New Simplex Or Used F75?

[nickelNdimed]

I see a lot of comparisons between the Simplex and other mid price/mid level machines out there like the F75, AT Pro, etc. 
 

These days it may be possible to find a used F75, AT Pro, etc for the price of a new Simplex or close. Maybe even with an extra small coil. Like a 5” DD or a 5x8. Throw in buying an extra coil for the Simplex and maybe even price. Simplex I think only 2 year warranty, so that will be gone eventually , non user/field replaceable battery. There are tons of arguments either way, more coil availability, supporting a US company (although buying second hand), Garrett and Fisher get back to you quickly and service pretty darn good even if you bought used. 
 

I’m not a fan of my ACE300. It works. Just tones and buttons, display, not for me. So guessing the AT Pro would not be for me either. I love my F22 however. Guessing a bit different from the F75 but perhaps tones, VDI, etc is similar. I hear good things about how well balanced it is, was a benchmark in its day. I already have a 600 multi and Seahunter pulse and most of my hunting is in midwest parks and homesites so waterproof/salt not necessary. Although weatherproof is nice for rain!
 

Would you get the used F75 or the Simplex?  Better yet, would you trade a Simplex for an F75 if the right deal came along? (I have a Simplex already but waiting for warm weather). Would anyone even make that trade?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[GB_Amateur]

3 hours ago, nickeldNdimed said:

Would you get the used F75 or the Simplex?

I didn't see you say if you will hunt in/near water.  The Simplex is waterproof and the F75 family is not.

Update:  I need to read more closely -- you said "waterproof/salt not necessary. Although weatherproof is nice for rain!"

I can't answer because I've never used a Simplex.  I will say that I bought the top-of-the-line F75 but only use the processes that are in the F70 = Teknetics Patriot (Patriot was half the price back then).  You said you would buy used so maybe not so much savings (if any) between the F75 and Patriot on the used market.  Definitely some use and even prefer the alternate processes, especially the Boost Process.

(Maybe I should trade F75 LtD Black for a Patriot and some cash....)

 

[kac]

Most AT Pro's used are till well above $400 mark. They had a special on the Simplex with the green wireless headphones and pulse pointer. That is a really hard deal to beat. Water hunting of course you wouldn't have audio if the control box is submersed unless you get the waterproof headphones.

Little less money and full warranty and that "new detector smell" I would go for the Simplex.

[Mike_Hillis]

F75+ model or the F75 LTD with DST.....I'd never even look at a Simplex with one of those two. 

My opinion is that the F75 is a true multi-purpose treasure hunting tool and the Simplex is just an entry level metal detector designed to acquaint you with the Nokta/Makro series of metal detectors.  

The F75 has so much more under the hood and I doubt many folks even use 1/3 of what is available under there.  

I looked at the Simplex and as a F75 owner user I didn't see anything that caused an itch to experience it.   

But that's just me and my opinion.   Far be it from me to cause someone not to buy and try for themselves as I am all for buy and try.  

HH
Mike

 

 

 

 

 

[Jeff McClendon]

I have owned an F75 (several versions) an F70/Tek Patriot, an AT Pro and the Nokta Makro Kruzer, Multi Kruzer and Simplex. In my soil conditions and in the environments I prefer to hunt in where it really helps to have waterproofing, excellent EMI protection, solid numerical and audio ID at depths of 6" or more, wireless operation so I don't get headphone cords tangled up and excellent ergonomics..........I would without hesitation pick the Simplex not just because it is the least expensive of the detectors mentioned but because, unlike what one poster said, the Simplex is not a beginner detector. It is much more advanced than that and in fact, its name is misleading and does not do this excellent detector any favors. If you are after raw depth between all of the detectors mentioned in the original poster's post, the F75 would win that battle in mild to moderate dirt. In moderate to high mineralization the F75 performs poorly as do all of the detectors I mentioned except for the Simplex. I don't know what Nokta Makro did to make this happen but the Simplex can handle mineralization very well and has remarkably fast recovery speed and target separation among other excellent qualities. As kac correctly reported, the AT Pro used in at least good condition is still going for over $400 as is the F75, Kruzer and Multi Kruzer, while the Patriot/F70 and the T2 are not far off that price if they too are in good condition. Part of these high used prices is because these are excellent detectors but they also (unlike the Simplex, Kruzer and Multi Kruzer) have huge, very loyal, long-time followers who trust them for good reasons and have given them great reputations.

After owning and using the detectors mentioned above, and from people who know more than I do about the origins of the Simplex, it reminds me of a waterproofed T2/F75/F70 with many more features as already mentioned and with the ability to receive online updates, etc. Dilek from Nokta Makro told the truth in her original marketing pitches about the Simplex when she said that "it is way under priced for what it can do."

Personally, if you have an Equinox 600, a Nokta Makro Simplex, and an F22 for a loaner or just for casual hunting, you have two excellent intermediate level detectors and a good beginner detector. I see no glaring reason why you should feel in anyway that your detector stable is deficient and I don't see where the other detectors I mentioned would drastically change your detecting experience more positively. The only similar detector that I would even consider over the Simplex which might change your game would be an XP Deus at 2 to 3 times the cost of the Simplex if you can find a good used one and 4 times the cost of the Simplex if you buy a new Deus. That is my assessment from experiencing all of these detectors personally.

You may, like Mike H. said, like to try out some of the detectors that have drawn your interest. I did the same thing and after years of weeding out detectors I don't really need, my two main detectors are the Nox 800 and the XP Deus. Many others on this forum and acquaintances that I hunt with have the same two detectors. The Nox 600 and the Simplex are correspondingly very similar to the 800 and Deus in many ways but for substantially less money. 

You could invest your money in a smaller coil for your Simplex. With the excellent stock coils offered by Nokta Makro and those added by Nel, you have many good options.

If I came across a great deal on a used Simplex with wireless headphones, it would be really hard for me to resist. I certainly enjoyed the one that I owned for 2 months but then sold due to the pandemic when it was necessary to let go of some things.

enjoy....

[Sven1]

The new smaller coils on the Simplex, make it a really nice detector for coin and jewelry hunting, more stable and quieter operation. I didn't care for the stock large coil.

[Tom Slick]

I don't understand why you'd want or need an F75 if you already have a Simplex and Equinox 600. What are you hoping the F75 will do for you that the other two can't do?

[nickelNdimed]

5 hours ago, kac said:

Most AT Pro's used are till well above $400 mark. They had a special on the Simplex with the green wireless headphones and pulse pointer. That is a really hard deal to beat. Water hunting of course you wouldn't have audio if the control box is submersed unless you get the waterproof headphones.

Little less money and full warranty and that "new detector smell" I would go for the Simplex.

They come up around that or less every now and then or seem to sit if higher. Heck I think you can get an AT Pro Sport for like $500 new. I’d have a hard time justifying any more than that for one. And I guess that is part of the issue.  The bar seems to have been raised for VLF at a much lower price point. AT Pro, MX Sport, F75(not waterproof)

One argument I try to make in my head for an AT Pro is that I already have the waterproof headphones with my Seahunter.   But I’m afraid it will be similar to my Ace 300 in feel and I won’t like it.  

But I already picked up a Simplex and a pair of green headphones both barely used, box and receipt, still under warranty for even less. I couldn’t pass it up. Still need to take it out this spring and see how I like it and if it complements the 600 if  at all.  

[nickelNdimed]

3 hours ago, Mike_Hillis said:

F75+ model or the F75 LTD with DST.....I'd never even look at a Simplex with one of those two. 

My opinion is that the F75 is a true multi-purpose treasure hunting tool and the Simplex is just an entry level metal detector designed to acquaint you with the Nokta/Makro series of metal detectors.  

The F75 has so much more under the hood and I doubt many folks even use 1/3 of what is available under there.  

I looked at the Simplex and as a F75 owner user I didn't see anything that caused an itch to experience it.   

But that's just me and my opinion.   Far be it from me to cause someone not to buy and try for themselves as I am all for buy and try.  

HH
Mike

 

 

 

 

 

Mike, I can tell from your posts and replies that you are a Fisher/First Texas guy.  And nothing wrong with that.  I love my F22 and F Pulse.  Why a good deal on an F75 is tempting for me to buy and try.  

I can see if someone already has an F75 (or AT Pto, MX Sport), not being compelled to buy and try a Simplex.  I’m trying to convince myself if trying that F75 is worthwhile for $300-400 or so if I can get the Simplex for that much new or already picked one up used for much less.  The F75 coil choices and perfect ergo folks talk about are what is causing me the itch to experience it.

 

 

[Chase Goldman]

3 hours ago, Jeff McClendon said:

I did the same thing and after years of weeding out detectors I don't really need, my two main detectors are the Nox 800 and the XP Deus. Many others on this forum and acquaintances that I hunt with have the same two detectors. The Nox 600 and the Simplex are correspondingly very similar to the 800 and Deus in many ways but for substantially less money. 

You nailed it, Jeff.

50 minutes ago, nickeldNdimed said:

The F75 coil choices and perfect ergo folks talk about are what is causing me the itch to experience it.

I keep my F75 because I consider it a classic detector in its day with great ergonomics and also because I like that it can use concentric coils and has a great selection of available accessory coils.  And because I would have to sellmit about a third of my original investment..  Would I get a used one today?  Um, no.  The ergonomics alone cannot make up for its dated design and as Jeff mentioned, its underwhelming performance in mineralized ground which is what I hunt in most of the time.  I am also over using detectors that need a raincoat put on them when the sprinkles come out or that have non-lithium battery power.  Finally, I like to be able to vary recovery speed independently without having to trade off depth or being locked into a specific mode  (a la Equinox), but I am impressed with the Simplex's more straight forward mode choices vs. the F75 that allow you to trade off depth for recovery speed in Park 1 and Park 2.  I do like F75's discrimination circuit vs. Simplex, its ability to readily ID bottlecaps using a concentric coil, its tone ID options (though very limited compared to Equinox and Deus) and of course the ergonomics.  But that has been resolved by getting the more appropriately sized elliptical coil for the Simplex.  The F75 is just collecting dust now, unfortunately.  Which I guess is apropos since these newer detectors have basically left it in the dust.