20 years since I have detected , use old detector (Whites 2900 D) or buy new ?

[martinguitar]

I have an old Whites 2900 D late 1980's era detector. How much of a performance gain would I get with a newer detector
such as a Tesoro Silver Umax or a Fisher F2 ? Just wondering if discrimination , and depth has improved much on the newer sub $ 300 detectors over my old one ?

Thanks for all input .

 

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[jd5105]

I'm kind of in the same boat. My newest detector is a Fisher 1260-X 1984 model, and the oldest a 1981 Bounty DE280 Outlaw. The 1260 still does pretty good, but I am seriously looking at a Tesoro Vaquero. The Fisher F2 gets good results from what I have read and the videos on youtube and you can't go wrong with the Tesoro. I'm sure you will get more feedback from the people on here. Do a Google search for a review on the models you are interested in and also check out youtube.

 

[ryaan21]

I would try out a new machine. For under 300 you can get a nice machine and if you dont like it they are an easy sell. Stick with Tesoro, Garrett, Teknetics, Fisher.

 

[U.K. Brian]

I like to encourage people to use their older detectors if they were a classic in some way at the time they were new. Might be for depth, iron see through or whatever.

Unfortunately the 2900 wasn't that good in its day. Good for price paid but not the best. The Fisher, though it was a bit of a classic in introducing slow motion "motion" detecting in an easy to use, light package was soon surpassed by the more powerful 1265 and 1266 models.

In both these cases I would look to getting a newer detector and performance has improved even at the lower price range from Fisher and Tesoro. If the old detector had been say a 1266 and still worked well you would need to spend much more in a new machine to beat the performance of the old.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Yes, i am with Brian dont wast your time.... time to upgrade a little any newer detector has got to be lighter ....just got to learn it .
Mike at Woodland detectors is at good place to start... he can help you out with any confusion over the newer models hes one to the sponcers here too
Gary G.A>P.metal

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

I have an old Whites 2900 D late 1980's era detector. How much of a performance gain would I get with a newer detector
such as a Tesoro Silver Umax or a Fisher F2 ? Just wondering if discrimination , and depth has improved much on the newer sub $ 300 detectors over my old one ?

Thanks for all input .

The old whites is a good machine. Your really not gonna see a huge improvement unless you get a higher end machine with a ground balance and possibly a DD coil.

Feel free to give me a call. I would love to help you out! Bart.

 

[stringmo]

I'm pickin' up what your layin' down. The last best machine I had was the Teknetics 9000 until I bought a Whites Eagle ll. I was very disappointed in that machine because it was so hard to learn. I never did learn it. I then bought a Minelab because everyone told me how great they were. They obviously are to some folks. It never worked out either. About 8 weeks ago, I decided I would give this thing one last try. I bought a new Teknetics T2. I started diggin wheaties and silvers almost immediately and have been ever since. It works for me. I get it. Most of all, I feel like I will find something good every time out. Will it work for you? Don't know. You should give yourself the best chance possible to have fun with it again. Upgrade. Overall the new machines are much improved. I'm just another old guy with an opinion.

 

[jd5105]

When I bought my Fisher 1260-X, about 4-6 months later they introduced the 1265-X! More depth and I think you could get the HotHead coils for them.

 

[liftloop]

I would try out a new machine. For under 300 you can get a nice machine and if you dont like it they are an easy sell. Stick with Tesoro, Garrett, Teknetics, Fisher.

What a bout a white's

 

[Smudge]

Stringmo makes a good point. Everybody reacts differently to detectors. If you connect with the detector, you have it made. If you don't you'll sell it pretty quickly.

For example, I could never connect with Minelabs, even though I completely acknowledge thye are excellent detectors.

But I would advise getting a newer detector, if for no other reason than to take advantage of the advances in technology that make then lighter in weight.

 

[justanotherbarber]

Try the Vaquero. Light, deep, lifetime warranty, great resale. I also have a Delta 4000 but just don't like the meter, (Any metered machine) I dig everything anyway. Any detector today would be an upgrade. Don't let some guide you in one direction, check the "Head to head" forum here for the best advice and if you read a H2H post and the person talks about only one brand move on.

 

[ryaan21]

I would try out a new machine. For under 300 you can get a nice machine and if you dont like it they are an easy sell. Stick with Tesoro, Garrett, Teknetics, Fisher.

What a bout a white's

I refuse to mention whites based on the fact that they dont allow dealers to post their prices.

 

[deepskyal]

I have the 3000 series 3.....a bear to ground balance and keep tuned in the soil around me. It was my first ever detector back in the early 80's but soooo outdated to what you can buy now for under 300.

Also, there is a lot more trash in the ground now than there was back in them days. You'll be thankful for the better discriminating abilities and ground balancing of the newer ones.

I keep the 3000 for no other reason than it was my first. Tryed it out last year just for the heck of it since it hadn't been used in years. Absolutely hated it so back to the basement with it.

Al

 

[martinguitar]

Thanks for all the input from everyone .
I took my kids out today with the old Whites , found a 2008 quarter and quite a bit of old iron . Nothing to exciting but we all had a good time.
I think I am going to look into purchasing a newer detector , after swinging the 2900D I remembered how heavy and unbalanced it is.

 

[Mzjavert]

LOL sounds like the lunch bucket is retiring. I was at Hobbytown USA about a week ago and they rent detectors. I don't know if they have a couple for rent or just one. Either way it would be a chance to try one before marriage.

Personally I love White's and Tesoro's. Tesoro edges Whites out of number one because of the lifetime warranty...and it's fantastic warranty service. I really can't say enough good things about the warranty service.