Tesoro auto or preset GB

[johnjet]

I am interested in a speedy Tesoro for use in south central PA. I currently have an old white's with manual GB and am pleased with it, but I want something a little lighter and faster. So... will a new Cibola meet my needs in sometimes tricky soil or would I be better off with the manual CB of the Vaquero? I will use this machine for general use and occasional dry sand. Thanks.

 

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[Sandman]

I think you will be happier with the Vaquero with it's manual GB. The Cibola is more of an entry level detector and will have trouble in bad soil and not perform as well. Sorta like taking a Toyota into the wilderness instead of a Jeep.

 

[JOE(USA)]

johnjet,

I agree with Sandman on this one. I almost never recommend a Cibola to a customer,it just seems not to fit in with most peoples needs unless the Freq. shift and 14.3 kHz search freq. is a must have. I usually recommend the Silver uMax or the Vaquero depending if the user is a novice or is working in bad ground, and of course price. By the way you will find it's a LOT lighter! PM me if I can help you further. Joe

 

[BamaBill]

I will add my voice to saying that Sandman is exactly correct on his analogy. I have a Cibola, but now my son or daughter use it, because it just can handle anything in mild to moderate soil, but it starts losing serious depth in anything more mineralized. Yes, by all-means get a manual ground balance machine. I like my Eldorado (predecessor to the Vaquero), but the Vaquero would be a fine choice as a do-it-all kind of machine.

 

[johnjet]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll be ordering the new Vaquero right after the new year. Happy Holidays!

 

[Shortstack]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll be ordering the new Vaquero right after the new year. Happy Holidays!

That Vaquero will be a most excellent choice and I'd like to offer one more tip. Don't forget to incorporate the Sensitive adjustment to fine tune for the area you're hunting. Setting the Sens. too high could very well work against you by letting too much "noise" through. I believe that both Sandman and Joe(USA) have posted some great instructions on THAT adjustment in this "Tesoro" area.
Happy Hunting.

 

[bavarianminister]

Agreed - the Vacquero is a better machine with the ground balance. However - it is kind of nice if you just want to do some quick detecting at a location - then the cibola or silver is appealing. My wife hates knobs and anything that is too technologically advanced - a silver would be a perfect machine for her. My suggestion is to buy more than one machine.

Bavarian

 

[TomNWMI]

I am interested in a speedy Tesoro for use in south central PA. I currently have an old white's with manual GB and am pleased with it, but I want something a little lighter and faster. So... will a new Cibola meet my needs in sometimes tricky soil or would I be better off with the manual CB of the Vaquero? I will use this machine for general use and occasional dry sand. Thanks.

Maybe its just me or the particular unit I tested BUT, the Vaquero is not a "speedy" machine suited for hunting beaches. Even a moderate sweep speed killed the depth on the one I tried to use on fresh water beaches.

In iron with small coils the C & V are killer due to their good low range disc adjustability and the depth they get with the slow sweep needed in that scenerio. Too much disc or sweep to fast and you loose the depth they are capable of.

Just thought I'd better toss that out.

HH Tom

 

[Michigan Badger]

The Vaquero is your machine no ands ifs or butts about it.

Like Joe wrote, the two most popular detectors Tesoro makes are the Silver & Vaquero.

Even James says the best value is the V.

In mild sandy soil the Silver with the 12x10 coil will beat a Cibola and Tejon in coin depth. When the soil gets a little bad the adjustable ground balance machines always win.

Here in Michigan the factory preset machines work great due to our blow-sand soils. If this changes to any serious extent you're in big trouble with any preset.

In the Tesoro family of machines, my personal favorite for CONSISTANTLY deep hunting is the Tejon.

Badger

 

[TomNWMI]

Ain't now way the Vaquero will approach the sweep speed of a 4 filter Whites

or even the faster 2 filters units and get any kind of depth. I have talked to Vince at length about the differences betwen the V & C, for mild ground or low mineral fresh water hunting he recommends the Cibola. For more mineralized ground the Vaquero. Have used em both and he is correct. The Cibola is the more sweep speed tolerant of the two. You can take that to the bank.

Tom

 

[sandsifter]

Don't hear to much about the cortez.
if one wanted to spend the money, would the Deleon
or Cortex, or would something else be better for coin shooting?

 

[JOE(USA)]

link=topic=126426.msg933632#msg933632 date=1199228353]
Don't hear to much about the cortez.
if one wanted to spend the money, would the Deleon
or Cortex, or would something else be better for coin shooting?
[/quote] .[quote author=sandsifter

sandsifter,

I think you hit it right on the nose about the Tesoro DeLeon and Cortez
"If one wanted to spend the money" - The people that have the money to spend tend to go with the Minelabs. While the Minelabs are an excellent machine,I don't think this is necessarily the only logical choice. The DeLeon and Cortez are both excellent detectors and will stand with the best of any name brand in that price range, including Minelab.
What the detector will be used for ("coinshooting") is just one item in the equation as to what machine is best. Your location (ground conditions), level of expertise, do you like bare bones or all the whistles and bells type of person, how much $ are you willing to spend, physical limitations (weight of machine), I could go on but I think I've made my point. A buyer / dealer needs to know what the answers are to all these questions before the proper detector can be chosen. Joe

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: Ain't now way the Vaquero will approach the sweep speed of a 4 filter Whites

or even the faster 2 filters units and get any kind of depth. I have talked to Vince at length about the differences betwen the V & C, for mild ground or low mineral fresh water hunting he recommends the Cibola. For more mineralized ground the Vaquero. Have used em both and he is correct. The Cibola is the more sweep speed tolerant of the two. You can take that to the bank.

Tom

The problem is, ground minerals can change drastically many times at just one single site.

Buying a Vaquero is a lot like getting a Cibola with a knob to adjust the ground balance.

 

[birdman]

I have both the C and the V and I can't really tell the difference in sweep speed. The Vaquero found many things my Cibola left behind and the only thing I can contribute it to is the ground balance. Both machines acted the same but I had targets at spots that I had been over three and four time with the cibola.Manual ground balance does make a difference ,at least it did here in my soil.

 

[Michigan Badger]

link=topic=126426.msg933632#msg933632 date=1199228353]
Don't hear to much about the cortez.
if one wanted to spend the money, would the Deleon
or Cortex, or would something else be better for coin shooting?

.

Good job Joe.

I personally think the Cortes is way over priced but it is true that it is a unique detector and fits the bill for many.

Tesoro's big advantage is its strategy to make light weight detectors. Some day the competitors just might wake up.

Most hobby coin/jewelry hunters today want a simple to use light weight detector.

The big learning curve programmable heavy awkward machines are on the way out. Almost nobody wants them anymore.

The Cortes and DeLeon are very good machines but they lack the most important feature essential to consistently deep finds. Neither the Cortes or DeLeon copes with ground mineralization while in discrimination mode. This is very bad for machines in their price range.

For what one pays for a Cortes one could have a MXT which has a vastly superior meter and greater depth due partly to dealing with ground conditions.

Tesoro has made a great showing and continues to be a leading company but if they don't kick it in gear soon they'll be history. The same is true of Nautilus and especially Fisher. In fact, all major brands are in trouble because soon China will control the bulk of the hobby detector business.

I've used Chinese made machines and I'm telling you they are changing fast for the better.

I think this fact is why many major brands are dragging their feet in regard to investing money for advancement. They know their days are numbered.

Badger

 

[TomNWMI]

link=topic=126426.msg933632#msg933632 date=1199228353]
Don't hear to much about the cortez.
if one wanted to spend the money, would the Deleon
or Cortex, or would something else be better for coin shooting?

.

Good job Joe.

I personally think the Cortes is way over priced but it is true that it is a unique detector and fits the bill for many.

Tesoro's big advantage is its strategy to make light weight detectors. Some day the competitors just might wake up.

Most hobby coin/jewelry hunters today want a simple to use light weight detector.

The big learning curve programmable heavy awkward machines are on the way out. Almost nobody wants them anymore.

The Cortes and DeLeon are very good machines but they lack the most important feature essential to consistently deep finds. Neither the Cortes or DeLeon copes with ground mineralization while in discrimination mode. This is very bad for machines in their price range.

For what one pays for a Cortes one could have a MXT which has a vastly superior meter and greater depth due partly to dealing with ground conditions.

Tesoro has made a great showing and continues to be a leading company but if they don't kick it in gear soon they'll be history. The same is true of Nautilus and especially Fisher. In fact, all major brands are in trouble because soon China will control the bulk of the hobby detector business.

I've used Chinese made machines and I'm telling you they are changing fast for the better.

I think this fact is why many major brands are dragging their feet in regard to investing money for advancement. They know their days are numbered.

Badger

I agree Badger, Tesoro desperately needs a new TID machine to compete against the newer offerings in the mid price range.

Tom

 

[sandsifter]

Thanks Badger
I am trying to add a couple detectors to my hobby. I was thinking the sovereign GT and the
Tesoro cortez to go with my old Eagle spectrum. I was considering the F-75 but don't like what I am hearing about it and, customer service. If you think the U-Max is better let me know. You sure are an inspirition of knowledge. Soil out here in DE. is not that bad. I am thinking auto ground track or balance would be ok on the cortez. I like the visual ID to confirm, but I still dig by tone ID. Anyway I would have the Cortez as A back up to the GT.
at the beach. And wife could use it while I work the GT and 15" WOT coil.
I could have the GT as A back up to the Cortez for Relic. Make sense Everyone jump in.

 

[JOE(USA)]

Michigan Badger,

Thanks for jumping in. Your opinion is always valued, this post is no exception. Joe

 

[Michigan Badger]

Thanks Badger
I am trying to add a couple detectors to my hobby. I was thinking the sovereign GT and the
Tesoro cortez to go with my old Eagle spectrum. I was considering the F-75 but don't like what I am hearing about it and, customer service. If you think the U-Max is better let me know. You sure are an inspirition of knowledge. Soil out here in DE. is not that bad. I am thinking auto ground track or balance would be ok on the cortez. I like the visual ID to confirm, but I still dig by tone ID. Anyway I would have the Cortez as A back up to the GT.
at the beach. And wife could use it while I work the GT and 15" WOT coil.
I could have the GT as A back up to the Cortez for Relic. Make sense Everyone jump in.

Hi and thanks.

I think you're wise passing up the F-75. It's an okay machine but way overpriced. A used one could be alright I guess. But it in no way compares with a Sovereign GT.

All things considered, the GT is the best machine made today for land hunting coins. A very close second would be the Whites MXT. But I personally hate programming machines of any stripe so I's stay with the GT. And too I think the GT is more comfortable to use.

The Cortez is a good machine but unless you're rich I'd buy a used unit. You can pick up near mint used machines for about what they should sell for new.

Actually today while I could afford new I usually buy used. It just bugs me throwing away money. I remember back when we had nothing.

The Silver uMax is basically a Compadre/Cibola/V/Tejon/Deleon/Cortes with more or less added features. If the Silver uMax came with a ground balance knob and threshold knob there would be no actual need for any of the others models.

The Silver is Tesoro's best buy. In most soils with the 12x10 concentric coil it will match or surpass all the other Tesoro models. In gravel parking lots or old trash dumps you'd probably do better with a ground balance machine.

As for the WOT on a GT, it's a great coil for open sites with less trash. It makes for an awesome beach coil. It's not good for coins in trashy areas. The stock 10-inch Tornado coil is the best coil made for the GT.

Hope this helps.

Badger

 

[Dan B]

I am thinking auto ground track or balance would be ok on the cortez.

I think you may be confused. The Cortes does not have "auto ground track" or "balance". It has manual ground balance for the all metal mode, and a factory preset ground balance for the disc mode. There is nothing automatic about it. Unlike the Golden µMax which can have the GB internally adjusted (and tones too), the Cortes is stuck with the GB that the factory has set. Attempting to alter it apparently messes up the display accuracy.

I can't even imagine how heavy the Sovereign would be with a 15" coil. I put a stand on mine (to keep the control box out of the dirt) and a meter, and that rig was 6 lbs. That was with the stock 10" coil. Hope you have a strong arm!

There were a few other things that I didn't like about the Sovereign (beside the fact that it nulled on our Canadian coins). I don't want to ruffle any feathers, so I won't say any more.

I agree completely that Tesoro needs to get in the game if they want to be competitive. A new machine most certainly should have automatic ground balancing, or at the very least, manual ground balancing that works in both modes. I think the former would be more appealing (translate: sell more units) as it seems that manual ground balancing is perceived by many to be too difficult.

Of course this may be easier said than done. If Tesoro does not have the talented engineers or designers on the payroll, then a new Tesoro may end up just another re-packaged unit with a new name. What are the chances that they could come up with a feature packed unit like the F-75 or T2, but with Tesoro build quality?

Dan