Steve Herschbach

Comparable detectors regarding performance. The Kruzer adds waterproof and built in rechargeable batteries. Like I said above, I kind of lean Gold Racer. Not for any performance reasons, simply the physical design of the Gold Racer suits me better. Except for the power knob sticking out the back. That should be on the touch pad like everything else.

Gold Racer is a great machine! Yup, the first high frequency machine with target id. If White's had listened to me and made a 48 kHz MXT they could have done it, but it took Makro to listen. I still have the one below, my late prototype test model. The pitch mode is fun for park jewelry hunting - zip, zip! The Gold Kruzer is basically just an updated Gold Racer, but I still kind of prefer the Gold Racer. Not much call for waterproof in the desert, and there is something to be said for drop in batteries. A little better balance also with the underarm battery location.

When I say anything about a detector is "ok" that's not a huge compliment! I take target id numbers in videos with a grain of salt. I think Equinox has some of the best target id ever. People watching videos think otherwise - jumping all over the place. With deep targets numbers get "iffy" with all detectors. The secret is the eye - hand - mind coordination. I sweep a target multiple times. I know in my mind when my swing has "connected" properly and given me a good target id. Other swings I can tell I'm off a hair, and it screws up the target id. There is one number I quickly zero in on as being the "right" one, and I toss the rest. Jumpy numbers do not mean the job is not getting done accurately. But I agree beginners in particular want to see a single number that varies as little as possible. And the fact is all detectors do deliver those, but then the numbers begin to break down with depth. The "correct' number gets mixed with other numbers, and the deeper you get, the rarer the "correct" number gets. At the edge of detection the "true" number may only come up occasionally, yet the skilled detectorist "feels" in their bones that they connected and they lock onto that number. It's another one of those hard to define skills where certain experienced detectorists combine swing speed and coil control to eke that proper id out of the ground deeper than others manage. But the commentary by the users shows they do not disagree with you. The machine is not getting kudos for target id accuracy so far.

If you can handle a little pink, you can get an even better deal right now on the Teknetics G2+ in pink camo. Same performance, different package, and a solid $100 less than the TRP while supplies last. I thought $399 was good and so $299 is great. Frankly, given the competition on the low end these days, I think the $299 - $399 is the right place for the F19 variants, and that the Gold Bug models should be even less based on features/performance. But just goes to show in retail the power of a name - people will literally pay more for a name.

Well Joe, truth be told I don't think the color is half bad, and if I did not have a new baby blue TRP already, chances are I'd be having one of these myself. That's an undisputed great buy at $299

Too many videos too quickly to keep up! Great video, especially since the F19 is not known as a silver depth demon. Looks about the same on depth, with clear win for F19/TRP on separation. Depth on the Apex looks to be "ok", but the separation is lagging for sure.

They do until you press the horseshoe button in any mode, which instantly converts any mode to "all metal." First thing I always do in any mode - hit the horseshoe, 50 tones, detect!

I was talking performance, but for features and performance we step up to Vanquish 540 at $369 and now we have industry standard low latency Bluetooth instead of proprietary (although faster) wireless capability. And five tones. But performance is all that matters. Can the Apex detect deeper than a $279 Vanquish 440? Separate targets better? Do better on a saltwater beach? Two multifrequency modes and four single frequency options - somebody do a video of an Apex doing just one thing clearly better than a Vanquish 440. I'd even go $199 Vanquish 340 were it not for the coil size difference, and even with the smaller coil I'm betting on the Vanquish. I'm pretty serious - as Simon asked earlier - does the Apex even have a solid claim to outperforming an Ace 400 anywhere but the beach? Mind you all - I still think the Apex is a great little detector with a great feature set. I just like the design and the controls. But between Simplex and Vanquish it has to show a performance edge somewhere on some target over lower priced models, otherwise you are just buying a pretty package. Let's face it, pull Simplex and Vanquish out of the equation and the Apex looks really great in the under $500 segment. Those newer models in just the last year really let the air out of its tire when it comes to the price/performance ratio. What I really wonder now is - how would a $424 Apex fare against my $399 Time Ranger Pro. I'm assuming the Apex has the edge on the salt beach, but otherwise I'm betting on TRP for low conductors and a push on the silver.

So basically we have an Ace with a salt beach mode. So I wonder, Ace Apex with 6” x 11” coil at $424 versus Vanquish 440 with 7” x 10” coil at $279...... is there anything at all an Apex can do better than the 440 for $145 extra?

Displaying a visible price is all that matters. MAP = Minimum Advertised Price It's all a crock left over from price fixing days, and illegal in many countries. But not considered price fixing because, as Rick notes, dealers can negotiate and sell for whatever they want. They are only prohibited from advertising below a certain amount. Which is why you should always negotiate the price directly via email or phone call. It is so stupid now that you will see games like “add to cart to see price.” The law says once you engage the customer, the MAP rules do not apply. Adding the item to the cart is considered to have legally crossed the line between advertising, and actually engaging in the buying process, where price is now negotiable. So now they can show you the discounted below MAP price because you put it in an imaginary electronic cart? Manufacturers can of course break their own rules and advertise at lower prices. I loved it when I was told by a manufacturer they are having a national sale to boost sales, and did it by lowering my margins at no cost to themselves. So dealers are probably quite welcome to match this price... at a loss to their bottom line. Though it’s hard to think there are many pink F19 detectors left in dealer hands. Yup, F19 Ltd, special camo paint job for only $50 extra over an already too high price at release. This detector sold for $799 not long ago and some people are still asking that! I wonder why the factory has any left?

Fisher Gold Bug - No manual ground balance - ground grab only Fisher Gold Bug Pro - Adds manual ground balance to Gold Bug feature set Teknetics G2 - Gold Bug Pro with a different rod and coil configuration Fisher F19 added the following features: Pinpoint in both disc and all metal modes Main volume control Ferrous volume control Notch accept or reject Notch width control LCD backlight Teknetics G2+ is a F19 with different rod and coil configuration Bounty Hunter Time Ranger Pro is a F19 with different labels (and possibly coil)

The Time Ranger Pro is the Bounty Hunter version of the F19 Fisher, which in turn is just a Fisher Gold Bug Pro with extra features. I’ve written extensively about these machines in the past. As far as I am concerned the Fisher Gold Bug, Gold Bug Pro, F19, Teknetics G2 and G2+, and Time Ranger Pro are all the same 19 kHz detector with same performance. There are some who think the F19/G2+/TRP improved on the silver performance, but if so it is splitting hairs. All that really differs is the stock rods and coils and various control features. But grab any of them and you are going to get the same depth, separation, etc. Any thing written about any of these detectors regarding depth and performance applies across the board. The only thing to pay attention to is feature differences between the models. As 19 kHz detectors these are very strong on low to medium conductors, and “ok” on silver targets. The 19 kHz series are among the best detectors I have ever used for EMI resistance. Excellent all metal operation. Excellent separation in trash, right up there with the best with a small coil. They are very light, simple control sets, and huge coil selections. Weaknesses would be salt water operation. Does the machine tune out the salt and run stable? For sure. Does it get great depth in saltwater? No, it’s a single frequency detector. Get a multifrequency or PI for serious beach detecting. Also, for silver coins it does well but not top tier due to the 19 kHz frequency. Bottom line the First Texas 19 kHz series are very solid and stable detectors for those most interested in medium to low conductors (relics, gold, jewelry) but still very suitable for coin detecting, especially in trashy areas, where depth is not as important as separation. Works as well on a saltwater beach as can be expected of a single frequency detector, but there are better options for the same money if that’s the primary use. Prior threads discussing the FT 19 kHz series Bounty Hunter Time Ranger Pro with optional NEL coil

Posted by Mental Metal on Sept 2, 2020 2020 Garrett ACE APEX Review: What You Should Know About it. In this video I get my hands on the new APEX courtesy of Fort Bedford Metal Detectors. I answer a lot of the questions you asked about as well as VDI number testing, depth testing and more. The APEX is not for everyone but for those looking to try a Garrett or who are just getting into metal detecting the the APEX could be what you are looking for. Its probably the best ACE machine Garrett has made. Here are some of the questions I'll be answering in this video: Whats in The Box? How much Does The APEX Cost? Who is The Machine Made For? (beginners? advanced users?, middle of the road?) Is The APEX Easy to Setup? Is The APEX a Replacement for the AT PRO, Gold, or Max? Is It Waterproof? Whats Up With This Weird Viper Coil? Does the APEX Work on The Beach? Target Separation Test What Does it Sound like? Depth Tests and more questions! Professional Photos/video clips shot by Jon Lupro As promised in the video here is the link to my article that contains the results of my VDI and depth testing. https://mentalmetaldetecting.com/what...

Less than 10,000 minted according to this article. ”The sculpting on the coin is based on original work by Avard T. Fairbanks; and not more than 10,000 coins were minted by the “Heritage Mint” in pure silver.”

This is the Garrett forum. Please keep discussion of other brands on their respective forums. If making suggestions/comparisons there is the Metal Detector Advice & Comparisons forum. Bottom line is some people want a Garrett, period, and are not interested in other brands. Any metal detector can find gold nuggets if they are large enough or shallow enough. Can the Apex find gold nuggets? Sure. Can an Ace 150 find gold nuggets? Sure. Finding gold nuggets is nothing special. Finding gold nuggets on ground pounded for decades by superior detectors is a different question, and doing so requires an experienced operator running top notch gear. You seem to have a burning desire for the Apex to be a real performer on gold nuggets Wazzie, but there is nothing to indicate it will do any better or even as good as detectors that have been around for decades. It is very likely the AT Gold is still the better choice in a Garrett when it comes to a VLF nugget detector.

I’m not sure why there is a Teknetics brand any more. They still have a handful of dealers but they can’t be doing much volume. I can’t believe many people outside of the forums have even heard of them.

I was rooting hard also for the Apex to show Minelab what is what. They really need to look good compared to the Vanquish 540, which does cost less. So person asks me “why should I get a Garrett Apex for $424 instead of a Vanquish 540 for $369?” What is my answer? Minelab just adding ferrous volume to the Vanquish via an update addressed one area and shows the wisdom of the update facility in being able to address new competition. Apex offers single frequency options. Is there anything any Apex single frequency option can do that a Vanquish can’t do without? That was the BIG thing Apex offered that Vanquish left out. But it only matters if they serve a function. It may be the function is to prove Minelab did just as well leaving them out. More target id numbers than Vanquish? That only matters if the target id is more accurate. OK, Apex has a ground balance. But if it is not performing as well as detectors that do not... so what? ”It looks like a Porsche but has a VW Beatle motor in it.” That sums it up perfectly. Whereas Vanquish looks like a Beetle (Ace) but has the Porsche (Equinox) motor. So, is there any reason at all to go from a Vanquish 540 to an Apex for more money? Right now it’s not looking too good.

All I can say is I am disappointed to not be disappointed. The price said it all. With very rare exceptions detectors are priced to reflect relative performance and features. Ace 400 for $339 or step up to Ace Apex for $424 and add built in wireless, rechargeable battery, and MF beach hunting capability. That’s how the sales guy would present it, and that’s what Garrett has done. They should sell a pile of them to people wanting a top end Ace, not those wanting an Equinox 800 at half price. No doubt experience gained from this will go into the more powerful AT Apex down the road.

I agree!!

Yikes! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!

That’s a fabulous deal! But pink indeed.

No. They are completely different metal detectors from a performance perspective. If you mean control similarity, there is a lot of that.

I also was aware Tim had health issues but had no idea it was this serious. One of the last things Tim contacted me about was regarding him trying to help somebody by giving them a free metal detector. Generous to the very end. My condolences Caleb and the rest of the family.

Sorry Anthony, I don’t know the serial number ranges for detectors I own now, let alone in 2008. All I can say is that usually when I get a Minelab it’s usually very early in the production run

Great posts and photos Gerry, thanks for sharing!! 👍🏼