Trends for detectors ?

[JeffP]

I see the ads etc and they seem to focus more on the ability to pick up small Gold .
Do you think that the days of decent finds are fading away and only small Gold is out there to be found ?
Also ,, who has actually paid for their Multi Thousand Dollar Detectors ?

 

[Roscoe]

JeffP, In the southern states it harder to find good gold, but you have to get off the beaten track no matter were you go. In the North and west people are still finding a hell of a lot of gold, they do it for a living. As far as small gold paying off your detector, there is places that are littered with sub gram gold and its only been lately that detectors can pick this gold up because of the mineralisation associated with these areas and the ability of a detector to signal on small gold at some depth.

 

[Oldfella]

Mate, there's still big gold out there My GPX5000 has paid for itself over 6 times now, and that's after costs e.g. diesel and accommodation where needed.

 

[Bacchus]

First detector , SDC 1/10th paid for ha ha , chip ,chip,chipin away, but Oldfella has a few years on me

Seriously though it is nice to go out and at least find a few bits , keeps you going

Cheers

 

[WalnLiz]

There's a lot of truth in the saying that 10% of the prospectors get 90% of the gold......and that small gold is far easier to find than large these days. Detectors like the SDC2300 can very easily be paid for by those prepared to put in the hard yards, and by the same token, Guys using larger coils on GPX's are still finding multi ounce nuggets with regularity. All depends on ones dedication levels and willingness to put in the time to gain the experience.

 

[GaryO]

I see the ads etc and they seem to focus more on the ability to pick up small Gold .
Do you think that the days of decent finds are fading away and only small Gold is out there to be found ?
Also ,, who has actually paid for their Multi Thousand Dollar Detectors ?

Good thread Jeff .
Ive thought the same thing , there have been detectors like the Goldbug 2 that have been picking up tiny bits for years . Strangely they have never had the massive wankfest the Sdc has had , yes the minelab is autoground etc but its not 3 times the machine to justify 3 x the price . I believe the more advertising the more interest the more reports so therefore more talk of small gold .

Ps.. you only need 400 x 0.25 gm bits to get your money back

 

[WalnLiz]

Beg to disagree with you on that one Gary. I still have a God Bug 2 and they're a great light little machine. Problem with the VLF's is they can't handle our mineralization and as such need de-tuning to the point that you won't find much gold with them on our fields. Like the saying goes...if you want to be in that 10% that get 90% of the gold....use the machines that 10% use and you're half way through the battle...

 

[GaryO]

Sort of agree , but someone who can manually ground balance properly can still make a machine work well . Even if not quite as good , my point was they have been killing small bits since the nineties and it did not get the fan fair or cult following the sdc is getting . Even going back prior to the sdc it was the leader in the small gold field and Still didnt get the hype .

 

[WalnLiz]

Not referring to the SDC Gary....talking about Pulse Induction in general V's VLF. Back in the day machines like the Gold bugs and even the Garrett Ground hog I was brought up on made a killing at places like Tibbooburra....but times have changed and one needs to keep up with the new technology to keep ahead of the field.

 

[GaryO]

Yep understand Wal

 

[Reeks]

Mate, there's still big gold out there My GPX5000 has paid for itself over 6 times now, and that's after costs e.g. diesel and accommodation where needed.

Do you live near/on the gold fields oldfella?
It's like anything though, the more hours you're out there the better you will do.

 

[Ramjet]

Between the forum and some Facebook groups I follow, I am surprised at how much gold continues to be pulled out of the ground with various detectors. Wal nailed it with saying it's those who put in the hard yards that get the rewards.

 

[GaryO]

Agreed , but the Jeff was trying find out why the latest ads are tageting small gold. I wasnt trying to get into a debate with Wal as his experience is far greater than mine and I respect all his comments. In a round about way I was trying to say the SDC seems to be leading the hype and push around small gold , and not trying to say machines like the GB2 are better but merely they have been on the small gold for years without all the fan fair , and it just seems like now there is suddenly the first detector on the market to ever be able to do it.
So I guess it comes down to less bigger gold and more small stuff available and Minelab have developed something a bit better to get it AND more importantly marketed it better .

 

[Oldfella]

Mate, there's still big gold out there My GPX5000 has paid for itself over 6 times now, and that's after costs e.g. diesel and accommodation where needed.

Do you live near/on the gold fields oldfella?
It's like anything though, the more hours you're out there the better you will do.

Hi Reeks, I need to travel over 6 hours to get to my current spots and only get to detect for 4 to 6 weeks a year but my spots always give up gold. Soon I hope to be living near some of my spots as the Wife and I intend on moving back closer to family in the Central West NSW.

Cheers

 

[Oldfella]

First detector , SDC 1/10th paid for ha ha , chip ,chip,chipin away, but Oldfella has a few years on me

Seriously though it is nice to go out and at least find a few bits , keeps you going

Cheers

Hi Bacchus, I have only had the 5000 for just on 1 year, the gold it has help me find would be over a period of 4 full detecting weeks

 

[Oldfella]

Just to elaborate a little for those who don't know me, when I say "My spots" all bar 1 are popular detecting areas in the Central west that I and possibly 100s of others have detected throughout the years. These are the same spots that I used to find gold with my Tesoro Lobo and other good VLF's since I began detecting in the mid to late 80s. The 5000 is the first PI detector I have owned and has opened up all of my old areas again for me.

Gold's there guys, you just have to keep looking

 

[Ridge Runner]

Gold's there guys, you just have to keep looking

So True, I changed Brands from what everyone else is using because of the Junk and I cleaned up and always find some thing, I got the Whites GMT because of the Meter and It can handle A Bit Hotter Ground than the GB2 plus it goes a bit Deeper, But I always think about getting the GB2 as well, Heck its only money, aye

Getting that coil over the ground is what finds the Gold, even the best detector is useless in the cupboard, I have 3 detectors and they all have a certain job to do,

HH,, John

 

[Bacchus]

First detector , SDC 1/10th paid for ha ha , chip ,chip,chipin away, but Oldfella has a few years on me

Seriously though it is nice to go out and at least find a few bits , keeps you going

Cheers

Hi Bacchus, I have only had the 5000 for just on 1 year, the gold it has help me find would be over a period of 4 full detecting weeks

Nothing beats experience Oldfella , nice to see you are getting amongst it mate , don't move too far West if you end up in SA I reckon your next detector will take a little longer to pay off based on our recent trip over the border though , working the sums , the SDC would pay for itself after about 200 hrs of walking the Tarnagulla bush , as the experience grows I can see the grams / hour ratio improving , what a great and rewarding hobby , don't think there are too many boat owners out there who have paid for their boats in fish

 

[user 4485]

Many goldfields in London?

GaryO
I for one can guarantee that the SDC leaves at least on high frequency VLF for dead! The GMT won't get near it. I have found countless sub grammers & speccis in areas where my GMT failed to pick up anything. Also found gram+ bits in heavily hit areas. There is a "massive wankfest" on them due to the fact they work & can do what high frequency VLF's do but do it in much harsher ground!

 

[GaryO]

Fair enough