Looking for suggestions

[sushidingo]

Looking to pick up a new detector. Upgrading from an ace 400. I'm looking for gold flakes, nuggets, anything gold. Im looking at spending some money but not a huge amount. Nothing over 1000. Can anyone suggest a good detector that will do this? Members with experience with these machines is prefered but even if you know someone whose used one of them would be fine too. User friendly machines go to the tol of the list. Mainly going to be digging dessert terrain. Im also looking for good digger tools. Thanks everyone in advance

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Minelab Goldmonster 1000 US$799.00 Minelab Gold Monster 1000

 

[WaterScoop]

I second the Gold Monster by Minelab



Here is a great review of this machine

Field Test Of Minelab Gold Monster 1000 By Kevin Hoagland - Minelab Metal Detectors - DetectorProspector.com

Here are some great Gold detectors



Here is a great write up in replacing a Gold Bug with other detectors

Advice On Gold Bug 2 Replacement - Metal Detector Advice & Comparisons - DetectorProspector.com

 

[Terry Soloman]

 

[against the wind]

Excellent information Terry.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

..... Upgrading from an ace 400. I'm looking for gold flakes, nuggets,...

The Ace 400 is ANYTHING but a prospecting machine. The 400 is a coin/relic machine. It will not pick up gold objects smaller than various jewelry and coins. It was not meant for nuggets.

And BTW: for "flakes".... not sure of any machine that can get "flakes". That panning/sluicing territory. Depending on what you meant by "flakes".

 

[cudamark]

For tiny nuggets, it's hard to beat the old Fisher Gold Bug.

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

You will find that there are as many "favorite" detectors as there are detectorists. If you're looking for a 1 pound nugget, a Radio Shack one will find the big ones. Since we don't usually find them, I am of the opinion that, if it detects a small ring, doesn't make you set it up for an hour or two before you can start detecting, it's not so heavy that your arm wants to fall off in a half hour, or your arm stops working, and the tones are ones that you can easily get to under, stand (it doesn't have lots of ghost signals) - that's a good start. I've had Fisher, Minelab, Garrett, Whites and Tesoros, and they all have advantages and disadvantages. I happen to love my Tesoro , as it's a "turn it on and go" machine, and I'm very impatient. Plus, it has found silver, gold, coins, rings and other things like fish hooks, an even a gold pan with a nickle in it. (that was a weird spot). If you can, try some different ones out, and you can make a good decision on what is comfortable for you.

Mrs. O

 

[oldkoot]

Looking to pick up a new detector. Upgrading from an ace 400. I'm looking for gold flakes, nuggets, anything gold. Im looking at spending some money but not a huge amount. Nothing over 1000. Can anyone suggest a good detector that will do this? Members with experience with these machines is prefered but even if you know someone whose used one of them would be fine too. User friendly machines go to the tol of the list. Mainly going to be digging dessert terrain. Im also looking for good digger tools. Thanks everyone in advance

if you are looking for an easy to use nugget detector they do not come any easier than the GM 1000 ( Gold Monster) it will see vary tiny non ferrous targets and larger non ferrous targets as long as they are not to deep I have dug spent lead bullets and brass down to as deep as 10 inches with my GM 1000 as well as vary small pieces of aluminum it bangs real hard on non ferrous targets when you get your coil over them even the smallest pieces sound big I have also dug some clad coins with it while in all metal deep mode

 

[TerryC]

Gold Bug 2 with a Calvin Bunker (Bunk) digger. Plain and simple. Current cost of GB2 is 764. Bunk's digger about 79. Digger will last you the rest of your life! ╦╦Ç

 

[pearson]

Go with the minelab

 

[lookingharder]

I have the ATGOLD and really like it, but as a previous post stated, it has a lot to do with personal experience. I am not a full time prospector so my opinion might not carry much weight. I liked the ATGold because I can search for just about anything when we travel. Again, JMO

 

[oldkoot]

Gold Bug 2 with a Calvin Bunker (Bunk) digger. Plain and simple. Current cost of GB2 is 764. Bunk's digger about 79. Digger will last you the rest of your life! ╦╦Ç

I second Bunks hermit pick they are a beast

 

[GA_Boy]

Gold Bug 2 with a Calvin Bunker (Bunk) digger. Plain and simple. Current cost of GB2 is 764. Bunk's digger about 79. Digger will last you the rest of your life! ╦╦Ç

If a GBII can't find it, then it ain't lost.
Marvin