My GT arrived yesterday :clapping:

[Mike Hillis]

I unpacked a wonderful packing job and laid it all out. Then put it all together. What a nice looking rig. Its a bit heavy as I expected. Turned it on and checked it all out and I can say this is going to be a very fun machine to learn. Didn't get to do much more than make sure the entire rig was functional last night but I'll be doing some bench testing to get ready for Sunday mornings maiden hunt.

One thing I did notice right away was the need to lock the calibration adjustment knob on the meter. It doesn't take much to move that. I was also suprised to see that the audio and meter readings were consistant across coil sizes.

Very, very pleased with my first impression. I got a great rig from a great guy.

HH

Mike

 

[bottlebum]

So, have you had a chance to get out and do some tectin yet?

 

[Mike Hillis]

But I probably wouldn't have appreciated it as much I do now.

Yeah, I got out for about 2.5 hours last Sunday morning and had a very interesting time with the machine. Just learning how it talks and how the meter works and all. Nothing big to report as I just took it to a close by park to fool around and dig trash. But some of the things I learned are:

I learned that it doesn't beep.
I learned the sovereign wiggle.
I learned that the 180 meter is probably the most accurate meter on the planet.
I learned that the machine doesn't hunt as heavy as it feels when just holding it.
I learned that you have to flick the inline probe back to coil
I learned that it hunts high conductors just as good as it hunts low conductors.
I learned that I can hunt fast in silent search or slow in threshold mode and be just as happy doing either one.
I learned that threshold hunting is best done with a very low threshold volume.
I learned that you set your threshold with the volume at 12 for threshold hunting and when you use silent search you just turn your volume to max.
I learned that it doesn't hunt air.

Since the meter is so finely tuned I do need to find a way to lock it down so that it doesn't turn. I've tried a few things but they haven't worked to my satisfaction.

I also really must find a perfectly matched set of headphones for it. I haven't bought any yet because I still don't know which will fit it perfectly.

Bottom line is that it was love at first hunt and I'm extremely pleased with it and have berated myself for not trying one sooner.



Mike

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I use Timber Wolf headphones like a lot of Sovereign user's.The Sovereign at first will seem like they don't pinpoint well,which even with the 10 inch coil I don't use the pinpoint switch.I do use a Sunray probe to search under the flap or plug.Put alot of field Time on the GT for a couple of weeks and I think you'll appreciate the Sovereign even more.

 

[kered]

Wrap an elastic band arround the calibration knob shaft, between the casing and the actual knob so that it fills the space, you could also take the knob off and place a thick rubber washer on it in place of the elastic band, both will help to hold the knob in position and stop it slipping out of place

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Mike Hillis bought a Minelab Sovereign...what's the world coming to

j/k, I thought you were a die hard Fisher guy from the Coinstrike discussions.

BTW I found that the Sunray Gold Pro headphones work great on the Sovereign.

I have mine pimped out with Sunray - 12" Sunray Intruder coil, New Sunray inline probe, Sunray 180 meter, Sunray toggle switch boots, and Sunray Gold Pro headphones

Too bad Sunray doesn't make a light weight straight shaft, I'd buy that too !!

HH,
Brian

 

[bottlebum]

I really like the Gray Ghost Ultimates/Sov. combination more than the Sunray Gold/Sov. combination but everyone's hearing is different.

 

[kered]

Any addres for the toggle switch boots? nothing on the sunray page

 

[jbow]

It's a great machine huh?

I have had zero trouble with my meter adjustment accidentally changing, even after carrying it around in my truck between hunts. The knob is out of the way and you will hardly ever lose your adjustment while hunting. Maybe if you are in thick brush I guess...

I really enjoy mine on a lawn. It balances really well if you can scrub the coil along on the grass. I need to take mine out for a while, it has been stiing in the corner for a while since i've been trying to learn the SE.

You should buy one of the coinsearch coils from David at Dixie, it is a great coil. He chest mounts his on "load bearing suspenders" and swears by it. Personally, I like the way the box under the arm balances it out.

HH,

Julien

 

[Mike Hillis]

Hi Julian.

Fortuantly for me its working out so that I get to keep it. Loosing my 8 coil though. ouch. Not going to keep the Sunray inline probe either. I like the Uniprobe better. Anyone looking for the probe give me a shout.

I've got to work on telling how deep something is by the audio. I haven't got that down yet. Makes me wish I could put a depth meter on it. Anyone ever done that?

You are right, I like the way it feels mounted under the arm.

Need more time to hunt.

HH

Mike