fredmason

get a good needle and some heavy thread, a hipstick and Doc's bungy....Yes, I know you should not have to do this for yourself...but, that is the reality...if you want it done right! The first Minelab vlf could have been run over by a tank and survived...too bad that is not their mindset now. fred

Minelab Commander coils work very well...and you have the cancel or pseudo-mono mode available...The 10" E, stock 11" or the big 12X? E are all good but the biggest is heavy. It is not as heavy if you take the coil cover off. Also, the Hip-stick makes light-work of even the GPZ coil. fred

that looks like broken glass...what a find! fred

Thanks, guys. Steve, these chrondrites give a strong signal on the surface a more muted signal at depth...as one might expect. The signal on smaller or deeper meteorites is very similar to a nugget. I presume that is because of the nickel/iron free metal. An iron meteorite would sound like a bolt or nut or a freight train if it was big... The one chrondrite I found in Oz sounded like a big nugget; but, it was a big surprise as I had looked for a wild meteorite (unknown fall) for many years. The meteorite wrong sounded and acted just like the gold basins...one can be fooled if not cautious. Lunar, non-chrondrites and planetary meteorites are beyond my experience...The ones I have seen would look and probably act like a hot or cold rock...maybe I will find one someday. fred

Well, thanks to the GPZ and Roger D I had a fairly successful trip to Bill's Outing at Gold basin...This is my 6th trip with the 7000 and I have found gold every trip...I hope this never ends!!! The rock to the left of the gold fooled me until I cleaned it up...it is the best Wrong I never wanted to find. fred

no Klunker, your job site has millions of pieces of tiny wire bits being chopped from big cables...miles to scatter wire in, before you sleep... fred

did they have that hog-tied for you....nice looking meat. Good hunting, Chris! fred

Jonathan; I can't hardly wait to learn more of your hard-earned secrets! Hearing is as varied as humans...almost every one has ears but none hear the same sound in exactly the same way. While asking Bill Southern what settings he uses on the GPZ he explained how he selected his tone setting. He said that setting the tone changed the volume(perceived loudness). He would rotate through the tones until the sound seemed loudest to his hearing. That made sense because a loss of hearing in some tones will lessen or eliminate hearing the signal. If you have not experimented with the tone settings you may be missing sounds and not know it. This is not unlike listening to musical scales or singing...if there are gaps in the sound you are listening to it may be your hearing not a break in the detectors audio. As to one's hearing becoming dulled or inured to the detector try taking a break occasionally or change the tone slightly to awaken your hearing...besides that irritating mosquito hum gets very tiresome...the highest pitch is not always best... fred

what a wonderful world...I can gain experience from the finest Detectorists I know of...JP and Steve being in the forefront. I thank the Gold Gods every time I turn my GPZ on that so many experienced operators are willing to share their info. I hear and (sometimes) obey....thank you all! fred

For sure, duuuude! Practice and familiarity are critical for a pattern of success... fred

Youse guys should send them some of our home-grown hotrocks...they ain't like the ones in OZ. fred

I did the upgrade just before I went up to the Sierra calims in Plumas/Sierra counties. Overall I am sure the machine balanced quicker and ran quieter than pre-update. However, the sierra hotrocks were still there; yelling dig here, dig me, I am a deep nugget-they were lying! I tried different settings that lessened the signal but didnot eliminate them. The method that seemed to work best was to move the coil over the signal at less than slow, like almost stopped and the signal would fade on most of the hotrocks...in my opinion the 3500 and 5000 worked much better at identifying hotrocks with this method. Nonetheless, I found three small nuggets in a very hard hit patch with the GPZ- I will not be giving it back, it is mine, all mine! fred

Peter, welcome! The wonder and beauty of this forum is the access to all the thinkers and experimentors that use the GPZ and other detectors. I have several notes of settings from various people. My main conclusions to these settings are that they all seem to work. However, some are much easier on my ears... my thanks to all fred

maybe you should hang the garrett-carrot on a stick behind you....kind of a reverse incentive... fred

Mitchel, all the dealers should have the f-rings by now...call your dealer. fred

Klunker, I just did it with only a little drama...if I can- anyone can... It has been so long since i used my 7000 I may not know the difference but it can only be better! fred

People detect differently when the get a new detector or a new coil...their methods become more concentrated and careful. And that I think is a major portion of the improvement in proformance... just my never humble opinion. fred

Thanks Steve. Tortuga....the black sand tends to stay when the dirt is shaken out...it does matter with a vlf...and probably matters with the ZED. fred

Steve; in your opinion would using silicon-stuff to seal the dust out of the Minerjohn coils be a reasonable option. I have always used sealant on my vlf coils and some of the Minelab pi coils....these new spider-web and notched coils are another world...to me. I have a ways to go before I wear out my gpz cover but it will happen. fred

that is a medival weapon, not a pick! It actually does look like a pretty good defensive weapon for the occasional charging deer, bear or mountain lion... and a good prod if the guy in front is lagging! fred

Man, Steve, you are sure a worker-bee; not a drone! (and for the litteral minded I know the worker bees are female) fred

I love the S-shaft...in my opinion that configuration relieves alot of stress to the gripping-hand and wrist. Steve, I agree why not let us choose??? I have almost always preferred the large and small coil option and have little use for the stock coil...oh well. fred

That was interesting, Steve. If I were allowed to form only one opinion from these results it would be that All Detectors listed will find gold...but, I guess that is obvious. fred

5000 ; and the gpz7000-my one true love fred

Be sure to check those bedrock cracks very carefully. Where the iron and lead collect is also where the gold will fall out...a straw to blow through will make that easier; assuming it is dry. fred