Garrett GTI2500 or Whites DFX ???

[Johnnytuinalf66s]

I am looking for some imput on the Garrett gti2500 and the whites dfx.
I will be useing these detectors at the beach,Parks and old houses in the Poconos and MAYBE take it with me when I go to nothern Calif every 2 years while i am out there on vacation looking for gold nuggets. for a few days.
I know with the DFX it has a program for gold and maybe put a small coil on it maybe it will be a fine machine for them small nuggets.
But then again the Garretts GTI2500 has a all metal mode and put a small coil on that and that also should be good at detecting those small nuggets also.
I feel garretts has not put out a high quility detector in a long time and the whites is only a few years old.
I would hate to buy something and in the spring they might come out with something better,they are long over due????
And now Garretts sells their detectors in Sporting good stores like Dicks and the Sports athourity,that can leave a bad taste in my mouth buying something like this from a big chain..JT

 

[John-Edmonton]

It's about time that a decent detector is available in sport stores instead of those cheap knockoffs. My first metal detector was a $100.00 piece of poor technology from a well known electronics store and the discrimination didn't work at all. It was "Junk". Had it not been for a friend who showed me what his Garrett ADS Model could do, I would have never gotten into this wonderful hobby. And if a good company sells a lot of detectors, they can back-up their warranty, pay decent wages, put more $$$ into research and development and make good quality machines. Selling lots of detectors be it through stores, dealers etc. is a win/win situation for everyone.

Just thought I'd post a different point of view.....Good luck with whatever machine you purchase. They are both great machines and will serve you well. But only the GTI 2500 will give you the size of a target. However, you still have to decide what you want to dig.

 

[DavHut]

I gotta agree with John on this one. Anywhere you can get a Garret is a good place by me. The outlet is of no matter when you have a company like Garrett behind it.

As for Garrett not turning out a good machine in a while - well, just where exactly HAVE you been living? I know alot of folks think Garretts are less than serious. I used to be one. Was I ever wrong.

DFX or 2500 for nugget hunting? Didn't you ask this one before, not long ago?. Bill did an enlightening little test on the 2500 with some grain sized nuggets/lead bits, I think I saved it...lemme check in my files...yep, here it is in text form:

My GTI 2000 Gold findin' mini-test results.

Okay folks, this is mostly a copy 'n paste from another forum I posted on; it takes forever for me to type stuff out and I just couldn't get up the energy to do it again.

Couldn't find my 1 grain test nugget, so had to shave off some lead. The bigger piece of lead is a bit over a grain. To start it off, the GTI would only pick up the smallest piece if it was rubbed on the coil.. not bad for something that's sub-grain. Unfortunately, gold doesn't tend to wander up to my coils and get all snuggly: more's the pity.

The second piece gave off a much stronger signal and could be detected at about 3/4" when lying on the ground. The ground I tested on was pretty mild (for here), reading at 80 on the GMT. It seems that the GTI tracks a bit negative & that reduced the signal strength somewhat. Putting it in manual mode & GB'ing it a bit positive really enhanced the signal. The ground tracking was also pretty good re. not tracking out such a small target.

I tried to do so by having it on it's fastest setting and bobbing the coil over it.. it didn't track out. I could, however get it to track out a hot rock. Anything more than 1/4" of dirt & the signal was gone. With the gold nugget I could still pick it up when buried about 3/4". One thing of note is that, having a slowish autotune, the GTI should be swept slowly in AM mode. This allows a person to distinguish between noise (mineralization, electrical, etc.) and a good signal.

Contrasting the GTI with my GMT showed some interesting differences & parallels. They both exhibited somewhat noisy operation, though it was a bit easier to distinguish with the GMT; probably because it's a familiar machine to me. The GMT also was able to give strong & distinct signals on all the targets, at greater distances, but this is only to be expected. The GMT is a hard core nuggetshooter, with incredible amounts of gain and a very aggresive ground tracking system.

The GTI proved to be surprisingly capable as a nuggethunter and, while not in a position to outshine a dedicated gold detector, I wouldn't hesitate to use one if it was what I had available. In many ways it reminds me of the Scorpion Gold Stinger I had a few years back.

One other finding of note: as expected, the stock coil lost it's extreme sensitivity when the nugget was laid on the ground, therefore the 5x10" elliptical was used. This is not to say that the stock coil is garbage, it just can't handle the mineralization & be as hypersensitive as the DD."

Now, I cant say anything about the DFX, but if Bill likes the GTI as a make-do nuggetshoooter, then that's good enough for me. If it was ME, I'd get a GTP 1350 for general use and a Scorpion Gold Stinger for nuggetshooting as well as general use, since it will do both.

DAvid

 

[willy]

Hey! Hey! It's good to see that someone is actually reading my posts and, on top of that, sees some value in at least one of them. I often get a bit of flack 'cause my results don't bear out those of others (the Minelab boys must hate me). Regarding the Gold Stinger, I bought a used one & cut a rectangular hole in the case over the batteries. I then made a plastic "guard" to keep them from moving around & put small springs on the battery terminals. This way the 3 9v batts could be just dropped in and a cover (velcro & wingnut) held them in. Aside from that problem, it's a hell of a detector & as deep as anything out there. It would be nice to see it become a bit more modernized. ...Willy.

 

[Johnnytuinalf66s]

Thanksssss for yea reply,,,,I want to get a GTI or DFX by the end of winter because i will be in northern calif for a few days in July.
And it might take me another year or 2 before I go back to Calif again so thats why i ratter geta GTI2500 or a DFX so I can enjoy detecting on the northeast coast..........Yea know when yea have a choise between the Whites DFX and the Garrett GTI2500 its kinda hard because you are spending lots of money...Thanks JohnnyT

 

[DavHut]

One of the nice things about the SGS is that it has features that seem to boggle most folks, thus they seem to little utilize all it offers. I guess most are used to the Fisher or Whites models, but when you find one used they seem to go for little money.

I have fancied one for awhile and since a fool and his money are soon parted, I will likely end up with one eventually. I saved your posts, including this one, Bill, concerning the SGS.

Now dont let it go to your head, or anything, but someone with as much aged wisdom as you deserves to be listened to.

David

 

[Johnnytuinalf66s]

Yeaaa better off buying from online from one of the good dealers..
Screw the sporting good stores.
They will charge yea shipping and TAX....
Maybe if they have a deal where yea can get 10% off when yea open a credit card maybe then i would think about it....

 

[DavHut]

"Yeaaa better off buying from online from one of the good dealers..
Screw the sporting good stores.
They will charge yea shipping and TAX.... "

Hey Johnny! I like your comments and I think we can get extract even more benefit from them. Allow me to respond?

I wasn't considering a new detector, but when it comes to buying from a big chain, well, you seem to have a certain, shall we say, distaste for them?

Personally, I really dont care where I get a thing from as long as it offers good value for the money Im trading. Whether its a chain store, a "mom and pop" or a private seller, Ill purchase the thing.

If you saw my posts, you'll know I bought a fishing vest from the sporting goods section at WalMart the other day because it offers value. Ive already used it plenty and am happy to have it. Its awesome! I couldve gotten it for a dollar less on ebay, but Id've paid the shipping and sat around waiting. It was as good a value, better, to get it locally.

Now, there are certain overhead costs to running any business, such as building costs, employees, energy, advertising - the state levies taxes, not the store - and those costs are passed on to the consumer. Rightfully so, as every business has but one prime directive:
To be profitable. That is, to make money. This is Business Economics 101.

Beyond that, though, the businesses in your area are there to serve your needs and offer you the goods and services you both need and want with:
1. The convenience of purchasing a thing close to home.
2. Normally, a competitive price.
3. Normally good service, before, during and after the sale.
In return, I can shop around and settle on the place I like the best. Then, I trade my money with them for the goods and services I need. They make a profit and can then stay in business for the future and I get the item(s) or services I want, ad infinitum. Everyone wins. Now, that is real value, in my book.

I wonder, have you had a bad experience of some sort with one of the stores? It's understandable if you have, that you would feel the way you do. Consider this, though. It helps me to keep perspective.

Everyone of those stores is full of people - like you. They have jobs and families and hobbies and want the same things as you:
A warm home.
Decent food and water.
A car.
Enjoyment and pleasure in life.
Etc., etc.,etc.

Could you look THEM in the eye and say: "F*#k this place and anyone who works here!"

If the store wasnt there, where would they go for these things? How about your house, eh? Where would they work? Maybe you could give them a job and pay them. Wadda ya say?

Once your money is spent, it's gone and really, no longer matters. Really. But, on the other hand, the legacy of your buying decision lasts a very long time. Always look for the value in a thing, my friend, no matter where you get it.

David

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah the only problem buying from a store is that they charge full retail price and they have no one there with detecting experience, or knowledge of detectors, to help you out should you get in a bind.

Bill

 

[Johnnytuinalf66s]

David you do have a point and i would love to buy local.
But now adays i ratter buy from a Real Internet Store(not someone who will not send the product}
I feel buying online you will get the best price and no tax...
But with Metal detectors everyones selling them aat the smae price.Garrtett and whites are the same in price.
I called a few Local Detector stores and none carry the GTI2500 or the Whites DFX.(but they can order one for me,No thanks}
I feel how can a local detector store show me the detector when they don't carry the higher priced ones?
I bought a Bounty Hunter Red Baron from JC Pennys from their Xmas catalog in the Mid 80s.And i took about 6 of them back because all looked like they were REFERBS and one was dead {DOA}
And I feel when people start returning the garretts to the big CHAINS maybe the REFERBS will show up again?
And I see that the Big Chains charge the same as the small dealer but the big chains don't give yea the PRO Pack,And some of the small dealer will do the same unless you tell them about the freebees...JT

 

[Johnnytuinalf66s]

Your right Bill they don't know a thing about what a detector looks like lol.
The Garretts are the same price that the little stores sells at,but the big stores don't give yea the Pro Package.....
Thats why I cannot beleave that even the Big Chains cannot sell them cheaper since they are just giving yeaaaa a detector and not a carry case or headphones and extra coil?JT

 

[Uncle Willy]

Because their markup is outrageous and they ain't about to change it. You figure on an $800 machine if their markup is only 40% they are making a profit of around $320. If they buy direct from the factory the markup can be higher. When I used to belong to Tesoro's Writers Club I got all my detectors and equipment from the factory at distributors price - 48% off retail.

Since these big stores don't rely soley on the sale of detectors for their survival they can charge whatever they want as the sales of detectors are just a microcosim of their profits.

Bill

 

[Johnnytuinalf66s]

Uncle Willy I am sure the Big Chains buy their Detectors from the Factory,so they get them much cheaper then the small dealer.JT

 

[Uncle Willy]

Probably so.

Bill

 

[Dick from IA]

Interesting thread and lots of different opinions. I for one support the small, independent dealers, because they are what provided my living and now a comfortable retirement. I was a farm equipment wholesaler, supplying products to independent implement dealers.

I'm ordering an Ace 250 next week from an independent, on-line dealer. He knows who I am, appreciates my business, and I'm not forgotten the day after the sale.

That's my opinion, but to each their own.

Happy New Year Everyone

What I'm not doing tonight is.... I'm gonna be at Detecting Chat www.metaldetcting.info enjoying a fun evening with detectorists from all over the world. Come join us 9:00 PM CST

Dick from IA
A , soon to be Owner

 

[kelly]

I bought my Stinger on line, It came with a lot of goodies, like bag, ,V2 pinpointer,the extra coil I paid for. But all in all I really like my Scorpion Gold Stinger. I have found nuggets with it here in New Mexico.

Kelly

 

[kelly]

Sorry about the double pic, Hi Uncle Willy, How you been? Happy New Year to you.
Kelly
Socorro N.M.

 

[Wirechief]

Hi Willy and thank you for your input on the Gold Stinger. I never hear anything about that model so I'm glad it does work. Yeah that battery deal is the same way on my wifes Freedom Ace. Take care Willy and CU later. de John the Wirechief, CET.

 

[Wirechief]

Hi everyone and I just want to put in my 2 cents. I am a small town metal detector dealer. I am only part time and can't afford to carry the full line of all the brands I deal with. I'm in the middle of nowhere. I do have a website and the Internet I will admit is very convenient. But I really prefer eye to eye business and meeting the potential or regular customer. So I want to do business locally and that way I can be real to customers. I want to be as much help as I can to the buyer. Just 2 cents worth. de John the Wirechief, CET.

 

[Johnnytuinalf66s]

Hummmm most of the local dealers just sell a few of the cheaper detectors but have to order yea a high priced one if you want it...
But metal Detectors are about 1% out of 10,000... with the dealers around here,so i am sure that they don't know much about detectors?
As I said before wait another 5 to 10 years and you will see JC Penney selling the GTI 2500s as referbs....JT