Gerry in Idaho

Your Settings on the 7 are pretty close to mine. Smoothing OFF was my 1st year getting used to it and with some knowledge from my staff (who get in the field more often that I), Now I keep it off for most hunts. This is not a do it all, everywhere suggestion, but for Rye Patch and a few of my other areas, it doesn't miss much.

I won't know until they come in. I've never broke an X-Terra coil ear or an Equinox coil ear and I probably have more hours on those two machines than most folks. Now that is funny, I did break a ear on a 17" coil that goes to my CTX 3030 one winter. I was hunting a swimming hole in the winter that gets drained and so it was very Idaho cold that day n the 30's. Not sure exactly how I did it, but next thing you know the coil is kind of flopping. I have seen seen broken ears on X-Terra coils and heard of a couple on the Equinox coils, just like I have with Garretts, Whites and Fisher. The more popular a detector, the more that are out in the field, so the more we hear about it, but the % vs sold is actually pretty good. As I said, I have never broke an EQ or X-Terra ear, but did hear of a product that snaps in place and is supposed to beef it up. I think they run about $10. For $10 to those who feel they might run into issues, I think that's cheap insurance. So now I wonder? Do we want lighter coils as some folks have complained, or beefier ones? Either way, CoilTek coils come with a 2 year warranty.

I do quite a bit of water hunting each time I get to MX, Bahamas and HI. I have used larger coils and do get better depth for the heavy gold or platinum rings. But the weight of the coil in water is not an issue. We can all move heavier objects in water than on land and I can move a heavy coil in water easier than on land just as well. One thing to mention most don't realize, unless they do it. The heavier coil does not get tossed around in the moving surf as easy as a lighter coil and the heavier coil seems to snug the bottom better, allowing for best depth. These pics were of me using the 14x9" coil for the CTX 3030 on a MX hunt a few years back. On a side note, I agree with Trevor. If you want best depth. then go the lighter 15" round coil. Just so those who don't know, I have all 3 versions on order and waiting for them to arrive.

Heck Lunk, Your post with the testing is almost good enough to be it's own post, but maybe Steve feels it's best here. Either way, with performance like that in CANCEL Mode of all things and a DD coil is most impression. So they are not joking when they say it will find smaller gold than a GPZ-7000. Also looks like the box is different coloring than what we seen from Africa. Thanks for taking the time for the informal testing, pictures, questions and posting for us here on Detector Prospector. Just another reason why I enjoy having you on my team.

You know me well and know my Field Staff and I used to get to test Minelab detectors before they came out. That seems to be Minelab of past and all I can do is scratch my head? Maybe if enough folks complained to Minelab USA, someone there might actually get a "light bulb" moment?

I can confirm the US version with have 11" round mono and 14" round DD. I'm most certain the US is only getting 1 battery. As I get more info that I am allowed to share, I'll keep you/DP updated.

Heck Steve, Your getting me all hot/bothered. Keep it up and I'll even shave/shower for you. Of all the high end gold detectors my Field Staff and I have used/sold, this has me foaming the most. I'm getting all buggy eyed. My Pre Order list is not what I would have expected, but I guess most are waiting to see what others have to say. Contact www.gerrysdetectors.com and YES as a VET myself I offer the 15% discount to Military.

I used to do quite a bit of day trips out of a backpack and on occasion a 3 day trips. These were a few yrs ago when my back was good. Here are some of the items I enjoyed taking along and in no particular order. Breakfast was instant hot oatmeal and my JetBoil compact cooker had water boiling in 60 seconds. It was also nice to enjoy a hot Ramen Noodle in the evening. If I was not up for a quick cooking, just slam a Protein Drink and go. Day munchies included individual cheese (will last a week without refrigeration), Slim Jims/Jerky, Trailmix and figs. Dinner was individual Beef Stew packets, or Tuna/Chicken packets and half a bagel with peanut butter. In fact to this day I carry most everything in the pics in my truck 24/7 except the cheese. As other have mentioned, a water purification straw is nice as well. If available, I like to take stream water and use powdered Gatorade for hydration. Today I usually have my truck within reach and like to keep a bag of apples or oranges. The fruit/vegetable that holds the most water is a cucumber 96%, and they actually last a few days in the field. But some folks are not into their flavor. The next best thing most people enjoy is a watermelon and it is 92% water and very good for you. Only problem is that size and weight of watermelon, so I keep it at the truck. Field Knowledge - FIGS.. One of the best fruits for you, very high in natural sugars. They prevent cramps and optimize hydration. Figs are a true superfood, containing antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like Potassium and Magnesium. Potassium also helps balance out sodium concentration in your blood to lower blood pressure. Water - and plenty of it. Hard to take gallons with you on a pack, but if you are in desolate areas, I'd make sure water is with you at all times. Now when I detect with good friends. I make sure Chef Rusty comes along. As long as his trailer can get there, we'll have eggs/bacon/hash browns toast or waffles in the morning. His famous burgers with fresh sautéed mushrooms, or cheese stuffed bacon wrapped jalapenos, or chicken cacciatore, or prime rib and twice baked potatoes. He has the best baked beans you'll ever get your lips on and don't dare even think of asking for the recipe. He finishes the evening with a plate of warm berry pie and old fashion vanilla ice cream. At Chef Rusty's camp, all I'll bring is a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of antacids. Oh...and my electric blankie, favorite snuggy pillow. At my age, I'm leaning more towards the Chef Rusty style of camping.

I've sold thousands of GPX detectors and have yet to hear/see this problem. I would have thought the switch was bad, but you said it was sent in to Minelab, so that would have been checked. In the meantime, I recommend disconnecting the power supply when in travel ( to/from ) the detecting site.

Love this chart Steve and it brings back great memories from a customer of mine. Gene was on one of my trips to Ganes Creek, AK. This was mid way of their trips yrs and the MXT was top machine at the time. Were hunting a fresh push and everyone was swinging up/down the rows as fast as they can. After it slowed and a few went on, I get in there and methodically hunt my style and a couple others stayed with me. Anyway, Gene gets a WHAM of a signal and yells. "It says Buckle" on the screen. Back then the MXT when run up at Ganes, we smart guys preferred the RELIC MODE over the PROSPECT MODE, as it had better ID and smoother operation. Well Dr T (from Reno on his 1st trip) says, "that means it's a beer or soda can and too high of a # for a gold nugget". Gene looks at me and shrugs his shoulder as to say "well Gerry, would you dig"? I told him, T was probably right, but since the cobbles we were in was also the same ones the Heart of Gold that Steve B found, that it will only take a few minutes to find out. Well the buckle turned into grown men jumping around acting like teens who seen their 1st Playboy. It was a 6 ounce Buckle of a nugget. Moral of the story. You don't know what you don't dig.

Dang good work and write up Chuck. Your math is quite above standard as well as your collection...provided the math is correct. But I'm not hear to put doubt on that. I could easily see the thicker band of gilding earning a response from the NOX, especially in Gold 1 Mode, ALL METAL, Tracking OFF. Your testing in all lower frequencies and getting a response was interesting, but I do like the #1 and #2 readings as I find many nuggets at the #1. I don't think you have enough there on your 2000 pieces to make it worth scaping at this time. I also wonder (as your post asked) if certain ceramic does have some metals or lean in the glasses of the shine. Here is why I say this. Valens Legacy (Caleb) emailed me and asked if marbles had metal in them because he dug up some with this Equinox. I thought it was random luck, as I too have found a few marbles in the same hole as I dig a metal target. Well he did some testing and sure enough, the marbles do respond. So he educated me and we both think there must be some lead in the glass. Anyway, I hope someone else gets to take the Holiday dishes out of the China Cabinet and see if their NOX can detect them. Interesting read either way.

Entertaining story and pics to go with it. Those little chunky nuggets are what keeps us going. The trash missed by others just goes to separate the men from the boys and you my friend are doing it right. Those of us who know, realize your time, energy and persistence is part of what allows you Success. Keep it up and thanks for sharing with some of us Frozen Northern Dreamers.

Love this story and your pics to show the VA gold. I try to get back East every other year to do some Civil War Relic hunting and meeting a few of my old Marine Corps buddies (NC, SC, GA) I've been able to convert a few of them to detecting, but they don't have the fever like I. My last trip to VA was at the 1765 Montpelier Estate, home of the 4th President of the United States, President James Madison. I was one of a dozen dealers across the US to be honored and selected to represent a metal detector to Archeologists. We showed them the benefits of modern technology by using a detector. The 2 machines I specialized in were the GPX and ETrac. In return, they showed us the importance of proper recovery of all objects and much more. It was a win win for both young and old. I remember at the closing ceremonies, I gave a short speech (yea right, me short), and said this. "I grew up from a young age 7 yr old boy with detector in hand and this is my tool to recover history. I enjoy and cherish each of my treasures, some more than others...just like you. I'm proud of my accomplishments with a detector and take pride of what I do. You learned Archeology with a brush in hand and how to use it for success. You take pride in your discoveries and the history you save. You too are proud of your work and what you do. So the reality.. we are not much different, but use varying tools/technology to achieve said success, in a way we are the same" To this day, of all my 40+ yrs of detecting accomplishments, that stands up there with pride. If I get back to VA area sometime and you'd like to see how a GPZ-7000 or GPX-6000, heck it might even be GPZ-8000 by then... let me know. I'll even let you or the land owner keep the gold, but I would enjoy having 1 nugget to add to my collection and be my 1st VA gold.

It would have been nice to have a teaser signal (the sound of the actual detector over a nugget), but I guess we'll have to wait for the next tease.

Thanks for posting the video Swegin. Hopefully my website guy has it on my site tomorrow. Of all 3 coils, I too.. feel the 10" ellip is going to be the best seller for most of my people. Heck I even sent a 2nd order...all 10" Ellips., as I already have the other 2 on my original order to Coiltek. The 10" Ellip is ideal for Prospecting nuggets on a VLF and I also like it for semi trashy sites when detecting old Coins/Relics. Hopefully I'll have some of these coils soon as I'm getting prepared for our Field Training coming up in Nevada. Boy would it be nice to be swinging, testing, selling the new GPX-6000's and the NOX coils. If I have some to take, I might even head down a few days early just to put some time on them.

You might reach out to Hobo, who posted above. He is Pieter's detecting buddy.

We'd love to see some of the VA gold when you get a chance. You have the state almost to yourself as I've only sold a few gold detectors to VA. Thanks for giving us the East Coast treat and well earned as I know it's not easy.

Good to see you on here Darrell. I know guys like you are hard to come across and especially ones (you) that has been detecting friends with Pieter for so many years. Would love to see you post on here a little more and or at least share some of your experiences throughout the 50 yrs you have been swinging detectors. If anyone needs the best Camp Fire Master, Darrell is the best. He always made sure there was plenty of wood, flame and heat to go around. Thanks for allowing us to hear a couple of your stories/experiences Darrell and I look forward to more in the future.

You bring up some utmost outstanding MD'erists names. Some are legends swinging high above and a couple are walking legends still here with us. I detected England with a few of those heavyweights and they were dang good. You know Jim, your name should just as easily be part of this group. But I'll make sure it's the part still walking among us. Thanks for the flashback down memory lane. The picture is Jimmy Sierra and I in England over 20 yrs ago.

Call my office when you get a chance and I'll run the card. I hope you do get to meet him some day.

Chuck, If dealers are sitting on a number of 5000's, I feel that is their lack of knowing. At the Worldwide Conference summer of 19 we were informed of new detectors in the makes. But only about 15% of the US dealers took the time to go. Heck we have dealer conferences in the US and can't even get a 50% turn out. No we were not told when new detectors were coming, but I expected summer or Christmas of 20 and it did not happen. Then in Aug of 2020 the mention and trademark of name "GPX-6000" was posted on here (the #1 prospecting forum in the whole USA). Why do I remember it so well? When I asked Minelab USA about it, they had no clue, which would be expected considering we are in USA and Minelab is Australia. Now when I see a trademark for a GPX name, I know something is real but I just don't know when. This late Fall I placed a good sized order of detectors and I asked Minelab USA questions. I specifically asked if anything on my order was going to conflict with anything coming out for Christmas, as the order was to start stalking for the holidays. I was told NO and I have no worries through the rest of 2020. Now, as a stalking dealer and year end, most businesses try to get the inventory as low as possible, which I did and have been for many years. So why would dealers be sitting on a bunch of 5000's now or even Jan for that matter? I realize not all dealers are the same, but those of us who have been around a while have wizened up...at least I thought so. If a dealer is complaining about sitting on 5000 inventory, I can only assume they are not paying attention. Another point I'd like to make. The GPX-6000 at a price point of $6000 is not going to compete with the GPX-5000 at $4000, in my opinion. My reasoning besides $2000, is the fact that a big part of the GPX-5000 sales are Relic Hunters in the Eastern States and now that we are getting details of the 6000's capabilities, the 5000's are still going to be the preferred CW Relic Hunter's PI detector. I could be wrong? Either way...You are missing a major point, my friend Chuck. Your wife said "go ahead". Looking forward to hearing how you like the GPX-6000 and hoping to see you at our 3 Days Training in April, at Rye Patch, NV.

Half the fun is meeting people. I’ve been fortunate in my metal detecting career to find some Gems, both in gold and in Gents. This industry has been in my family for 40+ years and 25 of it, me being a dealer of detectors. Yes in that many years of digging lead, I screw up on occasion and find a nugget or two. But on a really rare 2 moons shining, I cross paths with a Gem of a detectorist or two. (Pic below is Darrell on the left, Pieter in the middle and I holding his book) A few weeks ago I was fortunate to meet two outstanding detectorists, Gems of friends (Darrell & his detecting buddy Pieter). Heck we hunted meteorites and gold, shared a couple beers & told a story or two around a camp fire. It’s not often I find someone, let alone 2 guys who’ve been swing a detector longer than I. But….the fun and highlight of the trip was yet to come and even more precious than the gold/meteorites I dug. The last night and after Darrell had left (I wish he would have stayed). I was able sit down and listen/hear/dream of Pieter Heydelaar and his memories shared of the early gold hunts in Australia with his wife and the pounds of patches they recovered with early day VLF detectors. Pic below is Lunk and Darrell. Check out that fine 2 room camp tent. Having Darrell and Pieter in the same camp as I, around the fire, and in the field swinging side by side was just amazing. Boy I sure found a couple true treasures and well worth more than all the gold & space rocks I found. I have to give credit where credit due, so Thank you Mr. Lunk for putting this special hunt together and a few days in the field with some fine Gems & Gents. For those who are interested in prospecting Southern California and Arizona, I was able to purchase a dozen of Pieter’s book “Successful Nugget Hunting”, Volume #1. What I like about this book is the pretty detailed map and directions to some of his gold producing sites, which he describes and shares. The book is $17, but I only have 10 left. A special thanks goes out to Chef Rusty as well. His outstand chauffeur service, accommodating lodging and fine dining were top notch again. After all, what are friends for. (Pic below is Lunk on left, Pieter in the middle and Rusty on right who's mad as I ate the last slice of pie.) One thing is for sure. Even though Darrell & Pieter are 20 yrs (wiser) than I, they are hard hunters...so this young lad got schooled. That's perfectly fine with me...they earned it. (pic below is Pieter & Lunk at a meteorite site & the limo. How many of you out there know Pieter and some of his accomplishments in meteorite and gold nugget hunting? How about some of you Aussies who have been chasing gold down under for many years, I bet some of your stories are just as Golden.

The GPX-5000 used to be around $5700 and now is $4000. I don't see any price drop on the GPX for quite some time. USA does not have any more GPX-4500's to sell. The $4000 price point for the GPX-5000 is pretty spot on covering their bases (Minelab) and since so many Relic Hunters back East use the GPX-5000, it's still a good seller. Heck, Minelab USA ran out of them at Christmas.

The Auto Smoothing video...I noticed on his flat nugget the signal was reversed so I too was expecting it to be bigger.

As a dealer for Minelab, I can assure you that we are not allowed to ship outside of the country. But I do know of ways you can get one, but it will still cost more than the US price. When I did a prospecting trip to Australia years ago, after the hunt, I sold one of my detectors to a well known nugget hunter. I always take 2 on a trip in case one goes down. Yes you would have expected the luggage on the way back to be the same weight, but since I have all the gold in the suitcase, it equaled out. The other things I have done to help my customers outside of the country in years past. You come to USA on a vacation to go gold prospecting or meteorite hunting with a cheap used detector, then when its time to go home, take the new GPX-6000 out of the box, toss some cow dung on it and most inspectors won't even tough it. Last, is to have one of your friends/relatives coming to the USA and have them get one and either ship it to you, or take it back themselves. But dealers can not ship new units outside of US. Now used ones, most certainly we can. I just thought of this one. I used to take groups to Colchester, England on metal detecting tours and I imagine, if you paid them a few bucks, they would take one over for you. Either way, I wish you luck in your hunts. That was one of my favorite detecting trips for a few years.