I particularly enjoy hunting in all metals, I have to send in my F2 for repair since it got wonky on me, and was considering my options for an alternate. I like the fact that with the F4, I can still use all of the coils that I have and gain another nice coil in the process. But seeing as I just got this F2 about a month ago, it's taking a little schmoozing up with the wife to look at another detector already
What about going with the ACE 350 as an alternate? It's a little cheaper than the F4, but would the whole coil thing between the F2 and F4 be a more cost effective idea?
I really appreciate all of your guys input, it has been extremely helpful!
If you do indeed prefer to hunt in all metal the F4 would be a logical choice since you will get that slightly upgraded unit with some features a guy like you could use and appreciate and the ability to use all your existing coils.
The DD coil on the F4 is actually larger than the one that comes with the 350, also.
For me I can't ever see myself using any of the Ace units over the Fishers if I want to hunt using both tones and a screen.
There are no VDI numbers on the Ace units, a feature that has many advantages once you learn the Fisher language and what all that screen info and those numbers are really telling you once you understand it.
Using screen units having those VDI numbers at hand vs. just icons have always been a deal breaker for me
I also can't stand that hideous yellow color and the sounds that come out of Garrett units annoy me to no end but again...that is me.
Have you considered one of the Euro Tek Pro models?
Lots of features, a great amount of good buzz about this one, a unique iron audio volume feature, large DD coil on the $299 model.
However only a pre-set Ground Balance but in decent soil it still seems to get very good depth.
I would love to get my hands on one of these and see what I could do with it.
If you like hunting in all metal, want manual GB and depth is your thing you might want to consider a Tesoro Vaquero.
Hunting in all metal or in disc this thing goes deep, real deep, using just about any coil that fits on it and there are many.
That manual GB is an advantage even if you hunt in good soil, and a whole new language with no screen but it is not really needed when you use Tesoros
A language all their own, many say these are beep and dig detectors but they are wrong.
There is a huge amount of info you can get from their models just by listening to that one beep that most of them have and by manipulating that disc knob.
Dig a lot of trash or not, your choice once you get the hang of the language.
I have learned enough using the two that I own to make a decent call on most of the targets I dig at about the same percentage as using my F2 with a screen.
About the same price as the F4 especially with discounts, and they come up in the classifieds under $400 in gently used condition a lot.
