Bill (S. CA)

Hey diggindaboot. I feel your pain but you need to relax Everyone who has responded to your post says the same thing which is basically it takes time to learn a new machine. We have all had the "I want to wrap this damn thing around a tree" moment with a new machine. Gosh it has happened to me on every Minelab model since the Sovereign. I recall how tough it was to figure out the flutey sounds of he Explorer. Then the Etrac came along and the VDI changed. I could go on with similar experiences with Whites, Fishers, Garretts, you name the manufacturer. No high end machine will find you anything but frustration when you first try it out. So my advice is to just take a breath and wait for your cool new machine to arrive & then give it a go. I've been detecting since 1972 and I can tell you this is just how it goes with new gear. Good luck and good finds to you! Bill

I agree nothing in pay-to-play updates for Minelab. Phrunt's idea of an Equinox update right now is a good one. Would be smart of Minelab to do this.

Abenson, Great post and I couldn't agree more. I also have tested my Etrac against my Equinox and have realized similar results. I loved my Etrac in its day but the way iron would give me a very slight high tone, making deep iron sound like a possible deep silver coin, just doesn't happen with the Equinox. Yes on very, very rare occasions it was a deep silver, but more often than not it was deep iron. The Equinox really changed the game. I also concur with your views on the Fisher CZ, White's DFX and Garrett Apex. In heavy iron they are just too much work. It would be interesting to see if First Texas ever revisits the CZ series and tries to upgrade the technology. Based on their complete lack of new technology development, save the Impulse AQ (which they brought in from the outside), I have my doubts if this will ever happen. Similarly Garrett could take a run at the DFX. As to the Apex, my hope is that Garrett takes the multi used in this machine and refines it for future models. On saltwater beaches the Apex is a real sleeper, but inland it needs some work. Bill (S. CA)

I'm sorry, and I mean no disrespect to Luis, who obviously put some time into this test, but really? The reality is that the AQ doesn't exist. Let me say that again: the AQ does not exist. You can't pre-order it. You can't buy it. There is zero information available as to the status of this "wonder machine." However, you can buy a Deus II or Equinox right now. And either two of those detectors will find stuff for you right now. This continual "cone of silence" from First Texas regarding the AQ has reduced my interest in this supposed detector to zero. I really see no point in any further videos or discussion with regard to the AQ until First Texas decides to either make the thing or table it for good. Bill (S. CA)

What a sensational coin. Since he hadn't been out detecting in what, 10 years, I wonder what detector he was using...?

Chase summed it up perfectly. Follow his advice and you will be good to go.

I'm going to throw in a different take on the AQ since, like Steve, I've had it with First Texas. While I agree that the AQ needs a major redesign, I blame the need for this on one thing. "Shill field testers." How many times have we heard about new detectors that are being tested worldwide by supposedly qualified field testers and right when the machines are ready to come out there is a sudden and abrupt halt? The reason is always the same, something to the effect of "minor changes, adding useful features, etc." Baloney. The problem is that most guys who test these units are just looking to get free stuff so they rubber stamp units. I'll give you a perfect example. A number of years ago a very prominent metal detector manufacturer contacted me and one other detectorist in the United States to test out a new detector. We were told that it performed flawlessly in the lab and that a team of European hunters had all signed off on the detector. To make a long story short, it took each of us less than an hour to determine that the detector was impossible to hunt with. It took over three months of our testing various software upgrades and changes before we were able to get it working. All of that was done for zero compensation and no free stuff. And it was worth it because the detector became one of the best selling metal detectors of all time. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not beating my chest and bragging. My point is that if these manufacturers were serious about building detectors that work they would use genuine, honest testers instead of these ass kissing shills they go to every time. On this forum alone, a number of you would be ideal candidates. But for some unknown reason the manufacturers simply don't seek out the honest types of testers required to really evaluate new detectors. I mean, come on, the mechanical problems of the AQ have been visible from the start and verified by users. First Texas could have hired Joe Beechnut to fix everything, right? And so it goes. I'll be honest, I think the AQ is dead. And even if it does hit the market, who cares? The Deus II has taken any buzz that the AQ had and squashed it. Bill (S. CA)

As usual, I agree with Steve. However, I can tell you that on our Southern CA beaches I have found relatively thin gold chains, and parts of gold chains, in the wet sand with my Equinox 800 and the stock coil. In every instance the TID read "1." I've had other fellow hunters experience the same thing. This is the only non-PI detector I have ever used that could find this sort of target.

Leave it to Steve to point out my "oddball" status! Glad that a few of us share that moniker. Thanks to everybody for the replies. Bill

I am a frequent beach hunter of S. CA beaches and have found over the last couple of years that almost all hunters are using Equinox 800's. Not like the old days where you would see Fishers, Whites, a random Garrett and even a Tesoro on occasion. Which leads me to the reason for my post. My go to machine on the beach is an Equinox 800 with a 15" coil. It is rock solid, gets great depth and has rewarded me with a lot of nice3 finds. However, I also have a TDI Beach Hunter. Now before I stir up all of the PI guys who will insist that a PI will go deeper than an Equinox, I'm not going in that direction. What I am curious about is the deeper targets vs. more trash targets aspect of using one machine vs. the other. My own personal experience has been that when I have used my TDI Beach Hunter, and the competition is using Equinox 800's, I am always low man when it comes to good finds. While I may be getting better depth, the amount of junk I have to dig (rusty hairpins in particular) slows me down in terms of coverage while the Equinox guys are covering a lot more area and finding more good stuff. Have any of you had a similar experience and if so, when can you justify using the TDI Beach Hunter (or a different PI for that matter) instead of the Equinox 800? Bill (S. CA)

Personally I think that the various features suggested, while for the most part good ideas, are more appropriate in terms of Multi-Flex showing up in higher end models. Remember that the Apex is part of the Ace series and I don't know how much Garrett is willing to put into this detector given its price point. For me, I like the Apex a lot at saltwater beaches, where it performs extremely well. Inland it can, on occasion, be a tough go and I think the suggestions\ of an adjustable recovery speed would serve an update well. The post from Tahtsa-a-dats-ago about a reintroduction of the V3i is a great suggestion. I've thought the same thing. It would be very cool to see if Garrett could take that platform and tweak it a bit. Bill

Let us know how you do!

Great post, Gold Catcher. Love the way you told the story with narrative and pictures. Just curious if anyone has run the Garrett Goldmaster 24K in this area and if so how it performed. Bill

You are back with a vengeance my friend! Well done. Love the rings, the pirate ring is especially cool! Bill

Hey guys, need a little help here. My buddies and I would like to try some gold prospecting with our metal detectors and we all live in Los Angeles. We are experienced detectorists but when it comes to prospecting we are novices. Can you recommend any areas in the Los Angeles area that might be good for guys like us just starting out? My buddies have Equinox 800's and I had a Garrett Goldmaster. Thanks for any advice that you can offer. Bill

Nice to see you out there again, Joe. The old gold can run but it can't hide from you. FYI to all, and not sure that it means anything at all, but I got the new Kellyco catalog in the mail yesterday and it advertises the AQ as "coming soon."

Hey Jim, very intriguing idea that you have there. Let me run this by my friend and see if he is interested. Would your friend charge to do this and if so how much? Fisher's design was unique but I guess short lived. From what my friend remembers the handle broke off at the shaft mount. Appreciate your taking the time to take the pix and respond to my post. Bill

Hey guys, an older friend of mine has a nice condition CZ70a Pro that he would love to hunt with again after many years but there is one problem: It is missing the upper shaft/stem/handle assembly. Apparently the handle broke off years ago and the upper shaft was lost or tossed. He has the control box and lower shaft. Yes, I know he could pouch it but he really wants to mount the box on a shaft. Unfortunately the mount used for this detector was only used on the CZ70, CZ70a and CZ70a Pro. I spoke to Fisher and they no longer carry parts fo that model. Does anyone have that the upper shaft/stem/handle assembly they would be willing to part with? I've attached pix for your reference of what he has left. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Lastly, I have spoken to Anderson Shafts about possibly making something but if I could find the actual part that would be very cool. Many thanks, Bill

Fascinating post, Joe. You are never lacking for ingenuity. I think the reason that companies like ML aren't developing products like this is simple: the creative development team guys don't hunt.

It reminds me of the question "what's heavier, 5 pounds of feathers or 5 pounds of lead?" I've tried a counter-weighted Equinox and to me the more weight you add the more fatigue you encourage. Not for me. Honestly, I wish that there was a version of the old Bigfoot coil that would run on a MInelab. I remember a couple of guys who hunted with those on their White's machines at Santa Monica years ago and did really well. These mega coils are just too darn heavy.

Thanks for the feedback guys. It sounds like a counterweight is a good idea if I decide to go for this coil. I had a chance to borrow a 15" ML coil and didn't care for it. Too nose heavy for me but I don't have a counterweight on my 800. Bill

I"m curious if anyone has tried the Coiltek 15" NOX coil and if so their thoughts on it. This is the coil: https://coiltek.com.au/coils/nox/15-nox-coil/ I used a WOT coil for several years and liked it but ultimately the weight did me in. The coverage area of this new coil intrigues me but I am concerned about the weight. Bill (S. CA)

For those of you who hunt saltwater beaches with the Apex I can confirm that the update does give better stability in the wet. I used my updated detector at Santa Monica Beach in Los Angeles this weekend and it was rock solid. GB was a consistent 11/12 with very little falsing even at max sensitivity. I dug an Iphone over a foot down in the wet sand and it was a good solid signal. The Apex is in my view is a salt water beach sleeper that offers excellent performance for a very attractive price point. There were eight guys hunting when I was there and they all had a certain brand of machine that pretty much owns the beach these days. In comparing finds with them the Apex held its own. I have used that certain brand of machine since it came out and can tell you that you don't lose much, if anything, with the Apex.

I've picked up a 1970's-era Garrett BFO in decent shape but it is missing the battery tray. Kellyco and Garrett no longer carry them, though Garrett says that they have other trays that should work. I'd really prefer to get the one that matches the detector. Anyone got one laying around that they would part with? I've attached pictures of the detector and what I thinkis the correct battery tray. Thanks. Bill

Interesting. Almost makes you wonder why Nokta/Makro didn't offer interchangeable handles. It would be easy enough to do and they obviously have some ingenious designers. Personally I prefer T-Handles because I feel like I can get more torque on tough plugs and digs since the handle is attached directly to the shaft. I've used "D's" before and there can be give to the handle if it isn't super sturdy.