Gerry in Idaho

Sorry I was out on the East coast and have not been on DP for some time. I can only tell you what I have heard as I do not have a GPX-6000 for myself. Of the 9 staff members and myself, only Lunk and one other in NV have 6000's at this time. I try to make sure customers get the detectors and so most of my Staff have to patiently wait. Wish I have more info, but those are the facts for this time.

Glad you were able to spend 3 days with my Field Staff Experts and I learning what it takes to be successful and your EQ800. Yes the GPX-6000 is quite impressive and most US folks with 7000s will be changing their tune real soon. But in the meantime, what I feel is most important..your desire to learn, ability to listen and focus on the detector in your hands now (Equinox), is what really shined. A new customer finding 5 nuggets at Rye Patch Nevada is most impressive. Thanks again for realizing how much difference on what we train than others and your Success is proof of that. When the time is right we'll get a GPX-6000 in your hands and then you can do another 3 days Field Training for free this time.. but remember what's in your hands today is a heck of a gold capable detector and you just proved it.

1 customer showed up from TX to get his GPX-6000 and 2 machines went to 2 of my 9 Field Staff Experts. Most of my Staff and I still do not have machines. The GPX-6000 worked so easily and well at finding gold during the training, that other customers interested in one tried it and I think 4 people ended up finding gold with GPX-6000's, which was more nuggets that the GPZ-7000's (which is what I would have expected for Rye Patch). The Equinox 800 with small 6" round coils also did quite well. The rumor has it a 2nd order of GPX-6000 will be shipping end of next week, so hopefully it's a good size shipment, but honestly, I have no control.

At Rye Patch Nevada training customers and 15 minutes into it Lunk scores 1st gold. Yes we compared signal to GPZ-7000 and the 6000 heard it better. A trained ear on 7 could have heard it, but much easier on 6000.

Steve, I appreciate the kind words you spoke of my Field Staff and I about the training we offer and my business in general. 1st off, I was always taught to listen to the customer and get the detector for their needs. Problem I run into on occasion is the customer really doesn't know what they need and they go off what someone else tells them. That is good, if the person telling them really knows, but that as well is usually not the case. For example, 2 yrs ago the Gold Monster 1000 was the talk of the VLF detectors, but yet I still recommended the Equinox 800. I had so many people tell me the Monster was it, since the majority of dealers said it was. Guess what, now a few of those dealers also realize the EQ-800 is a better gold detector. Either way, I guess the customer is right??? As you also mentioned the difference in gold terrains/soils/etc and even kinds of gold and it's density...are just parts of the algorithm to get the right detector for the task. And to be honest, most dealers don't know or have spent the time and money to research. I just returned from a quit trip where the Equinox 800 found the most pieces of gold, but the deepest nuggets were found with the GPZ-7000's. What if we did not have the EQ-800's there, the majority of gold would have been missed because of the kind of gold. Such a big % of people think gold is gold and that's not the case at all. My desire to be a successful detectorist (which is over 45 yrs now) has been to make sure I have the best detector "tool" for the task and to make sure I do, I have to actually purchase and try the other tools which tales quite a bit of time, so I also rely on my Field Staff to help speed up the uses in different terrains, soils, kinds of gold and states we hunt. The best knowledge you give is to find that person who has Success more than most and does it at a variety of tasks, in different regions on multiple detectors. Sometimes for me, the hardest part is when a few new detectors come out, it takes awhile to gather my info to make the best decision for myself and my customers. I do wish there was one detector that could do it all THE BEST. I really don't think that will happen though.

Just so you all know, I ran out of Likes today so please don’t be offended. First and foremost. I cannot say in words...because I don't think there are enough and or I don't know the proper way to say it. But as a Marine and one who signed up knowing the ultimate sacrifice could be... and then hearing the news of a few USMC brothers who never came home, my heart goes out to those families and loved ones. Memorial Day is a proud day for many, yet heart-wrenching somber for others as each of us treat it differently. There's not... it's easy as black or white, right or wrong in my mind as some of us have never taken the knock on the door that tears our heart out. But yes, so many have had to go through that pain and agony. Memorial Day means so much to so many and in a variety of ways. All I can do is thank each of you who did post pics, stories and tributes to your loved ones and those who gave their all. I salute you. Now onto our freedoms of this fine forum, the ability for members to go out and make new memories with family/friends or be solitude how you desire. We had a pretty good turn out for this contest and there were a few 1st timers making comments, posting pics and having fun. It’s good to get new faces/names on DP and active with what we all enjoy (detecting and gold). Yes I realize we have some highly successful Swingers and I thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise for all of us to learn. Also, I see some young blood newer names who joined in the fun and I hope each of you continue to ask questions and share your experiences as you progress and get better. It’s the asking, sharing, bouncing off ideas/knowledge that eventually helps us all become better with our detectors. You must realize, even guys like Steve H and I who have been chasing nuggets with detectors for 25 yrs and a few members even longer (especially you Aussie mates), but the reality is….we were all greenhorns at one time and dumb as a rock. Eventually down the road, we’ll be old and not so nimble, so we’ll be looking for you newer gold chasers to help keep our fire and dreams/desire going. The tally – My count showed approx. 60 names went into the drawing for the Dream. The winner of the Dream GPX-6000? Everyone who entered, posted, commented and yes even you Northeast & Norvic. I thank you all. The winner of the new Minelab Gold Monster 1000 is…… Jeff McClendon. Jeff, please call Gerry’s Detectors so I may get this Monster sent out to you. Again, thanks everyone for posting pics, sharing memories, family stories & contributions to those who gave the ultimate. Hopefully down the road I’ll be able to meet some of you out in the gold fields and we can make some memories and dig a few nuggies. Then we can share pics, stories and knowledge for others to glean. Happy Hunting all. Thanks, Gerry Gerry's Detectors 208-345-8898 www.gerrysdetectors.com Gold Detector Field Training Genuine Metal Detecting Experts

The contest for the GPX-6000 is over as I did not get one in time. The Memorial Weekend Contest for a Gold Monster 1000 is over as well and any post after this is just for enjoyment purposes and dreams (kind of like the GPX-6000) from here out. Tomorrow, I'll try to get the tally and do a drawing so I can get the Winner posted. I have not even read through everything as I spent most of the day catching up with business from the long weekend. Looking forward to seeing the posts, reading the comments and seeing the pics of your enjoyable Memorial Weekend. Again, For those families who have given the ultimate sacrifice, I honor your husband/wife, son/daughter, brother/sister, niece/nephew, aunt/uncle, grandfather/grandmother and all the men/women who are no longer with us. Be proud of their actions for it's their bravery that allows our freedoms to be enjoyed on this day and forward.

Norvic, You and all Aussie friends are most welcome to join and have fun. As a Minelab Dealer, I am not allowed to ship outside of the US. Nice batch of gold. I'll bite on your #73, thanks to Wikipedia - "No. 73 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) wing of World War II"

All you have to do Rick, is point the camera at yourself with one hand while holding a detector and Snap. But I know you, you'll do better than that.

Heck Condor that sounds like a normal trip to NNV to me.... except add 2 blown tires. Hey, Your thread was really rubbing me wrong that very 1st sentence, "I was using the only GPX-6000 in the US", but then as I read along, I kind of giggled a little. Yes that's NNV in May and everyone best be prepared. I guess the pic of digging holes to drop the tires was pretty good. Only thing that could have been worse if you dug the holes, dropped the rear tires in them and then got yourself stuck... Well the good is, you provided us some knowledge, a few laughs and you were able to run the GPX-6000 in the USA. Hats off to you my friend and thanks for the story/education.

Like I said, Customer Care is short staffed and a little stunned right now. At least they are trying now and that's what is most important.

As a Senior Minelab dealer with many many customers, I get more calls/emails than most about the Customer Service Issues we are going thru right now. I have to agree 100% with the customer on this go around. Yes Minelab USA Customer Care Service team is not running as usual, but which company is? But I also feel, - If Minelab is going to be the big dog at the show and the proud company they are with record sales/profits, I feel they need to have the man/woman power to back it up and we (Minelab) have to take the good we create and accept the bad when we fall behind and fail, which I feel right now. Yes we are behind... but who expected records sales of detectors due to a worldwide Pandemic? Trying to hire someone right now is almost impossible. So here is my temporary solution and I can't do this every time someone has an issue. Edward, give me a call, Gerry's Detectors in Boise, Idaho 208-345-8898 and I can get a loaner coil sent out to you today (if you are in the United States). We'll need to step it up a little as it's already 3PM. When the rest of my Minelab Team in Customer Care gets you taken care of then send my loaner coil back to me. Hope this puts a little ease to the situation and we can all enjoy this special holiday.

Memorial Weekend Contest, win a Minelab GPX-6000 in your dreams. Ok, Detector Prospector fans. Most of us have been patiently waiting, some – not so patient. A few of us have even sold/traded our old detector to be ready for the release of the biggest dream of 2021. Here’s your chance to win that dream. BUT WAIT…. There’s more. This is not a dream for just you. That’s right, Gerry has stepped up the prize to the ultimate, most rewarding gift of all. Folks, I’m allowing you and your favorite detecting buddy (that’s what I said, - TWO of you!!!) to experience this dream TOGETHER. Here’s why I have went all out on this very special occasion, and by god it is special. In my 20+ yrs of selling Minelab detectors….I have never lost so much sleep, never tossed/turned/sweated and dreamed to the point where I almost pissed me-self. Heck even my Shepperd kicked me out of my own bed.. he did so. Folks, these dreams are real, their genuine and it hurts. Heck, I was just in the VA clinic last week and they scanned my brain for cause. You know it’s bad, when they tell you to come back next week for more treatment. I overheard one of the assistants and I could swear, they mentioned “Gold Fever”. Oh shit, it can’t be, I kept telling myself. Those flashbacks about took me life times prior. After all, the release of the SD-2100 in the early 90’s, then the big one of the GP-Extreme late 2000, or the popular series GPX in 2006 . Those were pretty bad on me, but that last one, the trickle and tease of the GPZ-7000 almost did me in and this go around, I’m not sure 50/50 I was told? Wife thinks I should double my life insurance, but I told her “it’s an existing condition”. Active posting DP members and just reading gawkers – Here’s the dang truth of it all. We survived. That’s right we did. Each of us had our own issues and some of us are still wearing those Gold Fever Dreamin scars, but we are breathing, walking, talking. And most importantly, we are dreaming. Heck those many scars I carry, at this point, it’s almost a Gold Detectorists Honor to show them off. But some of us do and we do it with PRIDE. Here is where I’d like everyone’s help. The numerous calls, texts, emails to me, my Field Staff, even my dedicated Minelab detector dealer friends, has to stop, if it’s about the GPX-6000. We know, we’ve heard and we’ve read. Bottom line is we want them just as bad as you folks. Heck, I even had to take the customers who were scheduled for training on the April Rye Patch, NV session and move them to the June class. Guess what, it’s almost June and so I’ll probably be moving them to the Fall class (which I just added another class to try and help get customers up to speed). Yes it’s a mess and yes the Covid Gold Fever is real, but us dealers can’t do anything until we get detectors. OK, Enough of the fun and laughs….but you can add some.. he he. In the meantime. I’d like to see you folks get out and celebrate this fine extended Memorial weekend and hopefully use your detectors. I do want to reward those who have read this far down. I (Gerry’s Detectors of Boise, Idaho) am really running a contest for all of you in the United States (sorry to my friends from other countries). I’m asking of US participants to post each day (starting today and posting to this thread), a picture you took this holiday weekend of Memorial Weekend theme with detector in the picture, examples are you family picnic and a detector in the picture, a Veteran memorial with detector, your front yard with American flag and detector in the picture, or you out detecting and camping this fine weekend…and with detector, you get the idea by now. Each day you can post 1 pic and your name will get put in a bucket for each day’s picture. BONUS - picture of “your gold find” with a metal detector. Now, before some of you get crazy with the term “gold find”, I’m talking Au gold, not a piece of gold foil, not a gold colored doodad, but real gold..a coin, a piece of gold jewelry and most certainly a gold nugget, picker or specimen that was found with your metal detector this Memorial Weekend starting today and ending Tuesday, June 1st at 5 PM MST zone. Reason I am going until Tuesday, is many of us will be in the hills and not returning until Tuesday. The BONUS gold picture gets your name in the bucket 2 times per day, max of 10, for those who are fortunate enough to find and post a gold find pic each day. Please don’t beat me as I am trying to have fun for most everyone. Rundown of the rules. 1 picture a day can be posted per DP member. So in reality, you could post a pic of this weekends events each day and end up with 5 entries, but you can only post 1 pic a day. Sometime next week I’ll count the pics and enter your name per amount of posted pics and of Memorial = 1 or Gold = 2, per day (remember 1 post a day no more than total of 5) with the last one by Tuesday, June 1st 5PM MST. I will take a tally and draw (no there will not be some big video show) a name. The winner will get a new Minelab Gold Monster 1000 metal detector courtesy of Gerry’s Detectors. No it’s not a GPX-6000, but it’s a real gold detector. Detector Prospector is the #1 metal detector forum in my opinion and I enjoy reading, learning, sharing pics, seeing gold finds. Go out, get some, spend time with family/friends or alone the way you may and be safe this Memorial Weekend. Don’t forget to think of the reason for this special weekend and the real meaning behind it. As a family of US military myself, I thank you all who have sacrificed for our freedoms and dreams AND SO IS THIS CONTEST – for a Gold Monster 1000 and the chance to dream with your detecting buddy about the GPX-6000. Again, a Memorial Themed pic with detector is 1 name in the bucket that day and a pic of your gold find is a BONUS which puts your name in the bucket 2X per that day. Thanks folks for helping calm the storm of GPX-6000 Gold Fever, as I know it’s real. But the reality is we all need to relax a little and enjoy this weekend...hopefully with detector in hand and surrounded by family/friends, laughter and making memories. PS, I'll probably shut the computer down later today, so chat with you all next week.

The old Minelab Marketing people saw a need for quality videos and yes my video guy has a small contract with them. We would do educational videos and have Minelab review it before release. It was good for my video guy for a couple yrs. Then this new Minelab came in and starting cutting things left and right. They canned my video guy and I was informed "they get plenty of free video mentions from happy customers". Yea, I have some bad habits of tossing finds in my mouth. I about tossed a nugget in my mouth from this pic above, but then realized what I was digging next to. Just to the right is a dried pie. At least it was dried though. BTW, Did you boat mate ever recover his gold tooth?

One of my Field Staff, - Lunk will be down in AZ this winter and I'm sure I'll get down there for at least 1 trip. He's not only dialed in the best Settings a variety of detectors to find Meteorites, he has spent countless hours and days in the field researching sites. A few of our customers from past - will visit AZ in the winter and schedule back to back training through me, and I connect you with Lunk. 1st day is learning the detector to find gold (at a different site down the road) and then the 2nd day is to learn how to set detector for those elusive Meteorites on some sites that still produce. Having that space rock sitting on your mantel with your other purchased gems will easily be the most memorable. Good luck down road and be sure think positive.

You bring up a very good point on the dinks with a 7000 as I have done the same. The new 6000 is showing to be even more sensitive to smaller gold. As I have stated before, I'm not much into dinks anymore for the most part (I'll do it when I get my 6000, just to see how well it does and for my own knowledge of knowing the 6000's capabilities), but I do want to see how it does on my invisible specimens. I do think it will perform better than the 7000 on those pieces and that interests me as many of my pieces have over a 1/4 oz of gold, a few over a 1/2 oz and a couple over an oz of the heavy yellow metal. Just mind boggling to witness a higher end detector not seeing that much gold. As for the exact little dinks with a 6000, that's not my priority why I am getting one, but the 2 pounds less in weight most certainly is. For my customers though, I'm totally happy the 6000 will find smaller gold than the 7000, as I feel there will be some fun times ahead at the old patches. Thanks for your input.

Rob A - The last time I planned a trip for VLF pickers, grabbed one, put on a small coil and chased specs was at least 10 yrs ago. Sure I help customers find tiny gold at Rye Patch with their VLF's, but that's not really for me anymore to find those. Heck, I'd rather leave them for the customers to find and let them have the excitement like I had years ago when I 1st started chasing gold. To be honest, I even get board chasing .1 and .2 grammers with GPZ-7000, when I know there are a few 2 grammers near by. Yes I go each Fall to RP to get my 1 ounce of NNV nuggets with my 7, as that's been kind of a ritual the last few yrs. Rye Patch has a special place in my heart and I know the gold gods will provide me, but I also know there's bigger gold down the road. To me, gold nugget hunting, it's kind of like the steps in life and after a while, my desires change and I prefer hunting bigger. Maybe the way I am wired, as I used to hunt big game and fish that way as well. Bigger is better and I don't need to kill, catch, or find small gold just to know I'm going home with meat/Au. Maybe I'm more of a "about the hunt and adventure" at my stage of MD'ing career. Thanks for your input. Norvic - I really enjoy meeting small groups of like minded folks and detecting, learning, sharing and camaraderie. Glad you enjoy the same. Tony - Thinking big is perfectly fine with me. Now the term "big" means different things to people and or even me on different hunts. Sometimes I'm all about trying to find any gold at all if it's a new site, but like you, I don't grab a small coiled VLF either. Those older PI's are power punchers on depth of bigger gold. Thanks for bringing back memories of those good ol golden days. Below pics, Me back approx 20 yrs ago swinging the new 20" round on a GP-Extreme. That's a 30" long pick and if I'm not mistaken the 3 gram nugget was near 20" deep. Klunker- Not really comparing big gold to small gold, just asked the style of the nugget hunters here on DP. I'll pass the little stuff all day long to go home with a nice 3 grammer or specimen with 4 grams of gold. I've realized I quit chasing specs a few years back. Neither answer is right or wrong to each person as I'm happy if you are happy. At the end, it all pays for the beer. Thanks for the input and see you down the road... hopefully with big gold.

Looking at your pics, it seems you too are not into chasing tiny VLF gold any more.? My below picks of Success show the newer version Fisher Gold Bug GB-Pro and I tell you, I'm not much of a pickers kind of chaser anymore.

Arch, I'm not in AZ., but this video I did might be of some help to you. As for some personal hands on training 1 on 1, I'll have a Field Staff member down there this next winter and he trains on both gold nuggets and meteorites. I was with him in Jan down there and hunted those space rocks for a couple days, we did quite well.

Glenn, You my friend are one of the few lucky guys to have a wife that enjoys the hunt while by your side. Her enjoying the outdoors and chase of Au is as prized as a big nugget/specimen in itself and so for you two to be doing this so long is a milestone accomplishment. Another thing, I'd like to add about you two. I know and a few others, but many do not, that your are one of the premier CO specimen hunting teams and your efforts are top notch front page magazine material. Just a total eye popping my friend. Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge as well.

Yes keep us informed on how many charges you get out of it for your dinosaur CTX 3030. I also noticed it has USB port of 2.4 so that will allow for charging of your Equinox detector as well. What I found out kind of strange a couple yrs ago. My 2016 F-350 Super Duty Diesel would charge my detectors (including the Equinox) just fine, even if the truck is turned off. I normally charge my detectors in the truck cab on trips in the desert or mountains. My 2018 F-150 will charge my detectors when the truck is running, but as soon as I turn it off, the truck quits charging. Heck it won't even charge my cell phone if the truck is not running. Looks like it might be $100 well spent for those of us who don't like carrying generators and gas on such weekend trips. Between this and the new Doc's Body Cover Kit for the GPX-6000, it's hard to tell which one will sell best for this up coming Father's Day. Thanks for sharing.

Yes, we are told that to never lave gold to find it, but I do as you and try to learn new places as well. In fact, one of the fin things about real prospecting (were it be for old coins/relics or gold) is doing research at home, then trying to find the site out in the desert, hills, mountains....and then making a nice find of an Indian Head Cent, Railroad lock, or even that gold nugget. Just like you do Brian, I enjoy have multiple sites to hunt. Thanks for sharing.

A few weeks ago, I was with a family of long times friends in NV in search of gold. While walking the high desert, seeing the variety of wild flowers in the spring, was very earthy at that moment as nobody for miles, no cars, no phones/computers and no buildings sirens and other disturbances. Just me, my friends over the other hill and the wildflowers. It was a beautiful earthly experience. Then when we got back to camp that night, the friendships made around a good meal was priceless.

Nothing wrong with that at all and it simplifies things.

Gold Catcher - Your name suites your style well. Yes each speci, nugget, picker, lottery chuck is worthy of a dig to most gold hunters and I totally understand/respect those who do so. Finding Gold (the meaning) is different to some hunters and that's why I have come to the point of not caring to take pictures of VLF fly shit, or really matter to hunt it much any more. Not saying I'm any better or above someone who does so, as I was once that person and any gold was better than none. Now throughout my many yrs of detecting gold, my research, focus and challenge is more tuned and designed for the chunky clunkies. Now here is a different spin - I so much enjoy getting a few friends (who can hold their weight with a gold detector) together and just looking for new gold areas. On these rare occasions my focus changes and it's all about "any gold my detector beeps". Hunting gold with friends around, eating/drinking well, listening to stories of gold and the overall camaraderie associated and stronger friendships built on such trips, is really big with me as well. Thanks for letting us in on your gold hunt and meaning.