Tesoro Cortes or AT Pro???

Warshrike · May 9, 2011

Like the title says, I just cannot decide. I live in VA so want the best for my soil conditions. I mainly coin shoot and may do a little relic hunting. So what do you guys recommend?

Daedalus · May 9, 2011

If it was me I would get the Tesoro Cortes , I just like Tesoro products as they work very well and the warranty can not be beat .
Both are great machines so you would not go wrong by getting either one.
It's just up to what you like and how much you want to spend .

John (Ma) · May 10, 2011

Cortes is proven, there are still a lot of mixed reviews on the Pro

Sandman · May 10, 2011

The Tesoro is by far the better detector of the two. I am using the AT Pro now after getting it back from Garrett for repairs out of the box for falsing issues and even though that is solved, I just don't like it. The Cortes is many times better. The only advantage the Pro has over the Cortes is its able to be taken in the water and rain, but we should come in outta the rain anyway. A plastic baggie over the Tesoro during a rain fixes that.

http://www.losttreasure.com/content/archives/tesoro-electronics-cortes :read2:

Keppy · May 10, 2011

Sandman said:
The Tesoro is by far the better detector of the two. I am using the AT Pro now after getting it back from Garrett for repairs out of the box for falsing issues and even though that is solved, I just don't like it. The Cortes is many times better. The only advantage the Pro has over the Cortes is its able to be taken in the water and rain, but we should come in outta the rain anyway. A plastic baggie over the Tesoro during a rain fixes that.

http://www.losttreasure.com/content/archives/tesoro-electronics-cortes

Sandman ... I just don't like my AT Pro either...................... I got a couple of land detectors..........So i will just pick up a Tesoro or Whites water detector........... Yes i would go with the Tesoro over the AT Pro..... Just 2 many problems with the AT.....

sniffer · May 10, 2011

I personally don't think the AT is living up to the hype. it just looks like an ace 250 with different colors and a bigger price tag. I'm not sold on the tesoro either. I would find a local md club and see what they are using and what they're finding with them in your area and then above all else find out everything about it and practice, practice, practice

Warshrike · May 11, 2011

Wow sandman. I did not think the Cortes would have fared that much better than the AT Pro. I was also considering the Deleon, but was not sure in regards to the mineralization here in Northern Virginia yet. If I need the manual GB I will go with the Cortes, otherwise I will go with the Deleon! Thoughts?

RL OH · May 11, 2011

The ground balance on the Cortes is in all metal only. If you are hunting with any disc, you will be using a preset ground balance. R.L.

onbrake · May 13, 2011

If your going to compare the AT PRO stay in its category Cortes is a step above the AT PRO.A better comparison would be the f-4 or the gamma.

fatheadnc · May 13, 2011

I hope you guys are kidding. I've owned 2 of the aforementioned Cortes models from Tesoro and the AT Pro is twice as deep and discriminates 100% better plus its waterproof to boot. My AT Pro also had to be sent back for the falsing issue but even with the falsing it was definitely a giant leap in front of the Cortes. Sorry it didn't suit your needs but in my opinion the AT Pro is a great unit and does many types of hunting on par with more expensive machines. The Cortes is at least $300 overpriced and that is being kind. The AT Pro also has no trouble ground balancing in the red clay here in NC and the Cortes couldn't detect a dime at 6 inches in this stuff. If you hunt where other folks have hunted with other high end machines you won't make many finds at all with the Cortes but the AT Pro will find targets others have missed due to masking or its ability to punch deeper. The AT Pro is a super hot unit and is one of the best values out today at any price.

HH,

Shane

Sandman · May 14, 2011

RL OH said:
The ground balance on the Cortes is in all metal only. If you are hunting with any disc, you will be using a preset ground balance. R.L.

It is true that the Cortes ground balances in all metal and when you switch to disc, you are using the GB settings you made. That is why you should ground balance once in a while again to reset it. Some companys say their models are Auto Ground Balanced when in fact they are Preset GB. Others are true auto.

gleaner1 · May 14, 2011

This forum is for guys that can offer real experience of comparison about two different machines, or at least that's what I thought. Since the spirit of this particular section of the forum has been besmirched in such fashion, I will offer some advice. If you think you can do better with a Cortes, you probably should be re-thinking your whole metal detecting bad azz mojo, serious like. Real bad. Yo dudes, are you kidding me?

Sandman · May 14, 2011

There is no perfect detector for everyone and it is hard to really compare one to the other when they are both used in different locations by different people. Confidence in your weapon of choice has a lot to do with it and mine was shattered when out of the box the AT Pro wasn't as good as a Cobra Beach Magnet.

Seriously we detect to have fun and like to find something once in awhile. I am fortunate in having the means to own lots of toys and like everyone else I like some more than others. I had a C&G Bobcat that I liked years ago and it found my first gold ring so it has a special place on my wall.

gleaner1 · May 14, 2011

Sniffer said:
Gleaner you need to go back and read my post before you start dogging on me. there is not one word about pushing my etrac or Minelab. I told them specifically to see what others are using and what they are finding with that machine, that way they can make a somewhat informed decision about what to buy. face it, a good MD is an investment, not just a toy and most people don't have the money to throw away on something they won't be happy with. as far as my opinion on the AT pro and the tesoro, that's my opinion and mine alone.
the reviews on the AT Pro are mixed, some like it, most do not. I've only known one person to even buy a tesoro, they seemed to like it. before I bought my DFX, I tried a tesoro cortez, I wasn't all that impressed, but, maybe that has to do with soil conditions here. I don't know.
but your attack on me was unwarranted and rude.
maybe that was your intent, maybe you're just a hateful kind of person
according to your profile you're a christian kind of person that believes in God
I guess you missed the part about judging others.

Sniffer, clearly I took this whole thread the wrong way, I have removed my comment. I sincerely apologize to you and all, this thing just got my goat in a horrible manner. I meant no harm and had no intent at offending anyone, I dread losing the respect of any member, especially concerning silly crap like this. Respectfully, gleaner.

sniffer · May 14, 2011

Gleaner, it surprised me, that's all.
let's call it water under the bridge and move on
I have also removed my post targeting you
have a good one, Sniffer

SusanMN · May 17, 2011

One thing to be aware of, and the reason I have a Cortes in the closet is that all coins ID on a Cortes as a 95. so if you are buying for Coin shooting your going to dig a lot of pennies. add to that the Cortes loves iron and deep iron IDs as a........95. so you'll be digging a lot of iron too.

Daedalus · May 17, 2011

I would get the Vaquero or the Tejón If I was going to suggest a type . Read about them and see what you think of the two.
The AT Pro has had a rough start but that does not mean it is a bad machine. Some here where I live use the AT Pro and one really likes it and seems to be doing well with the machine. The other two do not like it and are selling theirs to get another type.

I myself have only got to use the AT Pro for a day of hunting and it worked ok for me in the advanced mode. But I would not buy one for me. And that is just me and how I hunt and what I like . It may be a great machine for you but only you can tell that.

One thing is, to many take it as an insult if you do not like there type or brand of machine . I try not to think that way. I use what works the best for me.

And when someone ask what to do between two types and how much the want to spend I try to balance that within the limit that was set .
Why I suggested the two Tesoro's above is that they are very good machines and will work well most everywhere you hunt, but they will not work well in Saltwater areas , in the dry sand , yes they are fine . But if you get into the saltwater then you will most likely not be able to use them as you would wish. The AT Pro will work in the Saltwater if that is what you like or want to do. But read on using the AT Pro in the Saltwater as some do not like how it works in that medium .

The thing for me about the AT Pro is it is new and more than just a few seem to be having issues with the machine , But this could be due to it being new and no one has worked out all the idiosyncrasies of the machine !

For the ( cost ) the Tesoro's can hardly be beat and they have the lifetime warranty that the others do not have . You can buy aftermarket coils for them that will work fine and give you more options . But the Garrett AT Pro you can buy coils for. Look at the price of the coils for both and the cost and try to think of what you will be doing or using them for , and if they are in your budget .

If you read the data that is out for each type or brand of machine then you will find one that you will like , If you have the funds then you can buy one of the higher end detectors that have a proven record . Watch videos of the finds the users are getting on each type of detector that you like . That will tell you quite a bit in it's self .

But what it comes down to is how much you want to spend and what makes you excited with the machine you have . The best detector is the one you have and use and like the best ! And none of us can tell you what that is .

Look for one that has Ground Balance as you have the hard soil and what ever you chose you will learn it and like it a lot . And if you do not then sell it as you will not have trashed it and then you can move to another type in till you find the one that fits you.

Try not to do what some of us do and that is make it too complicated on what one to buy , stay with the better brands and you will do fine!

rws51 · Aug 5, 2011

A couple friends bought AT PROS a few months ago and neither one liked it. They both sold the AT PRO and bought Tesoro detectors. Too many problems with the garrett detector for them
I guess. I swung one of the AT PROS for a few minutes and didn't like it either. I owned a Cortes and it was a good detector, but the Vaquero is much better for less money. I would buy a Tesoro
and don't look back.

George (MN) · Aug 11, 2011

I love my AT Pro more than anything I've ever used! It IDed correctly a 4" deep tilted quarter & a 7" clad dime in a park that's hunted frequently. The ground is hard there so they were probably missed for decades.

I was using the STD mode which requires essentially 0 learning & gets coins at full volume to maximum depth. I turned up iron rejectio to max and notch to coins only and nearly everything dug was a coin or a small round object. Total silence between accepted metals. Yes, I'm lazy & could've missed gold. But the ground is too hard to want to dig everything.

The quality control issues were fixed as of March. My dealer said I could buy one he had for a few months or one he would get next week. I chose the latter & have no problems. If anyone has an older one, Garrett offers a reasonably priced upgrade thar includes warranty extension.

About the only reason I can think of for not liking it would be missing some feature found on a previous favorite detector & not any performance issues. Maybe a much more expensive detector could be slightly better in some way, I really don't know. I did use a Cortes briefly. Best wishes, George (MN)