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Detector Purchase

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:25 am
by kelboy
Hi,
Just after the thoughts of seasoned Detectorists if I may. I've read, read and more read, and soon I'll be buying my first machine, have been looking at the Garrett Ace 250 and then my thinking was to upgrade later to maybe the AT Pro.
my question is, is it best to start with a machine, learn as much as you possibly can about its capabilities,nuances etc then when you're ready upgrade to a higher spec machine,then learn all about the capabilities of this new machine, or get the better machine first, learn all you can about this machine and not have to upgrade.
I presume it's maybe individual taste and come down to what individuals can afford at the time, but was just wondering what most of you did when you first started.
Cheers
Kev

Re: Detector Purchase

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 10:10 am
by Donnydave
kelboy wrote:Hi,
Just after the thoughts of seasoned Detectorists if I may. I've read, read and more read, and soon I'll be buying my first machine, have been looking at the Garrett Ace 250 and then my thinking was to upgrade later to maybe the AT Pro.
my question is, is it best to start with a machine, learn as much as you possibly can about its capabilities,nuances etc then when you're ready upgrade to a higher spec machine,then learn all about the capabilities of this new machine, or get the better machine first, learn all you can about this machine and not have to upgrade.
I presume it's maybe individual taste and come down to what individuals can afford at the time, but was just wondering what most of you did when you first started.
Cheers
Kev
Your dead right there ? its up to individual taste, but mainly learn by your mistakes. When I first started years ago there was not much choice and bought the first machine(new) that I first saw, a cscope. I then decided to get back into detecting when a friend got me some local farmland, and like an idiot I bought the cheapest machine because it was given a review in one of the detecting mags, what a load of crap that was :g44: the machine and the review :g58: I then bought on credit another c-scope a much more modern machine and it worked because I found my first hammered coin a Scottish cut half. But I still was not satisfied and I went through Garretts, Minelabs,good machines but too heavy, XP,s you name it and I still was not satisfied, something was missing :g43: Then a freind who invited me onto his permission who I met on this forum lent me one of his machines, and I knew instantly this is the machine I have been looking for. And I went out and bought a brand new one off Crawfords in Scunthorpe. I never looked back from that day :g50: you can look through my past posts on here :g58: the amount, the quality and the variation of finds this machine found on every trip out. After 6 years of almost daily use I got rid of my Teknetics T2 and bought the Deus, and I have always said I prefered the T2, the Deus is good and it is light, but I bought another T2 for a back up machine but never used it, until this past weekend I gave it a try and I am hooked on my T2 again :g58: I bought the T2 hardly used for £250 and its money well spent, I have just bought a used Minelab X Terra 50 for £160 I probably will never use it but it will be in my boot to loan out to anyone in need or a family member that wants to tag along :g58: I hope this long winded tale helps with your choice :g42:

Re: Detector Purchase

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 12:59 pm
by dig-it-pete
Good write up Dave - is the T2 much heavier than the Deus, having never used one. I know one chap at our club that has gone back to a T2 after having a Deus but not sure if he is actually finding any more than he did with his Deus, I will ask him next time I see him?

I would say that a T2 would be a good machine to start with then but as you say Dave it is all down to personal choice and what you can afford.

Re: Detector Purchase

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 2:09 pm
by Donnydave
dig-it-pete wrote:Good write up Dave - is the T2 much heavier than the Deus, having never used one. I know one chap at our club that has gone back to a T2 after having a Deus but not sure if he is actually finding any more than he did with his Deus, I will ask him next time I see him?

I would say that a T2 would be a good machine to start with then but as you say Dave it is all down to personal choice and what you can afford.
It is heavier but not by a lot, My Deus with the 11" coil weighs just over a kilo my T2 with standard coil weighs approx 1-3/4 kilos, the T2 is well balanced and the trick is to extend the stem so you are standing up dead straight without stooping and it can be swung for long periods with no problem. I slipped up by buying a Minelab Explorer and tried persevering with it although I knew it was causing me shoulder problems, and then after that even the T2 was hard work. I have had no problems at all since using the Deus, as you know yourself they are feather light :g58:

Re: Detector Purchase

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:47 pm
by dig-it-pete
Donnydave wrote:
dig-it-pete wrote:Good write up Dave - is the T2 much heavier than the Deus, having never used one. I know one chap at our club that has gone back to a T2 after having a Deus but not sure if he is actually finding any more than he did with his Deus, I will ask him next time I see him?

I would say that a T2 would be a good machine to start with then but as you say Dave it is all down to personal choice and what you can afford.
It is heavier but not by a lot, My Deus with the 11" coil weighs just over a kilo my T2 with standard coil weighs approx 1-3/4 kilos, the T2 is well balanced and the trick is to extend the stem so you are standing up dead straight without stooping and it can be swung for long periods with no problem. I slipped up by buying a Minelab Explorer and tried persevering with it although I knew it was causing me shoulder problems, and then after that even the T2 was hard work. I have had no problems at all since using the Deus, as you know yourself they are feather light :g58:
Cheers Dave - thanks for the info.

Re: Detector Purchase

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:48 pm
by littleboot
In answer to your original question....As long as your first machine is a capable machine (and the Garrett is) then I would say learn that machine thoroughly before you upgrade.
There is much more to detecting that simply the model and spec of the machine. You are the other half of the equation. It is important to really understand how to get the best out of your kit and that takes practice. It is much easier to get to the bottom of how a mid-range machine works and how the controls affect onE another. How it suits the different land you have.
It isn't time wasted. It means that when you decide to go for something that (in theory :g62: ) is an upgrade you will know what features you want, what weight, what you really need. Rather than simply going by the latest reviews ....always gushing about the latest machine.....or other people like myself who are biased by their own experience and may have completely different requirements.

I have seen lots of people wielding high spec machines....both in the flesh and on Youtube. And often I have blinked at the settings they are using and how they use it. I use a GMP.....and the amount of times I have seen people on Youtube with the Sensitivity in the Red Zone boggles my mind. No wonder their vids often comprise of nothing but big bang targets.

So my advice is get a mid range capable machine and get out there and see what it brings you. If you do upgrade it will be with the benefit of experience and you will either have a machine to sell that will have held quite a lot of its value or you can keep it and you will have a good back-up machine you already use with confidence.

Re: Detector Purchase

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:16 pm
by IronRon
Good advice...
In the forty odd years I have been detecting ...I have onley owned four machines. Five if you count an old BFO. I was given. in the late sixties. some old boy had made it up with parts from the exchange & mart .

I still have three of them . A . C-scope IB 100 my first serious machine.A C -CScope 2MX ..And a lobo Supertraq / ..

But my favourite that I found some of my best bits with .. was an old c-scope TR 200.
Get to know your machine, go slow & low it should become part of you..