Gold Catcher

I am still puzzled though why this was not noticed during field testing. Did the prototypes not have the unshielded part(s)? It surely should have been noticed by the testers when using the speaker. I did not notice it at first since I never use external speakers. But when I finally did it was clearly noticeable.

GC

27 minutes ago, phrunt said:

here it was $11 for my GPX and insurance was automatically included so no big deal and that turns into about 7USD but you guys pay a lot so it's a real inconvenience sending stuff back to them all the time to repair/replace.

I paid about $150 for shipping and 6k insurance. Things are totally out of control here.....with everything!

GC

The GPZ was a great built detector from the get go. Ok, some minor issues here and there (cheap screen, some latency when changing settings-which presists even after the last software update, some shaft issues), but overall pretty good right away. Same for the SDC, aside the battery issue which was easily managble.  These were the good old ML quality days. I wish they would come back!

GC

2 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

The GPX 6000 is a superb detector when working correctly as intended, but the number of reported defects has been really disappointing, especially people experiencing multiple coil failures.

Totally agree, and with aftermarket coil and shipping for the fix you are down for $6600, let alone the frustration. But what would have been the alternative after purchasing? Selling it for a loss? At least now I have a great working detector. But the bad after taste for sure remains. Makes me wait a bit longer to get the GPZ8000 after its release, that's for sure.

GC

3 minutes ago, TE Gold said:

My 2nd 11" coil has become unusable,  same as the 1st, so touch sensitive that grass will make it scream, I am really trying very hard to like this machine, but at least I know my zed is reliable. My backup and sometimes patch finding gpx 6000 is becoming a bit of dark cloud.

Get yourself a Coiltek or NF coil, do the audio fix, and you will love this machine.

GC

On 6/26/2023 at 12:29 PM, Goldseeker5000 said:

shaped like a heart

It confirms that gold loves the 6000/NF12x7..😍...Great job Reese!

GC

Many thanks, Steve. I am sold. There are times where I don't mind digging up alot of trash (where there is trash, there is gold), but I just got back from a trip yesterday where I was pretty close to be admitted to that mental asylym that Simon was talking about....With all caveats understood, a VLF with smart IQ might be the only productive strategy in areas where 1000's of miners have worked for years.

GC

Thanks a lot for the detailed response. Really helpful and great insights!

GC

10 hours ago, phrunt said:

Seeing nobody has answered and you're chasing gold nuggets at the moment I would say the Equinox 900 purely as it has the 6" coil and Coiltek 10x5" coil available for it, ask me again "if" the smaller coil comes out for the Manticore and "if" Coiltek make coils for the Manticore and my opinion may change. 

Hey Simon, I am thinking to upgrade my VLF capabilities, and your comments are timely. What do you think, is the Nox 900/6 inch significantly better than the GM/5 inch when gold is the sole focus? Or should it be the Manticore with a little wait for better coils? Would both punch deeper with better meter read in mineralized soil compared to the GM? I like the GM but its capabilities when using the iron meter are severely limited. I would only upgrade if the newer VLFs really beat the GM in every aspect on gold. I do not care too much about the other useful features that clearly favor the much more modern and versatile Nox or Manticore. Just which one would make my pill box heavier in the VLF world? I thought I'd ask the expert; I see you have posted a lot of great stuff about the ML VLFs (and many other topics...). I am good with PI/ZVT, but when it comes to VLFs I am a bit "on ice".... Thanks! 🙂

GC

Doesn't matter whether it was filmed 6 years ago or yesterday, it is a timeless account about the excitement of metal detecting. And good to see the magic three in action 🙂 . Just too bad that Kevin and Chris did not end up filing a GPAA claim. At least GPAA does not currently have any active claims in the La Porte mining district from what I know. But I would have been very surprised had they even been able to get a claim. The entire Southeast area of La Porte, including the Spanish diggings, are absolutely off limits for prospecting and littered with private placer claims since decades. They must have had permission to film on one of the many existing claims, at least that's my guess.

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6 hours ago, phrunt said:

yep, when people say they found gold so small it shows up as 0's on their scales I tell them to buy some decent scales

ML should have put a 0.0001 scale into the 6000 box, as a standard accessory...😁

GC 

12 minutes ago, mn90403 said:

A fellow detectorist uses the 6000/NF and found his smallest nugget to be .023 g.

I can beat that (as posted before). 2 inch down, was a clear signal and noticeable, but machine run full bore and very slow coil swing. 😉

As always, we all have our preferences. As I said several times before, for me the NF12 has been a game changer, and it is a significant upgrade for the 7000. The coil is more stable, more sensitive, lighter, better built and has practically no depth loss compared to the 14 stock. Most grounds I hunt are highly mineralized, so the coil configuration is a perfect match for me. I can highly recommend it. I use Bogene's setting from time to time and find it beneficial in some but not all circumstances. As reported before, general/ difficult works well for me in volcanic hot rock infested grounds that I often face in the desert. In fact, it is the only setting that produces gold that is in close proximity to hot rocks. I wonder how the 15CC would perform in these difficult grounds. I also use the SP01 religiously, and I find it a great combo for both the SDC and the 7000. So, is $1300 a wise investment? Absolutely in my view, and I like this coil ever since I mounted it, just as much as I like the NF12x7. Again, guys, we all have our viewpoints and the only thing that matters is the rattle in the pillbox at the end of the day, however you get it. 🙂

GC

12 hours ago, Badger-NH said:

They last longer if you avoid washing them.

Do you know what my shirt looks like after a day detecting...? 😬 Not washing it would mean the end of any social activities. Perhaps not a bad idea....Permethrin works well for me and is the only reliable tick defender of those that I have tried. I have tried many "natural" sprays, none of them worked for me. Those ticks on the North Yuba river need the nuclear option, otherwise they just laugh at you. But I will give YaYa a try. I do pretreat my clothes and gear regularly though when using Permethrin. A small price to pay IMO when operating in heavily tick invested areas. I usually spray Deet on top of it right before detecting and always wear long pants and long sleve shirts, tucked in. I am not (too) worried about bears, mountain lions and snakes (except Mojave Greens). But ticks I am most scared of.

GC

The vaccine should be available in 2025. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

GC

Excellent job, Mitchel, and well deserved! Greater Barstow area? 😉

GC

18 hours ago, phrunt said:

I find it hard to pick up the 6000 though when the 7000 is staring at me like I'm cheating on it and it's served me very well and continues to be the detector I like using the most so I usually want to take both with me.

I feel the same way! Wish I could swing them both at the same time 🙂

On 6/22/2023 at 7:47 PM, oneguy said:

This SP01....????  Know nothing about this gizmo, does it just enhance volume or does it actually increase sensitivity and hopefully more depth?  Outside of the ergonomics issues with the SDC the only thing "I" would like to see is a tad more depth with the SDC....

It's the SteelPhase SP01 audio enhancer build by Nenad in Au (Phasetechnical). Essentially, a filter and booster that enhances the target signal. You can find a lot of reviews and discussions about it here on older DP threads. It works especially well with the SDC, but I use it with the GPZ as well.

GC

Good performance of the Axiom. A few things though. First of all, he did not ground balance the sdc before going over the target. This can make a big difference, but perhaps it was already done before and we did not see it. Second, the 8 round stock is more sensitive than the Coiltek aftermarket coil. Third, no settings for the sdc were disclosed (was it really 4 or 5)? Third, coil moved to fast. Small targets can only be captured with very slow swing speed, the sdc misses often when this is done too fast. Fourth: the sdc should really be used with headset. Ok to use the built in speaker for filming, but this impacts performance as well. Also, for best performance the sdc should be used with the SP01. Assuming all settings are adjustes properly, the SP01 gets about 20-30% more performance out of the sdc. So, impressive performance of the Axiom without a doubt, but I venture to say that with all the above points met the experienced sdc operator should have had no problem hearing it at that depth. Even though the gold consistancy of the specimen might be somewhat challenging, the MPF timings should have still picked it up. But of course with all this said, there are always these odd examples where one nugget is heard by one detector and not the other, even when ideal settings are used. 

Just my 2 c

GC

18 hours ago, phrunt said:

Do you have the Coiltek 10x5?

I only have the Coiltek 9 round. Also an excellent coil and more stable compared to the stock 11. Perhaps a bit on the heavy side. But definitly nothing bad to say about it. I just happen to be a NF fan and the 12x7 is a good elliptical size for me, next to being a superb coil.  

GC

Great finds. Thus far, the NF 12x7 has only fans, me included. Simply an outstanding coil, stable but yet sensitive, and well balanced. Just like the 12 Zsearch! Real ceaftmanship and worth every penny.

GC

One thing to consider is R&D cost that will go into the selling price, so it's not just raw materials. But then again it is the level of innovation that matters. Just using old technology repackaged should not require much R&D efforts, hence the price should reflect that accordingly So, the question is do we expect a lot of innovation from a 2k PI machine? I sure hope so, but it might not be competitive performance wise to the "latest and greatest" that's out there. But that's not a reason to dismiss it, it would be a great option for folks on a tight budget who would otherwise remain stuck in the VLF world.

GC

I always knew I am doing something wrong

9 hours ago, jasong said:

seems like Garrett could have a chance to beat Minelab to the punch with a lightweight GPZ competitor that many of us have been waiting ages for, and thus holding off purchases of a more lateral move like the Axiom. 

ZVT is a genuine ML invention and its underlying technology likely covered by patents with many years of coverage. So, I don't see how anyone could make a GPZ/ ZVT successor, other than ML itself. One thing to say about ML is that they have driven innovation in the detector technology like no other. If a competitor would want to truly match or even displace ZVT performance with their own high-end detector it would have to come up with a truly innovative and differentiated technology, just what ZVT has been for ML, or perhaps Geosense if you believe in it. And not just reformatting technology that was already existing or for which patents had already expired (not referring to a particular company here, just saying in general). Do other brands have the same R&D engine as ML is having? Perhaps. But I believe it when I see it.

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On 3/8/2023 at 10:16 PM, RONS DETECTORS MINELAB said:

Axiom also for use in more surface iron infested grounds using DD discrimination. One year more warranty on 6000 though.

How would you rate the PI discrimination compared to VLF discrimination? I always thought that if discrimination at all then better with VLF.

GC