Garrett GTI 2500

Street Price $850 - Coin, relic
Number of Reviews: 53
on 6 pages.
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Garrett GTI 2500
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absolute junk
Dean in Pasco ,Wa -
After owning this unit the GTI 2500 for a two month period it would not function very well form the day I opened the carton so I sent it in for service to garret, instead of repairing it they sent me back a new unit which works very poorly to, this unit has no depth detection in any mode, cannot dicrim. between aluminum and iron, and if anyone out there thinks this is a good detector then you obviously have have never used another detector in your life, I could do a better job of detecting with a magnet on a string. That was a $1000 poorly spent, I think the FCC should investigate their claims about there over priced junk,e ven my really old Pioneer 505 Bounty Hunter works better than the GTI 2500, it has lots of bells and whistles but that is just to keep you distracted from its poor preformance...I should have bought a whites mxt my mistake...
Jul 19, 2008
1396 Yes
635 No
GTI 2500 - Three years after...
Julio "Jules" Razquin in New Hampshire -
You newbies looking for a fast-response, easy-to-use machine better stick to the Ace 150 or 250 (if Garrett is the brand you're considering). If you're brave newbie, then go ahead and read...
For those seasoned hunters and rookies willing to put in field-time looking for relics and older coins, this is the machine you want to learn.
I often say to people that hunting with a Garrett machine is the equivalent of "Hunting for Dummies"... Why? Because once you assemble the thing, and read the manual, you are well on your way to finding coins, and relics.
Okay, the TID feature takes some learning. Don't expect the GTI 2500 to always tell the absolute truth (what machine does?). Proof of this is my collection of 200 year old ox shoes. But, I've learned the machine's language, and now can tell exactly what to dig, and what not to.
Iffy and jumpy signals? This is not due to a flaw in the machine, rather than the items's size and orientation in the ground (coin on edge, for example).
The rule of thumb seems to be: If it rings sweetly in both directions, dig it.
I hunt for Colonial relics and coins in New Hampshire, USA. After nearly three years with the blasted thing, I can say it performs rather well. After you learn it, all you have to do is put yourself at the right place, and you'll clean up.
Pros:
-Good TID on old and new coins up to 7-10 inches' depth.
-Long battery life (use lithium batteries for upwards up 35 hours' hunting!)
-All Metal mode goes DEEP!
Cons:
-Heavy machine. Older people, or those with weak arms (or arm/shoulder injuries) should consider another machine.
-The "Treasure Talk" feature is a fancy redundancy. It is just plain confusing.
I'm waiting for Garrett to pack the same power an features into a lighter, more ergonomically balanced machine. Hopefully, this will happen soon!
Julio "Jules" Razquin
Jun 19, 2008
116 Yes
32 No
GTI YA YA
The Prospector in everytown,USA -
This a much better detector than my minelab eureka gold, it is heavier but I would rather heaft around my Garret GTI 2500 with loads of usefull features than use the minelab with no features the search coil is not even waterproof, after swinging the 2500 for 2 1/2 hours I had no problem with the weight, still one of the best detectors on the market,you can purchase six different coils for this guy I have four, I will purchase the large dual coil for the garret next, now that is some real depth 15-20 feet that no one else can match that with a hobby detector. Garret just has the best options that no one else has, it seems a little klunky when you first pick it up. But this unit found some very small targets that I did not think that it was capable of, it suprised me with its preformance!!!!
Jun 09, 2008
40 Yes
2 No
the Garret GTI 2500
Dennis Levon in Boise,Id -
I have been using this 2500 for a while now,at first it felt a little clunky and old fashioned but after using it in all of its different modes and settings I am very happy with its preformance, this guy picked up very small pieces of galvanized metal,the area I was working in had almost no coins and lots of construction debree, so I expected to find lots of screws and nails but not as small or as deep as the detector found them, also it picked up very small pieces of galvanised wire, for some reason all the detectors I have used with target ID thinks that galvanised is a coin.The thing that is really great about the garret is that you can switch between all of its modes very fast and set up a custom mode to switch back and forth with, this machine can cope with any ground any where in the world, it is very easy to learn and use, I swung this guy for 2 1/2 hours with my left arm with a pulled muscle in my forearm and had no problems with its weight,I don't know why people are crying about its heft, it is easy to get use to.I own a minelab eureka gold and the targets that they find in all metal mode are the same except the Garret has alot more features to find or reject the target, the eureka has almost no features, it is a much better detector than the minelab, and it has six coils available for it, that are waterproof, the minelab coil is not waterproof, all in all this Garret is a great Detector, if you are looking for very versital unit then this it!!
Jun 06, 2008
57 Yes
3 No
The greatest detector made
Les in California -
This thing works great, very good depth not over priced, a little heavy, so what. The biggest problem this detector has is operator error not the detector, it sees and sizes every target correctly, if you are having problems then you need to read the manual again. The most versital metal detector ever made!!!!! And the best.
Jun 02, 2008
17 Yes
3 No
Review; Pro's and con's
Eu_citzen in Europe, Sweden -
Having used the GTI 2500 for a year here are some thoughts:
Pros:
Good depth (yeah coins at 8" is nice..)
Fair battery life
Sizing is nice
(helps the newbie, can use pinpoint to "size" a target as well)
Big LCD screen (helps those who have poor sight)
Good pinpoint
Con's:
Heavy
Over priced (yes, really only basic adjustments)
Sound "quality" is bad
(sounds are almost the same)
The headphones that come with sucks
Discrimination is not good for Europe/Sweden
(only practical for USA/North America??)
Coils are heavy.(9.5" and 12.5", epoxy filled?)
Note: it is more suited as a relic machine as it SUCKS for coins.
(you almost have to dig everything)
May 31, 2008
167 Yes
68 No
8 stars
John Nelson in Battleground,Wa -
Garret makes great detectors the GTI 2500 is one of the best you can buy, with tons of features that other machines simply do not have!!! So what if it is a little heavy it is very well built, and works a lot better than other VLF units. I love this machine, when and if this guy ever breaks down I will be buying another one, I am very glad that Garret is in business.
May 11, 2008
44 Yes
5 No
I will be needing more display cases for relics and coins
Jimmy Baldwin in Johnston county, North Carolina -
Owned it for two weeks now. This is an awesome detector. Maybe a little tough for beginners but so are most detectors, My first day I was skeptical when I first tried it. After about 4 trips and a lot of backyard digging I knew Garret would never fail me. My last trip yielded 3 mercurys, a 1952 roosevelt. 5 wheats and a 1930s Chevrolet pinback badge. All from a well hunted field where an old putt putt course was, Ive always thought very well of my bounty hunter but I think I might better take the batteries out of it, If you know how to metal detect I think you will like this machine. Ive only got about 3 years experience and still have a lot to learn. However I know that metal detectors dont see under the ground. You have to do that part,
Apr 19, 2008
37 Yes
1 No
Its not heavy try this
Dan from pa in linesville pa -
Your gti 2500 you can put the battery case on your belt thin make your self a strap to go around your neck down to your detector to help take the load off your arm. Now when your searching in water you won't drop it in the water. I have found all kinds of stuff around boat docks, yes it was heavy but not now. Try this you will love it. I still say the GTI is the best of all detectors. Good luck remember fill all holes that you dig, thanks Dan
Mar 11, 2008
11 Yes
3 No
I have had mine since 1999..I sent it in for a chip upgrade
millenniundawg in Georgia -
and Garrett even threw in a new coil at no extra charge. WOW! I have used mine for years now and have no problem recommending it to any one! Coinshooter to relic hunter, you will not be disappointed. Just take the time to learn the machine....Here is my web site to check out my finds....all were found in Georgia with either the Garrett Groundhog, my first detector, or the GTi 2500 I have had since 1999. The site lists the "keeper" stuff, the modern money I spend.
I have the confidence that if the target is in the ground and I walk over it, I will recover it. Can't beat that!
Check out my coin finds, and while you're there feel free to check out the buttons, buckles and other finds...
http://public.fotki.com/millenniumdawg/metal_detector_finds/
Mar 05, 2008
38 Yes
0 No