*UPDATE* Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ... Thoughts?

[pjroo33]

Well, I'm thinking of trading my GT (with extras) for an Explorer II. Gotta say I love the GT, but I'm thinking it might be time to try another machine. I'm wondering if this is a decision I would regret? Any advice out there?

My GT is just under a year old. Has 3 years of warranty remaining. It will come with the Digisearch meter and the Sunray probe, hip mount bag, carrying case, snap on stand. Overall I have about $1100 in the detector and accessories.

Do you think I would be happy with my decision to change detectors? Pro's, Con's?

 

[pjroo33]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

By the way.... If anyone is interested, let me know.

 

[Sandman]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

It is always nice to learn a new detector, at least for me it is. However I think it would be a mistake to rid yourself of a detector that you know well for one that is heavier and lies to you if you believe the screen. The Explorer won't increase your finds and isn't deeper really in my book to be worth it.

I wouldn't part with my GT with S-1 probe and meter for 5 Explorer's.

 

[Keppy]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

It is always nice to learn a new detector, at least for me it is. However I think it would be a mistake to rid yourself of a detector that you know well for one that is heavier and lies to you if you believe the screen. The Explorer won't increase your finds and isn't deeper really in my book to be worth it.

I wouldn't part with my GT with S-1 probe and meter for 5 Explorer's.

I have to agree with .......Sandman.......I got that Quattro and it is going..............Got rid of the Quattro..

 

[pjroo33]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

It is always nice to learn a new detector, at least for me it is. However I think it would be a mistake to rid yourself of a detector that you know well for one that is heavier and lies to you if you believe the screen. The Explorer won't increase your finds and isn't deeper really in my book to be worth it.

I wouldn't part with my GT with S-1 probe and meter for 5 Explorer's.

I have to agree with .......Sandman.......I got that Quattro and it is going................

You are getting rid of your Quattro?

 

[johnnycat]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

It's always tough to get rid of a machine you know well. However, if a person just isn't happy or comfortable with it then get rid of it. To me this hobby is about fun. Sometimes we buy an expensive machine just because we can afford to do so and it's turns out to be a bad fit, (I know because, that is what I did). I recently got an X-70 (not cheap either) but, I'm very happy with it and that's all that matters to me.

 

[Keppy]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

It is always nice to learn a new detector, at least for me it is. However I think it would be a mistake to rid yourself of a detector that you know well for one that is heavier and lies to you if you believe the screen. The Explorer won't increase your finds and isn't deeper really in my book to be worth it.

I wouldn't part with my GT with S-1 probe and meter for 5 Explorer's.

I have to agree with .......Sandman.......I got that Quattro and it is going................

You are getting rid of your Quattro?

Yes they say they are quirkey and they are,,,,,,.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

I have never used the ExplorerII, I do have 2 Sovereign GT's and it would be very hard for me to get rid of them. Sov GT is a fantastic machine in my opinion.

I also have an Excal, Whites 6000 XL Pro, Whites Classic ID, Tesoro Conquistador (for sale) and a Fisher 1225X......... I would sell or trade any of them before my Sov GT.

Good luck and good hunting.......

 

[Brett]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

pjroo33, I would look at the XS, SE or SE Pro used before the II. I believe they are more stable machines. Sandman is right though, the screen lies... sometimes, but you'll know that what you're hearing is worth digging. The screen just helps to confirm and give you a warm fuzzy when you are unsure. The screen is right a lot more than it is wrong though. You'll get to the point when you won't have to look at the screen for too much other than depth.

Whether or not you give up your GT is really going to be your decision for your reasons. Like johnnycat said, it's all about the fun man

 

[Keppy]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

I have had a ..Sovereign.. since 1992 and will always have one...........................Jim_K==

 

[grumpyolman]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

The only potential technical advantage would be that the Explorer transmits on more frequencies than does the GT. I would guess that is not a distinct advantage unless you are one of those who have lots of hours on a machine and have it 'mastered'. Then more frequencies might make a difference in difficult conditions. Jim

 

[sandsifter]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

Sandmam was right about the GT for the beach. My first season with the Sov. GT.
$87 plus in clad. one gold cross and gold chain. 5 gold rings 14K, 3 silver,one platinum,one was diamond. 2 silver bracelets. I might add I worked a 40 hour a week job. You won't beat the Sov. for the beach,but you must learn the sounds.

 

[neilo]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

Hi I have been detecting for about fifteen yrs using mainly owning and using Minelab Sovereign, Explorer. Excalibur and others.The main advantages the Explorer has over the Sovereign are its discrimination capabilities, target Id, its ability to seperate individual targets,ability to set your own individual discrimination patterns,will operate better in mineralised ground and a slight depth advantage.When I go back to using my Sovereign which has a meter I feel partially blind. The Sovereign is not the best detector for parks, this is where the Explorer really has the advantage, especially when you are only looking for shallow targets recently lost by using the Depth meter you can choose whether to dig a targets or not. I also use a Sunray probe on my Explorer this allows me to get spot on as far as target location goes, by using this combination I am not doing any damage to the parks lawned areas. Most times I can simply use my small screwdriver and feel for the coin etc with that and simply pluck the coin out or use a pair of long nosed pliers to get hold of the coin that way.It takes a bit of practice but it works well. I have had council parks officials watching me do this method and all have agreed to let me come back if I wanted. The Sovereign is at its best on the beach where it excells, on the beach you run in Iron mask and dig every signal. I have countless coins, rings and goodies.One thing I would recommend is to use the Coiltek 15 inch coil this allows you cover more ground and the exrta depth is excellent. You can always hip mount the Sovereign and go wading in the water this is where the best targets are. The Explorer also works very well on the beach, but it is difficult to hip mount and use in the water without a lot of alteration. seeya Neilo

 

[Digger]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

I'm with neilo. I don't have much time in with the Sovereign GT, but I do think I have a feel for what it can do. I have also owned the Minelabs SE and currently a DFX.

For coin shooting in parks schools and such the Explorer would be the weapon of choice hands down, but the Explorer is no match for the Sovereign GT when it comes to the beaches or tot lots and possibly relics. It's my opinion that they both excel in certain fields, and thats why I have my DFX AND a Sovereign GT.

 

[dougy]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

no way mate keep it, sovs the best,in the past had minelab 1600 1700 sd2000 x2 an sd2200v2 a whites and nothing comes close,found heaps of coins in the 1800s as well as recent coins plus badges and artifacts,recently found an 81grm gold nugget plus a 4&half grmer in amongst rubbish other people have walked away from.mine is early xsa2pro with ML meter which I set at 1500 and don't dig anything under 500,friend sets his different meter at 500 and digs up at around 170plus we leave all switch's off except disc and variable but found heaps more depth with 15in wot coil,you will learn to look for signs of where the old timers may have lived old recreation areas my favorite is the east side of big old trees cause on hot days back then it was probably the coolest place to gather after work or dinner just use your imagination and G luck regards dougy

 

[lostlake88]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

I can only give you my experience with my new ExplorerII. I sold my tesoro vaquero and bought the Ex II a couple of months ago. I have the stock coil and the 8" sniper coil (which I love to death). The tesoro was pretty deep and a good machine, but the Ex II is in a totally different class. I dig far less trash with the Ex II. and I can't believe the accuracy of the depth meter. It's simple, if the target is sounding with that high flute sound and is repeatable and it's around the 6" (depth) mark---it's an old coin. i use the depth meter far more than the screen. the screen is 90% accurate in my opinion. The discrimination is awesome. I know if it's a Indian Head VS Wheatie and I definately know when it's going to be silver. In fact the Ex II loves silver. I never really understood why people think this machine is heavy, I swing it for hours on end without a problem. I find it hard to believe there is a deeper machine out there. i just posted tonight a "Vicky" Canadian silver dime that i found today at around 10" with the 8" coil, yes the signal was faint, but I knew it was a keeper. My friend has the SE, which has the same depth capabilities, and I personally saw him dig a silver dime at 13" earlier this summer. I myself thought about buying the GT, but I don't hunt beaches and everyone knows that is it's strong suit.

 

[pjroo33]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

Well, I made a trade. I traded my GT for a used Explorer II with an 8" minelab coil, 8" x 11" elliptical platypus coil, and a 5.5" Sunray coil. The Explorer also came with the sunray probe .

On my first hunt (this morning), I found a King George copper (1775). I posted it in the "Today's Finds" section. I don't know if the GT would have seen it in the ground. There was a lot of iron around the target. Seems like the Explorer recovers faster. I'm sure it was pure luck, but I am very happy with my new machine so far.

 

[neilo]

Re: Thinking of trading my Sovereign GT for an Explorer II ..... Thoughts?

Well done, you have done the right thing good luck in the future seeya Neilo