Tony

As per the title. Happy to pay a good price but needs to be shipped to Australia. Don't need any shafts so just the control box and coil / headphones. Thanks, Tony

Is there just one faceplate screw that actually grounds to the case/board or do all faceplate screws need the clean contact with the case?

As per my post.

Might be a typo but the GAIN is on the RX side (how well a detector listens). The TX is how loud the detector can "shout into the ground". But yes, the magic is on the RX side. I don't see GAIN as having any power function as such.....to me, its like the SQUELCH control on my UHF radio.

I'm not seeing that at all.....but....... I agree emphatically with the rest of your post.

Either Mick or Woody's, I'm not sure but I have seen recent mod videos and I'm still seeing/hearing the same. This is my opinion only and subject to change at any time 😁 There's no right or wrong in all honesty. It's what you want from your detector that you currently aren't getting (maybe). *** Mick would be my choice though ***

I'm neither a "yes' or "no" to modded detectors. I still use a stock GP3500 which I'm more than happy with. I can slap on a 20" mono or 6" mono depending on what I'm after. My (educated) choice is to use stock Minelab detectors. I have faith in the Minelab engineers and the $$$ they spend on R&D. The variable GAIN could be useful but not the way you think.....the stock 3500 has a higher GAIN input stage than the detectors that followed it. If anything, I could do with LESS GAIN than what is set within the 3500. I have seen first-hand a modded 4500 v stock 4500. The modded detector detected a test nugget slightly deeper than standard when right over the KNOWN test hole......but all around the test location was a lot of falsing that generated identical "target sounds". I can't see people digging just the true "targets"......and leaving the ground noise behind as it can't be done. A high GAIN that is generating ground noise can't always be remedied by GB. And there's EMI to also add to the mix. Then there's the substantial cost of the mod and the fact that modders need to be very careful when heating to remove and add components. Overheating can degrade component specs quite easily without obvious damage. So each to their own I guess. The focus of these mods seems to be orientated to smaller and smaller gold which is the path that Minelab is on. I haven't really answered the specific questions but have seen a modded 4500 v standard 4500 (mine) and my decision was an easy one to make. Granted this was some years ago but I'm still staying with stock detectors.

Except a lot of the time, I see detector operators wandering around the goldfields in the hope of finding gold. When this is the case, it is the detector that finds the gold. But with Chuck, then I agree with you completely.

And we're happy to get any details from you if possible............even if we have to dangle you by your feet over a deep mine shaft 😑

Genuine one from REEDS bought in 2015 when they re-released it. I'm sure there was nothing wrong with it just needed to tame it to a degree. Maybe the ground wasn't so "medium" after all ?

Got me thinking......when I had a 4500 many years ago, I could never run it past about 2/3 GAIN.....even in moderate ground. I'm wondering where (ground) the extra GAIN (from mods) would be of any use? I know that GAIN mods are done on the front end input stage.......and the GAIN setting on stock 4500's are taken care of further "downstream". Therefore the GAIN range on a stock 4500 is relative to its front input stage but that was always more than enough from my detecting here in WA. The speedo on my 76 Landcruiser goes to 220kmh but things start getting sketchy at 110kmh 🤪 I'm only ever using 50% of its GAIN......🤣

Okay, I'm with you know....phew. "Added extra (GAIN) control".

I haven't heard that before......I'm definitely not saying it's an untruth but it sure goes against everything I "thought" I knew about detectors.

Probably the aspect that puts me off is that any actual "target sound" is now matched by the adjacent ground "ground noise? / target noise?". Very rare to see a modded detector that is actually quiet on its approach to a target (that it can now detect with increased GAIN).........GAIN just can't differentiate between a target and ground noise.

I'm still 50/50 on modded detectors. Is there such a thing as a "free lunch". What is clear is the added sensitivity/depth on targets along with the extra ground response. Can you mentally hunt like that all day? Having said what I've said, Mick is the only one that I would have mod my GP3500. I need to take a look at the grounding on my 3500 case as I'm sure it's painted over.