Tesoro DeLeon
Price: $600
Avg. Score: 
4.52
Based on 27 reviews
4.52Based on 27 reviews
Avg. Durability:
5.00
Avg. Ease of use:
4.33
Not bad
August 29, 2006
I have used the DeLeon for a few months now. The target ID seems to be
pretty accurate. Like all TID detectors it can be fooled sometimes but most
of the time is is right on when it comes to identifying coins. It will
seperate the zinc pennies from the copper and silver coins. This is great
if you do not want to dig the zincs. They usually display a mid 70's
reading while all the other coins will hit at 95. I like the fact that it
has a toggle switch to switch to all metal mode instead of a button like
some of the other Tesoro models. Pinpointing with the DeLeon is right on.
Probably the easiest to use of any detector I have tried.
It seems to get good depth and the target Id seems to work decently even on
deeper targets. The only thing I don't really care for is it seems to
overload quite easily on shallow targets. It may only sound off with a
small static or broken sound on a good target if it is real close to the
surface and you have to lift your coil to get a better reading. Not really
a problem if you are working slowly and listening. With the lifetime
warranty and the great service that Tesoro is known for I definately plan
to keep this one around.
Overall Rating
Joseph from
Midwest
310
Good Detector for Surface Feeding
April 10, 2006
The Deleon is a good machine for surface feeding in high trash areas. That
is, it?s not a particularly deep detector, but down to about 6 inches or so
it?s thorough when it comes to finding coin-sized targets mixed in with
trash.But I must admit I was shocked when I tested it for depth in my coin garden. I could only get 6 to 7 inches on a silver quarter. Even at 6 inches the signal wanted to breakup. I suspect this machine would only be able to detect a dime at about 4 to 5 inches. This is about the depth of the old 1980?s VLF machines.
The TID meter is a great tool when used along with the sound. I found it awesome for identifying Wheat cents even before digging. I?d say 9 times out of 10 if it says TAB it?s a pulltab. It?s also very good on nickels and general target separation. However, it also reads large pieces of iron as "95" Silver (the reading for silver coins). This machine loves large iron.
This is probably the best pinpointing machine I?ve ever used. I pinpoint in discrimination mode with no problems. Most of the time the target will be dead center.
The Deleon comes with cheap batteries and it?s best not to even bother to load them into the machine. Go buy some quality batteries before you even start. Defective batteries really make this machine chatter and become erratic. Coil covers can also cause problems as dirt works it?s way inside.
While using this machine make sure you use good detector headphones. This will increase depth and prolong battery life.
The Deleon has its place but it?s definitely not the deepest detector on the market. But then, I?ve found that in our state most digs are less than 5 inches deep so the DeLeon is just fine. It?s easy to run so it would make a great detector for those who like to do playgrounds, parks, etc., for newer coins and jewelry. On a scale of 1 to 10 I?d give the Deleon a 7.
Overall Rating
Myron from
USA
2621
Good TID detector
March 20, 2006
This is my first TID detector.It runs very stable, although not as deep as a Cibola.
The downsides are: not very sensitive to small gold, even at low discrimination. Also I don't care much for the battery holders.
Overall Rating
H from
Canada
612
Like an old shoe!
February 28, 2006
If there was a unit to say its like an old shoe or old trusty friend. This
is the unit. Maybe like a Timex. You first put it together and you go uh uh
not like my Whites or Minelab. But guess which unit drives around with me
in my service van day in and day out and gets used the most. Bouncing
around not really to carefull with it pull over jump out start it up and
lets search at lunch any time a place looks good. Can it find Coins like
7-8 inch most allways. The deepest 10 a quarter no kidding with a little
wet soil maybe more.
Very, Very easy to use and not a Toy. Found rings at 5-6 inch range maybe
deeper but only have found 2 with this unit. All metal mode is accurate.
The visual ID once you learn it with the sound its on 90% of the time. Yes
other units have more defined parameters to adjust. But not at this price
for as well as it works. Just love it. Easy and very good. I have and use
the top units. Like i said they may have more bells and work better with
much practice. This is what i use 65% of the time its quick and easy. Only
complaint is the battery doors and the coil does not like hitting rocks or
trees it gives of signal but then it mite be time for new coil. Just love
this unit and would say buy it now!
Overall Rating
Mark from
Kankakee, IL
270
Wonderful Unit..Starter to Pro!
October 30, 2005
I have used a DeLeon as one of my main units since it was introduced! I
have found many 'Treasures' with it over the years. I live in Canada, and coinage here reads differently than the US coinage. However, it is soon learned and the 95 is usually accurate ID.(Tabs here are as in the US. All are the same & all over the mid scale!)
I would like to add that some of the other'Brand Names' may dig deeper on silver and copper, but do not like the metal content in the Canadian coinage as well!
Pros for me are: Light weight,packs to a small size/Versitility - all round useage/ good variety of coils/ and fair price... ( even in Canadian $$$)...
Cons as mentioned... Darn Battery cases/no pinpointer/and no Tones!... and the Backlighted feature/ does not bother me as much as some, but I sure would like 3 tones!
I may not get many votes for a helpful report,as some of the problems we have with coinage do not apply in the US... The overall feeling I get from the other reports is that it is a 'Starter' unit...Far From It!... When a unit can dig 10+ inches on silver coins... take notice!
I have had this unit in Gold Fields as well... and altho I did carry 2 additional units, Gold Machines, I did come up with a small grain of gold and neat relics from the mid 1800's! The DeLeon is not noted for being a gold unit, as there is no Ground Balance feature on the unit... Running at MIN Disc and #9 SENS ( no hot rock problem)... a BB sized nugget popped out!(psst... I was using a 4" coil)
Relics are an easy task for the Deleon as well.Small iron certainly no problem around old homestead houses/or parks... The 8x9 spider coil is perfectly matched ,and a wonder for Beach hunting especially in the water, as there is no 'Rafting' as in a solid coil.
No, I do not hunt salt water beaches so I am unable to comment...altho alkali areas have been encountered with little problem.
I would give it a true 4.5 if that ranking were available... and it should be given a Mid-range to Upper ranking as a unit!(altho starters will LOVE IT!)
If you are shopping, give it a good look!... you certainly can do worse!
Overall Rating
Rich in Rocky from
Rocky Mountain House, AB. Canada
300
Great starter ID detector
April 20, 2005
The DeLeon was the first detector I purchased and it was the best decision
I could have made. The target ID is accurate, no ground balancing is
required (it's automatic) and it "sees" pretty deep. I've dug good solid
hits at 12 inches in very hard, dry clay soil. Mine has found plenty of
coins, old and new, relics, and jewelry. Although I've upgraded to the
Cortes (which is awesome), I'm keeping my DeLeon. It is just a great,
quick detecting trip machine and it has never failed me. I love my DeLeon.
The only reason I didn't give it a fifth star is that the ID screen does
not have a backlighting feature, so once the sun starts to go down, the
display is unreadable. Other than that, this is a perfect machine IMHO.
And that lifetime warranty can't be beat.
Overall Rating
JimF from
Atlanta, GA
260
The more I use it, the more I like it.
November 30, 2004
The DeLeon is my first
target ID machine, about my 6th Tesoro. If a target falls at 95, I can be
sure it is a coin. If a target
doesn't lock in at a repeatable number, I typically dig. I have found
things like keys, small pocket knives,
shell casings, gold/clad jewelry, all when the target bounces around from
6-95 and back with a half
dozen partial stops in between. The target ID takes some time to get used
to, but it is a great
discrimination tool. The word is tool, not answer to your prayers.I dislike the battery holder doors so much that I almost dropped the score one full point just for that. The design sucks! Otherwise, I am very happy with Tesoros overall design, weight, balance, workmanship and company service. (I can live with the dumb plastic battery door that keeps popping open. That's what duck tape is for!) Depth is very good, but target ID looses effectiveness at "depths" and I depend on my ears at all times. I think my old Fisher 1266x is a little deeper. Very good value, but I wouldn't buy another one until I looked at the new Whites Prizm if I wanted an entry level target ID machine.
Overall Rating
David of Madison from
Madison, WI
3016