Steer me towards the right tesoro...please

[dogcaught]

I've really been searching high and low for my next detector. From white's, to ML, to garret, to Tesoro. No particular price range. I dont want to open any cans here, so i would just like to focus on the Tesoros. I'm am really trying hard to find one i think i will like. With all my research on Tesoro's, i've noticed a lot of trade offs..."Well, with this one you will get depth, but it will cost you X, X, and X. and so on. I know most MD manufacturers are like this to a certain extent. What i think i want out of a Tesoro is to get away from LED screens. You know, rely on the tones, not whats on the screen. I know i am passing up a lot of good stuff because i look at screens. I really thought I was sold on the Vaquero until i heard it was monotone. I know its supposed to be about the quality of finds, and not how you do it. But I just cant picture myself enjoying a monotone machine. I usually dig all repeatable targets, but still like to get some idea before i dig. I want the depth of the Tijon, Vaquero, or Cibola, the "Hot Technology" machines vs. the umax's. So to sum it up, a multi-tone with phenomenal depth. And if i was to lean towards mono-tone, how do you get a feeling about what you are about to dig? Do you just factor location with amount of disc and are pleasantly surprised with every find you make? Sorry for the long post and generic questions. BTW, I hunt coins, small gold and sometimes relic. Ground conditions are in the mid-west, nothing extreme. Any and all replies are much appreciated !!

 

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[dogcaught]

...And what else i've noticed about Tesoro's....(and their owners!)...
Most other MD manufacturers line of detectors seem to be a gradual evolution of 1 detector,slowly progressing all the way up to their best and most expensive machine. Whereas Tesoros go in just about every direction. And each direction of Tesoro has a following, defending that direction to the teeth. Nothing wrong with that at all, just makes it tough for newbies to Tesoro to pick and choose.
Thanks, JJ

 

[Sandman]

Since there are many of us that enjoy different strokes, the detectors try to please all of us and that makes it difficult to find what you think you want instead of what you need. Have you checked out the field tests at http://losttreasure.com/fieldtests/FieldDisplay07.cfm?ID=50

If you think you need tones, check out the Sov GT. That will keep you busy listening to the sounds and with experience it can't be beat.

 

[muleskinner]

You can always count on the Sandman to give it to you straight. I have a Tesoro Bandido umax and a Minelab Soveriegn. I primarilly coinshoot and relic hunt. If I ever get down to just one detector, it will be the Soveriegn. It goes way deeper then the Bandido does. The weight of the Tesoros is a pleasure to hunt for extended periods with. I can also cherry pick an area quickly with the Tesoro.

 

[dogcaught]

Sandman, thanks for that link and info on the Sov. I completely understand the "to each their own" angle. I had previously read a lot of field reports on tesoro's, but found some new and different ones in your link. Now, going back to what I think I want vs. what I need. One common factor i read in most of these field reports for the monotone non TID machines is that users will try to notch out a target to help ID them before they dig. I just think unnecessary extra step could be easily replaced by being multi-tone, but i'm probably wrong. Sorry to beat a dead horse. I just want to make sure I have not passed up "MY" perfect machine before i look elsewhere. Thanks again for the info and feedback, JJ

 

[JOE(USA)]

dogcaught,

I completely understand where you are coming from. One of the ultimate machines for depth and whistles and bells is the Minelab Explorer SE. It is a super machine for someone that likes to have the ultimate in ID. It is a bit pricey. I did notice that you did not talk about the Tesoro Cortes? It is heavy on ID and also goes deep. I'm a Tesoro dealer so if I can help you with any questions on them let me know. Joe

 

[dogcaught]

Thanks Joe. I think what keeps me interested in the Tesoros is the weight and compact design. I have pretty much ruled out the explorer SE and the DFX. I think they are both great in the right hands, but want to spend less time tinkering with controls and programs and more time hunting. The ML Sov and Musketeer both look like solid machines. I cant seem to turn away from the MXT or M6 either. And now the Cortes. I would just buy them all but my wife would kill me. Oh well. I guess i'll just start flipping coins. Thanks Joe, the Cortes looks very close to what im after. I'll keep reading and get back to you when its time to buy.
JJ

 

[thompy]

the golden has multi tones

 

[gmanlight]

Hi dog i have a gt it is very good at what it does but sometimes its to serious the job at hand

I also have a silver u it is fun and easy.I keep it in my work truck and hit tot lots and new test sites

If it got stolen its almost price of one gt coil and lifetime warranty is nice 2 different tools for the job

If u find the perfect one let me know i might get one too

 

[Shenandoah Digger]

In regard to the tones of the Tesoro's, yes, they are multi tone machines. You just have to learn what it's telling you. At first it sounds like one tone, and with a little experience you will be able to differentiate good targets from bad. The Vaquero is a great machine and is like hiking with a walking stick. I've got enough experience with the big 3 that I can usually tell what a target is before I dig it. Most people with a lot of Tesoro experience can do this. If you don't try one, you'll never know what you've missed.

 

[lostlake88]

I will give you a synopsis of my experience with the vaquero. I hunt with a buddy who uses te Minelab SE and he will kill me everytime on really deep coins. Within the 7-8 inch range you will have to understand your detector thoroughly. 5-6 inch range it's cherry pickin with the V. The V is light, and when you decide to hunt hill sides you will understand the benefit. My thought is if you want to spend the bucks for the SE, $1200; then I would buy it. It will find you more silver than the Vaquero for sure. If you are a logical thinker you can look at it this way, $500 vs. $1200, most people will never pay for there detector with what they find. So logic dictates, buy the Silver Umax (tesoro) $200 . Never used it, but from what I understand its a lion in sheeps clothing.

 

[birdman]

The vaquero is a great all around machine. I have pulled dimes at 8 inches before but not to often.

 

[Nuttdriver]

I just purchased a Vaquero and love it. Get the 5.75" concentric coil too. It works great in trashy locations and it's a pinpointing dude!

 

[rmptr]

In my opinion it would be difficult to beat a Tesoro Silver uMax for general use.

Quality
Effectiveness
Weight & balance
Simplicity
Many optional coils
Price
Lifetime warranty

It is the go-to machine for many users with far more expensive machines.

IMO it would be difficult to argue against a machine that can pay for itself quickly with only casual use.

HH
rmptr

 

[thomas_miles25]

Personally I use the Tesoro Deleon it is light weight has target ID very easy to use and it goes deep. I would not spend a lot of money on something that does not have a very long warranty. I love the fact that Tesoro stands behind there equipment like no other company will. Before I bought mine I called them and they were closed so I left a message and the actual owner of Tesoro (think his name at least last name is Gifford) is the one who called me back to answer any questions I had. Now how many other companies bosses would do that? I dont think I will ever buy another brand!!!

 

[Bazooka]

DogCaught,
I am on my first season with my Vaquero. I had previously been running a bounty hunter unit with 9 segment ID and tone ID. I was looking for more depth, and like you, perhaps to lessen the dependence on a digital readout. I figured I was passing up too many older finds. You asked about how do you know what you're about to dig. Well I guess, like you inferred, I don't ever know for sure, but I have a general idea of what it could be. But by the same token I've seen the segment ID be fooled lots of 1000's of times by can slaw, large iron, buried cans, old mason lid, etc, so its still a crap shoot there. On the Vaquero I tend to run with disc below nickel, and when I get a signal, just thumb slowly till it goes away. Thumbing is not a big deal because the disc knob is right there by your thumb. What I like about the Vaqureo too is that the signal is analog. My bounty hunter gave multi-tones, but gave the same signal volume no matter what the strength of signal. Ace250 does the same thing. The tone volume clues me to the general depth. My favorite with the Vaq is a soft smooth tone that will disc out in the upper zinc range to silver range. Thats when you want to dig a nice deep plug. I guess I got used to the single tone pretty quick. In about the time it takes to look at an id I just thumb the disc, and check the signal.
For sand or woodchip playground use I dig every signal because the digging is easy and the gold/jewelry chances are elevated, so once agin here the mono tone has no bearing on my finds. Bottom line is since Ive had the Vaquero, I have yet to pick up my Bounty Hunter.

 

[BillyC]

One machine that has not been mentioned. The Minelab X-Terra 70. I have one and also run a Vaquero. IMHO I like the Vaquero better on old homesites and places where I might find old silver or gold. I have had my X-Terra now for 7 months, and it is a coinshooters dream. i pick very little trash, find a bunch of "clad". It eats quarters and dimes up. You may think that this makes it a "perfect" detector?

The problem is I was relying on the VID screen to tell me what to dig. I was actually ignoring signals. Oh I found a bunch of clad, and some nice silver jewelery, but not much old coins, or any gold.

Enter the Vaquero. My 1st trip out I found a silver earing back. It was very small, and deep. Right away I was impressed. Since that time (04/08) I have found a buffalo nickle, a 1942 Quarter, a 1937 Walker Half, a 1948 silver dime, and a very nice 21k gold ring. All of this was in less than a month of getting my V. Some of these (the 42 quarter) as an example were very deep.

I know for a fact the V is deeper right pot pf thr box. I also know that I do dig more targets. I will keep both. The XZ-Terra 70 will be used in parks or schools when I do not feel like digging trash or for cherry picking. My V will get used when I want to find the deeper stuff, and on tot lots for jewelery, Beale.

 

[nuggetshooter323]

The two problems with the Golden is the Pre-set ground balance and the four audio tones are hard to differentiate.

 

[johnnycat]

I got my V in late March and used it on a trip out to Calif. I was really tentative about it because I was so used to that darn screen. After detecting for less than a hour I got the most beautiful tone I had heard the machine put out. I quickly thumbed up the disc'. and the tone was still there. About 5 minutes later I was holding a 1899 IH!! Who needs a screen

 

[Dan B]

I have Golden µMax and a Tejon. The Golden is just plain fun. There is no better way to describe it. Personally I don't find the tones that hard to distinguish. But to say there are 4 tones is to sell this detector short. There is such a vast combinations of tones that it becomes pretty easy to figure out what you are about to dig. To understand what I mean, picture this: The Tejon will give you a beep that might have a pronounced B (like BBB---eep) or a pronounced P (like Bee---PP). Now imagine that with a different tone. It may start out with one tone but end with another. I'm quickly discovering what this means. As for the preset GB, I lucked out in that it is perfect for my area. If it wasn't I would make a subtle adjustment internally until it was (there are lots of places on the net to find out which pot adjusts the GB).

And talk about light. The Golden is noticeably smaller and lighter than the Tejon.

I can't say much about the notch as I'm still experimenting with that. All I can say is that it really does knock out pulltab range. It is adjustable, so it will take some tweaking before I'm sure it's not eliminating rings too.

I would highly recommend the Golden. In fact I rarely use the Tejon now.

Dan