Metal Detectors – Old Versus New
Published by Larry on Tagged 1800's Coins, 1900's Coins, Ancient Coins, Instuctional, Metal Detector Training, Relic Finds, Site Areas
As a 40 year treasure finding hobbyist, I have used almost everything out there in the metal detector world. My first detector was a BFO but I also had an army military detector of the tube type. I have owned metal detectors manufactured by more than 15 companies, most of which are no longer in existence. Medeford, Jetco, Relco, Gardiner, Goldak, Metrotech, Heath Kit, Wilson-Newman, were some of my early detectors along with BFO’s by Garrett, White’s, Fisher, Bounty Hunter and others. Technology was limited in the 60′s and 70′s but silver and gold abounded and finding thousands of coins and relics each year was very easy. Technology improved dramatically in the 80′s and VLF/TR instruments could go deeper and provide ground control/sensitivity options with both all metal and motion configurations that made the 80′s a super treasure finding era. My lowest coin find year in the 80′s was over 3,600 and my high was more than 8,500. I was working full time as a teacher/counselor, had a night school job and put in 20-40 hours a week working in various ministry capacities with my church and still found more than 50,000 coins with more than 7,000 being silver. Not bad for a very busy fellow.
What made that time frame so productive was great research and some powerful, now deemed vintage, metal detectors. My favorite of all time is the Fisher 1260. Not far behind it is the Garrett Master Hunter 7 & 10 units and White’s 6000 Series 2 & 3. The Compass Relic Magnum 7, the Bounty Hunter Red Barons, and Tesoro Silver Sabre were also productive units for my coin shooting. The Fisher 1280 and CZ 20 were my best water machines during that time frame and produced more than 200 gold rings in the 80′s. I continued using this same technology through most of the 90′s finding about 40,000 coins and another 200 gold rings. I would probably not have changed the technology I was so successful with, but I developed a major neurological challenge called Hereditary Spastic Parapelegia in 1994. This is a gait disease and has caused me to change to lighter, high tech machines and to concentrate on water hunting where walking/diving are easier on me. I refuse to let this challenge take away my favorite pastime/hobby! I am just not able to hunt long periods of time with my old favorites and have sold most of them on ebay and made the shift to the newer technology. I feel that I am able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of old vintage as well as the newer digital machines.
My first years of using TR-only detectors (Transmitter-Receiver) were marked with a great deal of success because I hunted in some areas with high-iron trash accumulations. These detectors were very quick in response and ignored iron targets. I worked around railroad grounds that were easier to hunt with TR detectors than any other type. I still use a high frequency TR when I go back to those areas. In the later seventies the VLF/TR instruments gave the capability of going a little deeper and to ground cancel also. The vast majority of these instruments required motion for the ground cancel operation and were non-motion in the discrimate mode. Many of the machines that came after this type reqired a large learning curve to master their full capabilities. Many detector users dropped out of the hobby because it took so much time and effort to effectively operate these vintage detectors, particurlarly the upper level detectors of most major companies. This led me to recommend most newbies to the hobby to start off with quality lower-level/cost equipment in getting started. My favorite machines to recommend then were the Fisher 1210, 1212x and the Tesoro Silver Sabre. These and others had excellent depth and required very little time in getting to know or learn their operation and allow the user to quickly meet with success in finding good targets. Today, I would recommend the Fisher F2 or the Garrett 150 or 250 Aces. These take a small learning curve and are dynamite new high tech instruments that sell for $150 to $250.
The differences between the old vintage machines and the new modern detectors is more a matter of preference. The newer machines will give a little more depth and provide more user info but the older TR’s allow better detection of a good target near a rejected target and will outperform newer machines in working in areas with high junk iron content. In other words there are times and situations where new will outperform old and vise versa.
Which detector type should you use today? I personally still prefer the vintage analog detectors, but you can spend more money for the state-of-the-art new detectors and in many cases come out a winner. There are millions of good targets going into the ground each year and I am thoroughly convinced that there are more masked targets from previous centuries than the combined total of all targets that have been recovered. Here’s to “diggin it”! Larry
August 13th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Cool. Come by and hypnotize yourself if you please
August 15th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Great info, Larry! What would you recommend as a coin hunting machine (vintage and new) for highly mineralized ground? I am not a novice. Regards, John
August 15th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
John,
The Minelab Soveriegn both vintage and newer models are exceptional for mineralized ground coinshooting. The Aussie’s do it right on ground adjustment. I have used the Fisher 1200, 1265 & 1266 in some rough soil and done fairly well too. The dual discriminators, sensitivity control, and pinpointing controls have enabled me to work some very tough ground conditions.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Thanks for all the help, Larry! I know you mentioned using vintage TRs for trashy areas. Which newer detector could you recommend for high trash areas? Thanks! John
September 10th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
John,
The Minelab Sovereign is especially good in trashy areas.
Both the older and newest versions are great.
Larry
September 10th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Thanks, Larry! I also thought of this unit also, but there is some contradictory information on the internet. In particular, watch this link to a YouTube video of the field test. Especially the recovery test at the end of the video. The dectorist, Norfolk Wolf, mentions in the beginning of the video that the Sovereign is not so good in trashy areas??? But he praises it for its depth capabilities!
Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odhpMMNfslQ
Please tell me what you think of this. Regards, John
November 7th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I have always liked the Garrett, Whites and Fisher analog detectors from the mid 1980′s but some people have issues with the older technology and electronics “fatigue”.
Should this be a reason to stay away from older detectors?
November 13th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Russ,
I still use the older mid 80′s technology and do as well if not better in certain type sites, than with the new technology. Some of the newer machines take a hugh learning curve to master . I’ll take a fisher 1220 or 1260 against almost any machine and my Fisher CZ20, purchased in 89 still is the Caddilac of all water machines.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Hi Larry,
I started out with a Compass Magnum 340 and upgraded to a Fisher 1266X a few years later, and stll use it till this day.
I would like to get one with VID and tone ID to help me decide whether to dig or not and also help notch out junk items, but my old machine still keeps up with the newer machines out in the field.
A lot of my friends are using Minelabs now and that’s what I’m leaning towards. Maybe the ETRAC
Mike
February 24th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Mike,
I will put the 1266X up against nearly any new technology. Minelab makes some great units but I have had more breakdowns with them than all other units combined. I have to say this with a smile though. I had to have to different top of the line Minelab’s repaired and the only a fisher 552 VLF back in the 70′s. Forty years, more than 50 instruments and only three repair situations. Not a bad track record for the hobby. I will put the Fisher 1200′s, Garrett Deepseeker MH7′s and White’s 5900 & 6000 Series 2&3 against about any of the VDI units for overall performance.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 am
Hi:
I am new to metal detectors. I recently bought a used Garett Treasure Ace 250 and have been haveing a blast. Not finding anything worth much but its fun. My question for all the old timers is this. At a recent auction i bought a vintage Fisher M80 w/ a Fisher M-Scope(ISOCON Waterproof Head). I wanted to try it but not sure how to work it. The only dials it has is Volume and balance. Can anyone tell me how to set it up. Or is it a waste of my time playing with it?
tks
Charly from Indiana.
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Charly,
I owned a Fisher M80 back in the early 70′s. Your Garrett will outperform this vintage machine in almost all situations. I love Fisher metal detectors but this one has no bells and whistles and is not as sensitive as most Fisher detectors of that era. The VLF detectors that came along shortly afterwards far outstripped the M80. I would consider this detector a museum relic. I can still picture the unit ‘s meter and bullseyecenter on the coil.
Larry
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Hey Larry tks for that reply, I kindof figured it would not be as good as my Garrett. But Fisher is a top-line brand and I searched all over online and couldn’t find any info on the M80, so I ask here when I found this site….
So I take it the only use for my M80 is being a collectible. My dad sells online maybe I should see if he can sell it, never know some colletor out there might want it. Then again they may not…
Well, its a nice day here in Indiana, think I will go look for some treasure/trash…..Mainly I find trash but you never know….
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I just grabed my detector and realized I made a typo error in my first post. I don’t have a Garett Treasure Ace 250, I have the Garett Treasure Ace 300. Which is by far not as good as the 250, from what I have read. Sorry bought that error.
One day I may save up enough to get a 250, but for now the 300 will have to do.
April 24th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Charly,
The 300 is a good basic machine too. I have owned and sold several. The sniper coil works well with this unit and I have found lots of goodies with the Ace 300 and the 4 1/2 inch coil working trashy areas. It is not quite as deep as the 250 but you should do well with it. Work slowly and overlap your swing and make sure you use a good headset.
Larry
April 25th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Larry said:
Work slowly and overlap your swing and make sure you use a good headset
It took me a while to learn how to use it, I was lost at first. I try to pinpiont where to dig by making a X with my sweeps. But I am hard of hearing. I tried useing a headset, but the beeps sounded the same as with no headset. And with the headset I could hardly hear. To me I can’t see any differance between the beeps from the detector and listening with a headset. maybe its because I am not seasoned or pay attention enough. Or it could be just a junk set of headphones(Superex Electronic Corp model AP-S).
I been looking hard on ebay for a Ace 250. Looks like I can get one for around $212(less if used),$260 with the extra coil. Then I would have dad sell my 300 and what they been selling for I would do ok.
Anyway, I’ve got the detector itch….Never had one before. Its not what I find, its the anticipation of not knowing whats under the dirt that makes it fun…Found my first ring yesterday, it was junk but I got excited when I found it…It was in the park right next to a volleyball net…Most of what I find is chewed up pieces of pop can, tabs, and pennies…
Well, its late and I talk to much. Tks again for all your help Larry….Time to hit the sack…
August 25th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Nice article…..Thanks for taking the time to write it.