Leaderboard

My nugget tally with the Z19 is slowly growing. What is evident already is that it'll get the bigger bits down deep, but still doesn't miss the smaller stuff. Confusing signals are reduced, and confidence in a good deep response has grown. In hot ground, factory preset settings with Volume up 1 or 2 clicks, and Sensitivity down 1 or 2 clicks and it runs great.

It does seem strange at first glance until you think about it; since increasing the Volume Limit has no effect on faint targets, it just makes sense to turn in down just low enough to where a strong target response is actually comfortable to listen to. It makes detecting in trashy areas almost pleasant. ?

Hi Andyy, the reason the GPZ is a different animal is down to a number of factors. Better EMI and Sferic rejection compared to any other detector made by Minelab before. Super D coil which manifests its signal response differently and also handles ground signals differently compared to a mono coil. Factory preset for Audio Smoothing (Stabilizer) is equivalent to 15 on a 5000. More aggressive Tx. Exact control over Rx sample times thanks to ZVT. The most obvious difference to an experienced MPS user is the audio of the GPZ, it is very quiet but also busy at the same time. Target responses are subdued because of the coil design but so is the ground response. Also the threshold is demonstrating more information about the ground rather than being constantly affected by sferic and EMI noise, so now you can actually hear when the coil is passing over magnetic gold bearing soils. If you want to understand why the threshold and general detector behavior of the GPZ 7000 is so different to MPS then place the detector flat on the ground in an area with no EMI, go into the settings and select Audio Smoothing OFF and listen to the threshold volume, after a minute take the Audio Smoothing from OFF to High (High is the Equivalent setting of 10 FP on the GPX 5000), notice how the detector sounds really quiet and Smooth? Audio Smoothing on 10 (Eqiv to High on GPZ) is baseline for the GPX 5000 and even then it still suffers from EMI, whereas the GPZ can easily run on OFF but there is a corresponding increase in threshold and Detector Volume, this is because you can easily work with the GPZ unfiltered thanks to major improvements in its electronics allowing you to tap into the full amount of target information of the detector. However that extra unfiltered information means you have to relearn the way the detector behaves from a volume point of view yet at the same time come to terms with the ground cancelling effect of the SuperD coil. The coil runs quiet, the detector electronics run quiet, but ZVT is aggressive. That is why I always advocate conservative settings if you want performance/depth, let the electronics do the work, don't hamstring the detector because it sounds too quiet on target responses, come to terms with the more subtle way ZVT/SuperD behaves, the information is there you just have to learn how to recognize it. JP

Volume Limit is just a blast limiter - it chops off high end responses without changing low responses. In theory lowering Volume Limit while increasing Volume will boost faint signals but it will also boost ground noise.

Andy, Steve is right; the Volume Limit merely sets the maximum volume that a target can make, and so has no effect on boosting a faint target response. To do that, you need to increase the Volume setting, which controls the internal amplifier. Until you find the right combination of audio settings that work best for you, feel free to give mine a try here:

An inside look at the manufacturer of Bounty Hunter, Fisher, and Teknetics metal detectors, based in El Paso, Texas. You can also take the Garrett Tour, Minelab Tour, and White's Tour

Lucky, I've saved the Yakima roof rack with 2 bike carriers and a silver fiberglass pod from my old Mercedes, it doesn't fit any of my cars so I'm not using it, just sitting in my garage taking up space... you can have it if you want, just have to find a way to pick it up in the south San Francisco Bay Area. clark

Lunk, I do like your settings as well. I fall back to these fairly often as the settings seem especially sensitive on the small gold in my area. If I recall correctly, you had a very low setting on the volume limit which I thought was strange. That was another reason I thought I would toss the question out there. Now after hearing from everyone, I think I just over thought it a bit. Thanks again. Andy

I prefer dancing girls to operate my pick. So far they prefer round magnets and Hermit picks. If they change their minds (their prerogative from what I've been told) then it will be square or rectangular possibly triangular or asymmetric - I make it a habit not to argue with dancing girls with picks. YMMV

After logging 200 hours behind the Zed pod and unearthing over an ounce of nuggety yellow goodness, I'd like to share my settings with my fellow forum members who would like to take them out for a spin. Since settings like the Gold Mode, Ground Type and Sensitivity are dependent on the local conditions where one is detecting, my focus here is mainly the audio settings. As some of you may know, my audio settings for the GPX range of detectors were very unconventional, and it is no different with the GPZ 7000; at first glance these settings may seem counter-intuitive, but give them a try because you may just be pleasantly surprised. Before getting into the settings proper, I want to mention that they are intended for use with the supplied WM-12 Wireless Module, utilizing its external speaker. I haven't tried it with headphones yet, so feel free to experiment if you use them. I noticed right away that the Zed's pre-set audio out of the box is extremely weak, especially on faint target signals. Using an aftermarket signal enhancer like JP's B&Z booster would work wonders for it, but I surmised that a $10,000 piece of technology would have some kickin' audio amplification and modulation, and the Zed certainly does have! It is VERY IMPORTANT to make the adjustments to the audio functions in the order that they are presented below: A key component to this audio setup is enhancing the signal via the Volume function, which controls the level of amplification of a target's audio response, relative to its signal strength, so we'll start there: adjust the Volume to 15. This will really amplify any faint signal from very small or deep targets. The next audio function is the Threshold Level, which we will adjust to 35. If the threshold level is set too high or too low, faint targets will be missed. A setting of 35 is optimum for this particular combination of audio settings. The Threshold Pitch setting is a matter of personal preference, so adjust it to a tone that is comfortable to your own hearing. I personally prefer a setting of 25, as it supplies a nice full tonal range from a booming bassy bottom through to a crisp, clean high tone when a target signal is encountered. The next function we will adjust is the Audio Smoothing: set it to High. This may seem counter-productive, but it is essential to getting the most distinct target response possible, nice and crisp. I learned this technique long ago from my mentor Larry Salee, a great detectorist whom some of you may remember from his famed "Zip-Zip" series of publications. This leads us on to the next function, Volume Limit, which sets the maximum loudness that a target can make; set too high, it can over-modulate or distort the external speaker and potentially damage your hearing, especially when using headphones. Turn it down to 1, and while swinging the coil over a large metal object such as your pick, gradually increase the setting until the sound is uncomfortably loud; then back it off until the sound is comfortable to listen to. For my hearing, a Volume Limit setting of 3 is perfect. In summary, here are my audio settings back to back: Volume: 15 Threshold Level: 35 Threshold Pitch: 25 Audio Smoothing: High Volume Limit: 3 This audio set-up works with any combination of Gold Mode and Ground Type settings, and is very stable in conjuction with a Sensitivity setting of anywhere from 8 to 15, depending on local conditions, and provides a pleasant, silky-smooth threshold while at the same time delivering a crisp, distinct target response. Please feel free to let me know what you think of these audio settings after giving them a go in your favorite goldfield or nugget patch, especially if you have the oportunity to compare them to your own settings on undisturbed, un-dug targets - preferably gold nuggets! Now for those of you interested, I'd also like to share my complete Zed settings for the greater Rye Patch region of northern Nevada; they handle the area's noisy, variable ground found in most nugget patches extremely well. In addition to the above audio settings, they are: Gold Mode: High Yield Ground Type: Difficult Sensitivity: 15 Ground Balance Mode: Auto Thanks for reading, and happy prospecting!

So i decided to treat myself but not for any particular reason :) so i got myself a used CTX with 3 coils.......the wireless module, complete protection ,brand new XP back headphones but no charger :( , also got an xterra gold pack on his way used also but after swapping some gear with a friend and 13" detect coil for my Gbug....and i think thats all,no ...i forgot a headhunter pulse i bought and left to a friend who never used it ........i think i got enough gear for a while..... RR

This question has been touched upon in some other topics, but I still am not clear. The manual says that: a high volume limit will "allow a greater difference between a small and a large target". a low volume limit will "reduce the volume difference between a small and large target" If I want my small gold or large gold signals to stand out, I would think a medium to higher number would give the best volume response to really make a target stand out from ground noise. Just curious on the thoughts and experience of others with this setting.

Lemony Snicket ! That sure beats a couple of lumps of coal. For some reason Jolly Old Saint Nick is known to monitor this forum. We are all sure you meant to say... decided to treat all my heirs in the spirit of Christmas... Been contemplating putting my non-detectable coal-lump collection from Christmases past up for trade for any advise on how to get oneself off the top of this naughty list? Meri Christmas from the colonies.

Fun read. Thanks for sharing . Patrick

Ok, I am having a ball with the 19", getting to really like it. I suspect it is a more advanced coil then the 14", or perhaps it is just its size but it is as quiet as (keep settings JP conservative) and powerful. You have probably had those signals "disappear" with the 14" and you`ve had to widen out your hole to get coil in (signals still too deep to pick up on side). Well get ready for the 19" because you are going to get more, especially with the deep smaller bits around 1 gram. These occurrences or digs really push home the message air tests are totally meaningless when in the real world. Now to talk ML into making us say a 11x12 or such that if possible is as quiet as the 19"....................... maybe 60% lighter I never said that............

I generally run my Volume Limit on 9. If I'm in an area with quite a bit of shallow trash, I'll drop it to 7

Boy I hope so Barry. I can not stress enough how important this is for the small claim owner with unpatented claims. Once this designation happens you are forever after in the "withdrawn" status. When the Feds slapped a Wild & Scenic River designation over our historic mining district, they not only included the river but many of the side streams that had historic active mining claims! Very offensive to those of us that were here. Countless meetings and always we were told " don't worry, you have valid existing rights". We were assured this would not impact our existing claims or operations because we were not "new" operations. Well, guess what, all new regs have the caveat that these only apply to "new operations , or those on withdrawn lands" !! The last 30 years have been a constant battle over validity. Once they get you into their web of "withdrawn" status it is a regulatory quagmire headache.

Hey Chuck, Most are gone, but still have a few. I'm not selling mine though .... LOL

For all the current claim owners within that area of withdrawal holding unpatented claims, I can not stress enough you must fight this with all your resources!! Do not listen when BLM tells you "don't worry, you have valid existing rights" ! The moment your claims become entwined in a Withdrawn Area you will forever be fighting over what "valid" means. The nightmare will begin!!

Good advice Clay, arguing may lead to a rusty pick.

Thanks Clay. I kind of posted that tongue in cheek. But here in Ca.,the land of the fee and home of the depraved, public comment, writing the elected or attending public information meetings is worse than a bad joke. Bad jokes don't waste as much time. Just to keep this within the realm of this forum-- Do you prefer round or square magnets on you pick?

That won't work for the Vulture area - there never was a district formed. That whole concept isn't going to work in Arizona because the original districts were exclusive - as in they excluded new miners, all Mexicans (new or already owning claims) and usually Chinese for good measure. I know the current miners there and I seriously doubt you could ever get a majority of claim owners to vote to form a district. In some states it's illegal to reform mining districts. Sometimes it's just better to do the thing yourself.

Re activate the appropriate mining district.

I will tell you this, a high volume limit will blow your ears out if you hunt in trashy California with headphones. I run mine at 6 or 7 to keep the decibels down

RR don`t like your hopes of seeing a big price drop on the Z, but be good to see a QED and other new detectors. I have submitted my interests in the QED and should be advised once one is available.... Having had a successful backyard manufacturing business myself thus a bit of a soft spot there, I`ll give the QED a go as my early customers gave me a go, time will tell.

I've hunted ground covered heavily by 4500s and 5000s, and I came in with my GP3500 and found a lot of gold they missed, and then the GPZ was released, and I found even more gold than the 3500 on the same ground. That just tells me its more of skill, luck and persistence.

I must admit that even with the weight of the thing I quite like using the 19 and for a while at least I will continue to use it. Using the ML supplied swing arm and putting a solid skid plate on it really helped. And I`ve thrown all settings out the window and starting from scratch and at this stage I still don`t know what settings I`m going to settle on but I am leaning towards NORMAL ground. A big plus with this coil is in normal it doesn`t get the hotrocks like the 14 does. But at this stage I have seen no evidence what so ever of 30% deeper. And I`m not talking about multi ounce nuggets, I`d like to get the occasional 5-10 grammer that`s a bit deeper. I am very interested in reading how this coil does in the States. Dave

Yeah, I think Johnno has summed up the majority of the feeling of the 19 downunder. It appears if you compare it with others re. air tests or nuggets reburied you are going to be disappointed, not so for me out on the ground on undug nuggets I`m very happy, mine is well in the black in the ledger. Will be interesting to see how it goes in the US.

Hey Scott, Got solid confirmation they are shipping today (Friday) and the remainder Monday per Minelab America's. My best guess, any dealer that had a pre-order in a long time ago will at least have some coils allocated off this shipment. I will have yours for sure! Take care, Rob Allison Rob's Detector Sales

The GPZ 19" coil is a beast in more weighs than won! I would love to see a small coil for the ZED especially if it was nice and light. But one things for certain I do not want an open webbed coil, that's my main complaint with the 19". JP

Technically neither type is clearly superior but both excel in certain areas. In a nutshell DD coils tend to do better in bad ground but concentrics are often superior in lower mineral ground. They may offer better depth if operated properly in low mineral ground and better target id accuracy. Details from Dave Johnson: Searchcoil Field Shape - DD vs Concentric and more from Dave All About Searchcoils Prospectors tend to always think DD coils are better on VLF detectors but as I point out periodically the Gold Bug 2 only has concentric coils available and nobody would argue it can't find gold. People often think DD coils are better because they feature this magic vertical edged detection pattern that shoots straight down whereas a concentric coil supposedly has a cone shaped field. Neither is true as simple tests can prove. The detection pattern on a round concentric coil on coin size targets is more like a soccer ball cut in half, and the DD coil is more like a U.S. football cut in half lengthwise.

Chuck, you would be surprised at how many detectorists of all sorts including coin hunters think concentric coils have no place in detecting. DD all the way for them, and demand for concentric coils is very low because of it. I think if you polled around on the coin hunting forums you would find most coin hunters run DD coils, and in fact concentric coils are not even an option for many of the top coin detectors on the market. I am with you - I prefer concentric coils. I also understand however they are a hard sell for manufacturers so I would not hold my breath on this one.

I think that "pinch" of gold was about 1.5 grams, wasn't it? And sold for about $250 retail? Worth about $60 now. Was worth about $0.73 back in the day.... A lot more than tenfold!

You obviously bought the wrong piece of gold.