Minelab GPX 4500 Is Back?

[mn90403]

I think some of us have to imagine hitting a patch of virgin ground.  Now imagine you had 6 of the detectors discussed here so far which would be a 5000, 4500, Axiom, 6000, 7000 and Algo.  Without complicating it too far about the coils, let's say you had the most efficient coil for each.

Which detector would you hit the patch with for the first 2 hours?

If you were given another 2 hours on this private patch (by yourself) what would you use for the second 2 hours?

I know you can be concerned where this imaginary patch would be so let's say central Victoria with moderate mineralization.  If someone wants to do the challenge and use their own detecting area such as NZ with very mild soils or AZ, etc ... just explain why you would make the decision.

I'll start.

1st would be a 7000 with 15" CC Xcoil

2nd would be 5000 with 19" NF

[Northeast]

55 minutes ago, mn90403 said:

Which detector would you hit the patch with for the first 2 hours?

The 6000.  Light, quick and efficient to move quickly picking up the easy stuff.  

 

56 minutes ago, mn90403 said:

what would you use for the second 2 hours?

The 7000 with the original 14" coil for depth on small and large targets, set to Difficult/General.  (coil choice because I have never used another coil on a 7000.  I figure if I haven't used it, I can't comment on it).  

[phrunt]

1 minute ago, Northeast said:

I figure if I haven't used it, I can't comment on it).  

If only everyone had that insight 🙂

[mn90403]

I take it the answers would be 'experienced' answers which will put new detectors at a disadvantage.  Actually I haven't used a 6000, 4500 or Axiom.  That sort of disqualifies my answer.

[Northeast]

21 minutes ago, mn90403 said:

Actually I haven't used a 6000, 4500 or Axiom.  That sort of disqualifies my answer.

I don’t think.  You’ve used both the things you’ve said you’d use, so very qualified I think 👍

I haven’t yet used an Algo or an Axiom but really they would probably both do the job I mentioned - quick, light manoeuvrable, easy to pinpoint, etc.  That gets the easy to hear bits out of the way.  

When you get to wanting good depth, the harder to hear bits and coverage and start talking x coils, NF coils and the 19” coil on the Z, I’d be purely speculating on this thing being better than that thing.

In the end a lot of it is guessing, opinion, confidence in a particular machine, your ground, your gold, etc  😉

[PeterInSa]

Re (If you're in an area where lots of detecting has gone on over the years using something that's been used there for a decade or more may not be fruitful.)

Good Point,  In Vic, the 4500 has been around for 17 years,  ( In Melbourne /Bendigo area, 4 Detector clubs with 30+ or so members go Bush for a weekend once a month, and have done for umpteen years). if after detecting for 10 days with little to show for it, will you be thinking... "I should have bought....."

But even if you do not find anything, a walk in the bush is calming/relaxing and swinging a detector and digging up rubbish is good exercise.

[phrunt]

I think the back room they found a few in may have been a giant warehouse, they've been added back onto the website now as current products.

Minelab are up to something 🙂

[Tony]

Me: "Hello Minelab, I'm chasing a new 4500 and understand there's limited stock for a short period of time"

Minelab: "That's right, we've only got a small amount of 4500's and they won't last long at this price....definitely need to be quick on this deal"

 

[phrunt]

They're certainly good at marketing.  It's looking increasingly like a stop gap reintroduction until they have something else out to me.

I'm no expert at manufacturing but if the Chinese cloners are knocking out fakes that almost work right you can buy for well under $1000 AUD delivered then it's not costing Minelab too much to get Malaysia to bang out a few of them to fill the gap, especially if they do still make the 5000, which is questionable at the moment.