Metal Detector advice $500 to $1500

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Here are some things to consider between VLFs and PIs. I have no drum to beat - I use both types for different detecting scenarios. I also use a very broad range of coils to cover my options, both DD and monos. Your budget sounds reasonable and a good early PI is just as capable as the newer machines for general detecting. If I was starting out, I would chose one of the early SD models - 2000, 2100, 2200. I am biased towards the 2200 as I still use one as a back-up to my 4500 (very attached to it). I am not anti White's or Garretts, its just that I never see them down here in the triangle amongst my friends and detecting crew, but they do get a reasonable rating (always remember, the hand of faith was found with an early Garrett). Good luck.

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Ha..Ha A bit of an overload of things to consider Sylar, hey? The one thing the vast majority of us started out with is a VLF detector and now looking back we all seem to say, "I wished i bought a good Pulse Induction detector in the first place." You have made a budget of $1500.00 and that's good because you have set your limit. So if i was you i would go with the SD2100-SD2200 minelab detectors. These are still good machines and they are still out there getting gold. If you decide to get a VLF detector then get a multi purpose unit that has prospecting and coin modes. The reason i say this is that if you get into the hobby more and buy a GPX down the track then you still have a great coin, relic machine to use and the two will complement each other. :)
 
yes agree with Roscoe 100% "I wished i bought a good Pulse Induction detector in the first place." and will do some day but will still have the x terra705 for the beach/park :)
 
Well i was in the same boat.

Have been prospecting on and off since the 90's and

Have found gold with a vlf. I also owned an sd2200.

What did i end up purchasing? A GP 3500 and paid only

$1800 that includes 11" dd, 15x12 mono and 450mm dd round coil.

Why so cheap? If you read some of the replies no one

Promotes this machine and i suspect some members have only

Been prospecting since the gpx series were introduced hence why

It gets left out. Then you have the new garrets and the whites tdi and a

handful of 2nd hand 4000 to 5000 and all of a sudden there is competition

In this market. I can off load 2 of those coils and can pick up $300 for

Them and the detector owes me $1500.

Now i have modded My 3500 and now has an extra sensitivity switch

and a smooth Timing switch that smooths my gp nicely.

I asked my modder how deeper will the new ones be compared

To mine and i had a smile on my face by his reply.

Add the 11" mono and an amplifier and You have one sweet machine.

Just becareful what you spend Your cash on. I have seen a detector on

ebay suggested in this Thread that retails for about $2500 with 3 coils

sell for just Under $1400 back in jan 2014. Something is worth by what one

Is willing to pay and how popular your item is.

There are modded gp3500 selling on ebay with similar

Mods for $3300 or there abouts with 2 sold in the last

Month.

Now just need to wait for April to hit where the weather starts

To cool and will be heading Out to the triangle for some

Detecting.

Good luck with your purchase.
 
Thanks for all the help guys i think the next 8 months will be some serious researching, Tho my budget atm is $1500 depending how it all goes it may end up more than that.
 
I have a gp3500 and gp3000 as back up machines the 3500 is the best machine that I have ever used till the GPX5000. I purchased a 4500 and the machine was a dud of the start, left it in the box until the 5000 came out and upgraded straight away. If you want a starting point like wolfau I reckon the 3500 is the way to go.
regards deepblue
 
I'm in the same boat as sylar, this was very helpful its a great tool this forum for people like us (newbies) to get onto to and pick the brains of you experienced guys.
 
I think im gonna take the advice that's being put out there and look into a minelab, either a SD or GP model and just push the budget a bit more. i would like something that i could use for some time to come and not be outdated too much in the coming years, something i could get modded to keep it up to date if needed and if i did get a GPX i could still use as a backup. Tho it might be a few $$$ more the GP series seem to bet the way to go. It seems minelab have a product that works in Australian conditions, is proven and dose not require a degree in quantum mechanics to operate. I would hate to think that i passed over an area and left gold behind cos i didn't just get something good from the word go. Looks like the next 8 months of trawling through eBay, gumtree and craigslist until :p
 
Just curious to know where you send different detectors to be modded???? Are there individuals that do this or do you send them out to specialist stores???

Cheers...Sparra
 
Sparra said:
Just curious to know where you send different detectors to be modded???? Are there individuals that do this or do you send them out to specialist stores???

Cheers...Sparra
Click to expand...

Just be careful where you get things modded.

One of the reasons is price. A gp3500 modded cost me

Only $275. Ismael Jones did mine who also has a good

Reputation.
 
Sparra said:
I seen someone on Ebay advertising $1200 for a GP machine...
Click to expand...

Get the 3500 it has a tracking switch and leave this on medium. The Extreme does not have this.
The 3000 has the tracking balance button implemented compared to the extreme. There could be something else that is different between these.
The key here is patience and remember the Gold fields are massive. Then remember the 4 seasons and how many hot summer days we have
where you can only prospect from first light till about midday depending on how hot it gets. And to prospect in summer you need to leave home damn
early or stay over. Then you have the days it rains where you can't go out and prospect and if it rains hard enough some tracks can not be accessed.
365 days in a year slowly spindles down to actual days that are available when you can go prospecting and not to forget to mention it needs to fall on
the days your available. One last thing. I am not a 100% devoted Minelab fan. In fact I like to use a Tesoro or Fisher or Teknetics for my coin machines.
I am saying this so you don't think I am simply plugging away one machine. For gold prospecting its a no brainer the Minelabs have and will continue to for
a while yet to be the go to machines for the majority of gold prospecting. Many of you that are new to this great hobby are very lucky because we are
at the phase where there are at least 7 quality second hand Minelab machines you can purchase with a variety of prices unlike 12 years ago. This is why
i decided back then not to continue with this hobby due to machine prices and gold prices.

A couple of high frequency VLF's are still capable in finding the small stuff on shallow ground that was once rich in gold. The fisher gold bug and the whites GMT
are 2 of them and I think Minelab have a couple as well. Don't waste your money on buying a vlf with a frequency range less than 20. I learnt this the hard way
and the answer is simple. Its because the new minelabs are able to find the gold size nuggets these machines are capable of finding though you need to still
walk over them you have competition.

You don't need to sell your car to buy one either. If a manufacturer thinks they have the answer by releasing a machine priced at around $3300 - $4000
think again. Even if a GP 3500 cost you $2500 and you spent $450 on a modification and amplifier its a great option not to mention the amount of coils you
can use with this unit.

There are older units as mentioned that cost less than a couple of the new boys to hit town where they still perform well even unmodded and if you decide to
sell you won't lose much money.

What I would like to see is a video of the 2 new machines from the 2 different manufacturers against a few of the older Minelab PI's. This will be interesting
to say the least.

Lastly just remember what this great hobby is about. The freedom we have in this country to go for a drive and spend some quality peaceful time out in the
bush.

Enough said. Good luck with it and stay safe..
 
My above post should have read $1200 to upgrade a GP machine,not to buy one...sorry about that...How do you do a quote in here???
I just worked out how to quote,on the ipad all the symbols and pic's show up but nothing shows on the laptop...
 
my advice would be to listen to ramjets advice...you wont believe how deep the golden rabbit hole goes!!!!...you don't have to be physically in the field to prospect and enjoy the rush of this awsome hobby!

scott :cool:
 
Sparra said:
Just curious to know where you send different detectors to be modded???? Are there individuals that do this or do you send them out to specialist stores???

Cheers...Sparra
Click to expand...

Sorry must of missed this.

Ismael Jones is teh guy that did my mod to the GP3500. Ismael is based in WA.

His reputation online is what led me to give Ismael a go at modding my machine and he does know his stuff.

A Mod on the GP 3500 cost $275. All you do is send in your box with an extra express bag and when finished Ismael will post back

in the express bag provided.

Hope this helps..
 

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