Gold Bug Pro/G2 questions................................

[cwtrader1863]

I have used a newer Gold Bug Pro and a G2 at house sites. I was much more impressed with the GB Pro then the G2. The G2 would not see thru iron nearly as well. Ive heard people rave about the G2's abilities in iron which I did not see. Mine was one of the first on the market, was it not as good as the later models? Not tuned correctly? Do I need to buy a G2 and give that machine another chance?
Recently, I have seen people post that the 2.9 version GB pro is better then the current model? Any truth to that? I was really impressed with my GB Pro which I bought 2 months ago. What version is it? Any and all evaluations appreciated in advance.

 

[ExpIInut]

Just bought a G2 - version 4 - excellent machine - deep and sharp...........

 

[sgoss66]

Several things cwtrader...

Not sure if the G2 has had any software updates, but I know that the Gold Bug Pro has. There was a version 1, a version 2, a version 2.9, a version 3, and a version 4, if I am not mistaken. I am not sure if the 2.9 is the "best" version; some say it was a bit hotter (once it had the "fix" which allowed it to hit well on larger silver coins). I don't know if it's true or not, as I have never seen anyone do a side-by-side comparison of a 2.9 and a later-version machine. If you got yours recently, it is likely that it has version 4 software -- the newest version.

As for the Gold Bug Pro and G2 -- aside from some small software differences, the newest Gold Bug Pro and newest G2 should be identical -- same hardware, etc., only difference being the handle configuration.

That being said -- you may have had a unit (G2) with issues, perhaps there was a problem with the unit. I would expect that if you got another, you would find that it does just as well as your Gold Bug Pro.

As for your question "should I buy another one," my answer would be not unless you need a second detector. Really, buying a G2 should be the same as buying yourself a second Gold Bug Pro. One should be no better than the other (again, aside from cosmetic/handle differences). So again, if you want a second one, and wanted to try a G2, that's cool -- but I personally wouldn't buy a G2 just to see if it is "better," performance-wise, than a GB Pro, as both should be equals.

Bottom line is, I agree with ExpIInut -- the version 4 GB Pro is an excellent, surprisingly-deep, very fast and very fun machine.

Hope this helps,

Steve

P.S. There is a way to see what version of software you have; I think if you power off the machine, in disc. mode, and power it back on while holding the pinpoint button (I think this is the procedure, I can't remember for sure as it's been awhile since I've done it), then you will see the screen say "GOLD" and then "BUG" and then a number -- which is the version number.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Cw,
They are exact same insides. Only difference is shaft as Steve said. If you want a backup/loaner you might try the G2. Sent you a PM.

 

[sgoss66]

One more thing to add to what Bart said -- one other difference between the G2 and the "regular" Gold Bug Pro is the stock coil. The G2 comes stock with the 11" DD (as you probably recall), and the "regular" Gold Bug Pro comes stock with the 5" DD. There is a "Gold Bug DP" available, which is just a Gold Bug Pro with the G2's 11" DD coil as the stock coil. So, if you DID buy a G2, it would of course come stock with the "other" coil -- and you could of course interchange them. If you just wanted the 11" DD coil, though, you could of course buy one and switch them out on your current Gold Bug Pro.

Steve

 

[Neil]

Several things cwtrader...

Not sure if the G2 has had any software updates, but I know that the Gold Bug Pro has. There was a version 1, a version 2, a version 2.9, a version 3, and a version 4, if I am not mistaken. I am not sure if the 2.9 is the "best" version; some say it was a bit hotter (once it had the "fix" which allowed it to hit well on larger silver coins). I don't know if it's true or not, as I have never seen anyone do a side-by-side comparison of a 2.9 and a later-version machine. If you got yours recently, it is likely that it has version 4 software -- the newest version.

As for the Gold Bug Pro and G2 -- aside from some small software differences, the newest Gold Bug Pro and newest G2 should be identical -- same hardware, etc., only difference being the handle configuration.

That being said -- you may have had a unit (G2) with issues, perhaps there was a problem with the unit. I would expect that if you got another, you would find that it does just as well as your Gold Bug Pro.

As for your question "should I buy another one," my answer would be not unless you need a second detector. Really, buying a G2 should be the same as buying yourself a second Gold Bug Pro. One should be no better than the other (again, aside from cosmetic/handle differences). So again, if you want a second one, and wanted to try a G2, that's cool -- but I personally wouldn't buy a G2 just to see if it is "better," performance-wise, than a GB Pro, as both should be equals.

Bottom line is, I agree with ExpIInut -- the version 4 GB Pro is an excellent, surprisingly-deep, very fast and very fun machine.

Hope this helps,

Steve

P.S. There is a way to see what version of software you have; I think if you power off the machine, in disc. mode, and power it back on while holding the pinpoint button (I think this is the procedure, I can't remember for sure as it's been awhile since I've done it), then you will see the screen say "GOLD" and then "BUG" and then a number -- which is the version number.

Steve I just turned my G2 on in disc, holding the pinpoint down as you said. It says G2 at first, then a larger number 4 comes up.
Like Bart says I think they are the same machine, at least when I was reseaching them as to which to buy that was what I read over and over. I went with the G2 because of the pistol grip, prefer that over the S handle.
Mines as hot as heck on low conductors and gets excellent seperation.
Neil

 

[Monte]

I have used a newer Gold Bug Pro and a G2 at house sites. I was much more impressed with the GB Pro then the G2. The G2 would not see thru iron nearly as well. Ive heard people rave about the G2's abilities in iron which I did not see.

IF the Gold Bug version you used was indeed a modern Gold Bug Pro or Gold Bug DP, and you compared it against a G2, and if they both used the same search coil for comparison at the same site at the same time (side-by-side), then performance should have been almost identical (as long as the settings were the same).

Mine was one of the first on the market, was it not as good as the later models?

I have an early-release Teknetics G2 which, at turn-on, reads Gold Bug. It needs the updated change to report G2 at turn-on. It is my understanding that once they finished the G2 and final Gold Bug Pro versions, they shared the same electronics and the only viewable difference was that one reported it to be a Gold Bug and the other reported G2. Same guts and same performance.

Not tuned correctly?

There could always be that possibility and I have seen a number of different makes and models (different manufacturers) that had a glitch when ne or shortly thereafter.

Do I need to buy a G2 and give that machine another chance?

If you have a Gold Bug 'project' detector (any of the Gold Bugs that were used to work up to the final version which was then named Gold Bug Pro or Gold Bug DP), then you will maybe have slightly difference performance , in one of several ways, from the final Gold Bug which was then labeled Gold Bug Pro and shows the '4' version. If you are satisfied with the performance of your Gold Bug version, then I see no need to buy another similar model just to 'compare.'

If you do, please let us know which version you have now and how they compare, at the same time, with the same settings, and with the same search coil.

Recently, I have seen people post that the 2.9 version GB pro is better then the current model? Any truth to that?

There were a number of Gold Bugs, which I wish would have had a different name, and that has added to the confusion. It reminds me of the Tesoro line when they had the four different Silver Sabre's and four different Bandido models. If you didn't specify which Bandido you had, it was confusing to try and answer or help a person.

There was the 'original' Gold Bug and then the Gold Bug II. Both of these Fisher models had their own strong points, and neither of them provided us with variable discrimination which makes them a multi-purpose model. To most of us who have been around for a while, a 'Gold Bug' was simply a good-performing, trend-setting gold nugget based model.

Then came the Gold Bug 'project' that lead to the final Gold Bug Pro, with a 5" DD coil standard, or the identical electronics model called the Gold Bug DP which comes with an 11' DD coil. Same detector, same electronics, same adjustments and same function ... but a different name as one if a 'Pro' and one is a 'DP' That's confusing to some. If you swap an 11" coil on a Gold Bug Pro for the stock 5" DD, is it still a Gold Bug pro, or do you change it;'s name to a Gold Bug DP? To me, that was a bit nutty, and I know it has confused some people.

Take the Teknetics G2. It only comes with an 11" DD coil and if you swap that for the 5" DD, which I do for hunting extremely trashy sites, it is still a G2, but with a 5" DD coil. They didn't cross name one model simply due to a search coil that is affixed to it.

And before there was a 'Pro' added to the final Gold Bug, and I am referring to the final finished version which, I believe, registers a version '4' number, there were several models simply called a Gold Bug or Gold Bug SE and they had their own differences between them, such as some had VCO and some didn't. Some were hotter on silver and other higher conductive coins than others. There were different version numbers assigned to them, but the control face decal only said Gold Bug, as I recall from those I have seen, and didn't have the 'Pro' or 'DP' added to the name.

I know that I used an early Gold Bug version, I believe it was a '1', and I actually liked the audio response from it over my G2 as it lacked the VCO audio. The problem with the VCO audio, or a problem in my opinion, is that it peaks a bit too rapidly and is mainly tied in with a much stronger audio response from a closer-located target. The early Gold Bug version without the VCO audio seemed to handle some iron trashy site conditions a bit better and produced a pleasing audio.

That said, I did note other differences, such as a bit better depth with my G2 and I have been pleased with it ever since.

I was really impressed with my GB Pro which I bought 2 months ago. What version is it? Any and all evaluations appreciated in advance.

Does you Gold Bug say Gold Bug Pro on the control face? After checking it at turn-on, tell us which version you have. That would let all readers know which model you might be referring to.

Monte

 

[JimGilmore]

If the vco seems to overload the target I raise the coil some to try and help limit the sound and get a better idea off size...

 

[cwtrader1863]

Hey Monte,
The control face saz Gold Bug Pro. When I turn the machine on, I see a 4. I guess that means Model #4 or current model? I guess the early G2 had a gliche cause it
was pathetic in iron. I took the current GB Pro with an 11' coil to the same site which was iron infested and it went thru there like a bandit. The front yard of this house site was so bad that it was constant iron signals but the GB Pro pulled out a pile of good targets that were missed. So, I will keep the GB Pro since the new G2 has the same insides.

 

[Monte]

That's the important part, that it works when and where you need it to. That's why I like my G2 w/5" DD coil.

My hunting time was limited during a recent 'vacation' due to a troubling health issue, but the site was mostly a 2 block by 2 block of bulldozed and messed up ground where they took out a lot of older houses. Rough and uneven ground, a lot of rocks and bricks, and ample spring brush growing. The models that we had with us that worked the best there included the 6