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Wow, a great time to purchase a used CTX 3030 or other ML... X-Terra, Sovereign... Explorers on the cheap! Have been watching for awhile. Several for sale and others already sold on the Bay and at decent prices! Wait until everyone else discovers the Equinox! All this on speculation? Just imagine should the Equinox really turn out to be that good (and hopefully will be)... Could really drive the value of other machines down? I do not ever recall seeing a detector dump like this. Now I'm waiting for owners to start dumping their Excaliburs!

This what MD-Hunter.Com is saying on his blog. I don’t know if this be true. I just pass on what I read. Chuck

https://www.minelab.com/go-minelabbing/news

I was looking at the number of post for each detector and by that I come to the conclusion that posting shows the popularity of each, At this time Minelab is leading all by a large margin. Chuck

Apologies if I missed it in another post. When can we expect the Equinox to be available for purchase in the US... Dec, Jan, Feb or later?

What do you suppose Minelabs next flagship gold detector will be, and how long will it be until Minelab releases it. I just want to make a comment on the GPZ 7000, in my opinion Minelab hit a home run, more depth, more stability, more everything and over all better settings and digital presentation, its truly a modern technological marvel... Where could Minelab possibly improve on the GPZ ?

Well after 31 years I put my office building up for sale. We remodeled and put it on the market. For those of you who have visited my business you know what a great location it was, close to the Las Vegas strip, airport and convention center. However, it was a really high crime neighborhood. To be honest I had real reservations about whether I would get a buyer. But God always provides. So who do you think bought my office building? The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. My office building will be the new home of the Neighborhood Criminal Justice Center. So you know what that means? In two years, after they clean that neighborhood up, all the property values will go up. That's OK. I am glad to have left something for that neighborhood that will be positive. There are a lot of nice people that live in that area. Fact is, that a professional office building is not really the proper kind of structure to run a Metal Detecting Prospecting Supplies and Accessories business out of. I am always amused by how information sometimes get twisted in this industry. I have heard every rumor imaginable. Some people heard I had sold my office building, so somehow that translated into "Doc died." "Doc went out of business." "Doc isn't a Minelab dealer anymore." "Doc got into financial troubles." Rumor 1. Not dead. Rumor 2. Not going out of business I expanded business. Rumor 3. I am one of a select few Minelab dealers that is a "Managed Dealer." That means I deal direct with Minelab, not some go between distributor. I am also one of a handful of dealers that is a Certified Minelab Gold Machine trainer. Bottom line I am a Minelab dealer, I have been for 25 years. Rumor 4. I have been very fortunate in life financially. I sell metal detectors as a hobby business. I am 68 years old and I could have retired 25 years ago. I am a psychologist and years ago I developed some written psychological tests, back in 1977. Those tests are still used by over 850 companies around the world to screen employees. So I have always had a steady income stream from my testing business. I have invested my money very wisely in safe investments over the years. I own my 8 year old home, free and clear. I owe no one anything. I have no debt. I started selling metal detectors because I loved the hobby and my wife would not allow me to stay home and retire. (I mean who in the hell retires when they are 43 years old?) You have helped Doc's Detecting become one of the largest suppliers of Metal Detectors and accessories in the Southwest and we needed to expand. To that end, March of 2017 we moved to a new location. We have rented a 4500 sq foot Office warehouse in Henderson Nevada. Unlike the old location, this is a beautiful location. 1180 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 110, Henderson Nevada. This is the largest warehouse West of the Mississippi dedicated solely to Treasure Hunting and Gold Prospecting Equipment. From Metal Detectors to Sluices, to Gold Pans and classifiers to Picks and digging tools. We primarily do mail order, but if you would like to drop by for a cup of coffee, please call for an appointment. Thank you for your support over the years, it is you that have made Doc's Detecting Supply grow into the company it is today. By the way if you would like my free 51 page color catalog, PM me with your mailing address. U.S. residents only please. Doc Doc's Detecting Supply 1-800-477-3211 Visit my YouTube channel DocsDetectingSupply

Rob’s Detectors has a sell on all items of 10 percent discount today from his store! The discount code is ilovegoldnuggets If Minelab had told us the price of the coils and other items that go with the Equinox I’d jump on this with both feet. Minelab I hope you will extend the same offer when we receive our Equinox. Being myself and others will miss this great opportunity to save money. Chuck ??

White’s is offering 10 percent off today on package deals of different Detectors. I’m not sure if it extending over to other items. Chuck

Nice video from Minelab's. Full article at Minelab website

Just a reminder. Minelab USA offers a 15% discount on any Minelab metal detector from the MAP (minimum advertised price) to U.S. active or honorably discharged members of the military. Proof of past or active service is required and must be verified by providing a copy of a DD 214 or Military ID to qualify. The discount applies only to a metal detector purchase - parts and accessories do not qualify. This discount is not available in conjunction with other special promotions or individual dealer concessions. With discount the $899 Equinox 800 is only $764.15. The Minelab GPZ 7000, normally $7999, ends up being $6799.15, a savings of $1199.85

I authorized Minelab to publish an edited version of a couple forum posts I made that may not make other manufacturers very happy. In a nutshell I say that with the Equinox 600 feature list and $649 price tag, why would anyone pay more than $600 for any run of the mill single frequency detector, no matter how good? Assuming the Equinox performs of course, which I am extremely sure is not an issue Some people may take issue with that but it is honestly how I feel about it, so check it out at https://www.minelab.com/go-minelabbing/treasure-talk/minelab-equinox-unprecedented-anticipation And got a plug in for the new forum!!

Minelab has an Official Facebook page. MontAmmie mentioned an Official Equinox Facebook page on this thread and the question arose of whether it really was "Official" or not. I got ahead of myself in my response so went straight to the source. This is the page in questions DUG THAT OFFICIAL MINELAB EQUINOX 800-600 GROUP Here is the response I got direct from Minelab: “Minelab generally supports and positively encourages Derek, Sharon and Neil in their endeavours to promote EQUINOX to the detecting market through their EQUINOX Facebook page, and other means. As ‘endorsed’ Minelab brand ambassadors, they do have demo EQUINOX detectors and therefore are now in a position to answer some level of questions before the product is released to the market. However their Facebook page is not officially run or owned by Minelab. There is only one ‘formal’ MINELAB Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinelabMetalDetectors/. If questions asked on the EQUINOX Facebook page are not being answered, this may be because the relevant information has not yet been released to them by Minelab. While Minelab works closely with Derek, Sharon and Neil, they should not be considered as agents of Minelab. Where there is any doubt regarding information about Minelab products, people are more than welcome to contact Minelab directly.”

Has there ever been a detector announcement with this much enthusiasm/expectation? And if we've just begun the Brave New World of announcing a detector before it's ready for market (past year or so with this and other companies and detectors), has there ever been a release of a new model which has gotten this much attention?

I'M BACK... and this time for good. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Brian Berkhahn.. I used to be the Mining Dept. Manager at Alaska Mining & Diving Supply (AMDS) of Anchorage, Alaska from 2001 to 2005 but really never left, only moved to the yard during the winter and started commercial dredging/mining during the summer. My plans are to once again bring the mining dept. back to it's former glory so if you need anything please give me a call at 907-277-1741 or email me at brian@akmining.com .. I'd be happy to help you. Any thoughts/suggestions are more then welcome. Thanks, Brian Berkhahn, Mining Manager Alaska Mining & Diving Supply, Inc. (AMDS) 3222 Commercial Drive Anchorage, AK 99501 907-277-1741 brian@akmining.com www.akmining.com

From the Minelab Facebook page

Things have been very quiet at Tesoro the last few years. There was a lot of talk about a new model, the Cazador, that finally just faded away. We did finally see the Tesoro Mojave introduction, and while it is a great little detector certainly not anything cutting edge. Delays are nothing new in the industry and it is certainly possible the Cazador will still appear. The lack of communication however leaves one feeling like Tesoro is just coasting along at this point. It did not help that Tesoro apparently declined to keep sponsoring the Tesoro Findmall Forum, and so it was renamed the Beep & Dig Detecting Forum. That being the case I decided when I revamped the forums recently that perhaps a new Tesoro Forum was in order for those who felt abandoned elsewhere. And so with that, welcome to the new Tesoro Forum at DetectorProspector.com! Official Tesoro Company Website Tesoro 2013 Catalog Tesoro Metal Detector Information Magazine

My detector failed a couple of weeks ago. I posted it off Monday last week and got it back Thursday this week. Took it out for a quick spin yesterday and all working fine. Thanks Minelab

Dear Valued Members,For those who are curious about our company and team, here is a video about Nokta & Makro Detectors, enjoy! Dilek GonulaySales & Marketing Manager

To all of you who followed my recent adventure to OZ you remember i did not have my control box when i arrived!!!! In fact, I didn't have any of my bags...they were still sitting in LAX. After Norvic and I went to pick them up in Cairns a week later I thought everything was peachy.. But alas, when Norvic and I were getting geared up to make a run to the goldfields...I couldn't find my 7000 control box anywhere--- (to make a long story short-I put this in chronological order) -Condor and i had our 7000's stolen in Yuma January 2017 I found a used one and bought it--- March Condor couldn't find a new or used one so i sent him mine to use while i was working at the VA in Dallas_(i didnt need it) Condor alerts me it is having a dropped pixel issue and Jaime Minelab USA says to send it in-----May 2017 Condor sends it in the whole rear end of the machine control box control brain and audio plug port Jaime is to send it back to me in Dallas I have a dedicated suitcase set up in my living room to place gear going to OZ with me i receive the rest of the detector back from Condor after he receives his brand new 7000 and i stuff it in the suitcase Jaime sends me my control screen--(now since Condor sent in in to ML i didnt realize when i got it i was still missing the control brain box and I had no reason to put the 7000 together because i was breaking it all down for shipping anyway) in the suitcase it goes! I get to OZ , June 3rd and my bags get there a week later!! grrrr.... Norvic and I decide to go for our first hunt and Volia!!!! I dont have a control box!!! What the heck--- I was in shock! I start contacting the airlines , but there is nothing they can do at this time... I contact Sara, Daryl, and ALL the staff there at Minelab AU-- they went to work immedately i got the news after Norvic and I got back from the bush that Minelab Au had decided to ship me out a loaner box for free! No deposit, not shipping, nothing---!!!! This was great news to me because i only found one nugget with his 2300 while it seemed like Norvic was finding a nugget every second or two with his ZED! I was frustrated to say the least.... my dream trip and no 7000...arggggh.. Norvic can verify how happy i was when i got the news on email right after we got out of the bush!!!! I was ecstatic!!! So now i continue detecting here and there around OZ with the borrowed brain (Lord knows i need a new one too---lol)--July-Aug 1 When i get back to the States Condor and i get to talking and he tells me that he didn't feel comfortable separating the parts to ship to Minelab USA when he sent in the control control screen so he just sent it all together... TA DA a moment of enlightenment...now we know for sure where the box went--- not stolen in the customs office, not left in my camper by mistake, it was at ML USA Thank you Condor for remembering things that i cant...lol We sent it in to ML USA at the worst possible time because they were packing stuff up to move to their new warehouse--and it simply got misplaced Jamie wrote me today and said they still haven't found it and she wondered if it would be OK to ship me a new one??? Really???? I was stunned again by Minelab !!! USA this time... I should receive my new control brain box soon I am blessed! A BIG thank you to MInelab, both Australia and USA-- you are truly the best company I have ever dealt with... Yes, i bought a Monster, and Yes, i will buy an Equinox!!!!

Did anybody but mine lab show up at detectival? Would like to hear some about them.

The boys at the MD Hunter Blog, a Russian based website, are reporting three new Minelab Go-Find models. The Go-Find 22, Go-Find 44, and Go-Find 66 Don't pay attention to the photo there - these guys make up their own when they have nothing else to work with. Some of their posts really are just entirely made up stuff, so you have to be cautious. Then I saw this photo from Minelab's Facebook Page taken at Detectival... Clearly a lineup of Minelab demo units. Several Equinox models, a couple CTX, even a Gold Monster. On the far right there are three Go-Find detectors. Two might be mistaken for the old Go-Find models, but not the third one. It is gray in color and looks to be a more "adult size" Go-Find. Yet no commentary from anyone who was there that I can find anywhere so far. Weird. Update 12/29/17 - Go-Find 66 Officially Released

I read this article in Harvard Business Review. It was published in 1999 and applies very much today. The article is by Donald Sull. No it is not about metal detecting. However, it pertains to the companies we love. Hopefully some of them will take time and read the entire article and learn from it. Some of you may find it interesting. By Donald Sull “One of the most common business phenomena is also one of the most perplexing: when successful companies face big changes in their environment, they often fail to respond effectively. Unable to defend themselves against competitors armed with new products, technologies, or strategies, they watch their sales and profits erode, their best people leave, and their stock valuations tumble. Some ultimately manage to recover—usually after painful rounds of downsizing and restructuring—but many don’t.” You can read more on the Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/1999/07/why-good-companies-go-bad

Although this post has some relevance to the threads of excitement regarding the just announced Minelab Equinox (wonder what Chevy thinks about that name...), it really isn't directly on topic so I started a new thread instead. You'll see the relevance in my final comments, after the 'facts'. Just back from Colorado and I mentioned in another thread that part of my trip was attending two events by Denver's Eureka Treasure Hunters Club (http://www.eurekathc.org/): The monthly (2nd Friday evening) club meeting and the annual Coinhuna -- free(!) hunt for members only. I slid through a loophole(?) to get to participate in the latter. There were 50-60 attendees of the club meeting and a similar number for the hunt, and most were overlap = same people. Being a detector zealot (thanks at least in part to some posters here who will remain anonymous), I spent some time walking around prior to the hunt to see what detectors people were using. I was surprised at the results of this informal survey, but maybe you won't be. NOTE: I did not do a scientific tally, so the numbers aren't 100% accurate, but they aren't that far off. I do know detector brands, although models (especially older ones) not so much. Here is my view and recollection. I'm assuming ~60 detectors were viewed (some brought more than one): White's (mostly TRX, IDX, DFX) -- 35. Garrett (AT Pro, Ace [various], AT Max, AT gold, older green models whose names I didn't catch/recognize) -- 15. First Texas (F75, T2, Gold Bug Pro -- that was me!) -- 4. Tesoro (Lobo Super Track, other I didn't recognize) -- 2. XP (Deus) -- 2. Minelab, Nokta, Makro, Bounty Hunter -- 0! Ok, what's up with this? First off, it was a competition hunt. But I only saw 9 of the long skinny rectangular coils, 8 White's Bigfeet and one Tesoro cleansweep. That still leaves a whopping 26 White's detectors with tyical general use coils. While in the Denver area I also went by Gold-N-Detectors (in Golden, catch the play on letters?). Now we may be getting somewhere. They have pretty much all of White's current models on display along with several Garretts and about four Tesoros. The only FTP I saw was a Teknetix T2 black. Didn't notice any other brands. They sell detectors at full retail with, AFAIK, no negotiating. So I'm sure not everyone at the club has bought their detectors at that outlet. However, there is a strong influence, and if you see one you like at the store you can just go online and get a discount. There is also a 'mentoring' effect. For example, a person shows up at the club meeting wanting to get into the hobby and is influenced by what detector to get based upon the possessions of the experienced club members. Does country loyalty also play a part? I think it does; just read some comments you see here occasionally. But that's not the whole story. Why only 4 First Texas detectors in the lot? Last I looked Los Banos and El Paso are still on this side of the wall. (oops, might get in trouble for that comment...) There are quite a few things that make the detectorprospector.com site unique compared to (or at least quite different from) other sites: 1) international participation; 2) dominated by gold prospectors; 3) more sophisticated(?) when it comes to understanding and using detectors; 4) more oriented towards the professional end of the spectrum than the hobby/weekender other extreme. Most if not all of these give Minelab (and probably Nokta/Makro) a bigger audience/following. Even if the Equinox is the best thing since sliced bread (and it might be; I'm not taking sides), I don't think it's going to put the other guys out of business. In fact, I doubt it's going to knock Garrett off the back cover of just about every treasure hunting magazine (and that includes ICMJ). There are more things that go into market share than the performance of the product, although it certainly is a big factor.