Tesoro vs. Garrett AT Pro question

Rock22 · Mar 16, 2015

I am very close to pulling the trigger on a new detector but need some last minute advice. :laughing7:

Garrett AT Pro or possibly one of the Tesoro models: Vaquero, Deleon.

I am just not sure about the no screen on the Vaq vs. the amazing amount of stuff the AT pro claims to be able to do. I also hear very little about the DeLeon so I'm just not sure. Please help.

Thanks, Bill

DiggerinVA · Mar 16, 2015

I love the garrett machines (at pro & at gold) but I also like the Tesoro machines. Where I live for really good depth I need manual ground balance so that eliminates the Deleon. But it all comes down to your preferred hunting style and just what you like. I dont think you can go wrong with any of the machines listed as long as you take the time to really learn the machine you will do well. Good luck!

RJGMC · Mar 16, 2015

Been asking myself the very same question, but my circumstances are different. I own 2 Deleon/s, 2 cibolas, and now a cortes. I have had several Garretts in the past and here is what I did. I am keeping the Cibola, for it is one fine relic machine for Missouri and Kansas, goes deep and hits hard. But the parks where unfortunately I do hunt in the metro area are trashy beyond belief. The Deleon is good, but single tone, the Cortes I have not spent much time with but decided to go ahead and order an AT PRO. Actually did this just today. So now I just need to thin the herd.

Let us know what you decide. The multi-tone of the Garrett is what is calling ,e back. But the Cibola is still my go to relic machine for ghost towns and cornfields when the targets are sparse and I pretty much dig everyone of them anyway.

RJGMC
HI BOB!

atomicscott · Mar 16, 2015

Rock22 said:
I am very close to pulling the trigger on a new detector but need some last minute advice.

Garrett AT Pro or possibly one of the Tesoro models: Vaquero, Deleon.

I am just not sure about the no screen on the Vaq vs. the amazing amount of stuff the AT pro claims to be able to do. I also hear very little about the DeLeon so I'm just not sure. Please help.

Thanks, Bill

AT Pro. If you ever do need the extra info, it is right there available to you. If you want the Vaq, just run 1 tone on the AT Pro and put some tape over the display. Done.

DiggerinVA · Mar 16, 2015

atomicscott said:
AT Pro. If you ever do need the extra info, it is right there available to you. If you want the Vaq, just run 1 tone on the AT Pro and put some tape over the display. Done.

you can't change the number of tones on the ATpro...

atomicscott · Mar 16, 2015

DiggerinVA said:
you can't change the number of tones on the ATpro...

I felt kinda nervous about posting that, I wasn't sure. I stand corrected, thanks. I just assumed you could adjust number of tones.

DiggerinVA · Mar 16, 2015

I wish you could set the tones....it would be nice!

atomicscott · Mar 16, 2015

DiggerinVA said:
I wish you could set the tones....it would be nice!

I guess I took it for granted, on the XT I sometimes switch from multi to 3 or 4 tones. If prospecting, I will use just single tone. But then again, it's not waterproof, lol.

Sandman · Mar 17, 2015

The display on all detectors is not accurate when targets are at depth and that goes for sound too on all digital units that have single freq. AT Pro has it's followers. Digital units process the info as On or Off. Analog detectors process the information in between 0 & 1 for a truer measure. I'd go with Tesoro Vaquero or Tejon. You should read the book, Mastering the Tejon and Vaquero.http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Tes...ors-ebook/dp/B00GN27CTQ/?tag=treasurenet01-20

If you hunt in the rain, a baggie over the box works fine.

atomicscott · Mar 17, 2015

Sandman said:
The display on all detectors is not accurate when targets are at depth and that goes for sound too on all digital units that have single freq. AT Pro has it's followers. Digital units process the info as On or Off. Analog detectors process the information in between 0 & 1 for a truer measure. I'd go with Tesoro Vaquero or Tejon. You should read the book, Mastering the Tejon and Vaquero.http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Tesoro-Tejon-Vaquero-Detectors-ebook/dp/B00GN27CTQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1426595923&sr=1-1&keywords=mastering+the+tesoro+tejon+and+vaquero+metal+detectors <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1132469"/>If you hunt in the rain, a baggie over the box works fine.

So that's why Tesoro is king! Don't tell the other guys who wasted all this money, R&D and engineering on digital technolgy, lol.

Terry Soloman · Mar 17, 2015

atomicscott said:
So that's why Tesoro is king! Don't tell the other guys who wasted all this money, R&D and engineering on digital technolgy, lol.

Poor, poor Scott. :dontknow:

Tesoro is "King," because it is just as deep, just as sensitive, FASTER, and LIGHTER than all the others. :occasion14:

atomicscott · Mar 17, 2015

Terry Soloman said:
Poor, poor Scott. Tesoro is "King," because it is just as deep, just as sensitive, FASTER, and LIGHTER than all the others.

I know! So many just haven't figured it out yet.

jld66 · Mar 17, 2015

i went with vaquero for my first detector and read the book also. it is good. i sometimes hunt with a few guys. one has a garrett ace 350, the other with a bounty hunter 505. seems they are relying on the readout more than the tone. in a trashy area with a lot of nails and small iron. i have noticed the vaquero is better. we sometimes check each others targets. in some cases they will have a good readout and the vaq will only hit it at minimal disc. it always will be trash for them. with just tone, i do dig more, thus find more. sometimes i will go over a spot one of them did and will get a coin or two that they missed i guess do to masking. maybe the just plain missed it though. the vaq is also better around powerlines (emi) also. i imagine the at pro is good. but on some detecting pages on facebook. it seems everyone has a at pro and rave so much about them, almost to the point that you could swing one over a dead person and bring them back to life with it. i like tesoros and will more than likely be the only brand i will buy.

Rock22 · Mar 18, 2015

I just got the book on my Kindle so I am digging deeper into understanding these Tesoro's! I will purchase a new detector soon and the book and the comments here should help me a great deal. Keep the comments coming!

woodknack · Mar 18, 2015

Rock22 said:
I just got the book on my Kindle so I am digging deeper into understanding these Tesoro's! I will purchase a new detector soon and the book and the comments here should help me a great deal. Keep the comments coming!

The book is informative even if you don't buy that model of Tersoro. Very good read.
Just because one guy one here doesn't like them because he never stuck with it long enough to figure out. Don't let that discourage you from getting one. Most of the time those Tesoro haters are the ones that buy all sorts of different type machines looking for that magic detector that will pull the treasure out of the ground for them. Its sort of like the guy that owns 100 different guns and can shoot them all but none of them really great. because he is always taking a different gun to the range. Then there is the gun with one gun he shoots all the time,He has mastered that gun and can hit anything with it, where the other guy keeps missing and blaming it on his equipment.

atomicscott · Mar 18, 2015

woodknack said:
The book is informative even if you don't buy that model of Tersoro. Very good read.
Just because one guy one here doesn't like them because he never stuck with it long enough to figure out. Don't let that discourage you from getting one. Most of the time those Tesoro haters are the ones that buy all sorts of different type machines looking for that magic detector that will pull the treasure out of the ground for them. Its sort of like the guy that owns 100 different guns and can shoot them all but none of them really great. because he is always taking a different gun to the range. Then there is the gun with one gun he shoots all the time,He has mastered that gun and can hit anything with it, where the other guy keeps missing and blaming it on his equipment.

The best you have had is the best you know. If you haven't tried other detectors you just don't know how much better others can be. Once you have tried others, you may just realize there are other units that you prefer. If one has only tried one brand , how do you know others are not as good? You can shoot Glocks only, doesn't mean Sig Sauer is no good just because you refuse to try a brand other than Glock. Be mature about this, the guy wants info on comparing 2 detectors that you have never owned.

Phantasman · Mar 18, 2015

If you are just getting into detecting, of those two I suggest the AT Pro. An experienced detectorist already knows the advantage of a sound only machine, like the old Minelab Musketeer or most Tesoro's, but these type detectors are more unforgiving over a screen display in helping you learn the hobby. A single one tone beep while thumbing the disc button is not as effective "for teaching" than a specific tone with an icon telling you what you may expect if you dig. And the two digit number, once learned, will help you narrow it down even more.

Tesoro's are great machines. But not the best to learn on.

atomicscott · Mar 18, 2015

Phantasman said:
If you are just getting into detecting, of those two I suggest the AT Pro. An experienced detectorist already knows the advantage of a sound only machine, like the old Minelab Musketeer or most Tesoro's, but these type detectors are more unforgiving over a screen display in helping you learn the hobby. A single one tone beep while thumbing the disc button is not as effective "for teaching" than a specific tone with an icon telling you what you may expect if you dig. And the two digit number, once learned, will help you narrow it down even more.

Tesoro's are great machines. But not the best to learn on.

Great response. Also when hunting by tone (mainly) multi-tones (3-4) makes it much easier than spinning a knob for ID.

woodknack · Mar 18, 2015

tesoro makes some I'd machines too. The cortes will give you different tones when you hit a good target just push the sum toggle and go over it again. It will give you an target and number I'd as well as multi tones. Another one if you can find one used is the tesoro golden umax. So not all Tesoros are just one tone. There is a difference to. The tesoro is anolog not digital. There is a difference. I'd say. Try which ever you fancy at the time. Go with your heart or you will not be happy in the long run. Which ever you choose, stay with it and don't give up. Put your time in with the machine.

I'd still get that ebook If I were you. It covers some good points. Well worth the read no mater what you get for a detector.

jld66 · Mar 18, 2015

Phantasman said:
If you are just getting into detecting, of those two I suggest the AT Pro. An experienced detectorist already knows the advantage of a sound only machine, like the old Minelab Musketeer or most Tesoro's, but these type detectors are more unforgiving over a screen display in helping you learn the hobby. A single one tone beep while thumbing the disc button is not as effective "for teaching" than a specific tone with an icon telling you what you may expect if you dig. And the two digit number, once learned, will help you narrow it down even more.

Tesoro's are great machines. But not the best to learn on.

i bought the vaquero for my first detector. had no problems. thought it would be good to learn with that style detector. plus it has everything i read to have on it. manual GB, threshold, etc. may take a bit more time to learn. but, i think you will learn better. i suggest it to all that ask what to buy for a first one. that way they will have no need to upgrade anytime soon, or ever. afterwards, if they do get a readout unit. it will be a bonus to have it. think it would be harder to learn on a display, multi tone unit. then go to a single tone, no display one. my opinion anyhow.