Sovereign GT as first detector?

[JapanBeachMan]

Hi all, thanks for the informative forums! I live in Japan and am interested in metal detecting on a very popular beach near my house. I've looked around for a while, and I think I've decided on a Sovereign GT as my first detector. It's a little expensive and advanced, but since I won't have many chances to head back to America to buy this or that, I figured I may as well jump into the deep end with a machine that many people recommend as a long-term investment. Any advice on this? Thanks!

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

Hi all, thanks for the informative forums! I live in Japan and am interested in metal detecting on a very popular beach near my house. I've looked around for a while, and I think I've decided on a Sovereign GT as my first detector. It's a little expensive and advanced, but since I won't have many chances to head back to America to buy this or that, I figured I may as well jump into the deep end with a machine that many people recommend as a long-term investment. Any advice on this? Thanks!

Welcome to TreasureNet...........

Sov GT is a great beach detector, I own 2 myself, but if it was me and I lived in Japan I would get an Excal....You can't go in the water with the Sov GT and there are a lot of gold rings to be found there in the water.....

 

[Sandman]

I too would get the Excal for the the chances to get in the water as this is where most of the gold rings will be found. The Sov GT is good for the above water hunts and has the advantage of being able to buy a WOT coil to add to it.

 

[Smudge]

I owned a Sovereign GT and sold it, which I now regret.

I don't think I gave it enough of a chance.

But Treasure Hunter and Sandman are correct, if you have any thoughts of going into the water, get the Excal. It's basically a waterproofed Sovereign.

If you have no intentions of going into the water, get the Sovereign.

Do not get frustrated with it.

Give it some time and stick to it and it will reward you.

 

[JapanBeachMan]

Hm, well I hadn't thought about going in the water since the dry part of the beach is quite large. Will I find myself wandering closer to the waves as I get going?

 

[Terrafisher]

+1 vote on the Excal.

I too have a sovereign and love it, but I also wish I had an Excal for the surf.

I have an AT-Pro which can handle shallow water (up to 10 feet), but not sure if it would be good in the soil/water conditions of Japan.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Hm, well I hadn't thought about going in the water since the dry part of the beach is quite large. Will I find myself wandering closer to the waves as I get going?

Yes, there are more rings lost in the water then on the land, while you will find a lot of rings on the beach there are a lot more rings to be found in the water.....The Sov GT is a fantastic beach detector, but you can't go more than maybe knee deep with out huge danger of damage to your Sov GT. With the Excal you can hunt the beach and the water at the same time.....If you have a fear of water, or are positive you will never go in the water then get the Sov GT, but if there is any chance you will go in the water go with the Excal.......

 

[Deepdiger60]

My first detector was a Whites DFX it took just over 1 year to completely understand it but now i love it , last season i got a Minelab Sov.GT there is no comparison the GT wins hands down mostly a turn on and hunt machine plus it can be made to wear in many different ways unlike the DFX , the Excal II is a Sov.GT just water proof i made a belt for my GT which keeps it well out of water i can go knee deep with no problem as long as there is not a lot of heavy wave action , fresh water it is even better Right now all i swing is 1lb 8 oz everything else is on the belt, i do a lot of field hunting with it a can swing all day with no effort . And you can change coils a lot easier then the Excal II Jim

 

[JapanBeachMan]

Thanks everyone for the input. After thinking about it for a bit, well, I do snorkel and occasionally scuba, so I'd probably wish I had gotten the Excal if I got the GT instead. So I'm pretty set on shelling out for the Excal.

That said -- I'll be back in America pretty soon, and would buy whatever new toy I decide on at that time, but except for a little messing around I won't have a chance to use it until I get back to Japan. I've been reading that it's occasionally a problem-prone machine, and also reading about Minelab's customer service. Am I setting myself up for frustration with this plan?

thanks!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Thanks everyone for the input. After thinking about it for a bit, well, I do snorkel and occasionally scuba, so I'd probably wish I had gotten the Excal if I got the GT instead. So I'm pretty set on shelling out for the Excal.

That said -- I'll be back in America pretty soon, and would buy whatever new toy I decide on at that time, but except for a little messing around I won't have a chance to use it until I get back to Japan. I've been reading that it's occasionally a problem-prone machine, and also reading about Minelab's customer service. Am I setting myself up for frustration with this plan?

thanks!

You buying new or used?......If new, buy it from a good dealer here since you will be out of country, If you have any problems with ML service contact Mike at Woodland Detectors or shoot me an IM, I may be able to help you if it is a service issue....

You can hunt land with Excal to test it out.......

 

[Sandman]

By all means then, get the Excal and buy new too so you get use of the warranty if you ever need it. I think my Excal 1000 I've had for 7 years I think and only sent it in once for a damaged coil. There are many more rings in the water and since it won't sound off on small iron everything else could be a good target.

 

[47thelement]

Here is my advice...
Just buy the excal. Get off yer butt and start hunting. You will never regret this decision. Mine has paid for itself atleast 2x over.