Gold Ryder

24 minutes ago, Goldseeker5000 said:

Way to go Jamie! That is the type of listening I explained to you all through the summer with the 6000. You will be hitting some good gold this season. Congratulations buddy. 

Thanks buddy, couldn't have got here without you.  The true tiny whispers on this machine are hard to teach and it took me time to finally hear them. I know we found alot of gold with the 11" but this coil is gonna be a game changer on the claims this summer. I know I left small gold in my tailing piles. Especially in the afternoons when the EMI cranked up on the 11". That is when this coil is gonna really shine. 

33 minutes ago, phrunt said:

0.026 at 4" is quite the achievement.

I just heard one little blip. So I decided to scrape it. Took off the top layer of prairie moss and grass and got a repeatable. Couple more inches it was out and in the scoop. We are in the middle of frost thaw in that elevation in Montana. Had to swirl the mud around on my finger tips to see it.  This coil is a beast on small gold.   

Canned fish and protein bars are my staple out digging and hunting. 

I continue to be blown away by this coil. Pulled three today for a 1/4 gram total. Including a .026 at 4".  This coil does not miss. It runs so damn smooth that even the tiniest gold doesnt go unheard.    

2 hours ago, Gerry in Idaho said:

Discrimination is very important in certain areas and without it, you're left wasting energy and time digging trash.

I'll pay for discrimination and lighter weight.

Knowing how and when to use it is key.

In my humble opinion if your not digging every target your missing gold, wether it discriminates or not.   Ive had machines tell me it was iron and trash and it turned into a nugget. I dont know too many full time pros who would say otherwise either.  Trash is just part of it. One of first things I was told by a very very successful detectorists who has traveled the world for 40 plus years and pulled thousands of ounces with a detector.   

Avantee Torus are the way to fly. 

7 hours ago, Doc said:

Gold Ryder,

No doubt the GPX6000 has become a very popular machine and those using it are really happy with it.  However die-hard GPZ7000 users like their GPZ7000's.  The ones that have abandoned their GPZ7000's for the GPX6000's have told me they did it because they are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance for a lighter weight machine.  But let's not forget, the GPX6000 is a pulse induction machine.  The GPZ7000 is NOT a pulse induction machine.  It's a different kind of machine.

So if the people who have abandoned their GPZ7000 for the GPX6000 recognize that there is a performance difference, but the weight was a determining factor.  I am assuming that if the GPZ7000 was as lite as the GPX6000 they would not have changed machines.

I also know of my customers who have a GPZ7000 who purchased a GPX6000 and used it, and ended up selling the GPX6000 because they wanted the performance of the GPZ, and the difference in weight did not outweigh the performance issue.  So it's a matter of what an individual values the most.

So that is what forms my opinion that a lighter GPZ machine would appeal to some detectorists.

Doc
 

I realize all that.  But limitations this far to the 6000 have been stability and sensitivity.   As 1 of the first and few who have gotten the NF exceed in the US.  I can tell you its an equalizer.   Like I said when the bigger coils come out snd if they are this stabile and sensitive. The 7000 outside of real difficult ground is gonna not have much of advantage if it all.  My point being the 8000 even if its only attribute is weight is not going to be worthy of the price tag.  My guess is from some of the info from some inside sources is that minelab realizes this and its gonna punch deep real deep.  In fact one of the limiting factors is the FAA is the hold up because of disruption in Airline coms. 

16 hours ago, Doc said:

Steve, Minelab makes mine sweeping metal detectors with Ground Penetrating Radar.  They make the Pro-Find 35 pinpointer with discrimination, and you're saying adding discrimination is beyond their capabilities?  Funny!  They had discrimination in the SD2200 all the way through every iteration of pulse induction up to and including the GPX5000.

And while Minelab techs are amazing, they don't think of everything.  Again for years and years I have asked the simple question regarding the lower rods for the SD2100 through the GPX5000 vs. the Excalibur.  Drill the same holes put the button in the same place.  This isn't rocket science.

The lower rod is EXACTLY the same with the SD/GP/GPX series and with the Excalibur, with one small difference, on the lower rods for the pulse induction machine the length adjustment button is on the bottom of the lower rod, to match the adjustment holes in the upper rod.  On the Excalibur the adjustment button is on the side and the adjustment holes are on the side of the upper rod.

So instead of drilling the holes on the Excalibur on the bottom of the upper rod, like the PI machines they continue to drill it on the side.  This means a dealer has to carry two different lower rods, the only difference being that the button is in a different place.  First thing I have to do with Excal lower rods is put a bright orange sticker on them so I don't mistakenly send the wrong rod out to a customer who is looking for a lower rod for a PI machine.

So while Minelab techs are smacking their hands to their foreheads, maybe they could rectify some of the smaller things. 

Do you think it was a hand to forehead moment when someone said, "Oh boy...

"Because the detector is generally used in an outdoor, open environment, the speaker plays the audio with a high volume to account for wind and other ambient noises. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the GPX6000, in some circumstances the speaker itself may introduce detector noise that sounds like interference."

That's from Minelab's own website.  If a speaker introduces detector noise, that sounds like interference.  ISN'T THAT INTERFERENCE?  What is this a riddle?  "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it still make a sound?"  

"If there is detector noise in the sound of your detector caused by anything other than the internal speaker it's interference.  If the noise in the detector is caused by the speaker it's not interference, IT's JUST  DAMN ANNOYING." 

Remember my original post was my musing about what it would take to interest people in a GPZ8000, my contention is it would have to be lighter and if they would add in discrimination that would be a plus.  It's what customers want that sells machines.  While there is no competition for the GPZ7000 as Phrunt pointed out, that's not the point.  The point is that those who wanted a GPZ7000 already have one and sales have peaked long ago.  I have had mine such day 1, but what would it take for me to give it up and buy a new machine?  Minelab is looking for new sales.  They know that there are a group of early adopters out there that prospecting is their passion and if Minelab makes it, those folks will buy it.

I would estimate, that 75% of current GPZ7000 owners would but a new version GPZ machine providing it had features such as being lite and had discrimination, any other enhancements would only increase that percentage.  Then again I am looking at what I would want.  I'm almost 74.  Six titanium pins in my hips, one joint in my elbow removed, torn rotator cuff repaired, Cervical degenerative joint disease, 5 level cervical nerves surgically cut to relieve pain... so something lighter would be a real selling point for me.

I mean it's like the bass fisherman that has the best rod and reel money can buy, and it's his/her passion.  They enter every bass fishing tournament, they have the best of everything.  Do you think they can resist the next best innovation that comes along in a rod and reel?

All these old detectors come with rods.  Does that keep people from buying carbon fiber replacement rods?  NOPE.  They buy them because they are lighter, or maybe because they are longer, or have more adjustment holes, or maybe just because they look cool.  Minelab might miss a few things, but not many.  However, one thing I think they do have dialed in is the buying cycles of their consumers for the different markets.

My gut says, a newer GPZ is on the horizon, if not later this year, certainly by next.

I heard a conversation at a dealer conference in which a Metal Detector with GPR was being discussed with one of the higher ups at Minelab.  The question was whether that would ever be available for the hobby market, especially for relic hunting.  These were two dealers who were speaking with the Minelab exec.  The Minelab exec said, "I doubt it.  It would have to have a price tag of around $20,000."  The dealers said, "We have customers who would gladly pay that."  The Minelab exec, looked surprised and said, "Really?"  But I could see the wheels start to grind.  So you never know what Minelab will surprise us with next.

Doc

Doc- Nugget Finder is on to something with these new coils for the 6000.  If the bigger coil supposedly incoming is as sensitive, quiet and smooth as this 12x7. Id be hard pressed with as light as the 6000 is to feel like buying what will probably be a +$10,000 machine soley based on weight.   I am getting the tiniest of nuggets now and good depth on bigger targets.    So a GPZ 8000 in my book better blow the 6000 and 7000 out of the water on depth and have some discrimination control above and beyond the 7000. Otherwise why bother except to pound your chest and say "Ive got the newest technology".   

4 hours ago, Gold Catcher said:

I just wish the NF 12 x 7 would be available somewhere in the US for purchase anytime soon. BTW, I never understood why so many AU shops will not ship to the US.

GC

   I got mine from Chris at Arizona outback and Reese got his from Rob.  There should be a new batch in anytime now.    You might want to call Rob at Robs detectors or Chris and get your name on the list for new batch.  

Hell yeah buddy!  Looking forward to putting the smackdown on the claims this summer.  Its such a smooth running coil, the gold is not gonna stand a chance in the digs. I might have to rework some tailings for itty bitty ones the 11" missed.  Fingers crossed when the big coil comes out its this smooth. 

Also with the Torus you dont lose the ear buds.  And Ive dug in 100 degree heat with the neck collar and its very comfortable. 

Avantree Torus is what I and many others use. Low latency good comfort earbuds on retractable cords from neck worn unit. Love mine

I think either somebody steps in and fixes things or the GPAA is done. Our club in Butte, Montana just voted to leave the GPAA and go our own way.  There just wasnt any benefit for us to have to go that direction other than buying a few things for the Christmss party or summer functions. 

2 hours ago, jasong said:

Good vids on the coils, but a great demonstration of the power (or lack thereof) of the 6000 itself though. Struggling at 6-7" on a 5 grammer with both coils. 🙂 6000 is just not a deep machine, it's the modern day equivalent of the Fine Gold Effect (for those who understand what I mean), and it's leaving a ton of gold behind by those who are swinging it as a primary machine now. Awesome exploration machine, but absolutely won't replace a GPZ for anyone who detects areas where gold is often, if not always, beyond 8-10" deep though. Many of us have mentioned this already, but this video shows it in living color. 

Even at the edge of detection though, I believe the vid author is almost certainly confusing EMI and ground noise in a few parts of the vids for the target (especially at 200mm and towards the end, as his patience thins) so I'm not even fully convinced it's as deep as he thinks in some cases. But not bad videos really for some rough ideas between the coils. 

I agree with his conclusions too, the NF seems a small bit quieter, and the stock coil seems a bit deeper on non-flyspeck stuff. Exactly what one would expect based on the coil geometries alone though, nothing surprising. If the coils were expensive I'd personally be giving it a pass, but since they are reasonably priced I might give one a try for the geometry and slightly improved EMI, but I'm not in a rush as I still find the 11" to be a great balance due to the slightly increased depth on a machine hungry for any fractional depth gains it can achieve.

 

Somebody forgot to tell your synopsis to my 6000.  i found at least a half dozen 1 gram plus nuggets over 15", multiples over a foot and a 13 gram well over 2 feet.  And deadly on on itty bittys under 10" where the 7000 takes a crap. And I only got it last July.  But then again my hearing is pretty sharp stil 🤣No knocking the 7000 at all because I have never swung one.  But unless your talking 20+ inches I have no use to swing a club. 

13 minutes ago, Rob Allison said:

Hey Guys,

   Being a dealer for over 20 years, you would think with some of these prices the units would be flying out the doors.  The price of gold is nearly $2000 per ounce, but the sales are in the tank across the board.  If you noticed over the last 6 months, they have dropped prices on the Gold Monster 1000, Equinox series, CTX 3030 and now for a limited time you can get a GPZ 7000 or SDC 2300 for 25% off MAP. 

What about the recent, purchase a GPX 6000 and get a FREE Gold Monster 1000 included.  I've never seen this from Minelab.

There has been some new detectors like the Equinox 700 & 900 to reflect the price drop in the prior Equinox series and the new Manticore (if you can get one) for the price drop on the 3030.  Maybe we can expect a new GPZ 8000 to pop out this season, but if it's not much lighter and priced no more than $7999.00 I'm not sure it's going to be a huge seller either.  

Just my personal thoughts, kind of crazy times right now.  Inflation is super high, prices of most good are double if not triple and gas is no cheaper.  I think most people are holding close to their money due to the uncertainty in the World economy.  

Correct me if I'm off base ....

Rob

Your not wrong. Inflation is worse than being reported.  CC interest rates are up. Peoples savings accounts are dwindling as are their budgets.   If the 8000 comes out thats a big if because of the FAA problems. It will have to be pretty stellar in my book.  And not MSRP at 10k as rumored.  I for one will stick to my 6000 unless the 8000 completely blows it out of the water.  All up to minelab at this point, fancy marketing wont get them far.  If it was my company I would delay it and leave it in R&D until this mess subsides. 

21 minutes ago, Lynk said:

Congrats! Where did you order it from?

Chris at Arizona Outback. First shipment to US.  Aussies are loving them. Sweeter tone (similar to 5000) and sharper signal response. 

The Gold Seeker strikes again

Got my Nugget Finder Exceed in the mail this morning.   Only problem is its 5 degrees out and blowing 30mph. Gonna have to wait a few days to swing it and chisel dirt. 

Thats beaut!  Someday Someday

Nice nugg

Nice work

Keep using them. Ill come along behind with my 6000 and clean up.🤣🤣

Would rather wait patiently than them get it wrong.  That 12x7 is gonna be money on our claims. 

Ive had zero problems with mine. Love them

All seems fishy