Gold Catcher

In "SDC territory" no other machine is a match. I would never sell mine. The rumor is that the 6000 is as easy to use as the SDC and GM, but more powerful. Well, unless it's foldable, small and fitting in my backpack the SDC will be the king of the hill for the backpacker.

This is a great discussion guys! I very much enjoy this thread. I hope one particular person will chime in as I think his thoughts would add a lot of value and perspective....

On the GPZ the target volume and threshold volume need to be set/adjusted based on ground conditions and target response in the area you are hunting. I like the additional option of audio boosting without changing any of these parameters. Like a functionally independent volume control without interfering with how the GPZ processes the audio signal based on it's internal volume/threshold setting. Regarding the filtering option, which is a separate topic and not related to the audio boosting function of the SP01, I like the setting "1" which IMHO makes the target signal somehow cripser (regardless of GPZ settings). I am sure Nenad can comment about the specific reasons why that is. You are right, for the SDC it is a total game changer. But I, personally, find the filter function useful for the GPZ as well. But everybody is different.

I use the SP01 not necessarily for audio boosting, but rather to have more control about target response/ filtering of audio frequencies. This goes beyond to what the Volume control on the GPZ control box is doing. I just hear faint signals/wobbles clearer.

Good idea Simon. Yeah, recovering those 0.001 g metal wire trash with the 14 in coil can be really fun. So, I nice pinpointer would come in handy as the ML PF35 would not register that small trash at all. My only worry would be how to carry it comfortably while keeping it away as far as possible from the Z during long detecting sessions, and still not being overloaded from all the other stuff (hipstick, hydration backpack, pic holder, SP01, etc....). Also, turning the GM on and off each time while keeping the Z away as far as possible appears a bit cumbersome. However, very cool set up that you have with that short shaft !

Who knows. But I bet ML has heard the complaining about the lack of coil options loud and clear. They may team up with someone (NF?....). Obviously, they know about the success of the X-coils and I would think they want a piece of the coil pie eventually...;). I think the GPZ even with the small coil would poke out from my back pack. At times, I want to hide all my equipment including pick in my backpack, so nobody knows what I am up to. If asked about my big backpack, I just say I am a photographer....;)

I also like that the SDC is foldable. I can't think of any other detector with this performance level that I would take on a 8 mile hike into the bush (although I have done that shouldered with the GPZ.....). I could also imagine that more coil options would become available for the GPZ as the GPX 6000 is rolling out. Like a product refresh cycle.

Explaining complex theories in simple terms is a sign of truly mastering the underlying content. I for my part rarely understand the complexity of gold formations, aside from simple lode or river placer deposits. Even less so is my ability to predict where to find it. I do my research, look at geological maps and learn about the history of the localities I go to. At times, it allows me to get a better view on what to look for, but more than often I find gold where I would have never expected it. Looking at mountain formations often does not help since the gold in many cases was already there before mountains even existed. Hence, in contrast to Einstein, I neither master the content of complex theories, nor do I even try to explain it in simple terms. I am just happy to find it, that's enough for me 🙂

So Einstein's quote is wrong? 🙂 If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. Albert Einstein

Planned to go up in there tomorrow. However, with all the current wildfires around here that are severely impacting traffic, in particular driving East through towards the Sierras into NNV, I will give it a pass (for now). So, go ahead an clean up before I get there...Checked the weather in Lovelock, heavy smoke expected from the fires in the entire basin area and 100 deg. heat. Enjoy!

Here is an interesting read about it. Makes me wonder if there are more undiscovered locations with conditions similar to those at Rye Patch http://www.onlinenevada.org/articles/ice-age-nevada-and-lake-lahontan

Did you ever find anything on the right of the street (east)? I haven't

AMEN! I just started to use the hipstick very recently, used the ML ProSwing before. A few weeks in and I can't imagine ever being without it anymore.

Where the placers are salt isn't actually that big of an issue. I can hunt in HY/normal without problems

Yeah it looks different now. Whenever I am out there I hardly see a soul! BTW, I misspoke earlier. I of course meant WEST of the Majuba placers towards the hills, not to the east. But watch there are active claims beginning at the foothills.

Hike towards the hills on the east site of the Majuba placers, away from where the crowd has been eating for decades

Not quite, but hard work for less than it used to be

I am a ML fan and own the GPZ, SDC and GM. I am just tying to build a case why I would want to buy the 6000 in addition. I am still hoping more ML-backed coil options will become available for the GPZ. If not, then I would go for alternative options (X-coils, NF) rather than buying another expansive detector just for coil versatility and modern configuration.

I am still curious if there is any technology edge with this new one, or just housing reconfiguration. Also curious to see how they will position it in the fleet, unless the 5000 has then a significant price drop. At this upper price tag something has to be really new. Or it would just be a more convenient and modern 5000?

Several dealer sell them, Rob is one of them https://www.robsdetectors.com/steelphase-audio-enhancer-nenad/

Sorry, the pic somehow pasted on my message. No you don't. Just open the front straps but you can leave the back strap on. Then, flip the stand and it is ready to go in the backpack 🙂

No you don't. Just open the front straps but you can leave the p on. Then, flip the stand and it is ready to go in the backpack 🙂

PS: Get Nenad's SP01 audio filter/booster. This little device works magic with the SDC (and GPZ...) and I would never go without it

My recommendation is to dig all targets, regardless of hi/low or low/high. Sometimes, shallow iron trash gives a very "melodic" high/low response, or a "raspy singing" at times. But I still would not want to use this as a true indicator as gold gives many similar noises depending on depth, shape, consistency, nature of host rock, coated mineralization, coil angle and swing height/speed and many other factors. The SDC, with its MPF timing, is made to capture small gold and steals the show of VLF's in mineralized ground very spectacularly. In addition, it is actually quite good in detecting deeper gold as well, much better than most would believe. However, the threshold sound then changes to barely audible mellow variations or warbles. I have recovered many depper nuggets this way. Hence, it is important to keep the threshold as stable as possible (sensitivity 2 or sometimes 3) to be able to hear those faint variations. Not always an easy task since the SDC tens to be noisy. Some ramp it up to 4, but the threshold will then be very unstable in most cases which will prevent you to hear these small variations, and you WILL loose a lot of gold. As true for many other detectors, less can be more as long as you train your ear/brain to capture these faint variations. Good luck!

The nice thing about prospecting is that everybody has their own technique and whatever works the best should be adopted for individual needs. So, all good. I can just say that for me making sound decisions is not a productive way. So often I have been wrong when guessing what the GPZ is signaling, so I just don't take any chances. In certain cases, when I know the area really well, I disregard surface screamers if I know the gold is deep, and if my boot can just kick it away. However, for me the sound discrimination is just not a good practice, especially for a detector like the GPZ.