Gerry in Idaho

Beatup- YES our Community is tighter than we realize at times. phrunt - Doing the right thing is earning Karma when we go detecting. Well done my friend. Yes to realize it was one of our own, just makes it that much better. Jeff - Chuck has been a long-time repeat customer of mine. Even if he was a customer from a friendly competitive dealer, we still would have done the same. Yes our Circle of Friends is good.

Very informative review of the hearing aids and yourself. Equinox or Manticore GAIN of 23 on saltwater Beach, I could never imagine.....just to much Chatter and Falsing. I do know beaches vary to a degree, but my experience tops out around 19/20. Actually, just yesterday in the Cancun water, I had to drop to 15 from my usual 16/17 SENS setting. Yes I think you were missing targets for the last few years and now you're on a new level. Not only are you hearing more, but your thinking and positive attitude is another Win. So many people don't realize the importance of proper Mindset when chasing the deepest and weakest of target signals. Thanks for sharing my friend and wishing you Success.

Really nice gold and especially from a 20 yr old site. Love the circular nugget.

I know how Erin thinks...🤔. Remember my friend, we've had a few meals together. So I won't ask outright, but did you make any cool finds. 😎

I just arrived Cancun, MX from US and feel the Hawaiian Islands would be the same for rules. 1st off, take the detector you know best. Trying to learn a new one during the vacation is not wise. I carried one Manticore in my backpack on the plane and had no issues with Security or Customs on this trip. I also put a backup detector in my checked luggage. Never had a problem doing it yet no matter rules. As for scoop, yes a 2 piece traveler is a must. Carbon-Fiber shafts and aluminum or stainless bucket. Don't go big scoop thinking you'll remove more sand faster, you're arm will fall off after a few days. Big scoops of heavy wet sand...not me anymore, made that mistake 10 yrs ago. The scoop needs to go into checked luggage under plane as well. Tools, be sure they are in your checked in luggage as well. Needle nose pliers, wrenches, Leatherman, pocket knife, screwdrivers, even metal tweezers can get confiscated...could be weapons. I just gave away my military P-38??? Are you kidding me. They must of thought I was going to open a can of whoop-ass while on the plane. Beaches, Public beaches are usually open and International Coastal Waterway allows you the right. That does not mean some ahole local or Security doesn't try to chase you off. If so, best leave for another section. I've been threatened by Security in MX, Bahamas and Italy. Yes I was in the right...but I'm a visitor to that country. I have had many issues with man-made coves along the coast. It's usually higher end resorts and they built the coves for calmer waters for the paying guests. It's kind of Private at that point and unless you're staying there at the resort. Do they allow metal detectors? I know a local in Hawaii and he says a couple resort coves are off limits. Be sure to wear a mess bottom pouch that has two separate pockets. One for trash and smaller one for treasures. Keep us posted of your success.

...is what keeps us going, Golden Friends... We enjoy being around like minded folks. We share with our friends to help make each better at what we do when together. Friends are important in many ways and on a rare occasion, we need help from a friend. A friendship goes both ways and especially with a gold hunting friend. There's times when we need them and or they need us, a friend. My last Field Training trip for customers in Nevada for 2023 was memorable for a variety of reasons. I managed to get away before the start of class to do some detecting with friends and to compare coils/detectors when chasing gold nuggets. Having friends to compare undug signal response is a great way to learn. On a particular day one of my Nevada Friends and I were hunting older productive sites trying to scrape up a few nuggets missed by old technology detectors and while doing so we discovered the exact same site some of my other friends recently hunted. Alaska Steve from Nevada, Condor Steve from NV was there with Andrew from Utah doing a video sharing Manticore knowledge for all of us members across the world on Detector Prospector, for our friends. Anyways, about 30' from their campfire ring my NV buddy makes an incredible discovery. He hollers at me about his find and so I start walking towards his direction to investigate what's got him so excited. Now I know how hard this area has been detected previously for many yrs so I'm sure it's not a big gold nugget. I'm actually thinking an old coin or trade token from the Depression era as that's when many people were camped near by. During the Depression, many folks had no job, no money and no place to live. It was said that people from across the country and states flocked the area trying to find enough gold to make ends meet. We were detecting such site and quite a bit of old-timer trash was around. As I walk up to my buddy, he explains his Nugget of a find and holds out a fat weather worn brown leather wallet. What's even more amazing is the wallet is stuffed with cash. We eagerly go through it and see the driver's license, hotel card keys, credit cards, a piece of paper with what looks to be passwords, a card from a college university, photos and more. Interestingly was a pair of GPAA Membership cards. This must be why a stranger from Indiana was in the Northern Nevada gold fields, he was doing what the rest of us enjoy, looking for gold and probably with Friends. Well the $151 in cash and all of someone's personal credentials didn't help us find gold that day, but we did find a friend. Of coincidence this friend from Indiana just so happened to be in Nevada with another gold hunting friend back in June of this year when he lost his wallet. Detector Prospector is what I consider a friendly site. We enjoy sharing our detector experiences, sharing our thoughts on detecting gear, showing a few nuggets on occasion and sometimes making new friends. It's amazing that everyone I mentioned in this little story in one way or another, are friends and just like near 100 yrs earlier, we all had the urge to congregate to that Sawtooth area in search of gold. Would you believe each of us is also a member of the best Prospecting/Metal Detecting Knowledge site on the net, even the friend who lost his wallet. Yes Detector Prospector, you are indeed a Friendly Site and brings us together for a variety of golden reasons. Chuck from Indiana, you know you're gold hunting friends have your back. For you my friend....and the rest of you on DP reading this....You're in my circle...the circle of Friends. Merry Christmas my Friends. PS, Sitting in a rainstorm in Cancun trying to type this up on my phone. Sorry for any errors and hopefully my Friends will forgive me.

I realize you have more important things to take care of and on your mind Bill. I just want to mention, as a long-time dealer we've been together, Michelle and I are wishing you, the Mrs's, the other affected ones, a safe and speedy recovery.

I was informed a GPZ-7000 is much cheaper in MX than US. The Dealer price of the GPX-6000 in US was way more than Australia when it 1st came out. No reason other than for Minelab USA to make even more $$ off it's Dealers. My gut tells me Minelab’s price increase is mostly because of the lower stock price. As for other countries, you could be right.

It happens across the United States a few times during the holidays. Well to do people helping those less fortunate.

Trying to work from this phone in another county is causing me a few errors, sorry. If you're not in a hurry I'd like to discuss the +/- of each EQ-800 vs EQ-900 with you. I have thousand + hrs on 800 and quite a bit on the new 900. I know them well for Prospecting, Jewelry Hunting and Old coins.

Sorry for not responding sooner, but I'm in the field testing the Manticores waterproof capabilities. With the recent Idaho snows, it was time to head south to warmer waters. Sometimes I have to do the dirty work and take one for the team.

I take metal detecting and teaching how to do it properly, more serious than most dealers. But it's been my passion for 50 yrs and some, it's just a job.

I don't think the US market will go up as it's already inflated over other countries. Interesting to see how this plays out.

Amazing finds my friend and one things most certainly known, you're not Lucky. Might be your knicname, but your skills and efforts are most of it. I agree the small coils on the 6 are like painting a barn with a paintbrush 🖌. Well done both of you.

Whichever dealer you go with, make sure he actually hunts for gold nuggets and is Successful. I've recovered pounds of gold with the Equinox 800. For small nuggets and pickers, you should get the small 6" coil. If you're willing to travel some, 2 of my Field Staff Experts are in Arizona for the winter hunting gold nuggets and meteorites. Their 1 day 1 on 1 is Tops and both own an Equinox.

Amazing story and gold pics Allen. It just goes to show that your patience and persistence eventually PAID. Love seeing those bigger rough chunky nuggets and specimens. The GPX-5000 is a dandy detector in the right areas and once you build confidence in it and yourself, the gold comes much easier. Looking forward to seeing and hearing of more of your Success stories.

The VLF technology of the 24K is quite capable gold detector in tailing piles. I tested it for White's and did manage a few nuggets using the small round 6" coil. Also dug some nice specimens in ore dump piles using the small 6" round. Interesting thumb nail nugget below. Some really good ore dump specimens with 24K. And one dandy specimen, below. All were recovered with 24K and 6" round coil. That's not what I would recommend to you though. Only reason I used the small coil, when they handed me the machine to test, that's what was on it. So here is my recommendations. For all the gold below the 1st pic with small pieces, I recommend the stock 10" Ellip coil. For the tiny stuff, then use the smaller coils (6" round or 6" Ellip). As for Settings, I don't like cranking up the Gain and you being newer to the gold detecting game, try to stay around 7/8. If you go "10" that kicks in the Audi Boost mode and for new ears, the extra noise and unstableness could be an issue. As for exact settings? each site is different and their own soils, hot rocks, salts etc. Some great videos on YouTube showing the 24K. Good luck and keep us posted of your adventures and or success.

JP, As mentioned on DP before, your words/comments are very well respected in the PI and gold prospecting industry. I agree that the GPX-6000 is most simple and hi performance. In my opinion, it's too easy and not enough features for the advanced users. I also know the detectors are usually built for the masses of people and their knowledge or lack of. Like the Gold Monster 1000, the GPX-6000 is missing some potential, in my opinion. The Garrett Axiom (another high-end performing PI option at a much better price), gives us features the GPX-6000 does not. Here is where I read your comments and wonder. Do you feel the next high end ZVT technology detector will be as simple as a GPX-6000 or allow the user to have more control and feature options? I would think, a lighter housing GPZ with the ZED Timings, but at the same time hopefully get the super Sensitivity of GPX-6000/Axiom on small gold and specimens. Heck, it might even be easier to take the GPZ-7000 technology and put it in the GPX-6000 housing. I realize the DOD coil weight will still be an issue, but only on the larger coils. We've already seen the aftermarket coil options and their weight/sensitivity advantages. Since you are one of Minelabs primary Field Testers, please inform them to go triangular on the shafts and this will help with the coil shift that is so common on the GPX-6000. One thing about manufacture competition, is it allows the end user to get a better thought out and built detector. We're all looking forward to the next hi end gold detector tool. Thanks again for your time, efforts and input on DP, well respected my friend.

You are spot on when it comes to technology change and the kind of gold being recovered. Your collection is quite stunning and impressive. I see quite a few of my old time customers doing quite the same here in the US. Sure there is the occasional "slug solid chunk" but the reality is more small gold and specimens, as the older technology was missing the majority of what is recovered today. The new PI's are such a treat (lighter weight) to swing (Garrett Axiom and Minelab GPX-6000) when compared to the older PI's, but at the same time, your kangaroo scrotum sack was loaded will a little more weight of heavy metal too. Doc used to sell them sacks. Thanks for being us down memory lane.

Gold Dozer - Welcome to Detector Prospector and hopefully we see you on here more often in the future. We need some of the newer DP members to start posting more so us old geezers have something to read. Just curious where you're located and what you swing? As for making finds. Not sure if I am spoiled or just in the right area. As for area, heck I travel to get to many of my locations so I feel maybe it's "Time". I seem to have more patience than most and am willing to put in the "time" at those "areas" that have been productive for Prospectors in centuries past. I honestly feel I could do even better, provided I had more "time" on my hands. Who knows, maybe when I fully retire and quit selling/educating new Prospectors, all though I do enjoy training. Keep up the positive spirits.

Your capabilities on the computer are as good as your detector skills. The only difference is I feel the one that will make you the most money, may not be detecting. Great input and I love the detail.

You are most capable and even a better friend.

Love reading these adventures and seeing raw pictures of the good and bad. That bed/bumper getting stuck was way more angle than most would take with a trailer in tow. Just think of a regular size bed of normal truck as the rear wheels are even more forward allowing for even longer rear end. They'd still be out there.

Thanks for sharing as I don't recall seeing this. Would love reading an update to its whereabouts and if it changed your life or at least style of detecting.

Doc, The last time I checked my body, I had so many Minelab cuts, bruises and battle scares, I was afraid to look at myself in the mirror 🪞. They Minelab already has our names on the Wall of Flame.. They're waiting to burn 🔥 it. No worries, I still have my award. The only problem is nobody currently working at Minelab USA even knows about it. I should have known the writing on the wall when I was presented this extremly rare, prestigious and valuable award at the Banquet. I purchased over 1 million dollars in detectors in 1 fiscal year from 1 manufacturer (Minelab). Kellyco and I were the only ones. This beauty is my reward. No free truck, no free week in Hawaii, no free TV. Not even a free GPX-5000. Just a piece of glass with my name on it. That folks is what you get for buying over $1,000,000.00 of Minelab detectors. laughing all the way to the bank. Oh well, at least for a while I was pretty well known across the industry. Now, just a more wise senior talking about the good ol days. It was fun though, you, AZO, Rob, Stu, and a few others. Most aren't even around in the game anymore. Kinda sad to see.