Steve Herschbach

16 hours ago, Joe Beechnut OBN said:

Just got this in my emails, they drop it to 999.00 I just may go for it.. 

 

 

$1399 had me at least thinking, but no. $999 and I'd have to do it - somebody give me a poke if they see it happen. 

4 hours ago, Rattlehead said:

Well, I was getting ready to brag about my worn out Spanish half reale, but then I saw Steve's post with a 3500 y/o find. Makes mine seem brand new by comparison. 🤣

Amazing find Steve!

Well, the question was what was the oldest thing YOU have ever found, not the oldest that any of us ever found.

4 hours ago, RickUK said:

Steve,amazing find that BA Palstave,some of them come out the ground after say 3000+ years and still as sharp as the day they got buried,some also come out the ground with amazing Patination but one thing that needs watching is Bronze disease which can start corroding the actual bronze away and destroying the Bronze item,so it has to be specially treated by a skilled person.

I was told the same thing at the time. Did nothing though and five years later looks no different than when I found it, except cleaner. Maybe the danger is overrated, or I just got lucky with the dry desert air here. Took this picture ten minutes ago....

Here are some in better shape

16 minutes ago, kac said:

That is true. It still becomes an issue when someone is shopping for a detector they have limited scope on comparing different machines. Someone new is more likely to then just snag some cheap pos from ebay or amazon as they have little guidance. YouTube is laughable with all the bs hype about different machines and apple and oranges comparisons.

Well, like they say, a fool and his money are soon parted. Our entire system is designed to get you to give your money to somebody else. You either have some sense in these things or you will always be poor. Economic Darwinism at work. Luckily it's always those other people who are falling for the nonsense, because we are all smarter than that, right. 

Bronze Age (circa 1500-1400 BC) cast copper alloy primary shield pattern palstave, dating to the Acton Park Phase (photo of Steve by Tim Blank with permission)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palstave

https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/10874-steves-2019-uk-adventure/

7 minutes ago, GB_Amateur said:

Small correction, but I think all the F75 models have static all metal.  I do find their nomenclature confusing:  'Limited', 'Ltd', 'Special Edition', 'SE', etc.

Here's the manual for the regular (gold shaft) model after Digital Shielding Technology (DST) was added, but in addition I have a pre-DST manual for the gold model and it also shows static all metal:

Could be - I was really just talking about T2 vs F75 and knew the Ltd had static AM for sure, not saying other models did not. The mix of F75 features changed so much over the years and diving into that was not worth my time.

Just now, abcoin said:

I'm also curious about this. I've assumed in the past that it was mostly good for finding caches/large things? But maybe it's useful for coins/relics as well? 

No you had it right the first time. Large deep stuff.

On 3/24/2024 at 8:51 PM, phrunt said:

I can't recall why, but I do recall in an interview with Dave Johnson that made them he said the T2 was better for gold nuggets than the F75, both run the same frequency so not sure the reasoning, I honestly can't remember, if it's all metal was better or there was some other reason.  It's been so long since I read it. 

 

T2 has expanded ferrous range compared to F75, and since gold readings meld seamlessly into ferrous readings more finesse there is better for nugget hunting.

There is no particular difference in the AM mode between the two models, but the F75 Ltd does offer a static all metal mode the T2 lacks.

Here is a the most curious thing I noticed. The original AQ had a maximum pulse delay of 11.5 uS. Later a change was made to increase that to a maximum of 15 uS.

The current pictures on the FT website at show 11.5 uS on the control faceplate still. And maybe they just never made a new decal, had a ton to use so never changed it. I never ever saw one that said 15 uS. But the User Manual now linked to on the new FT website also shows 11.5 Us as the maximum pulse delay.

FT linked User Manual for Impulse AQ

However, Kellyco still has the last manual I ever saw, a newer manual, linked to on their Impulse AQ page, and it shows 15 uS as the max pulse delay.

Kellyco Impulse AQ User Manual

It appears Kellyco no longer stocks the AQ but sells as special order only, lead time up to 14 days. Good luck with FT selling direct faster for less.

My guess is the max is 15 uS and First Texas never changed the faceplate. And that whoever made the new FT website goofed and linked to an older manual. But for some reason they could also be selling the unit now with the pulse delay set to 11.5 Us max with faceplate and manual to match.

Frankly I have no idea and only FT knows the answer on this one.

8 hours ago, RickUK said:

@Steve Herschbach “Almost sounds like Fisher is liquidating all the older models - hope something new is coming to replace them and it's not a getting out of the detector business sale. Has a cash flow desperation feel to it.”

That is bang on the nail,that is what i have been saying for well over a year,me thinks things at Fisher are not all that healthy and even with this pruning of inventory i dont think they will survive.....of course time will tell and its a good time for us as detectorist and the bargains that we can grab.

Of course i hope that i am seriously wrong but but gut feeling tells me that i am not.

1 hour ago, Prickly Prospector said:

edit: My bad, I believe Phil has a demo model for those in Vic Aus wishing a hands on look.

So you are saying he is not a dealer? I know nothing about it either way; not paying much attention to any of this until some word comes down on U.S. availability. In my part of the world it's all moot if we can't buy them.

13 hours ago, kac said:

Late chiming in here, it is never good to compete with your resellers. Seems like they want to maximize profits but the downside of selling direct is you have to hit the pavement and start peddling product. That can be a daunting and expensive task when your resellers would be doing that for you on a much larger scale. Customer support is the next issue as when you have no dealers representing and assisting products then thats the other task that is needed.

End of the day it's better to leave the footwork to the dealers and concentrate on designing and building products.

The reality is the there are a few excellent dealers. That's true. But the majority are order takers and no stock drop shippers, that know less than many of their customers, who compete from their basement with cutthroat pricing. Their idea of customer support is “call the manufacturer.” The idea that all dealers are knowledgeable people educating their customers and actually generating sales is laughable in this day and age. The vast majority of us have no decent dealer nearby, at best a big box store. Most buyers as a result get on the internet, Google around, find a deal, and place the order. No interaction at all. I was one of those very good dealers and appreciate the sentiment, but I also as a result have a very low opinion of what passes as a dealer these days. It’s no wonder the manufacturers are axing them or bypassing them, as they are simply leeches on the profit. Sadly, the good dealers will get caught in the grinder also.

1 hour ago, Gerry in Idaho said:

The GB-2 has a Love it or Hate it relationship with many.  It's my favorite VLF to train customers on as I can toss a small piece of gold in front of them and most newbies can't find it. After the 3 days Field Training, the customers are so in tune, they're loving it and finding gold. 

Gold only detector, for the masses I would much rather sell a GM-1000. For those few who want to Succeed much sooner and be dialed in with their detector, it was the GB-2.  Now the Equinox 800/900 and 24K have taken over GB-2 sales for the most part as they can do more,  tell you more and handle a variety of soils better than GB-2. 

Main problem is the average person does not read a manual and learn how to ground balance. I had so many Bug owners come in and tell me “I got a signal, dug, and nothing was there” and I immediately knew they were not properly ground balanced.

Much as I’m tempted I have finally… finally! learned that going back to older models I used to own is an exercise in nostalgia. I let them go for a reason and going back has never worked out. So while I’m tempted I’m not going to pull that trigger.

13 hours ago, rexhavoc said:

Can someone point me to the Fisher eBay site? Finding a lot of other vendors but not as above - thx.

It’s not really Fisher anymore, it’s First Texas Products. I'm guessing you were searching for Fisher.

19 hours ago, RONS DETECTORS MINELAB said:

I used my gold bug 2 yesterday to check some lower grade quartz specimens out. It’s the next best thing to the gold falcon 20 in checking for small fly specks.

Fisher has finally lowered the price on these gold bug 2 detectors to less than $500 with both 6 & 10” coils offered on their eBay site when using the best offer option. Even cheaper than the dealers get them for. 😳

Crap, makes me think of springing for one. One of my all time favorite detectors over the years. Almost sounds like Fisher is liquidating all the older models - hope something new is coming to replace them and it's not a getting out of the detector business sale. Has a cash flow desperation feel to it.

Steve with 4.95 ounce nugget found with GB2 14”

with 14 dwt nugget

Another nugget

with "Bulldog Nugget"

with 3 ounce specimen

It's not just weight. Honestly, inexpensive modern models like a Minelab Vanquish will not only weigh less but outperform most older machines. No more money and a full warranty. If a person did a head to head between a $199 Vanquish 340 and an XLT I think the results might shock a lot of people.

20 minutes ago, phrunt said:

does someone with more modern more expensive detectors need it.

No. I have in the past gone backwards and got old models I owned in the past, and in every instance it was just nostalgia at work. The new ones are better, that's why the old ones go away in the first place. It makes as much sense as trading my current PC for a ten year old one, or going back to an older iPhone model.

10 minutes ago, phrunt said:

can't think of any reason I'd use it in a serious manor over my other better detectors

Probably the best EMI friendly machine I have ever used due to the 19 kHz frequency missing almost all the interference that's out there.

3 hours ago, GB_Amateur said:

just sharks in a feeding frenzy after seeing blood in the water

Fairly damning indictment of the members. Frankly I've observed little of that. Most of the criticism is warranted and generally motivated by a desire to see the company do better, not to tear it down. I'd love for First Texas to succeed, but they have been their own worst enemy for a decade now.

Yeah, the Gold Bug/F19/G2, one of the best little machines ever made. A blast to use and quite effective for what it is designed to do.

4 hours ago, Slimpickuns said:

Hope Fisher is still around to honor the 2 year warranty on this machine, with the potential problems it can have, that warranty comes in very handy..😉

 

Fisher is not going anywhere. What should be more concerning is what the out of warranty cost of repair will be on these machines, that will fail sooner rather than later.

The truth Chuck is nobody cares. Most people on this forum know what they want and will not be asking a salesperson to tell them what they need. By the time I ever talk to a salesperson I know exactly what I want and their only job is to get it for me. That's why most retail people now are not salespeople, they are order takers. Like McDonalds. I tell them I want a burger and fries, they sell it to me. I walk into Best Buy looking for a big screen TV, I promise you I'll not be asking the staff which one I should buy. I knew before I walked in the door. That's retail now, and it is not the companies driving it that way, it's the customers.

As far as that person that walks into a store with zero knowledge and gets sold a nugget detector thinking it's a coin detector? Frankly, that's on them. Anyone that does not care enough about a purchase to learn anything about what they are buying does not get a ton of sympathy from me. Trust is earned, not given, and I'd never trust a salesperson without having a very good reason for doing so. There are some very good ones out there you can trust (a few are on these forums), but they are like rare gemstones in mountains of manure in today's retail environment. It's a fact they often do not have your best interest in mind but are motivated by a sales bonus for selling high priced stuff, or been tasked with getting rid of slow moving product. Just assume salespeople know nothing. You will almost always be right and experience far less disappointment.

12 hours ago, phrunt said:

I don't see any reason the staff in these stores couldn't know enough to sell the right product to the customer to suit their needs like they do for the fishing and other sporting goods they sell, it's not rocket science.

Easy answer - low pay, high turnover.

47 minutes ago, Joe Beechnut OBN said:

Thanks for sharing.  I do not regret paying 1500.oo  for either of the machines I got and  I 'm hoping this is not the end for the AQ.. than again I got mine. 

I totally hope it is the end of the AQ and it is replaced with the machine we were promised and deserve. I sold my AQ for no reason other than the replacement was said to be right around the corner. Three years and I'm still waiting, but hoping that wait will not go on forever. I'm cautiously optimistic the extra wait will have been worth it.

The video looks decent in HD.

Hmmmm.... interesting. It would make sense to leverage the very expensive development cost of that housing into more than one model. And personally I'm tired of pod on a stick designs, which are generally nose heavy enough that I find the well balanced Axiom to be no less strain to swing all day, even if it is heavier. A nice thing might be if it does have a color screen etc. it might also be mated to a week long battery in that housing instead of the short day battery you get with something smaller like a Manticore.

What I find interesting is that if it was just an Axiom slapped into the video that's one thing, but this was done up with the detail of the cable being run internally up the rod. Nice touch if it is a fake, but if it is a fake, why bother? To fool Steve H? Don't know and I have no inside knowledge but it's not an impossibility.

Better screenshot....

On 4/1/2024 at 12:52 PM, schoolofhardNox said:

Without Joe, the AQ would not be much fun to swing. Even with 2 batteries, you would be lucky to get 5 hours total. I wonder what was actually done to them recently?

Almost nothing that 9m aware of. The last detector that Joe has had changes that were never implemented. What is being sold now is basically the same Fisher AQ as was sold in the beginning. Same 3.5 hour battery, same delicate cables, etc. What you see pictured on the First Texas website is what you get. Current User Manual referenced on that same website.

Ultimately there are some real questions about the max pulse delay setting and quality of the potentiometers being used at this time. Only First Texas can answer those questions, and people should be inquiring them for answers to those questions. In general all we are doing here is speculating and voicing opinions. What is clear is what is advertised on the FT website and nobody should expect anything more than what is being advertised.

George Payne

It's basically colored glass so no streak or conductivity. Other types, iron slags, might be real reactive with a detector. Some might even leave a streak. It just depends on what the original source material is that was being smelted.