Gerry in Idaho

As stated before, I'm expecting a smaller allocation to the US, so that means a smaller allotment to dealers. As soon as I see tracking to me for X amount of units, those customers on my list will be notified. Not much more I can do.

I have the 24K and was a Field Tester, when it was White's. 24K is a great VLF gold detector and actually for a Gold Only design (advertising), I'll take it over any other VLF Gold Only Detector. It has the features I like. Now when you compare it to the NOX 800, there is more to the Equinox and it's features/capabilities and ID system. I've posted it on here before and I think Steve H did as well. You might have to do some digging, but it has been said. Don't think I'm trying to down talk the 24K, it's a fantastic VLF Gold Only detector, especially when you compare it's price point to the NOX-800.

Learning new detectors is part of the fun. Sure it takes time away from hunting with what you know, but quite often, the new technology is better. Example is the Equinox 800. I was not totally on board when Engineering said it was a good gold detector. When my staff/I flew in for the class and we talked with the Engineers, we were provided more details. After the class ended, I had a staff member hang around for a day and spent time in the field with the Engineer. Eventually after hours of use/comparing and testing, we started seeing results. As my team put in more hours and playing with the options to get even better results, we realized the machine is way more capable that 1st impression. Now the NOX 800 is #1 VLF Gold Detector in our books. Well now, could change to an EQ-900 or Manticore. I'm happy and excited to start playing with them and as soon as I can get those detectors in my different staffs hands, they'll start providing their experiences in the different regions and soils we hunt for the varieties of gold we like to collect. I'm not expecting a lot of real field use as most of my staff is shut down for the winter. South I must go.

Minelab dropped the MAP pricing of the NOX series last month so the $599 is the new MAP for the EQ-600 and $899 is the new MAP for the EQ-800. But it would not surprise me to see Minelab have a blow out sale of the older versions in the next 6 months. We're going to probably see a firestorm of used EQ-600 and EQ-800 in a short time. Realize a new EQ-600 with 15% VET discount can be had today for $510, so a used one will probably sell around $350. The EQ-800 MAP of $800 with VET 15% discount is $765, so used ones will be $450-$500 range. One other great deal right now many folks don't realize. Purchase a new EQ-800 and get a $180 6" coil for FREE from Gerry's Detector (limited supply).

Well Minelab pulled one on me and probably the rest of the world yesterday and released 2 new detectors. With the Manticore starting to move and now we have an updated and more featured Equinox 900, I have questions. Which of the 2 will be best for Nugget Detecting = Prospecting? Many of us know the EQ-800 is by far the best VLF gold detector out there. So to get the few quirks taken care of and then add some features, you/I would think the new EQ-900 is the way to go, or is it? The Manticore claims to have 50% more power and better ID system as well. But only having 1 true Prospecting Mode, makes me wonder? Yes, only time will tell as we get them in the fields, but in reality I'm a little confused. Do we go with the proven or totally new? How about you?

Glad to see a new face on here MTron and hope to see you posting your success more often. Yes the GPX-6000 is deeper than many folks realize. No, it's not a ZED your back will like that after 6 hrs. Well done and I love the knapping work as well.

So the news is out. As soon as I get proper pricing and release dates, this forum will be updated. Until then, we patiently wait. In the mean time, do you feel this was a smart move or not so? Either way, I'm a guy who enjoys OPTIONS and do like the new updated fixes. Here's the pricing of each. EQ-700 is $699 US and part # is 3720-0005 as the EQ-900 is $1099 US and part # 3720-0006

So the MANTICORE only has 1 Gold Mode. Not sure why this is, but I imagine one of the Jewelry Modes might be usable to some extent. What I don't like is the Iron Rejection is already ON when you go to GOLD MODE. Most Gold Detectors start out in ALL METAL MODE when in Prospecting Mode. This gives you best depth and best sensitivity right off the get go. Then when you go over a target, you can decide if you want to turn the Iron ID ON or not. The Equinox 800 was the same way and I was hoping this machine in the GOLD MODE would be more traditional. When my Field Staff and I train customer to find gold with the NOX, the 1st thing we have them do it TURN OFF the IRON DISC and open the machine up. Sure wish they would have done it this way this go around, but it's not deal breaker. Now we need to see how well it actually does in the gold fields. Only 1 PROSPECTING MODE???

If your friend or your dealer in the USA has told you that the Distributors in the US have been sent Manticore detectors, they're silly wrong and trying to cause problems. I have spoke with Mrs. Otto (East Cost Distributor) and Mr. Proenza (West Coast Distributor) and neither of them have been shipped any Manticore Units at this time. Why some dealers want to cause issues is beyond me? This is how Gerry's Detectors will get the units out to the customers. When Minelab informs me that X amount of units are allocated to me and ready to ship, I'll then contact X amount of customers to get payment at that time. Then that X amount of people will get their detectors shipped accordingly. I'm just as excited as the rest of you all, but please quit causing unnecessary issues. Thanks for being courteous and cooperative with your dealer, especially the one dealing the cards. Gerry at Gerry's Detectors in Boise, Idaho

I hope you do get it in time as your experience and sharing abilities is tops. Good luck and keep us posted.

Love seeing the beautiful gold in quartz and especially with a VLF. So many folks feel PI is the only way but they don't know what their missing. Great on ya.

Well that could be the case. Guess your distributor know more than the one in TX. TX Distributor (as of 2 minutes ago) has not heard a word from Minelab USA. Either way, it's getting close and hopefully you get your unit and your dealer has bunches more, then that tell me, I'll be in the same boat very soon.

I don't need to get my customers in a tizzy until I know the facts. Fact is, no detectors have shipped to me from Minelab USA. Fact is Minelab USA would not tell me how many they were getting, even though they know. Reality is, I don't need to know that, but I was hoping to get an idea if I was expecting 1 unit, 2 or 4 or 10 or 50 or 100 or more. My initial order was way more than most from day 1 back in Aug. So if they go that route, then many dealers who don't know a good product won't get any. That's totally fine with me, if a dealer drags his ass and can't tell a hot selling product. But I know Minelab and have been told by them...this Management team thinks everyone is equal. A lazy dealer complained, probably the same kind who never spends a dime to show up at the dealer conferences, or the same kind who never tries to get a product ahead of time and put it through it's passes. Yeah we have a good portion of them. Well, I looked out the window and we have snowflakes falling. Guess I'll get the blower out again and clean the fluff out of the way. Or just toss in the towel and ride that last wave... It's all good and when I get facts I'll touch base with the appropriate amount of eager customers.

That's the potential problem, how many? When NOX came out, most dealers received 1, some got 2 and I with a couple other received 4. If the release goes the same way and I have 4 customers waiting, I know they'll be just as happy to wait a few days longer while I test the waters. Heck, we've been teased and stretched since Aug. right, what's another couple weeks.

Hey, You'll have all the dealers pissed off at me again. I assure you all 100%, Minelab USA has not sent me a Manticore. Heck they don't even know when they are shipping me and or how many. Even if Minelab USA gets some next week. Then they ship to the distributors and the distributors ship to dealers. I'm not expecting Minelab USA in Chicago to have detectors in my hands until around mid December. Even then, how many will I get? About time for me to relax in a warm climate area for a few days and then get ready for the storm. Besides, sometimes I have to keep the boss happy and she is certainly work keeping.

Hey, You know I need to test it out 1st and make sure it's a great product for my Loyal and worthy (deep pocket) customers. I'm going to swing into Chicago and grab one before I head to warm weather beaches. Be patient my friends and your Christmas list just might get checked off. Pic is one of my better MX trips when I tested the CoilTek coil for them.

That's exactly why you are on my Field Staff Team. Always thinking ahead and willing to help others.

Not so fast my friend. They are shipping to the countries main headquarters, not the dealers. You guys started my phone to blow up and I could not understand why. No worries, at least some of my customers will get them pre-Christmas. Hopefully dealers get good allotments and not trickle in like the Equinox did.

If all goes well, I will be sharing pictures of Manticore finds from in the salt water. Hurry up Santa, Gerry's Detectors has places to go. He also has customers patiently waiting. It looks as if the wait time could be pre Christmas for a few. Let's just hope us dealers get a good allotment of units the 1st few rounds.

I know these nuggets are not huge or even close to it, but I enjoy seeing some of my customers success and their recoveries. These 2 pics just came in from a customer in AZ who took the Axiom out for it's 1st voyage. He used the 11" MONO coil and recovered them 3 to 4" deep. Hopefully more customers will be sharing their success. I'm certain the upstate guys like me are pretty much frozen in for the season so south we need to go.

Glad to see you get out there one last time Gary and find a few pickers. Hopefully that GPX-6000 is doing everything I promised and then some. Looks like this coming in weather will have us shut down for the season, unless a warm spell comes in Dec. Well on you two and thanks for sharing some success.

I'm not much of a dig a hole guy unless my detector indicates to dig there. I do have bottle hunter buddies that can dig a hole extremely fast. Here's a pic of a hole one of my Field Staff dug on our last day of the trip. We were in Alaska up at a place called Moore Creek (supposed to be good gold up there) and the last day, most of us had our gear already packed and just hanging around waiting for a plane to drop in. Spencer is still gung ho and happy to be swinging not caring a bit about being ready for the plane. Guess he decided he'd be on the last plane out. He is swinging right in front of the tents so everyones watching. Eventually I look up and see him digging with his pick and think nothing of it. Some folks start giving advice like the group of supervisors usually do at a construction site. Finally 5 minutes later I look up and see Spencer has a shovel and is getting serious. Now we all know when detecting dredge tailing piles, the big holes usually mean a tobacco tin or rusty can from some old prospector 100 yrs earlier. At this time a couple of us start to wander up as we need to give better more detailed advice of how to remove the trash. Well a few minutes and another almost foot later, Spencer gets the target out of the hole. He starts scanning all the rocks and gravels removed from the pit and his detector is just screaming so loud and brood it's hard to isolate where the target actually is. A pin pointer would have come in handy at this time, but most of us already had our gear packed. Eventually he recovered it and that's when crazy started happening. You should have seen how many guys started digging through they bags trying to find their detectors for a quickie. No bad so sad...as I was one of them who done packed away. I've learned a lesson though. When in big gold country, never stop swinging until after the fat lady sings. Just shy of 1 pound troy of AK specimen/gold . Spencers' trip home was quite romantic as he was the sexy guy with the gold. You just never know until you dig it.

Mike, You are the winner of the Minelab Vest, Hat and Care Package. Please PM me the ship to address. Also, what size Vest you want?

That just might happen but I need to have one in my hands as well. Just to make sure, do I have you on the list? We're expecting some news to come out in the next week or 2. Hopefully it means there's movement of the Manticore.

That's for engineering types to say. In days of old Minelab would use terms like "up to 30%" or such. This time their wording changed and so I have no clue. The bottom line, there really is to many variables to give a depth. Soil conditions, size of target, recovery speed, coil size, target metal etc. I'm expecting we'll start hearing of depths and comparisons very soon.