Anyone have experience with the 'Goldmaster GM3'?

[Macaco]

Hi All,

My father has a GM3 that he hasn't used much so I've started using it. It's a great machine so far but I am a little confused about a couple of the controls.

The manual that came with the GM3 sucks. Whoever wrote it basically said about the v-sat control that they don't really know how it works and that the user should just fiddle around with it.

Does anyone have any tips on adjusting the v-sat control, what the markings on the dial mean and what kind of conditions require adjusting it?

The other control is gain. Again the manual doesn't explain it very well. Anyone have any tips on where to start with the gain control and how to tune it to the optimal setting?

Lastly, does anyone know of a book that goes into more detail about using the GM3?

Thanks.

(Cross posted to the White's Main Detecting Forum)

 

[Grubstake]

Look for a book by Larry Salee, called ZIP ZIP it goe's into great detail about the settings and the machine. Grubstake PS should be able to get from ROB or Bills forums or maybe you county library.

 

[Macaco]

n/t

 

[desertdon]

Go to "Treasure Depot" on the forums on the left side is a Garrett forum tey can probably help you. Good Luck...Don

 

[Grubstake]

Its a whites not a garrett. Grubstake

 

[Bobbylikesgold]

I have a GM2 & its a great detector, has found some gold for me on my limited time using it.
The GM3 is one of Whites best machines, thats why you don't see many for sale.
Read the manual & drop the gain, its a powerful detector.

Bob.

 

[Digger Bob]

Zip-Zip is now available again from any authorized Whites dealer for $24.95, or direct from Jimmy Sierra. They were out of print for awhile but are now back.

Digger Bob

 

[Gerry in Idaho]

Steve, The GM-3 is a great detector in the right hands, just like any other top end Gold Machine. But if you don't know what you are doing, then expect to get quite frustrated and hear all kinds of noise.

Even though this is not my VLF machine of Choice, I have used and do know how to work one with Success. I'll try and help you out some.

The V-Sat (Variable Self Adjusting Threshold) is used to get the detector to quiet down some in very mineralized soil conditions. The higher you have the V-Sat set, the faster the detector tries to compensate for the bad ground. Now you need to realize, that if you turn the V-Sat all the way up, the detector will lose much of its Depth and Sensitivity.
What I suggest is to take a small 1 to 5 grain Test Nugget and bury it an inch down in the exact soil you want to hunt. Start with the V-Sat at Max and swing over the target. You probably will not hear it at all because the detectors Ground Tracking is recovering so fast from the bad soil that it Tracks out the Signal. Now as you start to turn the V-Sat down, (keep swinging over the target) you will start to hear the signal change and hear the Test Nugget. You want to adjust the V-Sat so that you get the best response from the Test Nugget that is different than the ground noise.
If you are hunting in ground that is not very mineralized, then you may not even need to use the V-Sat feature at all.

As for Gain- (Sensitivity). Try and run it as high as possible with a fairly smooth Threshold. If the Threshold start to get chatter or wavy, then back off of the Gain a little. I'd start the Gain around 5-7 just to give you a starting point. If the area is bad and you need to turn the Gain down below 3, then I certainly would turn your V-Sat on and go from there.

The Zip Zip book by Larry Sallee is in about 4 varieties. My favorite is the "Zip Zip Revised Edition".

If you still have problems, you may need to go to someone and have them teach you the correct operation of the GM-3 and its features. Not many dealers know, but a few of us out there who have spent the time to learn it.

Good Luck, Gerry