Tom Slick

Now, If we could only get a BigFoot coil for the Equinox. Then I could sell my three DFX's like I did with the V3i. I've about given up on getting a BigFoot for my Racer 2 and Impact. Steve - I actually found my first nugget with an Eagle II SL 90.5 with a GoldFoot coil.

I have a Sovereign GT that is only used on the wet saltwater beach sand. I don't use it on the dry as it's heavy (though I hip mount mine) and it's not as good on the small gold as a couple of other detectors I prefer to swing on the dry. The Excal is too heavy for the dry and the wet sand, (I'm old) and it's expensive. My only use of the Excal would be wading in the surf as the west coast surf is usually to rough to actually hunt in, at least the beaches I hunt. To be able to have a waterproof to 10' detector that runs multi frequencies, is light enough to swing for hours on the dry sand, and all this for $900. Just what the Doctor ordered. In addition I can use it in the local fresh water lakes, and hit the parks for some silver that's been hiding next to trash, I'm ready! Of course this is JMHO. Will it be the best at all detecting? NO, but I think it will be a darn good all arounder.

I bought $1,000 worth of halves about 10 years ago from the bank. I got about 8 silvers out of them, not worth the effort that time for me. Couple of weeks ago my wife went to the bank and noticed some halves in the teller's drawer and asked if she could have them. $15.00 worth netted seven 90% silver Kennedy's and a 1942 Walking Liberty. Score!

Here's another vote for the White's Eagle. Being able to save programs, dead on depth measurement, and the ability to Learn to accept or reject a target had me sold, though I couldn't part with my Compass Gold Scanner Pro until the Eagle II SL 90.5 was released.

I want an Equinox so I can sell my Sovereign Elite, Sovereign GT, Tesoro Tiger Shark, Makro Gold Racer, Fisher F19, and possibly my Nokta Impact. It sounds like the Equinox will do everything these other detectors do for me with the exception of the Impact and I still have a Racer 2 for those iron infested sites should the Equinox not be the best at those ghost town sites.

There are always a lot of detectors going cheap on Fleebay this close to Christmas. People selling to raise extra money for presents and not many buyers for the same reason. Then there's the fact that many of the states are too cold to detect this time of year so you have a depressed market. That all changes (for the most part) after the Holidays and detector prices raise again.

On the 600 you have a choice of three single frequencies plus MF which is five frequencies. On the 800 you have a choice of five single frequencies plus MF which is five frequencies. The difference being that the two additional single frequencies available on the 800 (20 & 40 kHZ) are not selectible or available on the 600.

Just in! New England states will be getting the Equinox next spring after the snow and ice melts. The Southwest will be receiving the Equinox this month as it's prime detecting weather there right now!

Brian - You'll notice my Racer 2 isn't included in the above list of detectors to sell nor is my Impact. I don't see the equinox replacing either of them.

I'm on a waiting list for the 800. I'm more interested in how far down the list. I don't know if I should start selling my other detectors now or sometime next year! Anyone looking for a Tesoro Tiger Shark, Sovereign Elite, Sovereign GT, Makro Gold Racer, or NIB Fisher F19 ?

There used to be Allied Prospecting in Anaheim, Pedersons detectors in Orange County, Stapp Mining in San Bernardino, and Strike it Rich Detecting & Prospecting in Riverside. Probably all closed by now. I know Strike it Rich is closed as that was my shop in the later 80's early 90's and I sold it Don Brown in 1994. .

Good video. Thanks for the link.

I've had both coils on my F75 and I prefer the 3"X6 over the 5" round. I no longer have the F75 but I've found that I also perfer the 3"x7 on my Makro Racer 2 over the OOR or the 5.5" round. I feel the 3"x6 offers better separation on targets with more ground coverage at the same time. Of course the separation isn't better when hitting a target next to trash on the vertical. If you already have the 5" round coil, keep it. If you didn't already have the 5", then I'd recommend the 3"X6.

I also found it interesting as I moved around the county with my job in Aerospace that different areas seemed to have their favorite brands. When I moved from CA to Georgia, I was surprised at all the Nautilus detectors being used. I don't think I had ever seen one in CA where I had been a store front White's dealer. Most everyone I knew had White's and Fishers. Florida had lots of Minelabs (Sovereigns and Excals.) Texas it was Tesoro, Troy and Garrett. I was the first in my present club to have a Makro/Nokta detector but there are now at least five of us. Where detectors are built plays a part as do successful hunters influencing others. Innovation accounts for sale of new detectors to many of us that are always looking for a better tool. We buy, we try. If it's good we'll keep it awhile. If it isn't better than what we've been using we let it go. Some folks are happy keeping what they're familiar with and couldn't care less for a new machine. I've never been much of a Minelab VLF fan but my Sovereign GT isn't going anywhere until I find a better wet Saltwater beach detector. The new Equinox may just be a better beach detector. I'll give it a few months and see what the feedback is before I commit. Garrett gained many fans with the ACE 250 and many of those folks graduated to the AT's. If Minelab can attract new fans with the Equinox, maybe they'll graduate to some new and more expensive model in the future. White's tried it with their Prizms and then Treasure Masters, a bad introduction with the MXSport, and no changes to their top of the line V3i in almost 9 years. I sure hope they can save themselves. Tesoro hasn't had anything new for years. Just moving switches around and changing decals. The future of detector companies will be interesting for sure.

Steve - The Compass Gold Scanner Pro was my first nugget hunter It's analog meter would lock on to coins, rock solid. I used it for everything, nugget hunting, coins, jewelry, beach (dry sand), and competition hunts. Just an excellent, all around detector. I'd buy another in a heart beat if they were still made.

It's going on 9 years with the V3i and nothing new for the top end White's detector. I'm not holding my breath for anything cutting edge. My first detector was a White's in 1975, and I was a White's dealer in the 90's. Although I still have a few White's detectors, I do about 98% of my detecting with Makro & Nokta units now. If it wasn't for the BigFoot coils, all my White's would go bye-bye.

In over 40 years detecting, I don't think I've ever dug a hole that large in diameter unless it was the wet sand at the beach!

Like he says "Once in a lifetime find" I'm still looking for my once in a lifetime find. After 42 years of detecting I figure I've got to be getting close. Thanks for posting the video Steve.

I think your red glass item is from an old stop sign or railroad crossing sign. They used to have these all over the sign like a reflector so they would stand out in the dark. I've found a few myself.

Hey Steve, He's your neighbor!

I'm not usually wild about them either but they work great and at $119 you get the headphones too. The new Garrett system I think is higher priced and you still need to buy headphones.

Notka/Makro in the past has said that the Racer Headphones will work on the Impact. They better as I already have two sets.

Selling my backup Racer 2 and some coils on fleebay to help fund the Impact. I did some durability testing on the Impact Standard coil but now I need to get my hands on the detector.

"Don't leave gold to find gold". (Todd Hoffman needs to learn this one)

Don't want to give anything away but I can tell you the standard coil will look a lot like the one pictured above. LOL