MichiganJason, here are my answers to a post I wasn't able to reply to before.

[Monte]

I don't see any issue with your inquiry before, and don't think anyone should be shy about stating what they do or do not like about certain detectors. There is no such thing as a 'perfect' detector, so we need to simply evaluate all of their good and bad points. Most of us also have, or have had, or have used, other makes and models and it's just fair to compare with them, too. You can fairly compare without bashing.

Monte, I THINK that maybe people give you a little guff because you only ever seem to praise detectors that you sell. Which is fine, I would promote my line as well if I was a dealer.

Not true, and also not true that I praise everything about other brands and fault this one. Keep in mind that I sell quality-built used detectors that I acquire via a trade-in or an out-right purchase. Seldom do I take in a model other than select White's and Tesoro models. Sometimes some others, if the price is right, but I have to stand behind any detector, new or used, that I ell, just like any detector owner. We like them or we don't, and I mainly look for models that are going to serve the consumer best for certain types of hunting. Maybe I should also say that I do not want to promote a model that has too many negatives against it.

Most of my preferred detecting, as well as those who I hunt with the most, is in out-of-town locations. Places where dealing with a lot of ugly trash is necessary, and that's most often being able to handle dense iron nail infestations! The same applies to urban renovation sites. I was a very active Tesoro user and Tesoro Dealer most of the time from 1983 thru 2004. Why? Because most Tesoro's did a pretty decent job in a dense iron nail environment. I credit Tesoro models, especially my favorites, for the bulk of my good finds from my favorite ghost towns in Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and Oregon during the '83 thru '94 period, and then I used both a Tesoro or two and a White's Classic model since then because they work great in dense iron nail trash. Better than most other models made, and that includes most current-production units from most Tesoro competitors.

However, it may also be misleading as nobody who sells a particular product are going to broadcast it's negatives.

Sadly, you are correct, and that applies to many Tesoro Dealers as well. Many Dealers will either not want to say anything negative, even if it is true, that might hurt a sale, and even more often I know of many dealer who just don't really know metal detectors in general (strengths or weaknesses) and use them enough to have a clue of the goods and bads, and that applies to remaining dealers in the Tesoro camp.

Not me. I stock only what I would personally use and/or sell to others who might have a sincere need for it. As for negatives, they have them and I don't hesitate to mention it because, as I all too often state, there is no 'perfect' metal detector made.

I personally enjoy reading your informative posts.

'Thank You.' I try to be informative, even if a bit long-winded for some.

I was just curious though, is there anything in the Whites/Tekentics line that you don't like/promote?

As a matter-of-fact, yes, there is. Where would you like to start?

Okay, here are few. I find the Teknetics T2 to be too noisy for too many users in the metro areas due to EMI. I don't care for the fact that the T2 only uses DD coils, and there isn't the best factory-produced coil selection for it. I do like some of the adjustment features on the T2, but not the mos multi-tone selection, and the TID doesn't 'lock-on' very well on mid-depth targets compared with their own Omega or Gamma in most urban hunting I have witnessed.

I like the Tek. Omega the best of all their line-up, but .... It can get very noisy real easy in some EMI challenged environments and that bothers many users. It has a great automated Ground Balance and manual Ground Balance, but the Discriminate mode, on it and the Gamma, do not adjust down to a true 'Zero' setting to accept all metals and hit on a coin under my 'Homestead' rock. Models that DO include the Tesoro Compadre, Eldorado

 

[The Magician]

Very interesting Monte,

I have been looking into the Teknetics Omega, perhaps the T2 and the Tejon, as a possible next detector. Is there any detector out there that can pick up silver coins better than the minelabs?

 

[SpiritRelic]

Everyone that has a tesoro wants to just be old school.They want to, by hand with a knob,get that groundbalace just right.We are becoming a digital world.What a nice pleasure to tune in a old school tesoro with a control knob and not a touch pad switch though a digital menu.You can just feel a Tesoro.A lot of detectorist are discovering this.Even though most have the latest and greatest digital metal detector they still want and use a Tesoro.It seems these older type analog detectors keeps such great sensitivity and depth.I really believe some of this is lost in the circuits of these high end digital detectors.But all metal detector makers will suffer when one comes out looking like a iphone.That's all it would take.Then you will want a Tesoro.

 

[MichiganJason]

Another nice read. Thank you for responding.

 

[Monte]

Very interesting Monte,

I have been looking into the Teknetics Omega, perhaps the T2 and the Tejon, as a possible next detector. Is there any detector out there that can pick up silver coins better than the minelabs?

Well, I worked on a rather lengthy response, off-and-on, for the past two hours. Then I hit an errant key and ... Zap! It was gone. So, I will keep this shorter and simple.

Yes, there are many detectors that can help you find silver coins (and other more dated coins) than any of the Minelab models. I am saying the Minelab's are not good? No, of course not. I will say, however, after personally owning 3 Explorer XS and 5 Explorer II's and an Explorer SE Pro, that none of them are for me. I don't like them for their weight an balance, I don't like the performance for ME and where I like to hunt. I have a few friends who like them a lot, for certain types of sites, but I know far more people who have them, or have had them, who just hate them a lot or are just not satisfied with them.

Of the three models you mention, the Teknetics T2, Omega, and Tesoro Tej

 

[DigDugNY]

I'm still trying to stay strong with my Vaquero...the finds are starting to come little by little and learning it has been a process even though its been almost 2 years. I go from wondering if the DISC is making me lose enough depth to where it could be a problem to putting it in All metal and wanting to dig everything and it becomes a hassle...I did recently buy a Whites Eagle Spectrum off a friend for cheap and even though its old, it might be my silver finder.

 

[SpiritRelic]

Bobby the disc being set higher on the vaq is no problem.Even with the disc set on tab you got plenty of depth to nail any silver coin you come across.The vaq will hit the coin better in disc than all metal.

 

[The Magician]

Thanks Monte, especially for taking the time. I have also been reading your posts at that arhps hangout. The MXT Pro is in my sights now, I'm considering it now due to it having such a good coil. I LOVE large concentrics, they do just about everything.

So now it's the MXT Pro or Omega, depends if I really do need an alternative. Will need to use my Golden more with the big coils.

 

[Monte]

Everyone that has a tesoro wants to just be old school.

How about, a lot of people who learn some of Tesoro's strengths like to use that "old school" (analog) performance for a good share of their detecting. Not everyone knows what "old school" might be, and actually I know some of us who feel it really applies more to the 'traditional' TR and TR-Disc. models, not the modern ground-handling units.

They want to, by hand with a knob, get that groundbalace just right.

My VX3 has touch-pads to make the adjustments and it is almost fully digital in operation. The Omega is close to that as well, but has two knobs. My MXT Pro (and the M6) is more of an analog/digital blend. It has three touch-pads added from the original MXT, but those are simply t turn on a Backligt, activate the momentary Ground Grab to update the Ground Balance, and one for the Audio Tone selection in the various search modes. Threshold, Sensitivity, and Discrimination are all adjusted by knobs, which I personally prefer because it lets the operator 'fine tune' the settings.

Sadly, too many Tesoro's don't have manual Ground Balance controls, and with many of them, the Ground Balance needs to be set somewhat negative in the All Metal mode in order o get peak performance out of the motion Discriminate mode. I a referring t units like the Bandido series, Pantera and others. Besides, in this modern era of newcomers to the hobby, let's say over the past twenty to twenty-five years, way too many of them use a preset model and haven't got a clue what Ground Balance is.

We are becoming a digital world.What a nice pleasure to tune in a old school tesoro with a control knob and not a touch pad switch though a digital menu.

That's part of the reason I still like the Bandido II