Which one to buy

[Peter Buckles]

Hi I'm new to detecting gold. I have research many detectors for what I would like to do, and would like to hear your comments before I make a purchase. I've been looking at the Minelab Monster 1000, the Goldbug 2, and the Garret goldmaster GM 24K.

I plan to use the detector for finding gold nuggets in river bedrock, crevices, high banks, and old mine tailings.

I plan to pay $1000 or less

 

[oldkoot]

Hi I'm new to detecting gold. I have research many detectors for what I would like to do, and would like to hear your comments before I make a purchase. I've been looking at the Minelab Monster 1000, the Goldbug 2, and the Garret goldmaster GM 24K.

I plan to use the detector for finding gold nuggets in river bedrock, crevices, high banks, and old mine tailings.

I plan to pay $1000 or less

personally I out of the three you Listed I would choose the Garrett 24K, I have never used the Gold Bug 2
but I have used the GM 1000, the GM 1000 is a vary hot gold detector but there were things I did not care for, that bugged the crap out of me, like haveing to constantly stay on the ground balance (and yes you have to ground balance the GM 1000), when you sat it down to retrieve a target you had to re ground balance if you picked the coil up to high you had to re ground balance, the other thing is every time you sat the GM 1000 down to retrieve a target, when you went to run your scoop over the coil to see if the target was in your scoop the GM 1000 is so top heavy it falls over, it would fall over every time you sat it down no matter what you did or how level the ground was it would fall over, if you looked at it wrong it would fall over, I think you are getting the picture now LOL.
(do not take me wrong the GM 1000 is a vary good and vary hot VLF nugget detector), I sold my GM 1000 because of the things I mentioned
I purchased the Garrett 24K which personally is just as hot and maybe even hotter than the GM1000 on small gold, because of the higher frequency it runs the GM1000 runs 45 KHz the 24K runs 48 KHz, there are quite a few other things that I like about the 24K also, like it has a TID range that comes up on the screen, it has SAT (Self Adjusting Threshold) and other features that the GM 1000 does not The 24 K is just a great Nugget detector all around, in my opinion.

One thing I want to add none of the three detector you mentioned are water proof and can be used for one thing Nugget detection, yes they will find coins and other things but that is not what they were produced for, I have used both the GM1000 and the 24 K to search for coins but just to try them out since like I said they are a nugget detector

The 24k does have a setting that you can chage from a threshold sound (Zip Zip) to a standard tone which is kind of nice also

 

[edword]

I have just the gold monster 1000. I have been out many times with it. It's definitely a sensitive detector. One thing I hate about it is you are pretty much stuck with the small coil. The bigger coil goes crazy all the time on hot rocks in my area which is redding California. I got so frustrated with it I left it at home one time and took my equinox 600 with a 6 inch coil and found gold with it on the first try. At this point I am considering benching my gm and giving the nox more time. There is info on another forum can't remember where that shows you how to set up a nox
for gold detecting I used the settings it showed and had my only good day to date. My friend weighed it at .17 gram pretty small piece was probably 4 inches deep. I call my gm 1000 the lead monster I would be willing to bet I've dug a couple thousand pieces of lead and still not one speck of gold. Good luck and bring your patience.

 

[jmaclen]

I am a big fan of the Garrett GM 24K. However, like oldkoot mentioned, it is not waterproof. It can be used for micro jewelry, coins and relics but its target ID display is just not made for that. Instead it is more of a ferrous/non ferrous digital meter.

Another possibility is the XP ORX which is an excellent gold prospecting detector while also being very good for coins and relics. It is not waterproof but since it is modular and wireless, the control unit can be protected in a waterproof pouch provided by XP. The ORX has a digital target ID, ferrous meter and mineralization meter.

If you want a dedicated waterproof gold nugget specific detector, the Nokta Gold Kruzer is currently the only choice. It is also an excellent gold prospecting detector which also can be used for micro jewelry, jewelry, coins and relics. It has an excellent target ID display, mineralization meter and four operating modes.

If you don’t mind owning a more versatile detector that can also do beach hunting, coin, jewelry, relic and gold nugget hunting while also being fully waterproof, the Nokta Legend, Equinox 700 and Equinox 900 can do all of those tasks easily for $1000 or less. These are selectable single frequency and simultaneous multi frequency detectors that can handle a wide variety of targets and ground conditions. They have a ton of features along with very accurate target IDs on coin sized objects.

 

[oldkoot]

I have just the gold monster 1000. I have been out many times with it. It's definitely a sensitive detector. One thing I hate about it is you are pretty much stuck with the small coil. The bigger coil goes crazy all the time on hot rocks in my area which is redding California. I got so frustrated with it I left it at home one time and took my equinox 600 with a 6 inch coil and found gold with it on the first try. At this point I am considering benching my gm and giving the nox more time. There is info on another forum can't remember where that shows you how to set up a nox
for gold detecting I used the settings it showed and had my only good day to date. My friend weighed it at .17 gram pretty small piece was probably 4 inches deep. I call my gm 1000 the lead monster I would be willing to bet I've dug a couple thousand pieces of lead and still not one speck of gold. Good luck and bring your patience.

That is the nice thing about the 24K I have three coils for the 24K a 6 inch, 10x5 or 6 and a 14x8 every one of the coils I have runs vary stable on the 24K, the issue you discribe was one of the other issues that I did not Like the GM1000 is vary vary bump sensitive, the 24K you can balance out a lot of the hot rocks which I really like the GM 1000 I used from what ever year they came out until just recently I sold the GM1000 and picked up a new Garrett 24K

 

[wltdwiz]

Garrett 24K

 

[Peter Buckles]

I want to thank all of you for your wisdom and advice. It appears to the Goldmaster 24K wins.
If you get up Oregon way, give a visit.

 

[oldkoot]

I want to thank all of you for your wisdom and advice. It appears to the Goldmaster 24K wins.
If you get up Oregon way, give a visit.

I think you made a wise decision

the one thing you may want to consider, the 24K comes with only the 9 or 10 by 5 inch coil there are three other coils that will work on the 24K all the coils that worked on the Whites 24K and the Whites GMX will work on the Garrett 24K two of the other coils that work are almost impossible to find for sale, but the 6 inch round can be found the other two that are vary hard to find for sale is the 14x8 inch coil and the 4x6 inch coil, I was able to pick up a 14x8 inch coil off of Jim McCulloch but that little 4x6 I have yet to find one that someone is willing to part with there are rumors that NEL is going to be producing the NEL snake coil for the Garrett 24K but those rumors were also over a year ago, I do keep checking NEL site and have sent them a message about the Nel Snake Coil which is a 3 or 4x6 inch coil

I highly recommend you pick up the 6 inch round coil Though, I do have a spare 6 inch round coil for my 24K and might could be possibly persuaded to part with my spare 6 inch coil LOL if you are interested but I would have to give it some serious thoughts to sell

again I do highly recommend picking up the 6 inch round coil for the whites 24k, the 6 inch round coil allows you to get under rocks and bushes better than the 10x5 or 6 inch in my opinion, and is a vary hot little coil, each different coil will see small gold a little differently

Just a few thoughts I thought I would pass along

 

[Peter Buckles]

When prospectors say the 24K is not waterproof, why does Garrett say it is? Do they mean the coil is waterproof and not the control unit?

 

[jmaclen]

Just the coils are waterproof on the 24k. Whites made a fully waterproof version called the GMX. Garrett has not done a remake of that detector so far like they did with the 24K.

 

[oldkoot]

When prospectors say the 24K is not waterproof, why does Garrett say it is? Do they mean the coil is waterproof and not the control unit?

this is from Garrett's web site


Goldmaster 24k User Manual23
GM24k Information
Information
Proper care
I. Cleaning
A. Both the coil and rod are waterproof and
can be cleaned with fresh water and mild
soap. The battery box and control box are not
water proof, but are water resistant. Never
lift a wet coil above the height of the
control box as water can run down the
inside of the rod damaging the electronics.
A damp cotton cloth can be used to wipe
off a dirty control box.
II. Weather
A. Do not expose your detector to the
conditions of a car trunk during winter
and/or summer extremes.
B. Protect it from direct sunlight during storage.
C. The control box is rain resistant. However,
it must be protected from heavy rain.
III. Storage
A. When the detector is not in use, make sure
it is turned OFF.
B. If you plan on storing your detector for
long, remove the battery holder from the
detector and remove the batteries from the
holder.
C. Store the detector indoors, in an area
where it will be protected from abuse.
Over the years White’s has noted more
service repairs and physical damage, on
units in storage than those experiencing
daily use.
IV. Additional Precautions
A. Avoid dropping your detector while
attempting to set it down to dig.
B. Avoid using your detector for leverage
when standing up from a dig.
C. Do not use any lubricants, such as WD-40,
on any part of your detector.
D. Do not modify your detector during its
warranty period