What Are Your Plans With All These New Great Metal Detector Choices?

[Steve Herschbach]

Yes, that sums it up Dick. We have the best detectors ever made already, but we lose interest fast when a pretty new face appears. 

I'm pretty well set, in fact I have too many detectors, so my focus right now is on selling two, or maybe three, asap. Like need to get them listed this week.

I may use the proceeds from that to pick up a Manticore by spring, but my main focus for 2023 will be using the Axiom to nugget hunt in California nail pits. I might use my Equinox with 15" coil to do some patch hunting in the Sierras also, where the amount of ferrous trash makes some ability to pass on the small ferrous desirable from an efficiency standpoint. Even then the number of bullets to be dealt with is daunting, but at least they are non-ferrous. I might alternatively press the Manticore into service for the same task, again with 15" coil.

Add in some beach detecting at with Axiom and Nox or Manticore, and maybe some parf detecting with DFX/Bigfoot, and I have plenty to keep me busy with detectors I already have. I do like the idea of maybe a little edge on silver with Manticore, so that's why it has my eye, but I don't feel any urgency about it, so will wait and see. My Equinox suits me pretty well for what little VLF work I do, and I have to admit I never really gave the Deus 2 much of a chance. That's less the detectors fault, and more that my focus is so much on PI detecting, that VLF kind of sits in the backseat in my car.

[Doc Bach]

I'm not embarrassed or ashamed to admit it but I sort of fall into the category of Dick Stouts post.If there was a metal detectors anonymous organization I would most likely join an go through the twelve step program.But that being said the Axiom is on my current wish list.I am strictly a relic and early coins hunter and unlike most have a passion for digging big and deep iron because sometimes it leads to far better things like bottles and so forth.

[GB_Amateur]

Funny cartoon, and I was in that LH line consistently until the ML Equinox 800 which I've spent the last 4 1/2 years learning.  As I've said before, it took me two plus years just to get comfortable/trusting with it.  I was tempted by the XP Deus 2 but the expected learning curve was my main deterrent.  I expect the ML Manticore to speak the same language as the Eqx, with some words added to the vocabulary.

BTW, @Dick Stout, @Steve Herschbach, and anyone here.  I recall a post from a few years back (maybe 5 or 6 years?) which I thought Dick wrote about why we fool ourselves with a brand new detector in our hands.  (Doing things we haven't done in a while, like digging-it-all, slowing down our swing/coverage speed, listening more carefully to tones; then giving the new detector all the credit for the finds.)  Is my memory failing me as to where that post was located, or even who wrote it?  This is a perfect time to resurrect it -- some very thought provoking ideas, IMO.

P.S. I didn't ask this without first looking for the post myself.  I looked through all of Dick Stout's posts (only ~10) but his current membership only goes back to 2019 -- not far enough.  I'm pretty sure I read the post here because Steve H. commented positively on it.  But I'll go to Dick's website and see if I can find something there.  It was such a meaningful post with lasting relevance and as I indicated, now seems like a good time to read/reread it.  (A year ago when the XP Deus 2 and Nokta Legend were released it would have been a timely read as well.  Water under the bridge on that one.)

[GB_Amateur]

13 hours ago, phrunt said:

...The new Nox models just aren't worth the upgrade I don't think, fantastic for someone new to the Nox but an existing Nox owner it would seem would rather take it to the top rather than mess around with the lesser upgrade.

There are a couple classic polling caveats here -- low statistics and atypical cross section of respondents.  We posters here in general are not the typical metal detector user/buyer.  But note the Nokta Legend is outscoring the two new Equinox models combined.  How many 'new' Equinox buyers are out there after close to 5 years on the market?  And the Legend's performance/price ratio and just absolute price has to be attractive to the more casual user.  But that also assumes they know what we know.

People have been asking about the timing of the 700&900 release.  Here's another question:  is the recently announced lawsuit timed to cast doubt on the Nokta Legend enough to swing new users in the multifrequency space towards the 700/900?

[JCR]

I would like to try a PI for some of my Relic sites. The Axiom looks very good but I can't justify the expense. I will wait hoping the upcoming PI from Nokta will be something suitable. As far as VLFs I think I'm good for a while with 8.

[abenson]

I think Minelab kind a screwed the whole timing of the Equinox 700 and 900 up. They should have released those a year ago. People would have upgraded to the 700 or 900 with their old Equinox out if warranty. Then released the Manticore and people would feel like they needed to upgrade to that. Why would anyone with an 800 go to a 900 rather than just go to the top and get a Manticore. Unless it's totally about price, that I could understand.

Myself I plan on getting Manticore and will use the 800 as backup, I'll keep the D2 as well. But at this point in my life and the fact that good places to detect are becoming harder to find. It just doesn't make sense to own a bunch of machines. Really one good PI and VLF is all one needs anymore. Which brings me to the realization that I need to get rid of some of these older loaner units I have sitting around, while I can still get some money out of them.

Garrett and Fisher better get off the pot and offer some decent machines. Only thing I've seen even worth looking at from either company in the last 12 years is the Garrett Axiom. The F75, T2 and AT series are seriously outdated at this point and Garrett's attempt at SMF with the Apex is almost a joke compared to what's now available from Minelab, XP and Nokta Makro.

[Dick Stout]

6 hours ago, GB_Amateur said:

Funny cartoon, and I was in that LH line consistently until the ML Equinox 800 which I've spent the last 4 1/2 years learning.  As I've said before, it took me two plus years just to get comfortable/trusting with it.  I was tempted by the XP Deus 2 but the expected learning curve was my main deterrent.  I expect the ML Manticore to speak the same language as the Eqx, with some words added to the vocabulary.

BTW, @Dick Stout, @Steve Herschbach, and anyone here.  I recall a post from a few years back (maybe 5 or 6 years?) which I thought Dick wrote about why we fool ourselves with a brand new detector in our hands.  (Doing things we haven't done in a while, like digging-it-all, slowing down our swing/coverage speed, listening more carefully to tones; then giving the new detector all the credit for the finds.)  Is my memory failing me as to where that post was located, or even who wrote it?  This is a perfect time to resurrect it -- some very thought provoking ideas, IMO.

P.S. I didn't ask this without first looking for the post myself.  I looked through all of Dick Stout's posts (only ~10) but his current membership only goes back to 2019 -- not far enough.  I'm pretty sure I read the post here because Steve H. commented positively on it.  But I'll go to Dick's website and see if I can find something there.  It was such a meaningful post with lasting relevance and as I indicated, now seems like a good time to read/reread it.  (A year ago when the XP Deus 2 and Nokta Legend were released it would have been a timely read as well.  Water under the bridge on that one.)

Thin this is the post you're thinking of....https://stoutstandards.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/is-it-the-detector-or-is-it-you/

[GB_Amateur]

33 minutes ago, Dick Stout said:

Thin this is the post you're thinking of....https://stoutstandards.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/is-it-the-detector-or-is-it-you/

Well, if that's not what I'm remembering it sure checks the boxes!  Thanks for finding that for me.  I went to your site and read a couple but (as you know) you have so many stashed there from many years of blogging that it's almost a needle in a haystack.  However, now I've renewed my interest in your writings so that's a bonus.

[mn90403]

2 hours ago, Dick Stout said:

Thin this is the post you're thinking of....https://stoutstandards.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/is-it-the-detector-or-is-it-you/

Well, well done.  And to think that it is only 5 years old!

Where in the SW are you now?