Minelab GPX6000 release, general information and questions
- Thread starter hippyhunter
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Help Support Prospecting Australia:
GemQ said:
He's in the USA:
My impressions of the GPX 6000.
Initial thoughts was that it was flimsy, but I've since given it some hard tests, and the carbon fibre shaft has held up well.
The next thing that I didn't like is that it found so much smaller bird shot than my 4500.
Regardless, I took it on a trip to FNQ to detect around Palmer River and Forsayth. I deliberately left my 4500 at home, as I wanted to do or die. Initially, I thought I'd wasted my money on the 6000, but it's just so easy to setup and go. No more salt covered harnesses in 32C+ heat and sweet set up times.
I did start finding way more very small birdshot than I used to with my 4500, but up at Forsayth (low rubbish) I started to find small gold at good depth (viz: 0.12g at 10mm).
I took two others who had SDCs to a patch of small gold (I was finding lots of small gold there). One SDC was un-modified, and the other had a Nugget Finder coil. Both were finding nothing there, so I said I'd get them each a target (just bragging I guess). I found a clear target with my 6k and showed the 1st guy where to look, but without a large boot scrape, his wouldn't hear a signal. He dug a 0.13g nugget. The second target I found for the un-modified SDC detector. Very faint for him and would likely have missed it. It was birdshot, but the 6k heard it clearly.
My conclusions:
Although I haven't yet tested the 6k vs the SDC on tiny gold (I don't want that sort), I now won't sell it in favour of my 4500 as it's a blood great machine. Much more testing to do..........
Initial thoughts was that it was flimsy, but I've since given it some hard tests, and the carbon fibre shaft has held up well.
The next thing that I didn't like is that it found so much smaller bird shot than my 4500.
Regardless, I took it on a trip to FNQ to detect around Palmer River and Forsayth. I deliberately left my 4500 at home, as I wanted to do or die. Initially, I thought I'd wasted my money on the 6000, but it's just so easy to setup and go. No more salt covered harnesses in 32C+ heat and sweet set up times.
I did start finding way more very small birdshot than I used to with my 4500, but up at Forsayth (low rubbish) I started to find small gold at good depth (viz: 0.12g at 10mm).
I took two others who had SDCs to a patch of small gold (I was finding lots of small gold there). One SDC was un-modified, and the other had a Nugget Finder coil. Both were finding nothing there, so I said I'd get them each a target (just bragging I guess). I found a clear target with my 6k and showed the 1st guy where to look, but without a large boot scrape, his wouldn't hear a signal. He dug a 0.13g nugget. The second target I found for the un-modified SDC detector. Very faint for him and would likely have missed it. It was birdshot, but the 6k heard it clearly.
My conclusions:
Although I haven't yet tested the 6k vs the SDC on tiny gold (I don't want that sort), I now won't sell it in favour of my 4500 as it's a blood great machine. Much more testing to do..........
) I started to find small gold at good depth (viz: 0.12g at 10mm).
Are you sure you didnt mean 10cm. BW?
Are you sure you didnt mean 10cm. BW?
Local from my dealer in ArizonaGemQ said:
Well!!!! 
How is it lol hanging out to see what its like lol.
How is it lol hanging out to see what its like lol.
It appears that the SDC handles hot ground slightly better and the 6000 is somewhat more susceptible for hordocks in general. But this could have to do with the smaller coil size and the fast timings of the SDC
Gold Catcher said:
That is what I have noticed also, lots of hot rocks and and noisy in hot ground. I wonder if they can do future firmware updates to change this or help?
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After using the GPX for quite some time now I've found that in wet red clay conditions there is a need to ground balance manually more often then normally. Also when the target sounds like ground noise if you change direction by 180 degrees and see if it changes. Then do what we use it do with the older machines circle the target letting the machine balance to the ground around the target either Manually or Auto. Then go across the target and see it's a actual valid target. Depression that are highly mineralized and wet will always sound like targets.
Cheers db
Cheers db
Apparently the first of the 17" coils became available in Australia earlier this week, but supplies are only trickling through for the foreseeable future:
https://www.detectorprospector.com/...ommentary-moved-from-another-thread/#comments
https://www.detectorprospector.com/...ommentary-moved-from-another-thread/#comments
Goldchaser1
dave
grubstake said:
Good new grubstake,it will be interesting to see how they perform,just the extra ground coverage will be a bonus in the west,bought a second 6 the oday,wife's parking the 7 for patch hunting,the weights won her over...
Teemore
One foot out the door
grubstake said:
Pretty sure Mark Day (E E Day, Ballarat) has indicated the 17" will be available there from next week (16/8) obviously delivery being OK and not affected by covid delays which seem to be creating storages in a lot of places.
Goldchaser1
dave
Ran the 17 for 4 days out looking for new spots to no avail,got back yesty,it's a big 17 and performed ok,managed a few small bits but nothing to talk of really,emi was no different to the 11 in the area we were in,i do think it groaned over the salty patches a bit more on occasions.
No probs with the shafts here atm but when fitting the 17 i thought it would be easy to delete the bottom shaft and have less moving parts on the stem especially when using the 14 or 17,atm i'm telescoping it on the middle shaft to go on our quad so i think it will work well and beef things up a bit long term,put the verniers on the tube and it was easy to find the correct size carbon tube online,when it arrives i'll sort out the coil attachment bracket thingy,not sure what there called but it needs to be the right diameter for the tube really and bonded in of course....
No probs with the shafts here atm but when fitting the 17 i thought it would be easy to delete the bottom shaft and have less moving parts on the stem especially when using the 14 or 17,atm i'm telescoping it on the middle shaft to go on our quad so i think it will work well and beef things up a bit long term,put the verniers on the tube and it was easy to find the correct size carbon tube online,when it arrives i'll sort out the coil attachment bracket thingy,not sure what there called but it needs to be the right diameter for the tube really and bonded in of course....
Goldchaser1
dave
Mod 1 one the shaft
Very very gingerly put a slice in the top screw clamp base without touching the carbon tube,pried it apart easily and it popped straight off,there is 2 small holes left in the shaft from the locating tabs on the clamp.
Fitted a clamp that's popular for the equinox's,very solid,feels fantastic
Still waiting on the tube to delete the bottom shaft but looking good atm.....
Very very gingerly put a slice in the top screw clamp base without touching the carbon tube,pried it apart easily and it popped straight off,there is 2 small holes left in the shaft from the locating tabs on the clamp.
Fitted a clamp that's popular for the equinox's,very solid,feels fantastic
Still waiting on the tube to delete the bottom shaft but looking good atm.....
Nice GC.
This bit "Still waiting on the tube to delete the bottom shaft".
Where are you getting the shaft from?
I see these are now available from a seller but he is US based - gives a bit extra length. Not sure if there is an agent in Oz.
https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/16684-new-steveg-lower-shaft-for-gpx-6000/
Cheers, NE.
This bit "Still waiting on the tube to delete the bottom shaft".
Where are you getting the shaft from?
I see these are now available from a seller but he is US based - gives a bit extra length. Not sure if there is an agent in Oz.
https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/16684-new-steveg-lower-shaft-for-gpx-6000/
Cheers, NE.
Goldchaser1
dave
Northeast said:
Oh ok NE that's just a new lower longer shaft,i'm going 2 piece,well hopefully
Waiting on the tube and coil yoke,by what i've measured it will still be plenty short enough to go on our quad with ease just telescoping one shaft.
Bits ive oredered
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Minelab...2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WOVEN-C...2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0
PS: NE deleting middle and bottom shaft is my goal
Jennifer
Jennifer
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limpalot said:
If you've not found a good cover yet, reach out to Doc at Doc's Detecting, he makes a top quality cover for the 7000, the 2300 and now the 6000... He ships to Australia VERY quickly.
Lots of piccies here: https://docsdetecting.com/product/gpx6000-nugget-stalker-brand-protective-cover-set/
Jen
Jennifer
Jennifer
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2014
- Messages
- 165
- Reaction score
- 503
Hi all... I just picked up a 6000, is there an adapter cable to use your own wired headphones like we can get from Nenad for the SDC? I heard that the Equinox cable works, is that true? Thank you all in advance, I really appreciate the info.
Stay safe out there
Jen
Stay safe out there
Jen
Goldchaser1
dave
Jennifer said:
Finders keepers in Kalgoorlie have a bunch of them,no offence but the colour i'm not a fan of and there twice the price of locally made covers from detect in victoria,a forum member,it's a no brainer for me,i'd buy local,especially in the current climate....
