Norvic

My take there is no such thing as luck, how often I`ve heard individuals say they should have followed that creek right up to the ridge, and then comment on how lucky the fellow was that did follow that creek. Operators make their own "luck", out of bed with the chooks, work all day, back to bed with the chooks because your knackered. Sorry tis not luck. But that is my opinion.

I think JP will remember being introduced to some gold as a young fellow, he had a SD and this old codger a VLF, he run rings around me, regardless that I`d had 10 years or so start. I don`t expect it would be any different now even if we were both armed with the same detectors. Comes down always to the persons ability, attitude and experience. Learning how to use a detector and getting gold with one do not necessarily go together. But it has been a exciting detecting gold rush, and a new detector always adds a little extra. Perhaps we should give a new detector 25% rather than 20% while it has it`s gloss.

14 inch is the most used coil for me, but I`ll get around 10 inch when available. I have used elliptical coils but think round perform better. Although the GPZ14 is a wee elliptical, maybe elliptical suits the GPZ. I also believe they`ll get lighter(hopefully), remember the "garbage lid" coil that came out with the SD`s.

Tis an old saying, "Why do the honest people always run around calling others dishonest" or perhaps another that applies also to detecting "How come the busy always have time to stop and say their busy" Steve, take bugger-all notice of the knockers, the worlds full of them, be very content to be a doer, there`s not enough of them. In Gold Trust.

I go with that 20% for detector, and add another bit of tech at 20% too, the GPS in conjunction with geological maps, especially the smart phone-oziexplorer app combination. Time prospecting in NQ Oz has shown that.

A logic tree would be very useful, as I feel we do that in our minds and sometimes create bad habits doing so. By that I mean I make incorrect assessments by finding nuggets and believing that is the setting to use. I think the 5000 with its multitude of settings illustrated this. eg I used fine gold almost always but probably left a few signals in quieter ground. One such .4gr solid the GPZ picked up(distinct signal) at approx. 6 inches in a small clear area I`d flogged with the 5000 and others before. I feel that piece should have been recovered with the 5000.

GPZ 7000 with the GPX5000 as back-up, maybe purchase a SDC2300 if I have a good run.

Great thread, just had a couple of days use of the GPZ. It has the edge on the 5000, depth, smoothness and size wise, the wireless and no battery cable a godsend. But to sum it up IMO, if you own a gold detector whether VLF or PI and have not found gold the GPZ will not improve your lot. To be brutal if that is so, it is not the detector you should change. Takes perseverance and a ton of foot work and also very importantly faith in your detector. On the GPZ`s inbuilt GPS, it is hampered by Minelabs software. Having used Oziexplorer (OZI) (another OZ product), for me that is the way Minelab should go. Allow waypoints and tracks to be imported into OZI PC version now, with a future touch screen that will allow OZI to be installed on the GPZ, like the OZI android app for smart phones. Geological maps in digital form, showing those fault lines, intersections etc are as important as the detector.

To me Minelabs pricing has a lot of R&D factored in, I have no problem paying for that, they have come up with the goods each new detector. Their share price has been declining over the years, lets hope the GPZ can stop that decline. I got into this back in 79, VLF was king and the refinements until 95 led me to believe we were at the end of the electronic gold rush, PI proved that very wrong and perhaps ZVT or another tech will keep the electronic gold rush running. I personally will know if ZVT is the go once I get my GPZ this weekend, but age will definitely stop us. I`ll be ten years younger for awhile but, tis exciting.

Indeed the electronic gold rush with each tech advance has brought on much excitement. The GPZ "rush" has got me now joining forums, something this old fella has till now avoided. My purpose for joining is not for just enjoyment of posting with like individuals but also to leave for future generations some account of the electronic gold rush. We are a very privileged generation to live through VLF, PI and now ZVT gold prospecting. Top forum you have here Steve, Thank You.