Gerry in Idaho

OK Dan, is it really for him or you? Great to see the 1st video. When skeptics start picking on your video, tell them to buy one and do their own. Nice to see someone taking the to share a video of the detector we are all waiting for. BTW. What is a KG for us Westerners.

One of these days I am going to AZ just for this show. I have many good friends who say it is Top Shelf.

No we can all take a breath and realize it is not a dream. Lucky day for you my friend. Thanks for sharing and be sure to give updates as you find good stuff to talk about.

Folks, I have read some of the posts on here and am disappointed about what some of you think you know or what some of you might have been told by a dealer. No I’m not even going to other forums, as I heard they want to hang each other blaming the manufacture Minelab, their dealers and or non Minelab users causing their usual ruckus. I will not call out anyone in particular except Minelab, as I feel they did leave us in the dark recently with lack of communication. Here is what I want you to try and understand please. This new and exciting detector technology was introduced in the UK at one of the larger detecting events in the world. I personally had customers there who were pretty excited about it and why would you not be? After all, Minelab of old and their high dollar prices, for the most part…I think is behind us now. 1st Go-Finds (which I personally don't care for), is an introductory detector to get in a new kids hands for under $199 (and it sells well, better than I had imagined). Until the last few years the cheapest thing Minelab had was minimum of $500. Then the Gold Monster 1000 package with 2 coils and accessories priced at $799. It has really hit the US market hard and I can barely sell any of my other VLF gold detector brands. The GM-1000 is the hottest selling VLF gold machine out there and actually fun to use too. They already had the high end Gold Detector market share. So what is left to go and gobble up and try to put their product brand in to your hands. The Equinox with 2 different models and price points of course. Minelab decided to go with a detector the majority of you can afford and most importantly, you want one. Their advertising & intro outside of the US was genius. The price point along with this detectors technology is stunning. The majority of detectorists WORLDWIDE are intrigued and wanting it. Yes we were told to expect a small batch around Christmas…but that was before the upgrades. With the new upgrades, even more people decided to jump on board and I applaud you. The new year is here and most major detector manufactures have not introduced much that was totally new and exciting in the last 3 months. Tax returns are coming, the Spring is around the corner and until this week most of your retirement accounts were fat and happy. The market was riding the wave and the Equinox Pre-Sales is as well.. In fact, the last 30 days of sales of this product have been more than the previous 3 months (for me anyway). Minelab History. I have been a Multi Line Dealer of detectors for 20+ years. Minelab (which I feel makes some of the most innovative detector technologies) allows me (a detectorist of 45 years) the edge in my style of detecting most of the time. I’ve witnessed this company grow from a single weed to a bush in a matter of 3 years in the US in the early 90’s. I have seen their gold detector sales spread across the US from a bush to a garden in the early 2000’s. Then Minelab started making well know detectors we enjoyed for Coin/Relic/Jewelry hunting using BBS, FBS and VFLEX technologies, all the time while growing and the garden getting bigger. My sales of a variety of Minelab detectors just kept getting bigger and before I knew it the garden in the back yard became a City Park of many acres. Minelab has methodically kept on growing, getting bigger with each new model and improvement. The 2nd Gold Rush in Africa (about 8 years ago) was a Grand Slam for Minelab and they re-invested some of their profits by hiring more young and bright minded Engineers and yes even physicists. Now we are at present with this new Multi IQ technology and the Equinox. The biggest change I see? Minelab is now so much greater worldwide and the detector is in demand more than even the best of us could have imagined. Folks, the walk in the park along the river is no more, it has grown into a full blown Timber Forest. The Equinox with its new Multi IQ technology, the perfect timing release at a major detector event, the updated info and even the delay to get more features and performance into the detector… has the demand across the different lands and languages of this planet is totally awe inspiring to us old timers that have been around for a long time. To date - 1st shipment arrived and has been allocated. Boy was I pissed off at 1st as well as most all other dealers. Then I realized what they just went through and also realized the same thing happened with the other machines in times past and most recently the Pro Find 35 Pointer. Minelab felt it best to get at least a few machines sent out and that is exactly what came into the US? Lucky for us as some countries were allocated even less. My guess only… I expect another shipment (in the next 2 to 3 weeks) and it too will probably be small and then a 3rd shipment 2 to 3 weeks later and so forth. I feel things will open up some around the mid/late March and most customers will be happily using their new detector. All the chatter (good and bad) is literally creating a wave and it just keeps getting bigger and more curious people are watching, wondering and wanting…to get in on the game. Now I love new customers and have spent most of my adult life promoting this hobby and the many adventures it provides. But some people seems to think Minelab is taking advantage? What I ask of everyone who reads this. Please be respectful of your dealer who is trying to get the product, but we can only hand you what we get. Some dealers have not been as up front with their customers and a wise customer will shop with someone different next time. Please understand Minelab USA and their distributors are doing all they can to get them and I know for a FACT they are moving them to the dealers. Thank Minelab Corporate, the ones who make up the new technologies we so desire. After all, they could have kept their promise (machines were done) and sent them across the lands. Then a month later we are all up in arms with new info and possible downloads. Heck people, they make a wise decision and are offering us even more machine at the same price we already paid. Why be upset with that? So please don’t call and threaten your dealer for taking your money. Please don’t call and harass their distributors and or even Minelab USA. After all, if you don’t want the product let us know, we have plenty of people in line to take your spot. Now for Minelab USA or Corporate. I feel they did not do a good enough job of updating the consumers of their products. We are inquisitive people who want to know (hence the new EQ) and many of us have put money in your hands, some for a few months now. We (most of us anyway) are ok with the delay and updates. But after saying “end of Jan” and that not happening, it allowed the forums to run rampant with rumors…which causes more stories and then sometimes mistrust. A simple post to FB or on the main Minelab Site explaining the product was delayed an additional 2 weeks for any reason would have been enough for most. After all we all know BAD news is better than No news. I would kindly ask of those who want to chime in with opinions on why this or who that and Dealer A not doing something right. Please refrain. I’d like to see positive comments and feed backs only. Once the detectors are in your hands, then there will be discussions started to engage. Bottom line is this. Not a person on any forum is going to make the detectors show up any sooner. It is what it is and we just need to be a little more patient. Americans being patient? I don’t think so.. we are spoiled, self serving and sometimes non practical. Guess what. We still be waiting. Thanks for allowing me to help clear up some of the delays and ways of Minelab. I’ve had plenty of hair pulling events myself in my years with Minelab and it will all work out in the end, I promise. Oh and have you downloaded the newest version Equinox manual, I don’t understand why some come in White, Who wants a white one? https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2018/Chevrolet/Equinox/2018-chevrolet-equinox-owners-manual.pdf

FedEx for me. Says Tuesday Delivery. My 1st group of customers have been notified.

Strick, She'll thank you too. Let me know when you are ready. My 1st shipment was sent to me today. They are already spoken for. Now I know when you do get an EQ-800, you'll also have to get that lovely lady something special too.

I should make some up for my customers with a twist. "My dealer and I Survived the Equinox of 2018", but honestly not sure if I will survive? I did get confirmation this afternoon of shipping to me...yippie.

I usually have a good selection of them in stock Dan.

You are correct Al. I myself prefer the Killer Bees, as John makes a good variety of them and he is #1 when it comes to Customer Service. I used to sell SunRay Gold, but now I prefer the Killer Bees with the many different options and same price range. If anyone wants some, contact me and we'll do you right. One thing about them. They are fantastic for blocking out unwanted noise, so you hear the detector and the sounds it makes. AAA+++

Contact Minelab USA in Chicago direct and ask for Jamie. You'll need to get an RMA # when sending them back. When they send you a new pair put them in the box and leave them there. Minelab makes some of the best detector technology out there, but their headphones are crap (in my opinion). As others have said, the external speaker has plenty of volume. If you want something that does not have issues very often, I highly recommend the Killer Bee's. Made in USA by John Smith in AL. Comes with Lifetime Warranty. Get a pair and then an adpator as right now he only has 1/4 plugs. Good luck.

Holy crap Steve. If your words of wisdom have not started a new frenzy of late EQ sales, I honestly don't know what will. Funny how I had 2 calls and 3 emails this evening...but I did not answer them as the Super Bowl was airing. Now there is a way to make a bigger splash for next year, a commercial during the Super Bowl showing you using the new Minelab CSI (Clear Screen Imagery). How has it been working out so far and do you think "seeing the actual target on the display screen" worth the upgrade and price. I was told $2500+. I don't care if they offer it for $5000, I'm in.

You don't know what you are missing in the ground if you don't have one right. What if the wife says "Why you have all those detectors, you only swing 1 at a time"? If my wife asked me why I have more than 1 detector because I only swing 1 at a time. I'd then ask her, why she has 20+ pairs of shoes for only 2 feet. Why she buys a new outfit each month when she has 100's. Why I need to keep buying her diamond ear rings, when I've done it now many times in 30 years and she only wears 1 set at a time...Or why the two of us live in a house with 5 bedrooms and we only sleep in 1 of them. I'm getting one because I don't really care what others say it can/can't do...I have to compare it myself in the sites I hunt in the soil conditions I have. I'm getting one because I like new technology - Multi IQ. I'm getting one because if I can find 1 way it does better (and allows the the opportunity to find more) than my favorite detector at a certain tasks, then it is good. But I am not expecting it to do all. What is your reasoning?

Welcome Zoomie97, You are about to enter a hobby full of Adventure, History, Fun and sometimes Frustration. The 1st thing you should do is get with the dealer you purchased from and have them take you out for some pointers. Not knowing proper coil control, sweep speed, how to pinpoint, knowing a real target from chatter and the local rules will certainly get you going in the right direction. A simple beginner tip you can do in a small area. Take 5 dimes, 5 nickels, 5 zinc cents, 5 quarters, 5 small pieces of wadded up foil and 5 of the most common pop tops. Have one of the kids or wife hide them in the grass in your area. Then go and find them. Listen to the tones of the targets and the cleanliness of the signals. After a few attempts, try and guess what your detector is telling you and sounding like on each target. Before long you'll learn the tones, reading of such targets. It is only after you have put some time on your machine and found approx 100+ coins would I suggest going to an old site and trying to find older deeper coins. If you head straight to the old site and fire up the machine...You'll go nuts not knowing tones, and numbers. Stick with clean repeatable signals for the 1st hunts. Here is a video that could help a few newer users. I realize it is a different detector but the tips are the same.

Cipher, I knew that when it was posted, as we received the info...but at the same time I was scratching my head and clearing the ringing from my ears. Nothing pointed at you, I was just asking if you or anyone else in the US knows for certain EQ's shipped to them today. I just had another update with Debbie 5 minutes ago and we'll get updates of quotas on Monday. Hopefully my Pre Orders Shipment will be covered by my 2 Pre Paid customers.

I know you are excited, but please tell me 1 dealer in the US who they shipped to today? There have not been any. I spoke with Debbie and on Monday Feb. 5th 2018, she is going to let us dealers know who gets them and how many. Yes I too am pissing all over myself waiting to get them...but the way the wording is makes it look like they shipped to Dealers today and that is not the case (at least not in the US). My phone probably rang 30 extra times today. Please be patient and respectful of the dealers who are trying to get them to you ASAP. Now if I get that same 1 person calling me 30 more times this weekend...I'm going to tape a nickel between their coil and coil cover...before I send their detector

I'm not the Yuma expert, but I know for a fact there is gold to be found, I just returned and the 1/2 day we hunted, I think a dozen nuggets were taken by 3 of us. So YES you should take the gold detector. I only hunted 1/2 a day at 1 site so I'm sure the other washes had nuggets too, as I seen dry wash piles in them. Let us know how you did when you get back and good luck. PS. Be sure and take a pair of non metal knee pads, I forgot mine.

Ramis, I have tested many coils in the day and my findings sometimes can change based off the size of target and the ground conditions. I base my coil selection on a variety of factors. 1st and most is the surrounding terrain I plan on detecting? A 22" coil could be useless on some of my OR, MT and ID hunt sites. But open ground in NV it would do ok. Now another bit of knowledge needed to know is the size of gold you plan on hunting for? Both of those coils are what I consider to me in the "Specialty Class" and designed for one task...to find big gold at depth. But I also want to find the medium and small nuggets too and the 18" coil will do better on a variety of gold nugget sizes than the 22". Another issue is soil conditions and amount of mineralized ground. A larger coil covers more ground so it sees more bad soils, which on smaller gold is harder to hear than a smaller coil in the same ground. But I have noticed the GPZ 19" coil actually seems to run smoother than the stock 14" coil in some ground I hunt in NV? Also realize the 18" ELITE is the new style flat wound coil which has some features the GoldStalker does not. Me personally I would take the ELITE 18 vs the 22". But if you are wanting stable, then maybe go with the DD? Hope this helps.

So many people call me and ask about getting into Nugget Detecting and then comment, “Hasn’t it all been found by now?”. I’m here to tell you what I found out last week on a short trip to Yuma to get some sun. The last minute, I decided to take a GPZ-7000, as it actually packs in airplane luggage easier than my 5000. Anyway, we did the usual stuff for the first 3 days and then got the call to meet up with Lunk and another of my customers the next morning at around 9AM. I was worried my rental car 2WD Ford Escape was of no use? But when we met up at the site, I realized my riding lawn mover would have done just fine. After all, we turned off real genuine pavement and drove less than a mile on gravel, seen some dry wash piles on the side of the road and decided it was good to hunt. OK… lets cut to the chase… How did we do in the 5 hours of detecting? All 3 of us found gold with our detectors. Are we all swinging the high end GPZ-7000 that most folks can’t afford.. you ask? Nope. Only me, as I did not realize smaller coils would have served me better for that site. My one buddy was using a more moderately priced detector, SDC-2300 and he recovered more than I. Lunk was swinging the best VLF gold machine under $1000 and he too found more than me. After all, coil size to match the terrain is pretty important as I found out. So whats the verdict on AZ and Yuma specifically? Plenty of gold out there folks and I was able to drive my riding lawn mower less than a mile off a paved road when we seen old Prospects so decided to try. Each of us using 3 different detector price ranges and even technologies (VLF, PI & ZVT) scored some Au. We all went home with gold…and a few great memories. I’m still awe struck that gold can be so easily found a half mile from a paved road, 15 minutes outside of Yuma? I guess those folks enjoy dry washing more than nugget hunting? I'm thinking next winter I know of an area to put on a Gold Detector Field Training class for my customers? At least I know it is really close to town and most anyone can get there. BTW… There is plenty of lead targets in that area too, so you’ll get your share of pinpointing practice. And on the way back to the hotel, you can pull off the side of the road and get another kind of nuggets, fresh AZ oranges.

Sorry I have not been in the loop the last week, as I was down South. Thanks for the invite from my clients and friends. We had a fabulous time down there in Yuma and digging up the gold. No monster stories to tell, at least not about the gold nuggets, but I was able to dust off my GPZ-7000 and find my 1st piece of 2018. What a great way to kick start my year. Just a little one at .4 gram...but sometimes the hunt and the folks in the hunt are even better. I hope I get the invite again and looking forward to seeing all my clients and friends who winter down there or anywhere if you invite me. I might even do a little training for you too.

Fantastic find Rob. Could not have happened to a better guy, as you have put your time in my friend and those who do, a small % of you will find than Whopper. Hats off to you joining the 1 Pound Club, it is a small club to begin with. Hopefully it is not the biggest you ever find, but I know that one will be a tough one to beat. GPZ is an amazing Minelab and I heard if we purchase one from you, you'll take us out there? Yes I would purchase one from you too...LOL

Let me know when you are ready to pull the trigger GS4000, as I have many EQ-800's on order. Expecting them to start shipping next week too. Nice finds BTW.

FTB, I read your post and totally understand. 1st of all, I ask all customers to live within their means and I never sell a detector to someone who thinks they can do this for a living or to quit their job. I've been very fortunate to get into the hobby because of my dad and my uncle back in the early 70's when I was 7 years old. I would pick up and try to swing (usually drag it) my dads detector each time he'd take a break. Then when I was about 10 I got my own and for two years I used a $59 All Metal Beeper and lived the life. Seeing the detectors you currently have and the kids, that extra play money is hard to come by. I have no issues with your post and actually enjoy seeing it from your point. Not all others will view it that way, but that is part of the fun of an open forum. I'd like to make a recommendation that the EQ-600 would be a better fit than the 800 for your location, as not much successful gold nugget hunting takes place in the Dakotas and the cost of the 600 is $200 less. The other option you have is the folks who jump on the bandwagon that are not detectorists. Some folks hear the hype and think...Heck I'll buy one of those and have fun...only to find out Success at metal detecting does not come easy. There will be a few used units out there after about 3 months and you should be able to save a little more money. Having a couple kids to detect with is the final goal and it really doesn't matter which models your family is using, as long as you all have fun. One of the bad things about getting a new detector is the time it takes to learn it. Many people never will spend the time to do it, so they never see the benefits. If you have a detector you currently like and are accomplished with, then stick to it and keep those kids outdoors and having fun. The reality is...this is a hobby and so if you are out there with the kids and having fun. It could just as easily be a $49 unit doing you fine. After all, in reality it is just dreams and adventure.. right.

Thanks for sharing all your Sunbaker finds folks. It is amazing to see what is out there and just laying on the surface. Mitchel, Norvic, Chris, Davsgold all have serious finds. In my opinion the best of them all is GoldGetter from CA. Not only a SunBaker, but boy you better have great eyes to see such a monster. Thanks for sharing everyone and keep it up as some fantastic finds.

It may not be for everyone and especially those who do just 1 thing and are really good at it with a certain detector. But what about all the other folks and those who do a variety of hunts? The last few years has allowed a few manufactures to build detectors with a vast range of uses. I predict this new technology will be the flagship for future models to come with is great for the end user. I’ve been a Minelab dealer for 20 years, but more importantly a multi use detectorist for 40+ years. Some people think I’m a Minelab guy because of all the YouTube videos and posts I make mentioning the brand Minelab. Simple fact to set everyone straight so you understand where I come from. Brand means nothing to an accomplished hunter. Success means everything. As a detectorist, who hunts with many friends and customers, I want to find treasure. I don’t care if I’m in the warm water of Mexico or Hawaii scooping for gold rings, I want the best salt water performing detector for the task. If I’m in the rolling fields of England digging Roman coins and artifacts I need the best discrimination and ID detector I can find. If I’m in the gold rich soils of Australia or NV where many others detect, I need the most powerful detector with depth than can handle mineralized grounds. Or I could even be here in my own 150 year old town of Boise trying to sniff out another 100+ year old silver coin in a nice manicured yard of a neighbor, I need extra depth and better target identification. After all, most sites I detect have been hunted by many. And yet I still seem to find more than most others? What separates me from most of you? Not only my Success, but the fact is I have almost every detector at my fingertips. Yes, being a multi line dealer allows me the opportunity to get them all. On top of that, I have handful of select Field Staff members who also enjoy the hunt and we like to compare different detectors, coils, settings and also share our findings and knowledge. So having the ability to do all the different styles of hunts we do with most of the top performing brands, allows us to see the truth and find the best detector for the hunt we’ll be doing. I’ve yet to find 1 detector that is best at everything. In fact, I am most certain said unit will never be made because there are too many variables, soil conditions, kinds of targets and many other aspects affecting the outcome. So legs go full circle and back to the beginning. Why am I more Successful than most? The detectors I use give me the extra advantage needed to keep finding treasures in worked out sites. Most of the ones I swing are proven winners and they are Minelab models that have been tested side by side with the best of the other brands. I’m not saying in a particular soil type on a certain target, at a given depth, there is not another detector than could beat a Minelab…because I have found such instances, hence why on a rare occasion I still go back to some other brands and models. But the majority of time, the newer and more advancing technologies of Minelab is the winner. Each of the detectors I have used for Minelab since they came to the USA has been better than the previous ones they have made. Not one time did the overall performance/features of a new model not do better than the older. Here’s your options. Keep swinging your old reliable and getting a scrap here/there or start the new year with the newest (the future) technology and never worry about looking back over your shoulder. For you, what’s it going to be? For me, past performance and proof has already served me well. I know without a doubt this new Multi IQ is here to stay for a long long time and I’ll be out there swinging it at all those sites making top finds as usual. After all, I’m a detectorist and not worried about detector brand, cost or model … I want bang for the buck features, performance, versatility and a machine with better ergonomics. Anyone know of such a detector? The EQ-800…I’m pretty sure. BTW, I’m always here to earn your detector business no matter the brand and I accept some detector trades. Yes the 15% Military Discount on Minelab detectors, even the Equinox, is a great way to thank a Veteran. See you in the field, where it counts. Thanks, Gerry

My brother just shared his 1st GPX-5000 nugget of 2018. Here is a 17.5 gram Sun Baker.