Man or machine?

[Cash1977]

I'm sure there is a difference between a $50 and $700 machine, but is it really the man or machine that makes the difference in detecting?

[majakldragon]

From what I read on the reviews, the more expensive machines do detect targets deeper and some have simplified readouts and underwater ability. When its all said and done they all do the same thing. You can have a $5K machine and if you don't know how to use it to its fullest its no better than the $50 machine. You need to learn your machine, learn its sounds, learn its idiosyncrasies, and everything else about it. In my opinion its the operator and not the machine in most areas. If it was super easy, there would be no fun and excitement in the finds.
Andi

[Buster]

I would say that it is how well you know your machine and what it can do,....Ones that cost a lot of money are not worth it if you don't know how to run them...It takes time and practice to be able to understand any machine...I know that the people with the ACE and the Whites Prizm series find a lot of stuff..good stuff too...These are good machines and prove it every time they go out.There are others, but I know about these 2 the best....I use a Whites XLT and I still learn things about it to this day. Yes I have found some good stuff, but I had to learn my machine and that took some time and practice....Hope this helps some...Buster...

[Lt1stone]

I think its a combination of both!

[portraitartist]

In my opinion, depth is the only real diff between high $ and low $ machines... I've found some fantastic things with my ol' BH... but I've also found a ton of really fantastic things with my '66 that I would've missed with the BH for no other reason than depth...

When it comes down to it, they all do the same thing, but in diff ways... and yes, some go deeper, but that's not always the rub...

Like Chevy Chase says in Caddyshack, "Danny you have to BE the detector... na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-..." LOL

[ERnurse]

If I was a bettin man, and I'm not. I would put my money on a long time detectorist and his $50.00 machine, rather the someone with a shiney new $1200.00 machine who is just starting out, everytime. Now my Grandfather used to say that "Even a blind sow will find an acorn sometimes, but I base success on consistancy." All's I'm saying is, practice, pactice, and more practice, until you learn your machine, no matter what kind, or how much is was, until you feel that machine talking to you. And yes, that sounds weird, but you will get to a point where you will know what I mean. I'm still learning my Ace 250 so I dig alot of trash right now. My White's Prizm that I was used too, told me most of the time exactly what was in the ground, therefore I didn't dig as much trash. So hang in there. Don't worry about all those new fangle machines that you have to sell a child to get, that look deep enough to measure the earths core temp. Cause I'll tell you a little secret, shhh, just between us, Most good stuff is only 6 inches or less under ground, so all that depth is just extra money you are spending. Why do you think You find 4000 year old arrow heads lying on top of the ground after a plow runs over them. That plow doesn't go any deeper that you "cheap" detector.

[Hank McMauser]

There is something to be said about learning your detector. I'm swinging a 20 yr+ old whites,and after a couple of months,Its almost as if it's an extension of your arm&ears you learn to understand what it's telling you,you can tell when it has a strong signalbut it's being discriminated out due to the scratchiness of the sound,you can feel a quarter hit,the tone is so loud and clear. occasionally you get a surprise when you think youre diggin a penny or dime and it turns out to be a corona top. the fresh ones that havent begun to rust much give a pretty clear signal,the more they spread rust intop the surrounding soil the "scratchier" they get.
All in all,learn to feel what the machine is tellin ya' it doesn't happen over night,dig everything,and remeber if ya want to find the gold be sure to not discriminate out the pulltabs.
Hank

[MinelabMan]

Originally Posted by sarge1stone

I think its a combination of both!

Ditto!

[bdahunter]

Check out E-Bay for all of the gently used high end detectors for sale. This is the 'more power theory' gone wrong. A guy reads about buried treasure, buys a high powered detector, never learns it properly and more importantly where to hunt with it, sells detector on E-Bay. You have to have a passion for this hobby, a need to seek and find, some people have it and some don't.
A quality machine is a big helps but it's useless without the will to get out and seek.

Cheers,

BDA

[bill(de)]

For a couple years i was floundering around hunting with a Fisher 1236x2 and a CZ5 and was doing ok but i met up with a guy named Joe with an XLT from a local detecting club and after observing and listening to this man of few words but lots of wisdom my entire outlook did a complete 180 and learning the basics of detecting became an obsession and also expensive to say the least as i bought, tried and traded 24 detectors over the next few years and discovered for myself that most detectors are variations of the same theme and only after we understand the basics of detecting can a detector make that big a difference in better finds, Especially under difficult conditions.

So i go for the experience of the man choosing and understanding the proper detector for the intended purpose Thanks JOE. HH Bill