Tony

Don't let Minelab see these prices....allowing for inflation, today's prices aren't too bad 🤑

Hello Clive, I've only used it in ankle deep water for a short period of time so any observations are somewhat limited. For me personally.....and in my conditions, I "feel" the 15" in the water. These "open web" coils have a lot of leading edges that the water really grabs onto. In deeper and/or calm water then it may not be too much of a problem. I'm finding that lower sensitivity settings isn't diminishing the reach of the Manticore on deeper targets. I'm still trying to find the sweet spot with the Sensitivity settings.....I don't mind running a detector a bit ragged but I feel the Manticore doesn't offer a lot more "depth" at the higher settings....more so in the saturated sand. I've used pulse detectors for a long time and so running the Manticore in the "Prospecting" and "Deep Beach" is just an extension of the pulse detector. I don't want to make the same mistake I did with the "10uS Pulse delay at all costs" mistake I did many years ago.....too much salt noise and not enough gold in fast salt conditions ! How ratty do I run the Manticore.......no point in running at 25 when 20 does the job just as well (and getting better target ID) Love this machine....seriously impressed. Got some homework to do in regard to the Sensitivity setting on the Manticore......so easy using the Sens on the Excalibur (let it false slightly and then back off a touch). Maybe I need to read your book !!

That's what I would have expected as well but so far, the M15 (same setting for setting) can accept a slightly higher Sensitivity setting.....I'm sure the environment was the same (similar tide times and area of beach). I'm wondering if it's related to the GB settings that I may have had (or not had). I recall the M15 hitting higher GB values when doing the GB procedure.

I picked up the M15 coil a few days ago and revisited the same beach that I hit with the M11 coil a few days earlier. Is it just me (I don't think so)....but I was able to set the Sensitivity quite a bit higher on the M15 than on the M11. I recall the M11 was set on 21-22 but the M15 was happy on 24-25.....wet but not saturated beach sand. I'll test again but it appears that the M15 can be set about 3 points higher in the damp sand.

What about the opposite....use the cold spray in a can. It basically neutralizes the adhesive and stickers/decals should come off very easily with little to no stickiness. Definitely worth a go.

Apparently, pin-pointers will have a price increase (I guess they are "detectors")

Probably plenty did....but they're not around to answer this thread.....

Came directly from my local Minelab dealer two days ago....face to face so hopefully that's worth something. Maybe check with your local Minelab supplier just to be safe.

Really sorry to hear about the dog.....I am dreading that day when it comes. I'm always amazed how detecting helps soothe the soul or takes your mind off troublesome matters. HH Tony

I'm also liking very much what I'm seeing....early days I know. I certainly can't fault the fit and finish of how it's put together....not a creak or wobble anywhere on the shaft as well. The pod assembly is near flawless along the joins. Just picked up some Thresher headphones today.......also very happy with the sound these put out. Keep us informed on the black sands....down this way, the sands are like Florida sands although a few spots have a nice white top cover but below lurks a layer of black sand....does cause the Excal to false a bit on these areas. The GP3500 kills it here though 😀

I guess we're "lucky" that Minelab price increases are for detectors only.....coils and all other Minelab accessories are exempt (they are scarily expensive already).....🤑

Yep....I had a brain fade that morning !

Just wondering if that information is backed up officially by Minelab ?

I probably should have known about the balance issues. I ghettoed this setup to perfectly balance my long beach hunts running a GP3500 and not so light 14" DD coil. The control box is inside a weatherproof backpack. Anyhow, that dive weight is over 2 pounds and when extended as shown in the picture, I can swing this setup for 8 hours effortlessly. I'm guessing a lighter counter weight would need to be extended out further and a heavier weight would need the exact opposite. I can adjust the weight position in and out depending on what coil is mounted. Steve's cam-locks are awesome.....at both ends of the detector !

Thanks Steve for this good advice......Physics never was my strong point. I have watched a video somewhere on this....might have been yours ? The analogy is carrying a long length of timber which is easy when it's gripped in the middle but progressively harder as you move away from the centreline / fulcrum. So essentially, a small counterweight on the butt end of the shaft is the way to go. Thanks again, Tony

Wow....the X-Terra Pro has an adjustable hand grip but the Manticore misses out on this feature 👎

Thanks Simon, It's only a very minor issue regarding the balance but I guess every bit helps during an 8 hour hunt 😐

I see the Equinox has the one shaft hole mount to lock the pod in position. I'm guessing the Manticore is the same......no drilling an extra hole for me though.

Is the position of the Manticore pod/hand-grip (not arm cuff) fixed or can it be moved along the upper shaft. Although the balance is very good.....I'd like to move the pod (and then the armcuff) back a few inches. This will stop the unit from being ever so slightly nose heavy. I couldn't find anything in the manual about this. Thanks for any info. Tony

All I know is Monte passed away a while back (earlier this year I think).....and of course he was the main driving force behind it. You are referring to "AHRPS" ? Tony

I like your way of thinking.

Brad....have you had any corrosion problems with the charging pins (on the detector pod). I do plan to rinse after every hunt and maybe a bit of Isopropyl alcohol on the pins afterwards.

It's weird but I've got this urge to grab a 24 pack of icy cold Corona.....it is summer down here afterall.

I think I shall probably do the same but I will do some beach tests between the two....I'm guessing not much between the two modes.