Tony

And I'd rather have 2 x 3000's than 1 x 6000..........😛

And paid cash too....smart move....this way wives don't see the credit card evidence 😄

My problem is I like chasing big gold.....big and heavy gold is down deep and I don't want to drown out these fringe targets with too much salt signal audio in the background.

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 !!

18 minutes ago, abenson said:

It's not that way with my M15, I've actually had to stay at the same sensitivity level and even bumped it down a notch some days. I'm hunting very salt saturated beached though.

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.

On 12/15/2023 at 8:44 AM, Tony said:

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).....🤑

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

11 hours ago, Ethan in Adelaide said:

Good evening fellas,

Last trip To WA I was impressed as there were so many old gold mines, many were 5-30 meters deep, and I saw one shaft actually had two leves (stories). I wonder if someone can dive in and prospect in the tunnel, where there still might be gold behind the tunnel but cannot be found by the early explorers as 100 years ago they didn't have detectors?

Any stories or experience? Surely it Must be dangerous ☠️💀👻

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

15 minutes ago, Sumrtym said:

Do we know that as fact?

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 😀

On 12/11/2023 at 10:07 AM, BigSkyGuy said:

Just in time for the price increase!

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).....🤑

1 hour ago, Medina said:

Wont moving the coil further away increases the felt weight? Basic Lever rules I thought. Moving coil (weight) closer to wrist increases felt weight, or am I missing something?

compared to my (sold) CTX, this thing has helium balloons attached to it

edit: nevermind, see it got addressed 

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

13 hours ago, Nuke em said:

mostly non repairable after 3 years

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

15 minutes ago, steveg said:

Tony,

And by the way, that "ghettoed" setup is actually pretty slick.  With a cam lock on there, that allows you to lengthen or shorten the "lever" (the section of shaft that the weight is attached to), you can absolutely "adjust" for the different coil sizes/weights you may be using.  So, lighter coil, slide the counterweight (and tube) IN a bit; heavier coil -- slide the counterweight BACK, away from the handle.  The other way to do it, of course, is change the weight, as you change coils.  BUT -- if your weight is fixed/not adjustable, as in your case, then adjusting the LEVER LENGTH achieves the same thing.

That's pretty slick, Tony!  Nice job!  

Steve

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

5 minutes ago, fishersari said:

3 years warranty man.. it is now to submerge 😁

I like your way of thinking.