Tesoros

Which of these two Tesoro detectors is the quietest running/most stable running in iron (nails)-----Bandito 2 micro max--or--Outlaw?-----Or is there any real difference in performance in this regard on these two detectors?------I asked this on another forum but didn't get an answer.------Any of you guys used these two detectors in "nail beds"?-----------Del

Del,

I seldom miss an interesting post if it deals with a Nokta or Makro or Tesoro model as those make up my active arsenal. I have owned too many Bandido II µMAX models to count since they came out, and I borrowed a few Outlaw's from a Dealer friend, then bought one to give it a fair try. So, as a loyal Tesoro fan, and having used both models, using the same search coils and hunting side-by-side in the same sites (and you know the types of dense nail and other iron debris sites I deal with), I kept my Bandido II µMAX and dumped the Outlaw.

Their in-the-field performance in nails and similar iron and non-iron trash is about identical, and if anything there was something about the Outlaw's performance that just didn't feel right handling nails. Don't ask me what because I haven't a clue. The Outlaw was based on the Bandido II µMAX, according to Vince, and they each use the ED120 Discriminate circuitry, but .... It worked OK, but of all the microMAX series of models, my two favorites are the Bandido II µMAX, with GB capability, and the Silver sabre µMAX, for "turn-on-and-go" simplicity.

I only own and use the thin-profile 6" Concentric coils I keep on them, as that's my favorite trashy-site hunting coil. Let me just add one closing comment with regard to hunting in "nail beds" and picking a Tesoro model. Of all the microMAX series I own my two favorites, and if I wanted a 3rd but different model from that 'series' it would be the Conquistador µMAX (NOT the original Conquistador w/o the µMAX in the label name as it had glitches).

All of these models have the Low-Noise/High-Gain circuitry and will provide a little louder audio response and get a little better depth of detection for general purpose hunting than most former models. However, I did a lot of side-by-side comparisons with all the Tesoro's I liked when they came out against what I had been using, and in really tough iron debris fields, and I am including other smaller-size iron junk, not nails and not rusty tin, but discarded iron car, truck or tractor parts, the 'original' Bandido and Bandido II are hard to beat!

These two models, that brought the introduction of the ED-120 circuitry with the first Bandido in 1990, might not get the depth, but in nasty iron trash you can't get any depth with the masking iron in the way. I am still looking for another pristine or close-to0-new condition Bandido or Bandido II to put back in my arsenal ... and I already have a 6" Concentric coil on a lower rod just waiting to get one in-hand.

Just thoughts and opinions based on personal experience with Tesoro's for over 33 years now.

Monte

PS: I hope you two are enjoying pleasant weather where you're travelling. Our nice weather is ending, and there could be snow where you live this Wednesday.

PS #2: Other than performance and the 'feel' of the Bandido II µMAX and Outlaw, I also didn't care for the Outlaw's goofy push-button design with the two-position button compared with the logical toggle functions of the Bandido II µMAX. Also didn't like the Outlaw's audio as well as it was just a little 'different.'



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2016 06:25PM by Monte.

Having used a bunch including Tesoro's I find two same units my vary a tad and lets not forget operator ability...Of course Monte is the master and offers good advice...

Monte Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Del,
>
> I seldom miss an interesting post if it deals with
> a Nokta or Makro or Tesoro model as those make up
> my active arsenal. I have owned too many Bandido
> II µMAX models to count since they came out, and
> I borrowed a few Outlaw's from a Dealer friend,
> then bought one to give it a fair try. So, as a
> loyal Tesoro fan, and having used both models,
> using the same search coils and hunting
> side-by-side in the same sites (and you know the
> types of dense nail and other iron debris sites I
> deal with), I kept my Bandido II µMAX and dumped
> the Outlaw.
>
> Their in-the-field performance in nails and
> similar iron and non-iron trash is about
> identical, and if anything there was something
> about the Outlaw's performance that just didn't
> feel right handling nails. Don't ask me what
> because I haven't a clue. The Outlaw was based on
> the Bandido II µMAX, according to Vince, and they
> each use the ED120 Discriminate circuitry, but
> .... It worked OK, but of all the microMAX series
> of models, my two favorites are the Bandido II
> µMAX, with GB capability, and the Silver sabre
> µMAX, for "turn-on-and-go" simplicity.
>
> I only own and use the thin-profile 6" Concentric
> coils I keep on them, as that's my favorite
> trashy-site hunting coil. Let me just add one
> closing comment with regard to hunting in "nail
> beds" and picking a Tesoro model. Of all the
> microMAX series I own my two favorites, and if I
> wanted a 3rd but different model from that
> 'series' it would be the Conquistador µMAX (NOT
> the original Conquistador w/o the µMAX in the
> label name as it had glitches).
>
> All of these models have the Low-Noise/High-Gain
> circuitry and will provide a little louder audio
> response and get a little better depth of
> detection for general purpose hunting than most
> former models. However, I did a lot of
> side-by-side comparisons with all the Tesoro's I
> liked when they came out against what I had been
> using, and in really tough iron debris fields, and
> I am including other smaller-size iron junk, not
> nails and not rusty tin, but discarded iron car,
> truck or tractor parts, the 'original' Bandido and
> Bandido II are hard to beat!
>
> These two models, that brought the introduction of
> the ED-120 circuitry with the first Bandido in
> 1990, might not get the depth, but in nasty iron
> trash you can't get any depth with the masking
> iron in the way. I am still looking for another
> pristine or close-to0-new condition Bandido or
> Bandido II to put back in my arsenal ... and I
> already have a 6" Concentric coil on a lower rod
> just waiting to get one in-hand.
>
> Just thoughts and opinions based on personal
> experience with Tesoro's for over 33 years now.
>
> Monte
>
> PS: I hope you two are enjoying pleasant weather
> where you're travelling. Our nice weather is
> ending, and there could be snow where you live
> this Wednesday.
>
> PS #2: Other than performance and the 'feel' of
> the Bandido II µMAX and Outlaw, I also didn't
> care for the Outlaw's goofy push-button design
> with the two-position button compared with the
> logical toggle functions of the Bandido II µMAX.
> Also didn't like the Outlaw's audio as well as it
> was just a little 'different.'


Thank you for your response Monte.---That is the info I was looking for---especially your first sentence of your second paragraph.-----Yes---Patsy & I are in NV right now--should be in CA in about three days (Lord willing).----We have been taking our time in travel & hunting along the way at selected spots.-----Stay warm up there in OR this winter my friend.----------Del & Patsy

Monte Wrote: "Let me just add one closing comment with regard to hunting in "nail beds" and picking a Tesoro model. Of all the microMAX series I own my two favorites, and if I wanted a 3rd but different model from that 'series' it would be the Conquistador µMAX (NOT the original Conquistador w/o the µMAX in the label name as it had glitches)."

Hi Monte.
I have seen you mention the non µMAX version of the Conquistador and its ground balance shifting when the discrimination is adjusted.
Is this the glitch you mentioned in your reply?
I recently picked one up off craigslist and it does not seem to suffer from this problem.
Was it just some of these pre µMAX models that had this glitch or am I missing something else?
thanks,
Bryan

Let me know if you go though Sacramento!









D&P-OR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Monte Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Del,
> >
> > I seldom miss an interesting post if it deals
> with
> > a Nokta or Makro or Tesoro model as those make
> up
> > my active arsenal. I have owned too many
> Bandido
> > II µMAX models to count since they came out,
> and
> > I borrowed a few Outlaw's from a Dealer friend,
> > then bought one to give it a fair try. So, as
> a
> > loyal Tesoro fan, and having used both models,
> > using the same search coils and hunting
> > side-by-side in the same sites (and you know
> the
> > types of dense nail and other iron debris sites
> I
> > deal with), I kept my Bandido II µMAX and
> dumped
> > the Outlaw.
> >
> > Their in-the-field performance in nails and
> > similar iron and non-iron trash is about
> > identical, and if anything there was something
> > about the Outlaw's performance that just didn't
> > feel right handling nails. Don't ask me what
> > because I haven't a clue. The Outlaw was based
> on
> > the Bandido II µMAX, according to Vince, and
> they
> > each use the ED120 Discriminate circuitry, but
> > .... It worked OK, but of all the microMAX
> series
> > of models, my two favorites are the Bandido II
> > µMAX, with GB capability, and the Silver sabre
> > µMAX, for "turn-on-and-go" simplicity.
> >
> > I only own and use the thin-profile 6"
> Concentric
> > coils I keep on them, as that's my favorite
> > trashy-site hunting coil. Let me just add one
> > closing comment with regard to hunting in "nail
> > beds" and picking a Tesoro model. Of all the
> > microMAX series I own my two favorites, and if
> I
> > wanted a 3rd but different model from that
> > 'series' it would be the Conquistador µMAX
> (NOT
> > the original Conquistador w/o the µMAX in the
> > label name as it had glitches).
> >
> > All of these models have the
> Low-Noise/High-Gain
> > circuitry and will provide a little louder
> audio
> > response and get a little better depth of
> > detection for general purpose hunting than most
> > former models. However, I did a lot of
> > side-by-side comparisons with all the Tesoro's
> I
> > liked when they came out against what I had
> been
> > using, and in really tough iron debris fields,
> and
> > I am including other smaller-size iron junk,
> not
> > nails and not rusty tin, but discarded iron
> car,
> > truck or tractor parts, the 'original' Bandido
> and
> > Bandido II are hard to beat!
> >
> > These two models, that brought the introduction
> of
> > the ED-120 circuitry with the first Bandido in
> > 1990, might not get the depth, but in nasty
> iron
> > trash you can't get any depth with the masking
> > iron in the way. I am still looking for
> another
> > pristine or close-to0-new condition Bandido or
> > Bandido II to put back in my arsenal ... and I
> > already have a 6" Concentric coil on a lower
> rod
> > just waiting to get one in-hand.
> >
> > Just thoughts and opinions based on personal
> > experience with Tesoro's for over 33 years now.
> >
> > Monte
> >
> > PS: I hope you two are enjoying pleasant
> weather
> > where you're travelling. Our nice weather is
> > ending, and there could be snow where you live
> > this Wednesday.
> >
> > PS #2: Other than performance and the 'feel' of
> > the Bandido II µMAX and Outlaw, I also didn't
> > care for the Outlaw's goofy push-button design
> > with the two-position button compared with the
> > logical toggle functions of the Bandido II
> µMAX.
> > Also didn't like the Outlaw's audio as well as
> it
> > was just a little 'different.'
>
>
> Thank you for your response Monte.---That is the
> info I was looking for---especially your first
> sentence of your second paragraph.-----Yes---Patsy
> & I are in NV right now--should be in CA in about
> three days (Lord willing).----We have been taking
> our time in travel & hunting along the way at
> selected spots.-----Stay warm up there in OR this
> winter my friend.----------Del & Patsy