Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II Metal Detector

My Short Review with Pros & Cons

Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II was my first metal detector in the early 1990s. It is hard to imagine using it now, but it got me addicted to this great hobby!

Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II was my first machine that allowed me to learn all basics of metal detecting fast. I should especially mention this machine's ability to produce a descriptive sound pattern for any particular target. This was extremely helpful as the sound end-pattern of the target's signal would allow me to determine the target's shape.

Besides regular Coin Shooting, the machine could be also used for Cache and Relic Hunting because it could be easily transformed into a 2-Box Deep Seeker by attaching two large rectangular search coils on each end of the handle assembly. When I used it as a deep seeker, the Garrett CX-II easily detected deep targets of a large size, such as axe heads, cannon balls, door hinges, tools, etc.

Back in 1993, the Internet did not exist yet, and there were no books on treasure hunting readily available at any library. One could get little bits of information by reading through hobby magazines (subscribed or bought at a book store) or from someone who happened to use a metal detector occasionally for fun.

A beginner would be considered extremely lucky if he or she could find and join a metal detecting club located within a reasonable driving distance from home, and the club members would be experienced enough to teach a beginner anything above the "coin-shooting-at-local-park" level. The only way to attain as much Know-How in metal detecting as possible was through one's own "hands-on" experience, creative thinking and experimenting.

In one year of painful learning through 'trial and error', I finally developed my own searching style and basic treasure hunting skills. All thanks go to Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II! I have to mention the importance of creating and using my own Test Garden which certainly sped up my learning process during that period. Back then, many hunt sites still contained lots of old coins at shallow depths so that even a simple detector such as the Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II could easily fill your metal detecting hours with excitement, and your pouch with "goodies".

Later, after I began using a different machine - White's XLT, I taught my girlfriend Rachael and my close friend David how to use the Garrett CX-II so that they could join me in coin shooting hunts and enjoy the outdoor hobby of metal detecting.

Both of them quickly learned how to operate the Garrett and did very well in detecting silver coins. In fact, David and I found our first silver dollars in one day during our joint hunt. Nothing to say about many silver dimes and quarters that were found with the Garrett during every hunt.

Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II was a simple and old-fashioned gage-metered machine. Its cumbersome design was the only flaw I could name back then. Of course, I cannot imagine metal detecting with this machine now, but I give this detector my respect for being a fine coin-detecting instrument in its time back in the early 1990s. The Garrett allowed me to graduate from the beginner's level fast and with high grades!

If you would like to see Features and Specifications of Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II and read other users' reviews, please visit the Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II Review page.