Gerry in Idaho

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.

Welcome to DP and hopefully some of our knowledge will help you succeed. I'm usually running the stock coil with a VLF when in tailing piles and occasionally the larger. For the GB-2, I recommend the stock 10" Ellip and on occasion even the 14" Ellip. I'm not a fan of using a PI in tailing but when I do, I prefer a DD so I can use Iron ID. If using the buddy system (both detectors at once), then you can use a MONO on the PI. Watch out with a PI as they are extremely deep and those tailing also have big deep trash. Best of luck to you and I look forward to hearing of your adventures.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Great to hear your adventure story Steve and glad you were able to find some gold and get back mostly healthy. Yes, we like minded folks seem to like "scratching the itch" each year for the sole and excitement. Sure it's dangerous at times, but so is driving to the store these days. Planning and doing such Adventure trips is what keeps our minds fresh and alive. You keep at it buddy and sharing those hunts as I always love reading about them. Lunk and I went into MX a few years back and really enjoyed ourselves. it would have been much more nice to have an ATV or side by side, but we managed and made memories. Even found a little gold we did. Thanks for keeping us entertained and wanting to scratch that itch. Heck the gold is just a bonus...we know that.

This was shared to me and I thought of my Detector Prospector family. I'm not as good with a computer as I am a detector or I would have put a PI in the hands and said saving "Heavy Metal". Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels during the holiday sseason. Here's a Turkey for you Lunk.

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.

Glad you are happy with NF coils (past and present). They are an asset to our hobby and helps us find more gold. As for my previous experiences with NF. I'll compare them to my Coiltek. I've probably ran at least 20 different coils from both NF and CT in years past and I've been able to dig quite a few extra ounces of gold with both. Early on one of my favorites at Rye Patch was the 14" round MONO (the orange one). It seems one company will have the upper hand for a series and then it goes back to the other. I know there are other brands out there, but for 2 cents, I feel you need to stick with CoilTek or Nugget Finder as their longevity in this industry is solid. Lets hope on the next ZVT gold machines, both companies give us options and do it sooner than later.

that's so comical...and true for most of us.

Love seeing those golden cracks and that's quite a haul. Well earned my friend.

Arky - It's a Love vs Hate relationship with a GPZ-7000. Love the performance and hate the body aches during and afterwards. LuckyLundy - Yes it seems that the majority of folks have walked away from Rye Patch. That's fine with me as I still enjoy what it offers. RVPopey - I'm ok with an occasional mess of smaller gold. Actually at times it's thrilling to hit a nugget every 5 minutes. I found a small patch and pulled 9 pieces from a 20' x 30' area. Sure there are even smaller ones for a GPX-6000, but normally not my style. Maybe next season I'll swing back over with a 6. Gold Catcher - I'm slowly coming back around to it. I still feel in most of my areas, a GPX-6000 is fine. As you know, each has it's +/_ and desired areas with results. Swegin - You most certainly could have been talking to a Legend. It's amazing he even gave you that much help.😆 If it's the same Legend, he's found more gold out there than most of us combined. Lunk - Yes I think Swegin must have run into Smokey. You/I know those few words were about as much as he'd say to most, when it come to "where to find the gold". He was great with keeping his patches near his vest. 🤫

Steve, I'll be making a post some day about why/when a 7 is needed, but you already know. It's certainly not my desire to swing one but there are now options with the lighter coils we didn't have 2 years ago and that does help tremendously. Still overweight detector and maybe (hopefully) the next gen ZVT technology will be state of the art. Still plenty out there, less one ounce.

Well it might be regularly for me, but in reality, I could have been swinging for much less time in my old trash areas and probably would have hit a couple specimens of size and ended up with more gold weight. But this trip was more about Training Customers and then I ended up taking in trade the GPZ-7000 I used. What better place to test it than the ground I know best. Yes I agree, MJ writings are well worth it.

My last trip of 2023 to Northern NV was everything I expected and then some. On the last day, I was able to break the 1 ounce bar I had set. I actually had 2 goals for myself, at least a 1/2 oz and if the gold gods were on my side, then hopefully an ounce. After soaking my Nevada gold to remove caliche, my weight was 31.4 grams. Soaking results shows some totally unique and different variations of Au. Some nuggets with crystallized characters, a few weathered and smooth pieces, 5 leaf gold types a few bigger chunks and many smaller picker types. Even have a triangle formed prize. My biggest nugget of the trip was 6.6 grams and has a bit of chevron pattern. Majority of gold recovered was with a GPZ-7000, but I did find gold with 3 other models of machines (EQ-800 with 6" coil, Manticore with stock 11" coil and GPX-6000 with stock 11" coil). I took in trade while on the trip the 7 from a DP member, as I didn't own one (too heavy). One good thing about winters is early morning temps are too cold to hunt and the amount of light in a day is cut by 5 hrs. So with my thinking of starting to swing around 10AM and finish around 3PM with a lunch break, is about all my body can take of swinging a GPZ-7000. Plus I needed to test the detector before I sold it. Pics show just how interesting a small area of the region can have different gold patterns. Below is the gold right out of the ground and showing 32.9 grams. Has not been cleaned. Next pic is after CLR soaking to remove the Caliche (Calcite) that seems to form on many of my NV gold nuggets. Final weight was 31.5 grams so I only lost about a gram. Not as many chunky nuggets this trip (getting smaller each time) This next 2 pics are front and back of the biggest find and also my deepest dig a 6.6 gram at 15". Leaf gold is more rare than typical nuggets, but I still think Chevron is even more rare. Solid dense nuggets are always a treat as they are usually heavier than they 1st appear. The biggest of these is only (half a corn kernel) but weights .9 of a gram. The Triagon type nugget (in center) is really cool and collectible (only if it was a gram or more). Notice it also has a darker gold color to it. When I see those black cubes, I really start paying attention to my detector. They are Limonite cubes and come in many sizes. Last pic is all the gold again and showing a token I recovered in Nevada. It says NATIONAL, NEV. Wonder when the abbreviation for Nevada changed from NEV to NV? Well, I hit my goal for the trip and am proud of my efforts considering how hoard these places have been hunted. Actually, one of my good friends had asked if I found new locations that had not been detected and the answer is no. All gold was recovered from the same places I have known about and hunted. Sure I walked a couple washes I personally have not swing, but my staff have. If you are going to hunt Northern NV for gold, a great resource is "Placer Deposits of Nevada" by Maureen G. Johnson. Yes, each of the sites I hunted is mentioned in the above book. There's your "Nugget" of knowledge folks. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone across the globe this week. Gerry

Reese, Well earned gold to you. As Rob had mentioned and you obviously know, the GPX-5000 has more Timings than most want to learn and when paired with the right coil and location, some more finds at depth can be made. Glad to see you making a few more golden digs and hopefully you don't have to sell your 6.

I seriously have no clue when a new detector will come out. I just look at the previous track record and how they release detectors to get an average. The ZED is 9 yrs old and only their 1st with ZVT. So knowing them, something is being worked on and it's just a matter of time before leaks come out. Yes, the Annual report news does not mention anything for 2024 (which is practically here), but you/I and most others know it's just a matter of time and a leak of good news will start to trickle. Heck, just the update of the price increase for the GPZ-7000, could cause some to think "Buy Now" and dealers to "Stock Up". This might be exactly what the brainchild of Minelab is betting on (clear the warehouse), then the leaks of the 2nd high end detector with ZVT starts. I really don't have any clue though. I do like seeing Lunks results and that of JP's response, which not many have figured out. On a side note, the GPX-5000 has similar capabilities for those who take the time to learn it.

Lunk, Again, you are taking the old technology and making it new again. One simple post and the price of used GPZ-7000's goes up, Bill is in search of a 19" coil and many others will be trying the same. That's why I enjoy hunting with you buddy as the very rare talented guys like yourself, keeps me on my toes. Now as for me going back to the 19" coil, I'll pass and save my back/body for other hunts. When the new ZED detector comes out, Minelab will most certainly have many of those issues ironed out for the actual detector, but the coil itself, I'm not sure how much lighter they or anyone else can make a 19" coil of that size with the actual performance that design provides. Only time with tell and hopefully the leaks from Minelab start coming out as the new year is around the corner. Thanks again for sharing your hard earned knowledge and as Phrunt mentioned "the cat is out of the bag".

When playing with peoples emotions, things always take a twist. Gold to many is just that...gold. Heck, I still have folks who smelt all nuggets .5 gram and less along with their fines. At the other end, I have folks in my circle who sell their nuggets/pickers and even fines for spot and or above. Just like the food most of us eat, there are people who will pay more for a sticker "organic" and not realize how the term "organic" is stretched and use for profit. I know of gold collectors who are more interested in the nuggets region of discovery over many other factors. Their goal is to own a nugget from each region, county and sometimes mine. I do agree and it has been proven, some hefty prices are paid for nuggets that have factual history trail. Then you have the fake finds and that's what ruins some genuine discoveries.

Oh boy would I love to jump in and serve everyone some stinking humble pie and my 25+ year opinion of how this company has changed. But the wiser part of me says to bite my togue and let it go or I could be outside looking in. Wonder if the new Minelab boss who was recently promoted has any great strategies to help turn Minelab around? Wishing him and Minelab the best of luck, as we (detectorists) really need them around for at least pushing for greater detectors and detecting technologies.

Rob, Thanks for chiming in as I know you are one who sells them. I appreciate you answering my questions as Steve H and I think alike on many things and when us old time swingers see change, we've known a few times for actual upgrades or updates to the product, but as he mentioned, the manufactures don't want to panic owners of old and potential buyers of new...until they get their shelves cleared. Not saying this is the case with NF, as I know they are a solid long term company. You/I and anyone in the know (including NF) realize coil color can be affected by UV over time. I'm hearing some mention of the grey one but I've yet to see it? The white one I was fortunate to run was very impressive for performance to smaller gold, as expected. The only downside I notice is the actual material used for the cover. The plastic makes an annoying high scratchy sound when slid across the ground and the hollow echo drives me a little batty too. Funny how some plastics are smooth and quiet, but wear out soon and others are harder to last longer but then make more noise. Is the black coil and cover of the same type material of the earlier versions or hopefully that was part of the change? Now for the biggest question of all? Why does NF not have these coils on their website? If you think about it and the age of the GPZ-7000 (9 yrs old), it's certainly on it's way out. Is NF just trying to move the last of their inventory before we get updated with a totally new super lite and ergonomically designed $10K GPZ...whatever it will be GPZ-7500 or GPZ-8000? Again, it's kind of disturbing for someone who is on the fence about dropping over a $1000 for a coil that's had 3 changes in such short time and the actual manufacture does not even promote it on their site? I'm ok with change, updates and improvements. I'm not really keen on the manufacture not showing the Z-search coils on their own site. Have you heard why? Again, thanks for your time and letting us know the black is the newest. Do you have them in stock?

Was it purchased for a USA Dealer? If so, how long ago? Thanks for chiming in Strick.

I might be in the market for a 12" NF Z-Search coil and my research shows me 3 different versions. Why is this and what are the changes or upgrades? It seems the US is not getting the newest black version? Your thoughts across the pond is ideal for my eyes and knowledge. If my knowledge gathering is correct, the 1st version is white with red decal. Then and what I'm seeing in USA is this white with black decal, see below. Finally and the newest version is black with red decal. I know Nugget Finder is a very well known and long time respected company but seeing 3 different color configurations has me scratching my head. Please help me those who know.

😁 Wonder how you learned of the swing arm and Doc's Bungee system. Good to hear from you buddy and hopefully the gold is flowing. Yes I too use Doc's Ultra Swingie Thingie and also a Swing Arm off the GPZ-7000 (can be purchased separately). I carry my Apex pick on my back. I have Zip Ties made into a loop to hold the pick. A detector that really needs a swing arm (besides the GPZ-7000) is the SDC-2300. As for Ultra Swingie Thingie, I use it on a variety of detectors when Prospecting just so I can hold my pants up and carry my pic. The Minelab Pro Swing is a waste of money for anyone with size as the exoskeleton easily comes apart. And the Minelab Pro Swing does not hold my pants up. Why do I need my pants held up? My pockets are usually full of gold. He he.😁

A shout out to all who serve (past & present), Happy Veterans Day, officially tomorrow. A special shout on this day 10 November, as it's the United States Marine Corps Birthday, 248 years strong. Semper Fi my brothers and sisters.

Most certainly can. The price is adjusted though. "Detector Expert Markup", comes with GPS coordinates as well. Highly recommend the Extended Friendship Warranty as well.