First Detector Advice

[XLOOX]

Exactly, I know over half a dozen folk that havent found any gold ever in the 5 years they have owned a detector.

Usual factors apply:
1) inappropriate machine for gold

2) marginal ground -only going to a localish convenient area of low quality

3) insufficient time on ground each year-like 2-3 days a year

4) insufficient knowledge - dont really know their detector because they dont use or test it enough.

Sounds like Douglas can scratch off issue 2 & 3 so he is down to getting appropriate machine and getting out there and learning its language.

The options were covered well in the previous posts.

All would work fine but my personal bias would be to an SDC to start with and either you'll stick with her or after 3years you'll decide that a 6k ( or latest) is worth the extra.

simply cant go wrong with an SDC. So capable and so little to learn.

 

[Hawkear]

Thanks for your insights @Moneybox
I am semi-retired now (for almost a year) and full time travelling this great country. Already I have been through some areas where I would have spent weeks if I had a pi machine and I haven’t left QLD yet. We are well set-up for off grid/ remote living and love this lifestyle. Prospecting is the ideal hobby for me as I often go wandering the bush exploring for hours and hours anyhow. Not much for sitting around most days (itchy feet).
I have read that the early gpx4500s were a good machine but am thinking that I might need

Apologies I got called away…..anyhow finishing off…..
I have read that the early gpx4500s were a good machine but am thinking that I might need something that is a bit better on smaller pieces hence the 5000 was possibly a good option for me. No doubt I have heaps of learning to do no matter what machine I get.
Cheers Doug

The 45 and 50 are both very good machines but even among seasoned prospectors there are opinion differences. I have expressed mine in other posts but don't want to add anything more here.
As a new user what is the question that raises?
Probably how are you going to get the best out of either, if even seasoned prospectors can't agree? The answer is probably with some difficulty.
I suggest therefore that you forget a 45 or 50 and go for a 2300.
With many of its performance specs built in, the few remaining settings make it so much easier to use and will still outperform 45s and 50s them on the number of small nuggets it can find.
On our last trip West, my wife and I both using 2300s (I ditched my 7000) went over a patch I had previously done with a 45 and found an extra 140 small nuggets between us.
Additionally, it is much more compact (foldable) and storable if travelling and seems to be able to handle mineralised soils as well as any machine.
It just works and is hard to stuff up.
You should also think about what you do as your next step. If gold prospecting doesn't fully "grab you" a 2300 can be easily carried with you for occasional use. If you want to pursue gold detecting to a greater extent and want to upgrade to a more expensive machine a 2300 would still retain much of its value as a trade in or resale.

 

[grubstake]

I like the idea of getting some sort of warranty and having confidence that what I purchase is genuine.

Minelab factory warranties are for 3 years, with balance transferable if resold, so a used detector can still have warranty coverage.

Minelab online product verification service:
https://verify.minelab.com/index.html#/

This one should be a good machine:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/threads/sdc2300-for-sale-used-twice-3700.42157/

 

[trav34]

Yes i think the gold monster 1000 being a VLF detector is not the machine to use in highly mineralized gold fields, "where the gold is found", I think you better go for a PI Machine ( pulse induction ) and I've been doing a lot of research but the vlf machines are better for treasure hunting and beach stuff but not on mineralized gold fields. I'm suggesting the 2300 as well but you can find cheaper pi machines if you look around

 

[trav34]

have a look at this pi detector https://phasetechnical.com.au/algoforce-e1500-pulse-induction-detector/

 

[Moneybox]

Try this for size and price... Some years back when this detector was handed to me when it was first released, along with the GPZ7000, by Denise at The Prospectors Pick I thought it was a joke. We were at a well organised APLA meeting where depth testing was set up. I tried and quickly rejected the GPZ7000 due to it's weight but I didn't even try the Gold Monster because I didn't believe it was a serious gold detector. I've since seen it working well where the GPX6000 failed to get a signal.

 

[Docs Son]

The 45 and 50 are both very good machines but even among seasoned prospectors there are opinion differences. I have expressed mine in other posts but don't want to add anything more here.
As a new user what is the question that raises?
Probably how are you going to get the best out of either, if even seasoned prospectors can't agree? The answer is probably with some difficulty.
I suggest therefore that you forget a 45 or 50 and go for a 2300.
With many of its performance specs built in, the few remaining settings make it so much easier to use and will still outperform 45s and 50s them on the number of small nuggets it can find.
On our last trip West, my wife and I both using 2300s (I ditched my 7000) went over a patch I had previously done with a 45 and found an extra 140 small nuggets between us.
Additionally, it is much more compact (foldable) and storable if travelling and seems to be able to handle mineralised soils as well as any machine.
It just works and is hard to stuff up.
You should also think about what you do as your next step. If gold prospecting doesn't fully "grab you" a 2300 can be easily carried with you for occasional use. If you want to pursue gold detecting to a greater extent and want to upgrade to a more expensive machine a 2300 would still retain much of its value as a trade in or resale.

@Hawkear, thank you for you insight. Please excuse the dumb questions I am learning as I go.
If coil selection is important depending on things like terrain, mineralisation, size and depth of the target, does the 2300 perform as well as a 45 or 50 for these different scenarios? E.g. Can it sense as deep as these other machines when they are fitted with a large coil?
I understand that the operator must know how to setup and know their machine for the environment they are in but that is something you learn. The user is the variable any machine has a detecting capacity that is fixed. I guess I am asking if a 2300 has less detection capacity than the other machines? In 6 months or a years time will I want to get a new machine because I feel like I am missing targets?
Thanks again for your advice.
Cheers Doug

 

[HarryHoudini]

The 4500 and 5000 with the right coil and user skills will detect deeper gold than the sdc. However, it is easier to turn on and go, more compact. It becomes a user choice, plus you need the start somewhere. You could buy the SDC and actually see if you like detecting. On the other side you could think you are missing out on deeper gold if you are not running a GPZ. Fear of missing will always be with you that’s why so many upgrade their detector. Spend what you can afford and enjoy the experience.

 

[XLOOX]

@Hawkear, thank you for you insight. Please excuse the dumb questions I am learning as I go.
If coil selection is important depending on things like terrain, mineralisation, size and depth of the target, does the 2300 perform as well as a 45 or 50 for these different scenarios? E.g. Can it sense as deep as these other machines when they are fitted with a large coil?
I understand that the operator must know how to setup and know their machine for the environment they are in but that is something you learn. The user is the variable any machine has a detecting capacity that is fixed. I guess I am asking if a 2300 has less detection capacity than the other machines? In 6 months or a years time will I want to get a new machine because I feel like I am missing targets?
Thanks again for your advice.
Cheers Doug

SDC will not go as deep on large gold. It maxs out at about 550mm whereas with a big coil a 5k or 7k can touch a metre.

BUT nuggets found below 500mm deep are 10000x rarer than ones found closer to surface...and you have to be using a big coil to find the deep ones so you are passing up the smallest of the much more numerous smaller shallower nuggets. Your choice.

Everyone wants it all but after a 4hrs/4days/4weeks of finding nothing you will take anything you can get and be very happy finding a crumb.

Dont worry about missing out on the big deep one when you havent even found small ones yet!

SDC will still find big ones if they are under 550mm deep and you will find it handles mineralisation better than the others in most areas.

 

[grubstake]

In 6 months or a years time will I want to get a new machine because I feel like I am missing targets?

Mate, we're prospectors not fortune tellers! In 6 months or a years time, whatever detector you buy today may well be buried and forgotten in a cupboard somewhere, because you found that real world detecting wasn't nearly as much fun, excitement and profit as the 'reality' TV shows make it out to be. It happens - heck, some people lose all interest on Day 1!

Personally, I reckon you're making way too much out of this 'what to buy' decision. No detector does it all, even the $8-11,000 models. Pick a model and use it until you know it inside out, then's the time to consider further whether it answers all of your by-then-well-established needs. Second guessing before you've even done any detecting at all is just more time wasted, IMHO.

 

[Hawkear]

@Hawkear, thank you for you insight. Please excuse the dumb questions I am learning as I go.
If coil selection is important depending on things like terrain, mineralisation, size and depth of the target, does the 2300 perform as well as a 45 or 50 for these different scenarios? E.g. Can it sense as deep as these other machines when they are fitted with a large coil?
I understand that the operator must know how to setup and know their machine for the environment they are in but that is something you learn. The user is the variable any machine has a detecting capacity that is fixed. I guess I am asking if a 2300 has less detection capacity than the other machines? In 6 months or a years time will I want to get a new machine because I feel like I am missing targets?
Thanks again for your advice.
Cheers Doug

The 2300 with its standard 8” is optimised for sensitivity on small gold and whilst there are larger after-market coils available, I cannot see a great deal of sense in compromising its designed strength on small gold by fitting larger coils.
Smaller coils are also easier to use in a wide variety of rocky, bushy and mineralised terrains and are less subject to EMI interference.
An equivalent sized 8” coil can also be used on a 50 in fine gold setting with good results on small deeper gold but will not be as sensitive and miss many smaller nuggets that a 2300 can detect.
The net overall result is more nuggets with a 2300, fewer but heavier nuggets with a 50.
One of the common misconceptions held by newcomers is to assume that deep is better, whereas I feel that for most newcomers sensitive is better for another reason.
I have seen many new gold seekers arrive in GT caravan parks around about holiday times with 45s or 50s loaded with large coils telling everyone they are not interested in fly ****. Heading off with all their settings max’d out for depth, many return empty handed and head back to Melbourne with their tails between their legs, probably to give up on their dreams.
Some have asked for or have been happy to follow advice and I usually tell them to put away the big coils and moderate their settings, improve their listening skills and have had the satisfaction of being present to see some find their very first piece of gold. It was nothing to do with the machine they had, but in their ability to use it.
You are right therefore in saying that you can learn how to set up and use your machine, but that is not as easy as it may seem if you are not finding gold from the outset. Learning is achieved by being successful at finding nuggets and the more the better. That way you learn the best settings, the places to go, the proper techniques, coil selections (if appropriate), target signal interpretation etc. More nugget finds are accomplished with increased sensitivity not depth capability.
Will you want to upgrade to another machine in six months or a year’s time because you feel you are missing nuggets? I hope so, but is that a bad thing? No matter what machine you have you will not only feel you might be missing nuggets, but you WILL be missing nuggets because each will have different capabilities.
If you have negotiated a good deal on a secondhand 2300 or 50 (I’ll leave out a 45 because they are getting old in the tooth) they can easily be resold for much of what you would have paid so little will have been lost for the valuable learning experience, you will have gained.
If you go for a 2300, I would not bother about a larger coil and if you choose a 50 ensure you have a small 8” or equivalent coil to start with.

 

[Docs Son]

Mate, we're prospectors not fortune tellers! In 6 months or a years time, whatever detector you buy today may well be buried and forgotten in a cupboard somewhere, because you found that real world detecting wasn't nearly as much fun, excitement and profit as the 'reality' TV shows make it out to be. It happens - heck, some people lose all interest on Day 1!

Personally, I reckon you're making way too much out of this 'what to buy' decision. No detector does it all, even the $8-11,000 models. Pick a model and use it until you know it inside out, then's the time to consider further whether it answers all of your by-then-well-established needs. Second guessing before you've even done any detecting at all is just more time wasted, IMHO.

Sorry gents I was just chasing information about the difference in performance between these detectors from experienced prospectors.
My detecting background is about 2 years with a Minelab S540 chasing relics and coins around SE QLD. As I am now full time travelling I tried using the VLF machine in the gold fields around Croydon and Charters Towers for the last couple of months. I learned a lot and found nothing but am sure I missed some targets due to inexperience and not digging up absolutely everything.
Anyhow this has not diminished my enthusiasm for this hobby. It has made me more determined to learn more and also find a machine that suits me and is not too complicated for someone with a technical background but is new to gold detecting. This is why I joined this forum.
Thank you for your help, my takeaway from these replies is to buy what I can afford and go with my gut.
Cheers Doug

 

[Docs Son]

The 2300 with its standard 8” is optimised for sensitivity on small gold and whilst there are larger after-market coils available, I cannot see a great deal of sense in compromising its designed strength on small gold by fitting larger coils.
Smaller coils are also easier to use in a wide variety of rocky, bushy and mineralised terrains and are less subject to EMI interference.
An equivalent sized 8” coil can also be used on a 50 in fine gold setting with good results on small deeper gold but will not be as sensitive and miss many smaller nuggets that a 2300 can detect.
The net overall result is more nuggets with a 2300, fewer but heavier nuggets with a 50.
One of the common misconceptions held by newcomers is to assume that deep is better, whereas I feel that for most newcomers sensitive is better for another reason.
I have seen many new gold seekers arrive in GT caravan parks around about holiday times with 45s or 50s loaded with large coils telling everyone they are not interested in fly ****. Heading off with all their settings max’d out for depth, many return empty handed and head back to Melbourne with their tails between their legs, probably to give up on their dreams.
Some have asked for or have been happy to follow advice and I usually tell them to put away the big coils and moderate their settings, improve their listening skills and have had the satisfaction of being present to see some find their very first piece of gold. It was nothing to do with the machine they had, but in their ability to use it.
You are right therefore in saying that you can learn how to set up and use your machine, but that is not as easy as it may seem if you are not finding gold from the outset. Learning is achieved by being successful at finding nuggets and the more the better. That way you learn the best settings, the places to go, the proper techniques, coil selections (if appropriate), target signal interpretation etc. More nugget finds are accomplished with increased sensitivity not depth capability.
Will you want to upgrade to another machine in six months or a year’s time because you feel you are missing nuggets? I hope so, but is that a bad thing? No matter what machine you have you will not only feel you might be missing nuggets, but you WILL be missing nuggets because each will have different capabilities.
If you have negotiated a good deal on a secondhand 2300 or 50 (I’ll leave out a 45 because they are getting old in the tooth) they can easily be resold for much of what you would have paid so little will have been lost for the valuable learning experience, you will have gained.
If you go for a 2300, I would not bother about a larger coil and if you choose a 50 ensure you have a small 8” or equivalent coil to start with.

Thanks @Hawkear, that sounds like very good and useful advice for me. And you are correct in that it will most likely come down to the best deal I can get on the detector. There are a few 2300s around and the 50s worry me a little with the number of fakes out there in the market place.
Thanks for your advice.
Cheers Doug

 

[Docs Son]

SDC will not go as deep on large gold. It maxs out at about 550mm whereas with a big coil a 5k or 7k can touch a metre.

BUT nuggets found below 500mm deep are 10000x rarer than ones found closer to surface...and you have to be using a big coil to find the deep ones so you are passing up the smallest of the much more numerous smaller shallower nuggets. Your choice.

Everyone wants it all but after a 4hrs/4days/4weeks of finding nothing you will take anything you can get and be very happy finding a crumb.

Dont worry about missing out on the big deep one when you havent even found small ones yet!

SDC will still find big ones if they are under 550mm deep and you will find it handles mineralisation better than the others in most areas.

Thanks @XLOOX good advice. I am definitely not just chasing the big deep stuff. At this point anything will be great. I understand that covering the ground with a small coil first can often determine whether it is worth running over the ground again with a larger coil. Do you follow this strategy often or at all?

 

[XLOOX]

Thanks @XLOOX good advice. I am definitely not just chasing the big deep stuff. At this point anything will be great. I understand that covering the ground with a small coil first can often determine whether it is worth running over the ground again with a larger coil. Do you follow this strategy often or at all?

Find small bits and come back again with a larger coil ? before I had the 6000 then yes, sure.
If you have found gold somewhere you go over the area again with whatever different tools you have at your disposal

I started with VLFs and i wish I hadnt wasted so many hrs over so many years.They have their place but not as your main gold detector.

I then tried affordable PIs - TDI SL and QED which were heaps better but stepping up to an SDC really lifted my score by 10x and it was wonderful going out with a machine you had total confidence in.
SDC was my main detector for 3y and at the end of that I had enough gold to justify a 6000 so I got that. I loved my SDC and only sold her 3w ago and I half regret it already but I knowin my heart if my 6000 broke I would grit my teeth and get another.

If you havent found much gold it is v hard to spend 4k on a SDC nevermind 8k on a 6000. It is a big leap of faith but if you actually want to regularly find gold it is one you have to take.