Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.
Anybody actually Using the GBSE/Pro for
- Thread starter Rebel1
- Start date
steve herschbach
New member
Hi,
It is a long story, but I wanted to get practiced with my F75 for a trip to the UK this fall and the best way for me to do it was to nugget hunt with it a lot during the summer. At the same time I also had a few opportunities to use the Gold Bug SE and Gold Bug Pro. And long story short, I paid for my F75 with nuggets found, and while not so lucky as to get some nuggets with the Bugs (even longer story) I feel qualified to make some observations since I put in quite a bit of time with all three units.
First, the F75 at 13 kHz is a very capable nugget detector, on par with or better than other detectors running at similar frequencies. Second, I am certain the 19 kHz Gold Bugs are just as good or better than the F75 on nuggets. They act pretty much like a hot F75 stripped down to essential functions. The kicker? The Gold Bugs cost less and weigh less.
So am I saying the new Gold Bugs are the way to go for nuggets? Well, not exactly. There is a detector I really prefer over the Gold Bugs that have come out the last couple years when it comes to serious nugget detecting. The venerable Fisher Gold Bug 2. It is hotter yet at 71 kHz and has more ability to adjust for difficult ground conditions. Which is what you might expect of a detector designed for exactly one task. No target id, no variable discrimination, no tone id, and a higher price.
So the same old same old - it is all about trade offs to get what you want. Frankly, I think the Gold Bug SE is one heck of a bargain. As near as I can tell it is a just a Gold Bug Pro at a low introductory price. If you can find one, just buy it. If not, the 19 kHz Gold Bug Pro is still going to blow a 10 kHz Eldorado out of the water on small gold, while also giving you an LCD meter with target id and ground readout and adjustable tone id breakpoint, and still at a very good price.
Steve Herschbach
It is a long story, but I wanted to get practiced with my F75 for a trip to the UK this fall and the best way for me to do it was to nugget hunt with it a lot during the summer. At the same time I also had a few opportunities to use the Gold Bug SE and Gold Bug Pro. And long story short, I paid for my F75 with nuggets found, and while not so lucky as to get some nuggets with the Bugs (even longer story) I feel qualified to make some observations since I put in quite a bit of time with all three units.
First, the F75 at 13 kHz is a very capable nugget detector, on par with or better than other detectors running at similar frequencies. Second, I am certain the 19 kHz Gold Bugs are just as good or better than the F75 on nuggets. They act pretty much like a hot F75 stripped down to essential functions. The kicker? The Gold Bugs cost less and weigh less.
So am I saying the new Gold Bugs are the way to go for nuggets? Well, not exactly. There is a detector I really prefer over the Gold Bugs that have come out the last couple years when it comes to serious nugget detecting. The venerable Fisher Gold Bug 2. It is hotter yet at 71 kHz and has more ability to adjust for difficult ground conditions. Which is what you might expect of a detector designed for exactly one task. No target id, no variable discrimination, no tone id, and a higher price.
So the same old same old - it is all about trade offs to get what you want. Frankly, I think the Gold Bug SE is one heck of a bargain. As near as I can tell it is a just a Gold Bug Pro at a low introductory price. If you can find one, just buy it. If not, the 19 kHz Gold Bug Pro is still going to blow a 10 kHz Eldorado out of the water on small gold, while also giving you an LCD meter with target id and ground readout and adjustable tone id breakpoint, and still at a very good price.
Steve Herschbach
steve herschbach
New member
Well, they already have a Gold Bug 2 so making a machine to replace it would not really add to sales. My fear is that they decide the Gold Bug Pro is "good enough" and just quit making the Gold Bug 2.
The Gold Bug 2 is difficult to improve on. If the unit could be transitioned to digital and made smaller and lighter without giving up anything that currently makes it such a great unit that would be good. In a dream unit I would like the ability to flip from 71 kHz to a lower frequency, say 15 kHz.
Steve Herschbach
The Gold Bug 2 is difficult to improve on. If the unit could be transitioned to digital and made smaller and lighter without giving up anything that currently makes it such a great unit that would be good. In a dream unit I would like the ability to flip from 71 kHz to a lower frequency, say 15 kHz.
Steve Herschbach
PennyFinder
New member
Steve the Compass AU-2000 has that ability (52khz and 14khz.) I love the discrimination capability in iron with it. Have you ever used one? I have 2, one for a spare. 
Do a search on the Compass Forum for some tests I did with it.
HH
PennyFinder
Do a search on the Compass Forum for some tests I did with it.
HH
PennyFinder
steve herschbach
New member
Hi,
I used to be a Compass dealer. The AU 2000 was right near the end for Compass. I found a lot of gold with Compass detectors back in the day, but when on a nostalgia trip recently I used one again and found the newer units have spoiled me. It takes a lot of patience to run a Compass well in highly mineralized ground, but they are as good as the best VLF units of taday when it comes to depth.
Steve Herschbach
I used to be a Compass dealer. The AU 2000 was right near the end for Compass. I found a lot of gold with Compass detectors back in the day, but when on a nostalgia trip recently I used one again and found the newer units have spoiled me. It takes a lot of patience to run a Compass well in highly mineralized ground, but they are as good as the best VLF units of taday when it comes to depth.
Steve Herschbach
PennyFinder
New member
n/t
PennyFinder
New member
Best to run them in all metal with the auto tune engaged and of course go slow and dig all. A quick disc. check provides you with a little more information.
I have found the Compass AU series are markedly deeper in discrimination mode then the earlier Scanners. The AU's were the last incarnations of the Scanner line and I believe they were improved.
I remember you testing the Compass X-80 many moons ago, that was an interesting unit with the signal shaper adjustment to hone in on smaller gold.
This option is where the coil's field can be changed by bringing the field closer or spreading them out apart. That is a good option...You can manipulate the electronic magnetic field with that knob.. this is not on the X90, X100, or X200. When you turn the field in, you make it very hot for small gold particles.
What did you think of that feature Steve?
Some of those old gold machines had useful features not found on today's machines, like the hot rock switch and adjustment knob on the Tesoro Diablo
I have found the Compass AU series are markedly deeper in discrimination mode then the earlier Scanners. The AU's were the last incarnations of the Scanner line and I believe they were improved.
I remember you testing the Compass X-80 many moons ago, that was an interesting unit with the signal shaper adjustment to hone in on smaller gold.
This option is where the coil's field can be changed by bringing the field closer or spreading them out apart. That is a good option...You can manipulate the electronic magnetic field with that knob.. this is not on the X90, X100, or X200. When you turn the field in, you make it very hot for small gold particles.
What did you think of that feature Steve?
Some of those old gold machines had useful features not found on today's machines, like the hot rock switch and adjustment knob on the Tesoro Diablo