Gold Catcher

Beautiful nugget. Congrats! Haven't seen one that size from there in a long time. Good to know that Mother RP has still milk to give. 😝

GC

Running the GPZ always in normal does not capture its full potential and versatlity, IMO. Sure, normal gives often the best results, but I have had plenty of occasions where difficult with both HY and general gave better results, pending on soil conditions, target depths and other parameters. Nothing fits all needs, and dynamically adjusting the settings and optimizing them for the day's needs is the best way to maximize the potential of the GPZ, or that of any other detector for that matter. Re GPX, the 12x7 allows to run in normal most of the time where I hunt, with only a very subtle difference to difficult, and then evident only for shallow targets in my experience. Thus far, I have not yet encountered a target with the gpx that I would have only heard in normal and not in difficult, with exception perhaps of a few microscopic flakes in < 0.5 inch depth.

GC

4 hours ago, flakmagnet said:

I feel the same way, I don't know how to describe it but the Dale has always been hauntingly evocative

I can relate to that. I guess it is the unforgiving and rugged landscape. Despite mostly lode, this is a great area for placer gold as well (eluvial and alluvial). The fans in between Goldcrown Rd and Ironage Rd are incredible, albeit littered with trash. Be careful though when you hike them up. Almost got killed on day from guys shooting their riffles from one side of the canyon to the other.

GC

For gold prospecting I recommend all metal in gold prospecting mode and not paying attention to the ferreous discrimination. Too much gold will be missed, and many of my nuggets registered as ferreous in mineralized soil. I have reported on this before. Rather, follow the the ID, nuggets are in between 8-22 with not much fluctuation. Gain has to be up to 19 (recovery speed 6) if you want to have any depth on smaller nuggets (1-3 inch). Also, listen carefully to faint threshold variations (deeper targets won't give any reading) and remove slowly layers of soil until you start getting a repeatable ID.

GC

Definitely some good stuff coming. But to significantly outperform the GPZ something majorly has to happen. I don't know to what extent ZVT can be further improved, but it is hard to imagine that there will be a detector that blows the GPZ out of the water. Also, it is harder and harder to find gold that was not already picked up by the very good machines that exist today. I guess every detector generation went through this cycle of "there can't be possibly something better". But unless something earthshaking is happening technology wise, I predict the margins will remain rather slim.

GC

21 hours ago, Aureous said:

In-field performance needs to show an improvement and the ability to find more gold for the end-user. A big ML price tag means that the machine needs to pay for itself. The GPX6000 certainly does that....mine has paid for itself 3x over now in only 15 months. Last year I found 774 bits of gold and already so far this year I'm at over 1,000 bits. The new GPZ needs to show this kind of ability.....plus ergonomics and comfort. For starters, the weight needs to come down to the GPX6000's kinda level for me to even think about getting one. As usual, we'll see......

I remain curios to what extend the new GPZ will find what the old one didn't, leave aside ergonomics and weight. The current GPZ is a pretty darn good machine. Beating it is currently only possible with the GPX6000 on very small gold. For the new GPZ to beat the old one, and pay for itself with gold the old GPZ did not find, will be a very tall order.

Just my 2 c

GC

The big numbers came from Africa, and there not with the GPZ. Since that market has now declined, it will likely also negatively impact other business activities, like the very high R&D cost to develop a (truly) new GPZ. I think they know that in the $10,000+ price class just better ergonomics won't cut it.

GC

On 8/25/2023 at 6:32 PM, xracer550 said:

, The Narrows still had a small flow of water so made a panning hole & started working the cracks had a Great Day after all

Careful, this entire area is claimed up.

GC

Miners Den Au associates the tape with NF...lol. Bottom line, it's always the same tape material and is used by both Coiltek and NF for their coils

https://www.minersden.com.au/nugget-finder-evo-3m-88t-skid-plate-tape

I use the Coiltek black tape. They have it usually on all coils that they ship. NF uses the same.

https://seriousdetecting.com/products/coiltek-black-cloth-tape-for-metal-detector-coil

1 hour ago, DSMITH said:

probably a simple answer to this but

What is detector tape if you do not mind me asking

It's cloth tape that you can buy at detector shops and that is purposly made for detecting

For all my detector coils, but the Manticore coil, I seal the coil covers all around with detector tape. Makes all the difference. 

GC

Sorry to hear about your troubles, Norvic. But the fact that it is still working, despite being basically decapitated, speaks for it's rugged build. Also good to know that you don't find any difference performance wise after much testing, even for small gold where the 6k shines. I don't think there are many field testers with your level of experience, and you are also not financially involved with Garrett (I assume). So, your judgement means alot. Essentially a less automated 6000 with setting options that probably most advanced operators are dearly missing on the 6k (including me!). I applaud Garrett to pass the "Norvic" test for a high end metal detector, and for developing a detector that is on par with a high end ML machine. That's the first I believe. Also, really nice custom set up for you truck. But where is the espresso machine??😁

GC

I am glad you like the coil, Phrunt, and nice finds! I have not heard anyone not loving it, and it is the most stable one in my coil selection (agreed with Aureous). The reduced edge sensitivity is not a show-stopper IMO and the somewhat off-set windings pick up any small gold at the edge without problem, albeit with a short gradient, as you are pointing out. But yes, the hotspot is about where your X is, all around. It does appear to help a bit with edge-bump sensitivity, perhaps this is why it was designed that way. For me, In full bore (Manual Max/Normal) the Exceed is more stable than the 9 Coiltek and the 11 inch stock comes last. I only go to A+/A if I can't run in high manual, and I noticed that the machine is then throttling down a bit and also gets slightly more erratic (independent of selected coil). It must have to do with the auto-algorithms that kick in, not something that always provides good stability. But at full bore the GPX/NF12x7 combo is almost magic and will find gold where others don't. My Pro-Find 35 will set the machine off every time, and yes it sounds like a police siren, like I got caught claim jumping (I never do...!😉). 

GC

5 hours ago, geof_junk said:

Gold Catcher  as most areas here in Victoria have been hit hard my many detectorist and the only areas left are mainly heavily polluted with junk, I have passed your post on to my 25 year-old grandson. He has got a Manitor and gets to his other grandparents area in the golden triangle and your information will help him a lot as the ground is very hot and will give him a good starting point to tune his detector. 

Thanks, GOJ. It would be interesting to know what works best for him in his grounds, and whether my observations/suggestions track there as well when hunting for gold with the Manticore. Perhaps you could post his feedback? It would be a good learning for all.

Thanks

GC

2 hours ago, klunker said:

I recently spent a couple of days with ---- ----- ----- and ------ at the famous ----- ---- mine in ------- county, California. We all found some nice gold, but I found a bit more because I was willing to dig a little bit deeper. The gold was mostly in a strata of ----- ---- rock and was very course and there were few small bits, even using a 6000 to check behind my 7000.

  If any of you should go there be advised to say to the left when you get to the --- ----- ----- or you will definitely get stuck for hours, and if you camp out be sure to ---- - ----- ----- because there are numerous -------- and ---- --------- teeth and will tear you apart with there claws. Oh, by the way don't try to get to the mine by going -- --- ----- ----- as the map is incorrect and you will ---- ---- ------- and there is no place to turn around

Will be there on the weekend....😉

Great gold, congrats!

GC

2 hours ago, phrunt said:

I don't care about ID's then, I'm digging everything so hopefully it gives it a little boost over the Nox.

Why not using the 6000 then if you don't care about IDs and dig everything? Just curious because I plan to use the Maticore only for trashy areas where I really need some sort of ID. Any other advantages that would favor the Manticore over the 6000? Thx.

GC

1 hour ago, fishersari said:

Can you explain how its different that GB2 and Gold monster.. I know nothing about prospecting stuff but would like to know how much the technology has improved over time

The gold monster is a single frequency gold detector with an iron probability meter that only works more or less when the target is literally right under your coil. In particular with the small 5 inch coil, it can be very useful for certain situations, i.e. bedrock crevices. It is also very sensitive for small gold (coming pretty close to the GB2). The Manticore is a much more advanced multi-frequency detector (but with optional single frequency operation mode) with a pretty sophisticated target ID system on a 2D screen that shows a target trace on a ferrous and conductive coordinate system. But there are tons of additional and customizable features that the GM does not have, and it can be used for relic and gold prospecting. Please check out Steve's detector data base and the many threads on this forum. 

Hope this helps.

GC

Just got mine, did the upgrade and did some testing in my yard with test nuggets and small iron trash. I have to say I am impressed. VLF has come a long way since the GB2 and gold monster days, and this detector will suit my needs well for shallow gold in trashy areas. I reckon the sweet spot will be down to about 2 inch in mineralized soil. Also, really well built. Will do more field testing soon but will likely stick with Goldfield mode with prospecting audio theme and threshold on with all metal. I am glad I bought the Manticore and it will even be better with a smaller coil. The depth indicator is pretty much useless though for small nuggets (not that I would have expected any different). What a great addition to my fleet.

GC

9 hours ago, geof_junk said:

BUT she make me watch every Horror film that comes out so maybe some of you should be careful

wow, you are in luck. Mine loves soap operas 🤮

GC

Extremely brutal, dark and bloody movie. Not for the faint hearted. Watch without wife.😉

Totally loved that movie. Take a look at his face. This is what I am waiting for. One day......🤣🤠

56 minutes ago, phrunt said:

They should do a submit informaiton form on their website where users can report what they're finding with firmware updates or with detectors in general, a bit like a feedback form, that way they'll gather more information along with not having to search through various forums and Facebook posts to find out information about users' thoughts, if end users could just submit what they're finding it would be beneficial for them, I think and cut down the number of complaints on forums.

It's the ultimate way of showing they care.  As many know I do a lot of skiing over winter, I scan my pass going onto lifts and then the ski field knows where I've been and how many runs I've done and I can see my statistics for the season, another benefit of this is they gather informaiton about where people are going and what they're doing, more often than not after a day of skiing I get an email asking me to fill out a survey on my day, it asks various questions about my thoughts on things that matter like if I used the cafes and how my food was, if I used the toilets and how I found them for cleanliness etc, along with my thoughts on the snow conditions, grooming of the snow and how the lifts were organized with any queues and so on.  They also have a feedback field at the end where you can type anything about your day, and to ensure people fill it out they randomly give away passes to people who have done the survey.  

Imagine how much valuable information Minelab could gather easily doing something similar, when you register your warranty they have your email address, they could send out a random survey link asking how you're going with your detector, any changes or improvements you would like to see, any problems you're having.  The same with firmware updates, a month or so after you've updated, they could send out a survey to see how it's going or even just have a form on the website you could fill out and submit any video of your problems if any.   It might even keep a lot of the complaint videos off Youtube damaging their brand.

If they're going to make us beta testers they may as well do it thoroughly and take advantage of it in full, it would benefit us all including them to have a better product.

That would be the most efficient way to fix issues. But they might be worried about receiving so much negative feedback, visible to everyone, that it might hurt the brand and people would shy away from buying their products. Or they could just not show it.

GC