What Happened to Tesoro Metal Detectors?
Founded in 1980 in Prescott, Arizona, Tesoro built a devoted following on a simple idea: lightweight, analog, turn-on-and-go metal detectors that just worked, backed by a legendary lifetime warranty. The company ceased operations in 2018. There are no new Tesoro detectors, the factory warranty is no longer honored, and official support has ended, which is exactly why so many owners still search for "Tesoro metal detectors" looking for a coil, a part, a manual, or a straight answer about what to do next. This page is that straight answer.
Genuine Tesoro Parts & Accessories (While They Last)
We still carry a limited stock of genuine Tesoro parts and accessories. Once they're gone, they're gone. Keep an older Tesoro in the field with the 12" x 10" coil cover, replacement grommet washers, and arm-bracket hardware from this collection. Lost your paperwork? The Tesoro Lobo digital manual here is a free download. Because these are the last of the stock, check the listing for current availability before counting on a specific part.
Tesoro Owners: Modern Detectors That Replace Yours
If your Tesoro has finally worn out, the good news is that today's detectors do everything a Tesoro did, with better depth and target ID, and several keep the simple, lightweight feel Tesoro owners loved. Match your old machine to its modern equivalent:
If you ran a simple coin-and-park machine like the Compadre or Silver uMax, a modern turn-on-and-go detector like the Nokta Simplex Lite or Simplex Ultra, or the Garrett ACE 300 or ACE 400, picks up right where it left off. Start in our beginner & intermediate detectors. If you hunted coins and relics with a fast machine like the Cibola, Vaquero, or Tejon, step into a current relic detector from our relic & treasure metal detectors. Chased gold with a Lobo SuperTRAQ? See the VLF gold machines in our gold detectors collection. And if the Sand Shark was your beach and water detector, today's waterproof machines go deeper in salt; browse our waterproof detectors. Not sure which fits how you hunt? Tell us your old Tesoro model and where you detect, and we'll match it.
Tesoro Model Guide: What Each One Was, and Its Modern Replacement
Tesoro's lineup was built around simplicity. The Compadre was the single-knob entry detector; the Silver uMax and Golden uMax added a touch more control for coins and jewelry. The Cibola and Vaquero were the fast, lightweight coin-and-relic favorites, with the Tejon as the deep, hot dual-tone relic machine. The Lobo SuperTRAQ was the VLF gold-prospecting model, and the pulse-induction Sand Shark was the saltwater and beach detector. All shared the analog feel and feather weight that defined the brand. The modern replacements above carry that spirit forward with simultaneous multi-frequency, digital target ID, and waterproofing Tesoro never offered.
Why Tesoro Owners Shop with Serious Detecting
We've supported Tesoro owners for years and still stock the genuine parts most sellers dropped long ago. When it's time to move on, we're an authorized dealer for the brands that replaced Tesoro's lineup, so the detector we recommend is one we can fully support, warranty, and service. Orders of $99 or more ship free in the lower 48, local pickup is available out of Michigan, and thousands of verified buyers have rated us 4.9 stars. Tell us your old Tesoro model and where you hunt. We'll help you keep it running or find its replacement.
