newbie advise please

Let me suggest that you define what you believe you are looking for and what has been typically found where you will be hunting. Both are important. As to weight, remember this. Almost everyone here had gone through a period of time where our obsession with detecting has become nearly manic with some days lasting from sunup to sundown. A heavy machine could result in the amputation of your swinging arm Just kidding of course, but believe me, that extreme fatigue can make you feel as if that is your best option.

Once you determine if you are looking for coins, relics, hoards or a combination, look at the features of the machines you are considering. Forget about depth, ground balance and discrimination. While they can all be important, your use of your machine will make it an integral part of your technique to the point that you will compensate and adjust in your computer (the one between your headphones) and together, man (or woman) and machine will become one. I said woman because you will not be the only one reading this. Your question is a common one.

Even the low cost Tesoro machines with limited features are so well designed that you can hear all the nuances of a target. Play a game and see what I mean. When you finally choose and start using your machine, listen to your target. Detune your machine by holding it near the target and retuning it. The faint sound that results will be unique for every type of target and eventually you can be 99.9% certain what your target really is. Don't take my word for it. Try it.

Depending on where you live, there may be a local detecting club. You should visit them and ask about the various machines and how they work in your locale. You will most likely find someone there willing to take you on one of their excursions and loan you one of their machines. Start searching for a local club on Google and see what you turn up. Their experience almost always results in more help than you can handle.

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Thanks for your sound advice, to be honest one of the reasons i was leaning towards analog machines was for precisely that! so. i could use my brain to listen to the targets. I will have to try re-emailing as i did email a couple of clubs in my local area a few months ago but never got any replies, i will try again.

Thanks

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No shops nearby but will give emailing another go, also i have seen a Tesoro Cortes for sale 2nd hand £270 = $350, i like the sound of the build quality,weight & general reviews of this machine. I haven't come across a Vaquero yet but would seriously consider the Cortes, what do you think? i would appreciate your opinion?
 

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Almost any Tesoro is a fantastic machine for a beginner. As Homefire says, they are "turn on and go" machines. I have a Compadre, a Tiger Shark and a Sand Shark. I never come home skunked. The latter two are waterproof for up to 2 meters so you can snorkel with them.

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