Gold Bug 2 or GMT I need help deciding

[excaliber]

I have read every post on this site about both these detectors. I just can't decide which one would be better for me. This will be my first detector.

I'm in Idaho. I'm looking for a Nugget shooter that will be able to work benches, drainages and tailing piles.

Both of these units have a great following but I was hoping some of you who have these units can comment on things like depth they will both detect, Ease of use for a newbie and coil size for mineralized areas?

For those that have experience with both is one better than the other and why do you think so? They are close in price are they that close in performance?
One last thing. I see a mess of Gold Bug 2's for sale but hardly ever see any GMT's for sale. Any takes on that?

[Goodyguy]

If you read all these: http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...,252713.0.html
and you still cant decide, then you probably cant go wrong either way.
I think the posts by Steve Herschbach on that thread should answer your questions as he owns and operates both.

I wish you well. I chose the GMT and am very happy with my choice. It does good in highly mineralized soil, has great depth for nuggets and also picks up small flakes as well. Plus it's easy to use.

GG~

[snakejim]

Since this is your first detector I am going to recommend the GMT because of the automatic ground balance and tracking. The Gold Bug 2 is known for its ability to find the smallest gold when fitted with the small coil, but it is strickly a manual ground balanced detector. Manual ground balance for some folks is a painful and sometimes frustrating task especially in highly mineralized variable ground. The GMT comes in 2nd place for small gold and actually will find the larger pieces deeper than the GB2 in that really bad ground. You will be grateful that the GMT takes care of the ground balancing so you can dig more targets instead of wasting time turning the ground balance knob.
RSJ

[WildernessAU]

I just went throught this debate as well. After reading everything I could find on each detector, I chose the Gold Bug2. It didn't take too long to learn the ground balancing, but you certainly have to experiment with the mineralization switches as those truly affect the detection depth of the machine.
I have the 6in coil and have found sub-grain pieces of non-ferrous metal at up to 2inches.
The main reason that I chose the GB2 is because of its capability to find tiny gold which will aid me in finding locations to highbank and further explore.

My only suggestion to you is pay alittle more....go to a reputable/experienced dealer that carries both detectors and try them both out.
The added depth of the GMT may prove more usefull in dredged tailings piles.
D

[ColoradoGoldman]

Hi Excaliber.
I know this off topic, but I just want to give you another choice. I have been doing this for over 40 yr and feel I have used most if not all the better gold detectors. Knowing what I know and if this will be used for other detecting, then the MXT with 6X10" DD coil for gold is hard to beat, the depth is great for a VLF, and I for one don't care to dig sub grain gold all day and end up with 1/2 a gm in all. I would prefer to use a high banker or drywasher to get more for my time. The MXT will find some real small gold at a much greater depth than both of the GBII and GMT because of the freq of 15 KHZ. It is funny that the new GB Pro has a 19 KHZ freq to find gold deeper. The MXT will also do coins & jewelry as well as a great relic mode. With that said, if I was only going to nugget hunt I would get a Whites TDI Pulse Scan PI. It will handle any minerals in the soil like basalt, blacksand, hot rocks, iron, cold rocks you name it. I have found pickers the size #7 bird shot at 4-6 inches, 1/2 gram nuggets 7-8 in. With the 6X10" Jimmy coil it should find gold almost as small as the MXT at even more depth. I hope I didn't muddy up the water to much You can't go wrong with any of these detectors.
Good Luck abd Keeper Swinging
CH

[Relichunter1]

MXT all the way Bro.......great advice from the above.

[Tank69]

I had a GM2 & a GB2 .....I kept the bug .....just my 2 cents.

[TerryC]

Hey Excaliber,
If I may add.... a GOOD salesman will make a broom sound like the machine for you! You have an edge on those walking into a showroom= the guys here have already taken them OUT FOR A SPIN. Everyone of these guys know their machine is the BEST. Now to really throw in a monkey wrench, NONE of them are lying. Just remember, detectors are incapable of lying. You just have to learn what the machine is telling you. It won't be 5 10 or 50 hours but more like a 100 or more before you become bilingual. At that point, the sound is what you will depend on... not the other bells and whistles. Oh, BTW, my fav for gold is Garrett's Scorpion. Good loooong track record. Good luck.... TTC

[excaliber]

Thanks for all the information. You are going to laugh but I'm still up in the air. The more info I get the more confused I become.
First I was all set on the GB2. Then I was convinced after reading posts the GMT would be the better all around detector especially for a newbie. Then I see most guys around here are using the GB2. Now I'm not so sure what the heck to do?
I may just end up buying both so I don't have to decide on one or the other.

I'll let you know how this all shakes out.

[strickman]

different people tend to gravitate towards different machines,kind of like some prefer blonde-some brunette etc... some machines have a big learning curve-some don't.what ever you decide make sure you learn what your machine is telling you.that is the secret.some people can out perform others with a lesser machine.the secret is LEARN YOUR MACHINE!!!and you will do well what ever you chose.best thing to do is try out several and go with the one you feel.

[barber]

what does one of those White's TDI Pulse Scan detectors cost?

[maui]

what does one of those White's TDI Pulse Scan detectors cost?

they run around $1500. take care. ron

[kiwi jw]

Hi guys, This is a topic that I dont think will ever have a clear cut winner. Both have their place in different ground where one will out shine the other & vice versa. Short answer would be to buy both, or try both, use them, & on sell the one you feel isnt as good as the other in the ground you mostly will be operating in. Other wise you will drive yourself nuts trying to get an answer that is going to satisfy you, just as what is happening here with you right now. If you get one over the other then you will always be wondering how well the other MAY have performed.
If you decide to get one over the other with out trying the other, it doesnt sound like you can go wrong either way. But then just be happy with your choice & dont procrastinate over how well, or how much better the other May have been,
Very good advice by TCC.......I am skeptical about the Scorpion these days though with what other machines that are available now. Maybe his was a freak off the production line LOL but like he said. A detector in the hands of someone that knows his machine inside out is a very powerful tool. KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE is every thing.
Good luck & happy hunting

JW

[Hoser John]

Detectors are like women-one mans wonder is anothers nightmare. Like women try it out before you buy or you will spend a lifetime in righteous regret!!Always buddy up in a club or outing settings and learn from hands on experience before you plop down any hard won greenbacks. I run the GB2 and the Tesoro Lobo Supertraq for trashy areas-tons a au 2 u 2 -John

[Terry Soloman]

The Fisher Goldbug II, White's GMT and the Tesoro Lobo SuperTraq are THE TOP THREE VLF metal detectors for gold - period. No other VLF machine on the market today can touch them. The best of the three? You are walking into argument city there! That said, I will take the Tesoro Lobo SuperTraq EVERY time. Why? 1) I can find gold the size of a BB in bad, mineralized soil 2) Easy to use and ground balance 3) LIFELONG (that's for-ever!) WARRANTY 4) Made in Arizona

Cheers! - Terry

I have read every post on this site about both these detectors. I just can't decide which one would be better for me. This will be my first detector.
I'm in Idaho. I'm looking for a Nugget shooter that will with it in heavybe able to work benches, drainages and tailing piles.

Both of these units have a great following but I was hoping some of you who have these units can comment on things like depth they will both detect, Ease of use for a newbie and coil size for mineralized areas?

For those that have experience with both is one better than the other and why do you think so? They are close in price are they that close in performance?
One last thing. I see a mess of Gold Bug 2's for sale but hardly ever see any GMT's for sale. Any takes on that?

[AUDuke]

The MXT is better than the GMT,Lobo, or the GB2 and the F75 is equal to or better than any of them for nugget hunting.