A question of detectors.... what to keep/what to sell

[Monte]

I guess I ought to do it by e-mail but that can end up longer than my forum posts. Since it's early AM when I start this, I will try to keep it simple.

This is not meant as a comparision so forgive me for mentioning another FTP detector but I would like some input from you on deciding what to do...

I often try to avoid specific direction, but maybe I can support what some others have stated in their replies.

I have two Teknetics and a Fisher. I don't think I need all three. I have an F75 LTD, a T2, and an Omega-8000.

If you're only concentrating on these three, okay, but in your signature you have listed the following:

Sovereign GT
Tejon
T2
Explorer SE
E-Trac
Spectra V-3
F75 LTD
Omega-8000

Personally, I don't mind owning a few more detectors than some people are comfortable with, but long ago I settled on a simple decision process of "Keep/Don't Keep" and it goes something like this:

Sovereign GT... I have owned an original Sovereign, an XS, a couple (3) of the XS 2aPros, an Elite and a GT. Some w/o meters, some with the stad. display and a couple that were 180 modified. Of them all I liked the XS 2aPro the best of them with the 180 display, but while they worked for some uses for Me, I didn't like the weight and balance, they weren't that useful overall, and I often grabbed something else first. I sold or traded them all.

Tejon... I was a dealer and got my 1st Tej

 

[earthmansurfer]

I really like my Omega as a coin machine. If I was going to relic hunt then I wouldn't have sold my T2. I can see how it hits on musketballs so much better than my Omega, especially when they are deeper than 3" or so. I do wish it got 2" - 3" more depth for those places where I know there are some deeper coins and for when I hit spots (small) with less iron. I guess you can use your Etrac or V3 there, as they should get you 2" more + I would think. I would also like more adjust-ability (why can't they put a slow or fast filter switch on it for more depth?). I do like fiddling with controls and checking targets in d4 mode isn't what I'm after. These things said, I think the Omega is damn near the best unit for pure coin shooting, it just produces. I might not get the depth of a top unit, but below 9" I think most of us could keep up with any other unit, the machine just performs so damn well.

I think the G2 combined with the Omega would be a great way to go. The G2 should do well on jewelery and low conductors. Again, it would depend on what you hunt. I am just after coins, so the best coin machine is what I'm after. I can't see me selling the Omega any time soon, even if I get an XP Deus or V3i.

Your E-Trac is nice cause you can program it, like the V3. I think those detectors serve a different function in a way. They appease our cerebral part of hunting with their complexity and flexibility. I guess after you get better at the V3 then decide between it and the E-trac. But, remember this, that V3 has an awfully powerful arm process and I believe they will come out with updates that most detectors will not be able to handle. For example, I think it has the power to search in 3 frequencies and then find which frequency hits best (on fringe targets) and then automatically switch to that frequency to bring it out of the depths. I was thinking of this the other day, having an open hardware platform and software based O.S. like the V3 means good things are going to come. (Especially since it's not selling that well, they got to attract more people imo.)

Anyway, I do agree with other posters that you should narrow your arsenal down as it's just going to make you a better hunter. And it will give you more time to learn that V3i.

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

Wow you really need help on this...well I would sell the T2 and get the new G2 if you are a relic hunter the G2 does better at relic hunting then my LTD. I have the omega also and the DD coils work on the G2. I would have to keep my LTD and the 8000 and the G2 becasue when you are hunting history sometimes you need all the help you can get. If it was just two units I would keep the LTD and the G2.

 

[jbow]

I've sold the SE.

Going to sell the LTD and V3 next then take stock.

I am interested in another Tesoro. I like the Tejon but have no experience with any other Tesoro exept the Cortes which I didn't care for and sold. I've been thinking about trying a Compadre but I wonder if it would do anything that the Tejon doesn't already do... i'd open it up and play with the pots for sure.

The only place I really use the GT is at Florida beaches. I chestmount it and it works well... but I don't know, I think the T2 works as well in the fry sand and I want to get a waterproof PI machine before the next trip down there. So I may sell the GT, but it was my first detector and I have a sentimental attachment to it (I do have a detector from the '60s but I don't couunt that).

I've been thinking about trying something with an analog meter like the 6000 xl pro if I can find a good deal on one.

I was thinking that the Tejon was the hottest, deepest Tesoro... what others should I look at. I can't help but notice all the finds people make with the Cibola but maybe that is because a lot of people have it because of it's price.

Anyway, the GT may go too.

For now I am keeping the O8K, E-TRAC, Tejon, and T2 and getting a G2... then I will consider if I need the Tejon or not. I am thinking that the G2 will make it obsolete for me. The ET unmasks targets better than anything else for me.

I may have asked you before but I wonder if you could tell me about your favorite Tesoro machines and why.


Thanks,

Julien