Norvic

Nah, never had a dual Ace, only used a loaned 1600 by then the 1700 was out, 1700 really swung me from the A2B, GM2 etc to ML, (was hard to walk away from producers like the A2B) yeah found tone control is very important to my hearing(or lack of it!!!!). Hopefully I`ll have that 12000 manual shortly, scan & convert to pdf, and attach pdf to post if Steve has no problem re. manual rights for such an oldie should be dead. Interesting history the advancement of detectors, am going through a ton of old detecting books, no mention of the 12000 as yet. GG&T(OZ Mag) online archives don`t go back that far unfortunately

Well that clears up that bit of gossip, at that time I was using the A2B and got a bit of a surprise at the performance of the 15000 you speak of Argyle. I suspect it had a DD coil as around rocks it was reaching nuggets the A2B couldn`t get (close to the base of rocks) Than the 1600 come along and that really concreted MLs dominance of the OZ gold scene. But have followed up on the 12000 manual and have contacted a fellow thinks he may have such somewhere?????, will get back if he finds it.

Crikey, that goes back a bit. Could be wrong here but there was some gossip around then(last century!!!!) that machine was the beginnings of ML of OZ.

Yeah, got you there KL also from your past posts, tis certainly a major jump in tech. Guess ML rely a bit on users to sort out the shortcomings, the SDCs supplied batteries a prime example. I didn`t try them in mine, got a set of Accucells from Nenad, they work a treat.

Fault, dunno whether it is anyone's fault, the 4Ms certainly portray customer grumbles, but think you nailed it re. ML would still be the leaders with the Extreme & Explorers plus say the CTX. Maybe not a big enough market for the rest to get up to speed, or is it that ML have the best in personnel that the others just can`t or don`t wish to match, just content to keep refining the cheaper VLF, which seem to have a good market. ML tried with the GoFinds but that doesn`t appear to be the go as yet. Whatever tis good for me that ML keep lifting the gold detector performance benchmark. The gold detector market doesn`t seem to be driven like say the 4WD market, suspect that is because of size. All the various brands of consumer 4WDs seem to be so much the same, that tis boring. PCs, cameras etc etc but not MLs products, never boring.

Yeah your right Fred, depends on ones perspective, the SDC should have had batteries with a bigger + terminal, and the Z should have had all those thingos that KL refers to plus for me a GPS with a mapping screen that is not proprietary. But for me I`d rather see them spend that dough positively, instead of upgrading current tech, on research so as their next gold machine is the worlds best also, because that is what the Z and the SDC are, as their PIs were. I have no doubt they listen to our gripes but they also have to stay financially viable, a balancing act I hope they are successful at for many years more.

KL & Fred, you both forget worlds best gold detector by far, it tis I tell you for sure.

Crikey, love that scenery, not a tree for miles just nuggets waiting to see the light. (heavy breathing)

Dunno!!!!!!! what is more important, chasing the Rainbow or finding its treasure???? Or maybe the cookie, dipped in Brandy laced steaming hot coffee as the sun rises on a chilly still morn out in the sticks.

Other than its WOW factor, as you state, it has it over the Z in one very Important area, because of the small coil, it can be worked around boulders etc etc where the experienced operator knows a small coil is the go. My SDC on its 3rd partial outing, (yesterday),(naturally Z does most work most days) has found its first patch, which the Z will be cleaning up. Without the SDCs small coil the indicator nuggets to this patch would have not been found, this ground had been worked by many VLFs, PIs and many operators over many years and been walked away from. Although a GM2, around 20 years plus ago, got the first indicator nugget. Just wasn`t enough detecting power to go further nor any subsequent PI until the SDC & Z team. The gold though small was deep out of VLF range in difficult ground, the SDC purred over. No doubt if the Zs coil could have been gotten on the ground it would have got these indicator nuggets plus more. In my part of the world, I feel the SDC to be a complement to the Z as stated, in my experience the Z has proven to be the Alpha gold detector (no doubt) whilst the SDC is fast proving to be the Beta(more runs needed). It could be said it lucked onto this patch but that would negate many years of operator experience, persistence licks luck always in the long run. I suspect the folded up SDC will be a part of this operators armory, probably residing in the backpack on the longer Z hunts. Time will tell. Just one question I ask myself, Why didn`t I get one before????????? Bloody stubborn old codger syndrome. Come on ML, small coil for the Z pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!!!!!!! If I sound excited, tis because I am. On Ya ML.

Mitchel, Hopefully I can now get my Missus out there swinging, I was really amazed at the SDCs, Z like handling of some pretty difficult ground. Ground that requires slowing right down with the 5000. Certainly they are a good pair whose strengths complement each other. Easter Bunny and GoG was very good to me.

Well, my Son did it and turned up with a SDC in exchange for my 5000 for Easter. Went off to try the SDC, left him with Z to compare with 5000 and new age coils, he was fairly impressed with performance of 5000 with the Elite 14" but in using the Z to compare he is now spoilt and talking Z Z Z Z only. Suspect the 5000 is history, regardless that the new age coils have increased the performance of the 5000, the stability of the Z has swung him. The SDC, it is super stable and a small piece magnet, good fun and will complement the Z. It is the small coil gold detector for those pieces around boulders the Z just can`t get at, plus for those shallow pieces that recovering is time consuming for the Z.

Ddancer, definitely keep your wireless receiver closer. I must have a longer range wireless on mine, I often, having left my pick at last hole, leave Z at new dig wander back and retrieve pick, wireless doesn`t start getting intermittent for 5m plus cutting out completely 20m plus away. Don`t think your problem is wireless related, could it be a GB null? Does it only occur in one ground condition?

That`s it not following you anymore, you cleaned me up with that rock. Top Video Dale Many Thanks.

Schiara, That little trip of using general to help locate a small piece dug out is a tip I picked up from Dale of the Goldhounds. He mentioned it in one of his posts, but I rarely use it now as have developed a technique of using the front top of coil to dump handful with suspected little piece in, then easily locate piece by moving finger around, squawks loudly when you move the piece. This actually is a old technique from the VLF days.

Have found General over High Yield gives a more positive signal when in deeper ground on pieces about 8grams and above, have not tried extra deep enough to be sure. But as always varying ground conditions probably make this a loose "rule". Try this, next time you dig a small piece out switch from HY to General to locate as a test, result may surprise you.

Having never heard of before , you got me googling the US desert tortoise, remarkable animal. Totally land dwelling, amazing. Wonder if they can sense the detectors coil field, or is that norm to follow? Have a wacko theory that snakes can sense our coil field, and keep away, thus why rarely seen while detecting.

Crikey, Fred your the US Harry Butler (OZ TV wild life show presenter) , I was going to ask are they edible but wouldn`t dare.......

I`m with Ddancer on this, with the depth I`ve experienced from the standard coil not sure the larger coil is going to see a lot of sales, but having said that I`ll get one and find out if it of use to me as soon as it is available. One say two oz piece at say 1.5 metre will pay for it, have to get another for the chiropractor ....... 2oz+ nugget that is. Plus there is the advantage of larger area covered and if at same or close to same weight, why not? More toys for us big kids..........

Crikey, it`s gold for sure, but aren`t you taking a big security risk, keep it quiet and gather as much as you can, then find your local accredited AGR (Pert Mint) dealer, he`ll send it off for a commission probably will require it upfront. You`ll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Brett, Cabelafella`s hint is on the money, give it a bash, gold is very malleable. Good journey your on, tis magic.

Recent thread about metal in Penguin, reminds me of a few years back. Local Stock Squad (Cattle Police) were experiencing a rash of horses and cattle being shot. For Court evidence they required the bullets and spent cartridges, so they would grab me and off I`d go with them. To cut a long series of stories short, that went on for a few years until the young "Rambos" were caught. One particular beast, couldn`t find any cartridges but there was a big signal in the cow, on cutting open we found remains of a lead acid battery in the stomach. Cattle station owner found that the beast must have for, whatever reason, decided to eat through the pile of discarded vehicle batteries behind shed. Perhaps of further interest, I found in detecting over stock bodies the VLFs were much better then the PIs, the Pi with 18" coil was tops for finding the spent cartridges but couldn`t ground handle the "chemistry" of the bodies. Not having heard from the Stock Squad for many years, I assume they have purchased detectors for this purpose.

I`d wild guess at antimony but never seen it with such lustre and apparent malleability. Interesting, hope someone can give positive ident.

Great detecting Lunk, like you I once thought I`d remember all those spots, but time and age has made the GPS data indispensable. Especially with mapping software, you go into a spot you know you`ve got gold before and there on the laptop or smartphone screen is the location and nugget details. Especially with the Z and its capabilities of scoring those small deep scraps that lead to new patches. Well tis so in my case, memory just isn`t what it was. Now what was I on about

Californiagold, realise you were talking of pinpoint ability on VLFs, but although the Deus has this ability, have not used as prefer(read- got used of) dedicated pinpointer, as per last post. Having said that I could not say whether pinpointing built into a detector has advantages, will have to give it a shot on the Deus. It should be of use as it is a non-motion mode.