Trusting the Legend

[rayoh]

I am sure most of us metal detecting fanatics have a detector that they have used extensively and trust it to find the "goods" It is hard to put that detector down and use a new detector for the fear of missing that special coin or relic. I have an Etrac and that is my "trusted" detector. It has some serious flaws like weight and slow speed, but I can most always find something good with it.

Last fall I bought a version 1.09 Legend and broke it in by taking it to spots where silver and older coins are not likely to be found. I did this because in my mind, I might just miss that special target. Well, at these places, a funny thing happened. I started making some great finds for these particular spots. At first, I would only take the Legend to this spot and chalked it up that the Legend performed well in this type of soil. In the last month or so, I was starting to develope a trust in the Legend and slowly took it to some of my "old standbye" spots.

To my amazement, I started making some good finds. The trust was being formed. Now, my old stand by is being left home and I am grabbing the Legend. It is a true joy to use a detector that is light and responsive. I am finding stuff at my places that I long ago gave up on. It is hard for an avid detectorist to use two "high performing" detectors at the same time. Some people can do this, but I am not one of them. I guess their is a moral to this story. If you a person who has to try the latest and greatest, do yourself a favor and give this new purchase an honest chance. I am glad I am giving the Legend a chance!

 

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[Bucketfreak68]

I am sure most of us metal detecting fanatics have a detector that they have used extensively and trust it to find the "goods" It is hard to put that detector down and use a new detector for the fear of missing that special coin or relic. I have an Etrac and that is my "trusted" detector. It has some serious flaws like weight and slow speed, but I can most always find something good with it.

Last fall I bought a version 1.09 Legend and broke it in by taking it to spots where silver and older coins are not likely to be found. I did this because in my mind, I might just miss that special target. Well, at these places, a funny thing happened. I started making some great finds for these particular spots. At first, I would only take the Legend to this spot and chalked it up that the Legend performed well in this type of soil. In the last month or so, I was starting to develope a trust in the Legend and slowly took it to some of my "old standbye" spots.

To my amazement, I started making some good finds. The trust was being formed. Now, my old stand by is being left home and I am grabbing the Legend. It is a true joy to use a detector that is light and responsive. I am finding stuff at my places that I long ago gave up on. It is hard for an avid detectorist to use two "high performing" detectors at the same time. Some people can do this, but I am not one of them. I guess their is a moral to this story. If you a person who has to try the latest and greatest, do yourself a favor and give this new purchase an honest chance. I am glad I am giving the Legend a chance!

Congrats I think the more you use this you'll find it only gets better as you learn what tweaks work for your area and soil.

 

[bigtim1973]

In my experience just a different frequency can lead to some good results in an area you have pounded with your favorite machine as well.

I too kind of think that once you trust a machine and get to know it you get kind of mixed up using another good machine at the same time.

I am not really interested in the legend personally but I like to read about people's experiences with them.

They say it is one of the best units for the money.

There is only one thing I am not crazy about on the legend and that is the numbering system
For the target ID.
I just prefer a scale that goes to 99 whether iron is at 0 or a negative number.

Previously I had the nokta fors core, racer, racer 2, anfibio and the makro Kruzer.

All of those units had the 99 tid scale. I do not know why nokta makro decided to condense the scale.

They are all good units.

 

[nuggetshooter323]

I just prefer a scale that goes to 99 whether iron is at 0 or a negative number.

Previously I had the nokta fors core, racer, racer 2, anfibio and the makro Kruzer.

All of those units had the 99 tid scale. I do not know why nokta makro decided to condense the scale.

I felt the same way for a long time. In fact, I bought the Gold Kruzer in 2018 instead of the Equinox 800 for gold prospecting because I didn't like the compressed TID scale. I've heard the Nokta rep say that there was a reason why they went with the 0-60 TID, but they never really explained it in depth.

The thing about it, it just works. If you take it to hunted-out sites, you'll find what everyone else missed. If you take it to your old sites, you'll find what you missed. If you search behind your hunting buddies you'll find targets right next to their old holes that they missed. The Legend is better than the EQ800, and generally as good as the EQ900. Mainly it's better in iron than the EQ900.

 

[bigtim1973]

I may have one on the radar incoming shortly.

Trying to make my mind up.

 

[NWMP]

I've only had sporadic use with my Legend in an old pounded to hades and back spot, and its coughing up old silvers. I'm a believer because I get results with it, in mineralized ground no less. I'm going to give it snoose in a well used (and detected) fresh water lake in a few days. I might drop the pennies on an LG24. I have the SP24 on my Simplex and its a clad vacuum, it has also pulled a few silver and gold water rings.

 

[Bigwilliy]

I bought one but haven’t got it out of the box yet. Guess that’s what happens when you work away from home 🤦🏻

 

[pjad57]

I just received mine yesterday and will be giving it a go tomorrow.

 

[cronk]

Another Legend fan here. I now have the full suite of coils -- just got the LG30 and the upgraded mid-shaft and cuff last week. It seems a little silly, but the cuff strap is a big improvement by allowing another inch or so for beefier forearms! The upgrades and LG30 are supposed to make for a marginally ligher machine, but frankly I don't notice the difference.

I'm playing around with the LG30 currently, but otherwise my default is the stock LG28, or the "sniper" LG24. I really haven't used the little 6" LG15 much, but one of the few times I had it on, I found a small spill of memorial cents (6 total) right between some tree roots in a historically pounded park.

The modes I usually use are Park M1 or M3 (if it's been rainy), and I adjust the Audio Gain and Iron Filter settings to 1. Recovery speed depends on the coil -- I'll run the LG28 and LG30 at 4-5, and the LG24 at 7-8. 60 tones is my preference, as well. Sensitivity is set as high as the area allows, usually 24-27.

It took at little while for me to get used to settings menu (and sub-menus, oof!), but I'd say after 40 hours or so of use, navigation became second nature.

All and all, great machine and fun to use! What really impresses me, as well, is the build quality -- the thing really feels like a bulldog without being heavy at all.

 

[Bucketfreak68]

Another Legend fan here. I now have the full suite of coils -- just got the LG30 and the upgraded mid-shaft and cuff last week. It seems a little silly, but the cuff strap is a big improvement by allowing another inch or so for beefier forearms! The upgrades and LG30 are supposed to make for a marginally ligher machine, but frankly I don't notice the difference.

I'm playing around with the LG30 currently, but otherwise my default is the stock LG28, or the "sniper" LG24. I really haven't used the little 6" LG15 much, but one of the few times I had it on, I found a small spill of memorial cents (6 total) right between some tree roots in a historically pounded park.

The modes I usually use are Park M1 or M3 (if it's been rainy), and I adjust the Audio Gain and Iron Filter settings to 1. Recovery speed depends on the coil -- I'll run the LG28 and LG30 at 4-5, and the LG24 at 7-8. 60 tones is my preference, as well. Sensitivity is set as high as the area allows, usually 24-27.

It took at little while for me to get used to settings menu (and sub-menus, oof!), but I'd say after 40 hours or so of use, navigation became second nature.

All and all, great machine and fun to use! What really impresses me, as well, is the build quality -- the thing really feels like a bulldog without being heavy at all.

Good to hear your getting along well with the legend heck ya its a good one.
My concern was going from using relatively simple detectors to using the legend but going through all the settings before getting ahead of my abilities with it gave me and edge.
All my fears of being able to change setting on the fly are gone.
I intend to eventually get the LG35 I'm quite happy with the LG15 it seems to get deep enough though I might reconsider that latter I'm not sure just yet.

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

To my amazement, I started making some good finds. The trust was being formed.

Great post! The Legend is a great machine!

 

[Rob 183]

Good to hear your getting along well with the legend heck ya its a good one.
My concern was going from using relatively simple detectors to using the legend but going through all the settings before getting ahead of my abilities with it gave me and edge.
All my fears of being able to change setting on the fly are gone.
I intend to eventually get the LG35 I'm quite happy with the LG15 it seems to get deep enough though I might reconsider that latter I'm not sure just yet.

I just picked up anLG15 from a local sale, hope it helps me learn this machine. Way more of a learning curve than what I've been used to.

 

[Coin Digger]

There is only one thing I am not crazy about on the legend and that is the numbering system
For the target ID.
I just prefer a scale that goes to 99 whether iron is at 0 or a negative number.

Previously I had the nokta fors core, racer, racer 2, anfibio and the makro Kruzer.

All of those units had the 99 tid scale. I do not know why nokta makro decided to condense the scale.

They are all good units.

No disrespect, but if you're relying on a scale to tell you if you have a good target, you're missing a lot. I learned on a Whites Classic 3 SL back in the 90's, and it was all about sound, and for me it still is. I find my ears are better at finding good targets with the Legend using the tone breaks, rather than relying on what the numbers have to say. Having said that, the Legend will give rock solid numbers on coins as long as there's no trash near it, then it comes down to sound.

 

[cronk]

I find my ears are better at finding good targets with the Legend using the tone breaks, rather than relying on what the numbers have to say.

Excellent input, especially from an experienced user (and I know Big Tim is, as well) -- thanks! What kind of tone break settings do you use on the Legend?

I got in the habit early on with the Legend in not setting custom tone breaks, but instead going with the full 60 tones setting, and then letting the tone + VDI help determine the dig decision. Certain numbers I have especially blocked off in my head (28-37, especially), but I want those to still ring through in case the tone (in conjunction with approach changes) indicates something potentially fun.

I haven't actually leveled up to setting custom tone breaks on the machine, however, and I'm curious to learn about the cost/benefit analysis...or whatever advantage can be found there? Thanks!

 

[Rob 183]

No disrespect, but if you're relying on a scale to tell you if you have a good target, you're missing a lot. I learned on a Whites Classic 3 SL back in the 90's, and it was all about sound, and for me it still is. I find my ears are better at finding good targets with the Legend using the tone breaks, rather than relying on what the numbers have to say. Having said that, the Legend will give rock solid numbers on coins as long as there's no trash near it, then it comes down to sound.

I miss the tones of those machines from the 90's, so smooth. Didn't keep the Simplex because it sounded like a goose, still trying to get used to the flute like Legend tones.

 

[Coin Digger]

Excellent input, especially from an experienced user (and I know Big Tim is, as well) -- thanks! What kind of tone break settings do you use on the Legend?

I got in the habit early on with the Legend in not setting custom tone breaks, but instead going with the full 60 tones setting, and then letting the tone + VDI help determine the dig decision. Certain numbers I have especially blocked off in my head (28-37, especially), but I want those to still ring through in case the tone (in conjunction with approach changes) indicates something potentially fun.

I haven't actually leveled up to setting custom tone breaks on the machine, however, and I'm curious to learn about the cost/benefit analysis...or whatever advantage can be found there? Thanks!

I use stock settings. Park M1, I change the IF to 7 St 3 and if the ground gets noisy and it's not EMI, I'll turn GS up till the machine settles down. I use 4 tones with first break at 23 with tone vol set at 4, second break at 27 with a tone vol of 10, third break at 39 with a tone vol of 4 then 40-60 with a tone vol of 10. As you can see, I give priority to coin tones but I can still hear the trash tones at the lower volume. It depends on where I'm at and the amount of trash I've been digging whether or not I'll keep digging it. Plus, do I really want to dig all those holes for bits of trash hoping for gold, and what's it looks like to someone using the area after me? This weekend I have permission to hunt an abandoned farm house back a long lane in the middle of a corn field. That will be a new experience with the Legend and I will be trying field mode for the first time.

 

[nuggetshooter323]

I haven't actually leveled up to setting custom tone breaks on the machine, however, and I'm curious to learn about the cost/benefit analysis...or whatever advantage can be found there?

In 60 tones you can dip your toe in the water because all you have to do is decide what trash you want to hear as an iron tone and set the single-tone break appropriately. Since gold can be from 7-51 VDI it can be a maddening decision.