I'm New...Like I Don't Even Have a Detector New!

[Willy-Dee]

Hey folks. I am new here, and as the title says, I don't even own a detector yet. I stumbled across this site while looking for reviews on metal detectors. I'll save those questions for the specific forums, but generally I am looking for both coins/relics as well as gold.

I've had a passing interest in detecting for quite awhile, but never pulled the trigger on a detector. As I get a bit older, and start spending more time outdoors, and less at my computer, I have really found just digging around in the dirt, rock hounding and spending hours in the mountains is what I enjoy with my free time.

I have started spending more time south in the winters (in Arizona now), so I want to focus on gold while here, but looking more for coins and relics waaaay up north in Canada in the simmer months. I live in an area where there is no gold, and my wife prefers relic/coin hunting to gold hunting.

So thats me...here looking for advice on the best "all in one" detector, which I am sure doesn't. really exist! I am only looking for one machine for now. 

I am sure I will have lots of questions, comments and stories as I explore metal detecting for real, instead of just in my head.

[Desert Dawg]

Welcome to the forums from Northern California. I used to coin/jewelry hunt a lot for yrs, but around 2010 I converted to nugget hunting specifically and camping mainly in the Nevada desert. I am sure you will find all you need to know about all the different detectors and places to hunt here on this forum. 

[JCR]

Welcome from East Texas.

[Tom_in_CA]

When you say "... for gold ..." : I assume you mean nugget prospecting.   And did not mean "gold jewelry" hunting.   Right ?

 

If so you are correct that cross-over-machines, designed to do both prospecting (nuggets in-their-natural-state), and coins/relics, are always going to have compromises.    Yes there are machines that supposedly can cross-over (with the proper setting changes) to do do either/or .  But :   They will not excel in both arenas (ie.; will not  be "the best") at-the-same time.

 

What I mean is :  The objectives/purposes of each is totally contradictory/opposed.  Ie.: the coin /relic hunter DOES NOT WANT every pinhead to "ring the bells of Notre Dame".  While the nugget hunter WANTS ever pin head to "ring the bells of Notre Dame".  And since the electronics (of the coil, etc...) are wound and designed for specific purposes, that means that :  There's going to be compromises, if you have a machine (like the Nox 800, for example) that can do-both.  Ie.: there will be better coin machines, and there will be better nugget machines.

 

Nuggets , in nature, are rarely bigger than pinheads or grains-of-rice.   The "thumbnail" sized nuggets (that some guys show off) are extremely rare.   So the average nugget enthusiast spends his entire day getting the pinheads, which, yes, add up.  But the coin/relic guy does NOT want to "hear every nail & pinhead".  Doh !     

 

So if you just want to dink around (assuming there's nugget regions in  your part of AZ), then a happy compromise is the Nox 800 (aka Equinox ).   With the right control setting changes, it's a so-so happy compromise. 

[Swegin]

Talk to this guy @Gerry in Idaho he will hook you up.

 

[Johnnysalami1957]

All the new guys want GOLD! Welcome from East Tennessee! Good luck.

[Knomad]

It really depends on your budget and how serious you are.

Once upon a time there was a BIG difference between "Gold" Detectors and Coin or General Purpose metal detectors, BUT in the last about 5 or 6 years with the introduction of the Multi Frequency Minelab Equinox 800, and 900 series, and the Nokta Legend, there is really no reason to go for a dedicated "Gold" detector, especially if you plan on often coin and relic hunting. 

[TheDeepseeker]

Welcome aboard Willy-Dee. I'm sure there are plenty of people here who can help you. But if you ever need to know how to ping a rusty worthless tin can at 3 1/2 feet just PM me 👍

[locator]

16 hours ago, Johnnysalami1957 said:

All the new guys want GOLD! Welcome from East Tennessee! Good luck.

Naa, the odd old ones want, too. lOl

@Willy-Dee - Welcome aboard, grasshopper. Unfortunately, I can't really help you with your decision.