Speaking from experience, I ordered a Minelab Excalibur from Bart & Big Boys Hobbies a few months ago that came with a Makro Pointer. Very happy with both. Excellent customer service, fast shipping, no problems what so ever.
I've owned the Makro for a couple of months now and I can say I'm really happy with it now... but it took a while to get comfortable with it. To me green means go red means stop or on vs. off. Not this pointer green means stop and go, which when pulling a sweet find and your freaking out trying to see what it is...is counter intuitive when your hitting red and its not turning off. Now after 2 months it's no big deal. I don't have to look, I don't have to think, I don't have to wait, my fingers trained to hold the green button for 1 second I feel it shut off in my hand or holster. My suggestion is use this thing at home for a while before you take it out, or at least bring the manual with you on your first hunt. I spent half a hunt lost in the pointer cause I lost my vibration and I had sound which I did not want. I don't have any issues with the unit falsing; although, the thing is so sensitive its easy to pick up nearby conductors. I also added a little of that plumbers grease wax stuff to the threads and seal for a little added confidence. I like where the buttons are located I have not had any issues with the unit turning off or accidentally adjusting the sens.. there's a bit of a lip around the top where the buttons to help stop that. Again, I like it.. It feels quality..and it works.. Great Video!! Thanks!
you need to give me one of these, ive been looking at pin pointers for over 7 years, and ive never owned one...at all, LOL right? im a little too picky....the fact that this one has proximity from the side to the tip is a BIG plus, and what ive been waiting on and noone had it, sometimes youre in a hurry for whatever reason and that will speed the find up, I love this.
Good stuff Evan. The Makro look like a great unit and fills a gap in the industry for sure. I agree with you on only needing 1-2" of sensitivity on a pinpointer to isolate targets easier. This is why I have not bothered to move to the TRX. That is a great pinpointer as well, but I don't need the depth it offers, so not really an upgrade for me. The Makro might replace my Garrett if it finally dies. Great review!
Great review, Evan. Makro has set the bar higher with this new pointer. I've been a fan of Garrett products, but they may be losing some market share with this strong competitor. The next improvement that Garrett could make would be to give us a pointer that is totally waterproof and can be used at greater depths. Hopefully, their Product Service & Development team is up to the challenge. I'm not discrediting Makro...but I'd rather buy an American made product.
yes.. and loving it.. so far I've had good depth(more than the ML 6).. I have noticed if it gets erratic I will run the sens down and it gets quiet and I didn't loose depth.. the CoilTeks normally run better with less sens.. and that is the case with the 10x5 also..
Good review guys. I'd like to snag one of these soon. Bummed about being made in Turkey, really surprised something like this hasn't been made in the US yet. Kinda behind
I like it. To me, a pinpointer's job is to not false (or sometimes go "crazy", like my Garrett). Tell me one thing, though...do the buttons on the Makro seem prone to clogging with dirt? Sure seems to me that dirt/sand getting into buttons can cause a lot of problems. I own both the Garrett and the Minelab pinpointers and both have their good and bad points. Great review, Evan.
So far I've not had an issue.. I've washed it after each hunt.. just remember if you submerge it to pour the water out of the speaker housing.. it can seal off the sound.. :)
Very good test Evan!! I am going to have to get one soon as I lost my X Pointer I won from you guys. But this looks to be better even if it is a little more money.
I really like the adjustments and being waterproof. How much are they and will warrantied by your business or would we have to send them to Turkey if something went wrong with it ? Thanks for the video.
thank you so much for the respond back I have been looking everywhere. plus if you come across any used garrett at pro please let me know as well many is tight right now and really cant afford a new one I know they don't come down in price much but every little bit helps thanks again for contacting me
ok thank you so much for you help again I have a garrett ace 250 and been dreaming about the garrett at pro so I could get into water hunting.. but yes I do have facebook are you under gone hunting for history...
how much does a used garrett at pro go for in fairly decent shape I would be willing to trade my garrett ace 250 as well I know wouldent get much I only paid $212 dollars from Kellyco and I know you would have to make something off of it too or if you would be willing to do that. but either way I am still interested in the makro pinpointer and the garrett at pro thanks again for all your help..
Evan............does this unit also have a sensitivity for the vibration? In other words does it have the ability to dial up or down the vibration strength or is it just one vibration mode?
Gordon Jones tbh I've broke multiple ones. I've gone back to the newer Garrett pro AT. Everyone I broke was due to dropping it on the tip. Somehow it disengages the button and battery assembly. I've tried several times to repair it but end up returning them for warranty.
That is the leaking flaw with all the others is speaker hole and button... That has been changed and improved with the Makro. The button and speaker is separate from the case and electronics and is connected by the pins inside the sealed head... Good design and thinking outside the box if you ask me..
Gonehunting For History If a designer really wanted to they could easily put the button in a better place while still making it waterproof. Also then the battery compartment could be completely sealed with no pins at all. This pinpointer solves one problem by introducing others, which is not great design.
pursual You being a qualified design engineer, I say go for it. Feel free to show the world what you can do to improve on the Makro Pinpointer's poor design decision. As Evan mentioned moving all the weak points on other pinpointers into the cap and sealing it is moving forward. Button location may be less than desirable for some, but would be the ticket for others wanting the waterproofness right out of the box.
insaynbcr I guess some people just have higher standards, and better conceptual imagination, than others...but if this is the pin pointer for you, then more power to you.
Or, some folks feel the need to knock a product just because it doesn't fit their idea of a good design. To be fair, feel free to design a better product, or keep your higher standards to yourself. As for the Makro being the next pin pointer for me, it may just be some time down the road. Currently I am still rocking my trusty modified Garrett that is 100% waterproof. Before it was 100% waterproofed, I didn't feel the need to ever knock Garrett for their design, instead I just tweaked it to fit my needs. Pretty easy concept to understand, no?
Well can't get everything you want.. But with all the settings... A long press is about the only solution unless you want to carry around a pinpointer the size of a detector to hold all the buttons..
Speaking from experience, I ordered a Minelab Excalibur from Bart & Big Boys Hobbies a few months ago that came with a Makro Pointer. Very happy with both. Excellent customer service, fast shipping, no problems what so ever.
Thanks Hillbilly.. We like to hear that..
I've owned the Makro for a couple of months now and I can say I'm really happy with it now... but it took a while to get comfortable with it. To me green means go red means stop or on vs. off. Not this pointer green means stop and go, which when pulling a sweet find and your freaking out trying to see what it is...is counter intuitive when your hitting red and its not turning off. Now after 2 months it's no big deal. I don't have to look, I don't have to think, I don't have to wait, my fingers trained to hold the green button for 1 second I feel it shut off in my hand or holster. My suggestion is use this thing at home for a while before you take it out, or at least bring the manual with you on your first hunt. I spent half a hunt lost in the pointer cause I lost my vibration and I had sound which I did not want. I don't have any issues with the unit falsing; although, the thing is so sensitive its easy to pick up nearby conductors. I also added a little of that plumbers grease wax stuff to the threads and seal for a little added confidence. I like where the buttons are located I have not had any issues with the unit turning off or accidentally adjusting the sens.. there's a bit of a lip around the top where the buttons to help stop that. Again, I like it.. It feels quality..and it works.. Great Video!! Thanks!
you need to give me one of these, ive been looking at pin pointers for over 7 years, and ive never owned one...at all, LOL right? im a little too picky....the fact that this one has proximity from the side to the tip is a BIG plus, and what ive been waiting on and noone had it, sometimes youre in a hurry for whatever reason and that will speed the find up, I love this.
Great review, love the no nonsense approach
Cheers & HH
Ger.
Excellent review Evan! Keep up the good work. Very helpful.
thanks Mr. Lunn.. can't wait for the new Garrett AT to hit..
Good stuff Evan. The Makro look like a great unit and fills a gap in the industry for sure. I agree with you on only needing 1-2" of sensitivity on a pinpointer to isolate targets easier. This is why I have not bothered to move to the TRX. That is a great pinpointer as well, but I don't need the depth it offers, so not really an upgrade for me. The Makro might replace my Garrett if it finally dies. Great review!
thanks bud.. some people would gripe if they was hung with a new rope.. as my grandpa would say..
Great review, Evan. Makro has set the bar higher with this new pointer. I've been a fan of Garrett products, but they may be losing some market share with this strong competitor. The next improvement that Garrett could make would be to give us a pointer that is totally waterproof and can be used at greater depths. Hopefully, their Product Service & Development team is up to the challenge. I'm not discrediting Makro...but I'd rather buy an American made product.
Great video. Evan have you tested the new CTX 3030 coil yet?
yes.. and loving it.. so far I've had good depth(more than the ML 6).. I have noticed if it gets erratic I will run the sens down and it gets quiet and I didn't loose depth.. the CoilTeks normally run better with less sens.. and that is the case with the 10x5 also..
Great video!
Good review guys. I'd like to snag one of these soon. Bummed about being made in Turkey, really surprised something like this hasn't been made in the US yet. Kinda behind
I like it. To me, a pinpointer's job is to not false (or sometimes go "crazy", like my Garrett). Tell me one thing, though...do the buttons on the Makro seem prone to clogging with dirt? Sure seems to me that dirt/sand getting into buttons can cause a lot of problems. I own both the Garrett and the Minelab pinpointers and both have their good and bad points. Great review, Evan.
So far I've not had an issue.. I've washed it after each hunt.. just remember if you submerge it to pour the water out of the speaker housing.. it can seal off the sound.. :)
Very good test Evan!! I am going to have to get one soon as I lost my X Pointer I won from you guys. But this looks to be better even if it is a little more money.
dang bud.. sorry that's about like losin your best friend..
Nice looking pointer, looks better than my Garrett. With the Garrett you have to be careful or it will false. What kind of digger were you using?
Lesche hand digger..
I really like the adjustments and being waterproof. How much are they and will warrantied by your business or would we have to send them to Turkey if something went wrong with it ? Thanks for the video.
They will be warrantied through the distributor here in the states. They also do the warranties for the XP Deus...
Great thanks
very nice video very helpful thank you..
Get in touch with me in a few weeks and we will get you taken care of.. 5807755970
thank you so much for the respond back I have been looking everywhere. plus if you come across any used garrett at pro please let me know as well many is tight right now and really cant afford a new one I know they don't come down in price much but every little bit helps thanks again for contacting me
Ryan Stackhouse if you are on Facebook I have a large buyselltrade group that has one or two on it right now.. Hit me up and I will put you in it..
ok thank you so much for you help again I have a garrett ace 250 and been dreaming about the garrett at pro so I could get into water hunting.. but yes I do have facebook are you under gone hunting for history...
how much does a used garrett at pro go for in fairly decent shape I would be willing to trade my garrett ace 250 as well I know wouldent get much I only paid $212 dollars from Kellyco and I know you would have to make something off of it too or if you would be willing to do that. but either way I am still interested in the makro pinpointer and the garrett at pro thanks again for all your help..
Great test .Any idea when available in the uk??????
I think there is going to a mass release in November.. but don't hold me to that..
Evan............does this unit also have a sensitivity for the vibration? In other words does it have the ability to dial up or down the vibration strength or is it just one vibration mode?
Just one vibration setting..
Thank you.
Hello how you still getting on with the makro pointer have you still got it
Gordon Jones tbh I've broke multiple ones. I've gone back to the newer Garrett pro AT. Everyone I broke was due to dropping it on the tip. Somehow it disengages the button and battery assembly. I've tried several times to repair it but end up returning them for warranty.
does it fit in the garrett or minelab holster?
Yes.. it will fit them..
great thanks
Button location seems to be a pretty poor design decision.
That is the leaking flaw with all the others is speaker hole and button... That has been changed and improved with the Makro. The button and speaker is separate from the case and electronics and is connected by the pins inside the sealed head... Good design and thinking outside the box if you ask me..
Gonehunting For History If a designer really wanted to they could easily put the button in a better place while still making it waterproof. Also then the battery compartment could be completely sealed with no pins at all. This pinpointer solves one problem by introducing others, which is not great design.
pursual You being a qualified design engineer, I say go for it. Feel free to show the world what you can do to improve on the Makro Pinpointer's poor design decision. As Evan mentioned moving all the weak points on other pinpointers into the cap and sealing it is moving forward. Button location may be less than desirable for some, but would be the ticket for others wanting the waterproofness right out of the box.
insaynbcr I guess some people just have higher standards, and better conceptual imagination, than others...but if this is the pin pointer for you, then more power to you.
Or, some folks feel the need to knock a product just because it doesn't fit their idea of a good design. To be fair, feel free to design a better product, or keep your higher standards to yourself. As for the Makro being the next pin pointer for me, it may just be some time down the road. Currently I am still rocking my trusty modified Garrett that is 100% waterproof. Before it was 100% waterproofed, I didn't feel the need to ever knock Garrett for their design, instead I just tweaked it to fit my needs. Pretty easy concept to understand, no?
Also seems too slow to turn off.
Well can't get everything you want.. But with all the settings... A long press is about the only solution unless you want to carry around a pinpointer the size of a detector to hold all the buttons..