Improved models of Excallibur ii & Sovereign GT due this year??

[Thunder2]

HI,
I'm new to this forum. First, I would like to say that the amount excellent information made available by members of this forum (and other detector forums) is amazing and truly appreciated by people like me. Thank you all!!

I am 71 years young and after 20 years away from metal detecting, have found that I am again interested. I have been studying and researching the various available brands and types of metal detectors available for over the last two months.
I have come to the conclusion that (for the type detecting I want to do) that I will be buying an Excallibur ii or a Sovereign GT, and am leaning toward the Sovereign GT. I am not someone that needs the "latest and the Greatest", I usually
wait for the initial bugs to be worked outof newly introduced equipment before buying it. Having said this, I have come to the conclusion that the Excaliber ii & Sovereign GT are way overdue for model improvements, most likly this year.
Probably sooner then later.

Just wondering If I am alone in this thought???

I live in Nothern Michigan and "tis not the season" to metal detect right now:sad:. However, I am going to Florida for a month and that would be a good time to start learning my new detector, which
leaves me wondering if I want to buy now or wait. I think any improvements to these two detectors would be just that(on already proven detectors). Leaves me in a quandary as to whether, this time, it miight just pay to wait until March or April to
see if any model improvements might be made by that time.

Appoligize for being so long winded. I am usually a man of few words. Thanks for your patience and any opinions.

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

Thunder2 not sure I can agree that there will be a new improved GT or Excal in the near future. I thing don't fix what ain't broke works well.Now they may make a Excalibur that does not need the 300ft waterproofing and lower the price just a tad? Wish full thinking on my part!
Since Garrett has unveiled there AT Pro as the next wonder of the world of water detecting. I think that cemented Minelabs Conner on the water market as Garretts AT Pro has proved to be nothing more than an entry level machine at best!

 

[Thunder2]

You are probably right. I was just thinking about the knob problem on the excalibur and the meter on the Sovereign mainly.

Thanks for your input.

 

[hershey1]

I'm with BC in NJ Minelab is where everyone is trying to get. If another company gets close they will unveil something else. Maybe a waterproof Excallibur GT. Maybe? HH

 

[dewcon4414]

Why would they.... they just increased the prices. Which tells me they are satisfied they have the market. If you are in a place you can use either of these machines i dont see an issue. Why? Because unlike dirt digging you sell more than you may keep at the current gold prices. Even if it takes you 4 mos..... how long would it take you in clad finds to pay for one?? I say get the one you feel is best suited up front... heck for dry sand you can use about any VLF, but you will be dealing with more competition and target ratio.

Dew

 

[Thunder2]

Yeah, I think you are right Dew. I came to that conclusion too. I guess I was kind of wishing thay would correct a couple of the more obvious problems with these already great machines.
I am really not one to wait around for such changes before buying. Just some wishful thinking and wondering what others thought.

Thanks
Thunder2

 

[dewcon4414]

Thunder we are all wanting to see some changes with MLs.... not just the Xcal id like to see it in the Exp as well. Seems the US must be a small market or they just dont want to listen to us about small changes that NEED to be done and some upgrades we would LIKE to be done.

Dew

 

[Thunder2]

Dew,

Maybe we should be careful what we wish for. The better Minelab makes their detectors-the more people will be using them. The less goodies for the rest of us. HAHA
However-----

Thunder

 

[OBX Franz]

Greetings (second post here, yes, been lurking, but learning too!). Was wondering what the problems w/ the GT are? Or if you weren't refering to the Sov's, nevermind. Me, I haven't had mine very long and I can't think of a single problem I see w/ it. I'm glad it doesn't come with a meter because I don't use one. Seems like it would have raised the cost if it did have one. Only thing I can think of is maybe waterproof it to 5-6', just in the event of an accidental dip in the water.

 

[Robert Kap]

I have four Excaliburs and my oldest unit goes back to 1994 is the best. It is the black one with the lighting bolts.The newer blue units don't have the ease of the dials when tunning for use. I also get a better tone when using it and the tone is more distinct when I go over a good target.In addittion the head phones are better. I have met several others who have the old units and prefer them over the newer ones. I have not used or tried the latest version of the Minelab that has green on it with the thinner coil so I cannot comment on it.

 

[Neil]

minelab keeps things quiet until they release new units so its a roll of the dice really.

 

[greenmeanie]

With the way the Economy is I doubt there will be any improvements.
I wish they would update the excalibur thou.

 

[Critterhunter]

With the price increase of the GT and the discontinuing of the meter for it I think we can only come to one of two conclusions. Either they are discontinuing the Sovereign or they are coming out with a new Sovereign model that already has a meter built into it.

I'm sure Minelab does have a new Sovereign prototype sitting around the lab. Just a question as to whether they decide to release it or not.