Steve Herschbach

Hi Ronnie, As I note above, the F75 and T2 are nearly the same detector. The T2 is designed specifically to use DD coils and has an expanded ground/ferrous range, which if anything means it is probably the better prospecting machine between the two. Huge numbers of T2 detectors were sold in Africa and found a ton of gold there. That may not be too much of an exaggeration! Still, the T2 and F75 are very similar. I got the F75 mainly to have extra features it offers that frankly do not make it any better at gold. That said, I did very well with mine, as can be seen at http://www.fisherlab.com/hobby/finds-Steve-Herschbach.htm and http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/357-fisher-f75-strikes-gold-twice-in-a-row/ As far as videos go I have to admit I never watch them. Too easy to manipulate. Fisher quality control is not the best so there are weak units and hot units so that factors in also. All I can tell you is you have a great detector. It can find gold if you put it over it.

Hi Scott, Thanks for posting this. I meant to do so and got sidetracked. Looking forward to it!

I added the accessory price list to the first post at the top of the page. Very affordable, I hate getting ripped off for accessory coils. You look at what Makro can sell coils for, and they are really great coils by the way, and you have to ask why the other guys are charging what they are. It is just wire in plastic. Notice the Bluetooth headphones? Philips SHB7000 Bluetooth Headphones. These are standard Bluetooth 3.0 headphones and so any 3.0 compatible phones should work. You can buy just the Bluetooth module for $99 and use whatever headphones you want. Just keeps looking better all the time. The Phillips phones are also wired via an accessory cord so if the battery goes dead you can just plug them in. Here is the Owners Manual for the headphones http://download.p4c.philips.com/files/s/shb7000wt_28/shb7000wt_28_dfu_aen.pdf They are shown as discontinued by manufacturer at Amazon, but they get good reviews there Amazon SHB7000 page Racer Metal Detector Accessories Manufacturer’s Suggested Resale Price RC13 - DD Search Coil - (13cmx12cm - 5''X4.5'') $109.00 RC26 - DD Search Coil - (26cmx14cm - 10''x5.5'') $139.00 RC29 - DD Search Coil - (29cmx18.5cm - 11''x7'') $159.00 RC40 - DD Search Coil - (40cmx33.5cm - 15.5''X13'') $249.00 RC13 - Search Coil Cover $9.00 RC26 - Search Coil Cover $15.00 RC29 - Search Coil Cover $19.00 RC40 - Search Coil Cover $29.00 Carrying Bag $49.00 Rain Covers (Set of 2) $29.00 Treasure Pouch $9.00 Charging Kit (AC & Car Charger 4 x AA Rechargeable Batteries) $49.00 Cap with Official Makro Logo $15.00 T-Shirt with Official Makro Logo $15.00 Koss Headphone - KPH7 $20.00 Philips SHB7000 Bluetooth Headphones and Dongle $179.00 Bluetooth Dongle Only (BT module) $99.00 Middle Rod $32.00 Lower Rod $16.00 Armrest $28.00

Hi Rick, Well, I was a dealer for 35 years. I figured out early on that a good way to promote myself and my business was to be active on the internet. But how to to that and not irritate people? Very simple, actually. I live my life by simple rules. Number one of course is to try to treat people the way I would want to be treated. Another is that if you give, you will receive. My solution was to just be as helpful as I could be answering questions wherever I could find them. No spin, no agenda, just help people. It is funny but if as a dealer you forget about trying to make money and just focus on helping people - the money just takes care of itself. I am no longer a dealer but I long since found I just enjoy helping out if I can. I have a passion for metal detecting and that extends into wanting to share that passion with others. I therefore encourage anyone that shares the passion to do the same. The fact is being a dealer can be a sweet gig because it keeps you immersed in something you enjoy on a daily basis. Dealers also tend to learn a lot and have a lot of facts available about products and pricing. So yes, I do indeed welcome any and all dealers to participate on the forum, as long as they are here first and foremost to share and be helpful. That does not mean never mentioning sales. If a dealer has a killer deal on a used detector, please tell us. Metal detector at half price? I would want to know. If the product or the price rises well above the level of what anyone would normally see, the true smoking deal, let us know. The Classifieds are open for dealer use. That said, welcome to the forum Jeffery! Thanks for sharing your story and hope we can get details in the future. I am sure some gold photos (12 ounce!!) would go over well. Hope you are able to get out and chase gold again this year. You headed back to Alaska? Oh yeah, and smart move picking up Makro!

They are not hard to use but harder to master. I wish Minelab would update and miniaturize the machine because there is a market for a nugget detector that can go from 20 kHz to 60 kHz at the flip of a switch. Just not 5.3 lbs worth. At 3.3 lbs though, sign me up. Here is a blast from the past. Before the Eureka Gold there was the XT18000, and before that, the XT17000, which ran at 32 kHz. I found some nice gold with mine. Here I am with it back in 1995 - twenty years ago now!

I have not had any issues with ground balance per se with the FORS Gold. The one spot where hot rocks were bothering me I just put it in tracking and they magically went away. However - I still consider myself a newbie on the machine with experience at a limited number of locations. I use a PI most of the time. The FORS or Racer are still VLF detectors and they have not cracked some secret code. My expectation is they well do about as well as can be expected of a VLF but that is it. Some places they will just be no good. I am happy to report a reliable gent in Australia is giving the FORS a go in really bad ground, and while it is not acting like a PI, neither is it failing. Be a good guy to watch for some solid reporting. Narrawa at http://australiangoldfields.freeforums.org/nokta-makro-fors-gold-t3468.html

From the Prescott Daily Courier http://www.prescottaz.com/m/Articles.aspx?ArticleID=140625 Jack Delano Gifford, 75, passed away Jan. 3, 2015. He was born in Miami, Arizona, the son of Norval and Mayme Gifford. When Jack was about 6 years old, he and his family moved to the Phoenix area, and he lived there until he moved to Prescott, Arizona. After high school, Jack served his country in the National Guard for six years. During that time, he also earned a technical degree in electronics and started a family. In his early electronics career, he worked in the aerospace industry. During a slowdown in the '70s, he was recruited by a metal detector company and worked in that industry until his retirement. Jack was an entrepreneur and an electronics design engineer, and founded three companies. The last one, Tesoro Electronics, brought him many friends and national and international acclaim for his designs and his support of the industry. He started that company in Glendale, Arizona, in 1980 and when he moved it to Prescott in 1991, it provided new technical jobs and industry for this area. Jack started visiting Prescott when he was in high school and, during his careers, he and Myrna would visit the area for some much needed R & R. Eventually he realized he could move the company to Prescott so they could enjoy the Prescott lifestyle full-time. Jack loved his family, motorcycles, metal-detecting and working on vintage stereo equipment. He also built the speakers to complete the systems, many of which he gave to family and friends. After retirement, he became a PADI-certified scuba-diver. Jack joined American Lutheran Church and served on their board. He was part of the Tuesday night men's Bible study and worked in ALC's outreach programs such as The Rock and Teen Closet. He also worked at the Prescott Community Cupboard Food Bank and served on their board. Jack is survived by his wife of 54 years, Myrna; sons James and Vince (Katy); three amazing granddaughters, Isabella, Lily and Charlotte; sister Gloria Gray; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents, infant daughter Kelly Jeanine, and sister Glenna.

Well, if it is in like new condition I would be very tempted myself at $500. The Eureka is a good detector with a great lineage. It is just that 5.3 pounds and $1049 is more what we expect from a PI for weight and price. That in a nutshell is why very few of them are seen in use in the US. They are better suited for the intense mineralization found in Australia but in our milder ground much lighter less expensive machines fare as well or better. Perhaps the best thread of all time on the Eureka Gold can be found at https://www.prospectingaustralia.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1053 One of the main posters on that thread, argyle, does a fantastic history and review of the Eureka Gold and its predecessors at Link deleted since Findmall Forum update broke all old links Here is a sad little story. Coiltek came out with a 6" coil to work with the Eureka at the 60 khz frequency. The machine had always lacked a small high frequency coil which held it back from ever getting mentioned in the same breath as the Gold Bug 2 or GMT. I made noise about the need for one for years. Last year when Coiltek came out with the coil they offered to send me one free to try out. I had to inform them that neither I nor anybody that I know had a Eureka to try it on! To this day I am curious how the Eureka with that coil stands up next to the Bug or GMT.

Tracking is off by default. You normally just ground grab and go. Or maybe ground grab, then tweak setting manually up or down. Finally, you can just go to full tracking. At MSRP $649 I do not know of any machine that gives you that many ground balance options. White's GMT at MSRP $799 is closest I can think of offhand.

The ground balance is the same as that on the FORS CoRe. Seems simple in practice. All they are saying is the ground balance covers a 500 point range so it is capable of fine tuning. Since ground varies however perfect ground balance can never be achieved so no point in getting too caught up in it. I have to admit these days I usually just do the ground grab thing and go detecting.

Frustration for sure. It is all just musical chairs. Label Bounty Hunter as Fisher. Label Fisher as Teknetics. Label Bounty Hunter as Teknetics. I wonder how many detectors First Texas has now in total under $500 between all three brands?

I used digital powder scales for inexpensive accuracy, good to 1/10th grain (1/4800th oz) and just convert for home use or buying and selling. I have an older version of these RCBS powder scales, AC or battery operated with calibrations weights, will weigh up to 750 grains (1.5625 Troy Ounces). You can get them for $120 bucks at Sportsman's Warehouse. For general field use and anything but buying and selling I have been very happy with the US Magnum 500, will weigh up to 500 grams (16 Troy Ounces) and is accurate to 0.1 gram. It can weigh in Troy ounces, pennyweights, regular ounces, grams, grains, and carats. Compact with lid that doubles as weighing tray, comes with calibration weight, battery operated - and available at many places online like Amazon for less than $20.00 I have an older version with buttons in a square pattern, there are versions with buttons are in a round pattern as below.

The problem with dowsing Tom is your 30% success rate. My success rate is better than 90% using research and common sense. If you like doing it though I would be the last person in the world to give you a hard time about it. The only time I get concerned is when I see people spending big money on dowsing devices disguised as electronic instruments.

Take a look at the Teknetics Digitek screen and then look at the Bounty Hunter Quick Draw Pro. See any similarity? I would guess the F11, F22, and F44 are variations of the Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro. All Fisher needs to do now is drop the Gold Bug 2 and those pesky CZ models and the transformation into rebranded Bounty Hunter will be complete.

The G2+ is the expected F19 in Teknetics livery. Pistol grip instead of S handle, but stock with 11" x 7" DD instead of 10" x 5" DD. I like the pistol grip but prefer the F19 coil myself. Oh well, non-camo F19 should be out any minute now. Digitek being marketed for the kids? I am guessing F11, F22, and F44 are Fisher answer to Garrett Ace 150, Ace 250, and Ace 350. Notice each model has a different screen size? Probably re-branded Bounty Hunter product.

Looking good - I like the display. Very clean, intuitive.

Everybody gets their turn in the limelight. Next up will of course be Minelab. Nokta/Makro will have to get with the program because you and I know there will be no gold left in Australia a year from now! That said I am waiting for anybody, Minelab included, to produce a decent lightweight PI at under $2000 US. Minelab could do it but abandoned the under $3000 price point. Garrett could easily do it but so far has not. White's got the weight and price right but are lacking the horsepower. It is going to happen, just a matter of who does it.

Large coil is 13.25" x 15.5" DD same as FORS Gold. You and I Mike can now start our lobbying campaign for the 3" x 18" coil that nobody else will make for us. Then 14.25" measurement in the photo is lengthwise in the middle notch to notch.

That is the problem with an early announcement. You tell people about something before it is ready, and it is impossible to have the information you ask for because the machine is still under development. So do they tell you about it early or not? If they wait to have it all wrapped up with a bow then it is already done and you get no ability to have input to make changes before it is set in stone. The display is monotone with a color decal above. There is no rush to buy and videos and such will follow in good time. They actually have to make some first though. The official Makro Racer page is now up at http://makrodetector.com/racer-metal-detector.html Three pounds - excellent!

Very nice Fred! Happy Birthday to your daughter. I will put a CD together of photos from when you visited Moore Creek and send you. I plan on activating the photo gallery part of the forum and putting my entire photo collection online in the future. Lots of stuff there Moore Creek visitors would love to see or have copies of.

No, don't be quiet. The forum will die if everyone is quiet. So Ray, what you want to bet that somebody will complain about the change? Or complain the Pro Pack does not have three coils. Or say it was all a plot, they announced the first package as a ploy knowing full well they would change it, just to manipulate hearts and minds. Gotta love the forums!

That same thread was posted here at http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/579-makro-racer-change-in-the-pro-package/ that is what a Ray and I were referring to. Forget detectors guys, we know deep down they are all more or less as good. What we are witnessing is a true break though in metal detecting. A company that listens, then responds. They will makes mistakes but I hope people remember this and just chill out and have a polite discussion about it because they will fix it. We are so used to yelling and not being heard we do not yet know how to handle a company like this. A company we can engage in adult discussion.

It was in the same announcement Ray. The Gold Racer will sport the 5.5" x 10" DD as the stock coil. Amazing, instantaneous response.

We are witnessing something never seen before in metal detector history. A company that not only listens but responds in a real way. I am so used to companies turning a deaf ear to us (they know best) that this development is stunning. I am with you Merton. These new kids on the block have my support and I will forgive them a lot. They are earning it. Dilek, truly stunning response. Amazing. The detectors have yet to fully prove themselves to everyone but you have already proven one thing. Nokta/Makro are now the top company when it comes to customer engagement. The rest rate poor to horrible. Good job.

Yeah, it is off by default. From the Owner's Manual at http://www.noktadedektor.com/dl/fors-documents/fors-gold-en/fors-gold-user-manual-en.pdf VIBRATION: This feature enables the device to provide vibration feedback as well as audio when a target is detected during searching. Vibration can be used alone without audio feedback. When the volume is turned off, target detection will be conveyed to the user by vibration. Vibration level can be adjusted from 0 to 5. When set to 0, vibration will be deactivated. By adjusting the vibration level between 1 and 5, you can change the speed of vibration, in other words the effect felt by the user, in all search modes. At level 1, the device will only vibrate on more definite targets (shallow) and the target's vibration signal will be longer. At the maximum level 5, the device will vibrate with smaller target signals (deeper) and the vibration signals will be shorter. The speed of vibration will vary based on target depth and sweep speed. When you turn off and on the device, it will start with the last vibration level you chose. This setting is common to all modes; changes will take effect in all modes. The speed of vibration is fixed in the pinpointing mode; it cannot be adjusted. In other words, there is no difference between 1 and 5. But when it is set to 0, it will be off just like in the search modes. In the pinpointing mode, the speed of vibration will increase as you get closer to the center of target response and it will reach its maximum level at the center. The vibration feature of FORS Gold has been developed with hearing impaired people in mind. The hearing impaired users have to follow the screen constantly and this can be tough during searching. There is a good chance that they will miss a target when they are not looking at the screen. Vibration feature enables the hearing impaired users to metal detect more conveniently.