Gold Monster 2000 New Telescoping Rod

[Steve Herschbach]

One of the biggest problems I had with the original Gold Monster was the heavy screw together rod. Honestly, what a piece of junk. It tended to unscrew unless put together with vide grips. No telescoping feature, just slide pod up and down rod and let excess stick out under your elbow. It was the first thing I ditched, setting my Gold Monster 1000 up with an old rod I had sitting around from a GPX 5000.

The new Minelab Gold Monster 2000 will feature a telescoping rod assembly that looks like it came from the Manticore, with a couple differences. The most important is that the upper sections are carbon fiber, but Minelab avoided the issues seen with the Manticore and used a non-conductive lower rod this time. Smart move that, mandatory with a hot gold detector. The other main difference is the arm rest is still the slide over double bolt version used on the Gold Monster 1000, instead of the quick adjust type seen on Manticore. I guess I can understand the reasoning here even if I am not excited by it. They no doubt want to keep the setup such that alternate rods can easily be used. The Gold Monster 1000 came with a coil adapter that allowed a person to literally use a broomstick as a rod in an emergency, and I bet the Gold Monster 2000 includes the same adapter for the same reason. Long story short swapping out a new rod or using alternative rods will be super easy with this setup. And the telescoping rod is massive quality of life improvement over the Gold Monster 1000, no doubt about that.

Minelab Gold Monster 2000 - New carbon fiber telescoping rod assembly with non-conductive lower rod

 

Latest Gold Monster 2000 News & Information

 

[phrunt]

It looks to still have the top-heavy fall over more than it stands up design though seeing the pod section hasn't changed at all, unless that arm cuff does the trick it's going to be a lay it on its side detector again.

I hope they include the broomstick adapter, that was a great accessory for the GM1000 and I bet came in real handy in Africa where detectors are used as real tools, not so much hobby equipment that gets babied.

It does appear it's the Manticore shaft with the new plastic lower rod, in this case hopefully Manticore owners can just buy the GM 2000 lower shafts as an accessory for their Manticore, I'd like a couple more myself for my Manticore coils, SteveG versions are great, very happy with mine however they're a massive expense buying from the USA, I can buy a low end Nokta detector cheaper than I can buy a lower shaft.

Minelab did hint they may have a non-conductive lower shaft available at some point in the future for the Manticore, this is likely it and great news for Manticore owners there.

[Steve Herschbach]

I have owned so many top heavy detectors in my time that it really does not rise even to the level of annoyance to me. Almost all the "pods on a straight stick" designs tend to fall over. In half the terrain I am in it's steep enough or rocky enough even the best balanced detectors tip or roll over. So while I prefer a stable detector it kind of ends up being a shrug my shoulders type of thing.

[phrunt]

I think it's why it has the black handle material type stuff going up around the control pod, they know its going to be on it's side more than upright and it gives it some level of protection from scratching at least without the need for those rubber or 3d printed bumper bars people have been making for their Equinox/Mantcore that wrap around the pod.  I don't mind laying detectors on their side either; I have to do it with my 6000 too due to the 10x5" coil I mostly use plus I'm in rocky hilly stuff so putting it on its side often helps it hook on something to stay there in the first place without flying down the hill 🙂

 

[Aureous]

Best detector stand Ive ever used is the Nokta Impact one. I think its still available as an accessory. Ive used it on every detector Ive owned for the past 5 years. Folds up and keep the detector 'high and dry'. Not wide enough to clip me on the hip either when its deployed. Its going on the GM2000 when I get it too....it needs it!