it's because my preferences serviced my uses much better than the others. And in fact one cheap Chinese-made detector finds more wheaties and small copper or brass better than any other metal detector I've ever had the pleasure to use..

 

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[CincinnatiKid]

Well said LuckyLarry.
This forthcoming March will be my 6th year of "serious detecting". This said, I can only commend you on your decades of detecting. Well done sir. May you continue...
In my 6yrs, I've used quite a few detectors. Each has served me well. But, I now own a Minelab Etrac. I truely wish I would have purchased this machine initially. But what did I know back then. Don't get me wrong, I'll surely buy more detectors. I love using different machines.
This Etrac finds wheats, small copper and brass too. It also has found more silver coins in the short time I've had it than all my other detectors combined!? Think I'll stick w it awhile.
Good luck
Peace

 

[bofusmosby]

Naw, I go with my Jetco BFO! LOL My first detector.

 

[mikeraydj]

Detectors are like girlfriends. Some like blondes, some brunettes, and some red heads. Some like foreign born, some old fashioned American. Some like simple and others like high maintenance. But all like it when they whisper sweetly in a language they understand.