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Picture of GPX-4000 WOW - WOW - WOW !!!!
- Thread starter DOC
- Start date
B
buttondigger
Guest
I like it!
[quote DOC]
The only thing that has me scratching my head is the 5 pin power cord. They might be using the fifth pin to send battery status back to the machine.
DOC[/quote]
Unfortunate that they did this. No compatibility with any existing aftermarket batteries, amps, power cords. I cringe at the idea of going back to headphones after using a DEtacc amp with external speaker for 2 years! I guess I'll have to dust off the old $8 POS Radio Shack amp/speaker for the 4000!
The only thing that has me scratching my head is the 5 pin power cord. They might be using the fifth pin to send battery status back to the machine.
DOC[/quote]
Unfortunate that they did this. No compatibility with any existing aftermarket batteries, amps, power cords. I cringe at the idea of going back to headphones after using a DEtacc amp with external speaker for 2 years! I guess I'll have to dust off the old $8 POS Radio Shack amp/speaker for the 4000!
My first reaction to this new model is: "Here we go a-bloody-gain"
Let us look at what Minelab has foisted on us over the last few years.
They brought out the SD2200 and told us it was the platform for all new development and owners would be able to upgrade with a much lower cost. BULLSCHITE!
They promtly made the next model the GP Extreme and offered the owners of the SD2200 absolutely nothing.
This GPX was, in the early days a heap of crap. Noisy, unstable and unreliable. Hundreds were sent back to replace the faulty componentry.
Eventually Minelab got their act together and the GPX was a good machine.
Due to its percieved bad name Minelab then brought out the GP3000 which was the GPX with the bugs ironed out. (That is from a Minelab employee in their factory)
There was no inovative change whatsoever.
Then they bring out the GP3500 which was, for all intents and purposes the 3000 with a diagnostic port attached. Again no real improvement. But the "punter" forks out $5000 to be on the suppoosed "cutting edge" if one accepts the promotional garbage which comes with these releases.
And now we see the release of a GP4000.
Is there anything actually new and innovative about this machine? The change to the SD2000 was innovative. It was revolutionary in the results obtained, but with a modified SD2000 a detector operator is missing very little, if any at all of the same gold detected by the new "all-singing-all-dancing" GP series.
Doc claims an increase in depth of 4" for a 1.6gr piece. I would like to see that. If that holds true for all conditions then it may well be worth buying, but I, for one wouldnt believe anything Minelab told me without verification by someone I actually trust.
If you have the disposable income and want the very newest and shiniest gear, then great, go right ahead. But I do this for a living and have yet to be convinced getting rid of my SD2000M gives me any advantage whatsoever.
Let us look at what Minelab has foisted on us over the last few years.
They brought out the SD2200 and told us it was the platform for all new development and owners would be able to upgrade with a much lower cost. BULLSCHITE!
They promtly made the next model the GP Extreme and offered the owners of the SD2200 absolutely nothing.
This GPX was, in the early days a heap of crap. Noisy, unstable and unreliable. Hundreds were sent back to replace the faulty componentry.
Eventually Minelab got their act together and the GPX was a good machine.
Due to its percieved bad name Minelab then brought out the GP3000 which was the GPX with the bugs ironed out. (That is from a Minelab employee in their factory)
There was no inovative change whatsoever.
Then they bring out the GP3500 which was, for all intents and purposes the 3000 with a diagnostic port attached. Again no real improvement. But the "punter" forks out $5000 to be on the suppoosed "cutting edge" if one accepts the promotional garbage which comes with these releases.
And now we see the release of a GP4000.
Is there anything actually new and innovative about this machine? The change to the SD2000 was innovative. It was revolutionary in the results obtained, but with a modified SD2000 a detector operator is missing very little, if any at all of the same gold detected by the new "all-singing-all-dancing" GP series.
Doc claims an increase in depth of 4" for a 1.6gr piece. I would like to see that. If that holds true for all conditions then it may well be worth buying, but I, for one wouldnt believe anything Minelab told me without verification by someone I actually trust.
If you have the disposable income and want the very newest and shiniest gear, then great, go right ahead. But I do this for a living and have yet to be convinced getting rid of my SD2000M gives me any advantage whatsoever.
Not my claim, it was what was told to me by Minelab. I too am skeptical. However, as I said on the face it looks like some good improvements.
My understanding is that the box size is a bit smaller as they have reduced the internals to one board instead of two.
Everything at this point is pure speculation, because none of us know anything for sure.
My opinion is it was not the SD2200d that was the major innovation, it was the SD2100 that was.
The SD2100 over the SD2000 was a quantam leap and the proof is that the SD2100 is still a viable gold machine to this day and still being sold, the 2000 is in the graveyard.
DOC
My understanding is that the box size is a bit smaller as they have reduced the internals to one board instead of two.
Everything at this point is pure speculation, because none of us know anything for sure.
My opinion is it was not the SD2200d that was the major innovation, it was the SD2100 that was.
The SD2100 over the SD2000 was a quantam leap and the proof is that the SD2100 is still a viable gold machine to this day and still being sold, the 2000 is in the graveyard.
DOC
No Doc, I disagree.
The SD2000 was the BIG improvement over the old 17000's, Gold Bugs and Goldmasters. The 2100 was simply an improvement in the electronics.
By putting a modification in an SD2000 it becomes a better machine than the 2100, but the difference is not that much.
In fact the difference between the 2100 and the 3500 is not that great either.
I know I out detect blokes with the 3500 all the time with my 2000Mod, but that only shows the advantage of local knowledge really. owever, given the number of pros who still prefer the SD2000mod as their detector of choice I can certainly discount your "graveyard" comment.
The SD2000 was the BIG improvement over the old 17000's, Gold Bugs and Goldmasters. The 2100 was simply an improvement in the electronics.
By putting a modification in an SD2000 it becomes a better machine than the 2100, but the difference is not that much.
In fact the difference between the 2100 and the 3500 is not that great either.
I know I out detect blokes with the 3500 all the time with my 2000Mod, but that only shows the advantage of local knowledge really. owever, given the number of pros who still prefer the SD2000mod as their detector of choice I can certainly discount your "graveyard" comment.
steve herschbach
New member
Hi Dave,
I guess Minelab's marketing has upset you. I for one am thankful they continue to try and improve the product in any way possible. The fact is that real breaktroughs are rare in any type of product lines. Most of what comes later are just refinements. Check out my post on the subject at http://bb.bbboy.net/alaskagoldforum-viewthread?forum=2&thread=32
The point you seem to miss is that not everyone in the world already has a Minelab. I know for a fact most of mine go to first time buyers. If you are happy with your current Minelab, then great. Keep it and be happy.
But why begrudge the new buyers a choice in what they get? Minelab still makes the SD2100v2 and SD2200v2, both excellent machines. I still have a 2200 myself that I will not part with, and for sheer bang-for-the-buck the SD2100v2 is a real bargain. But I can assure you demand for these units is minimal. It seems once you break the $1000 barrier, people just want to buy what they perceive is the top of the line unit. And while you may have little use for Minelab's latest, I have moved up to each new models as they came along, and have been happy I did. As you noted, Minelab has stumbled along the way, but the GP has improved over time, and I've beem very happy with my GP 3500.
So now we get the GPX-4000. I don't see any need for anyone to ditch their old Minelab and run out and get a GPX-4000. Time will tell if it offers enough extra power for a guy like you to part with his old unit. But in the meantime first time buyers will have their choice to make, and if what I've seen in the past holds true then they will want the GPX-4000.
Steve Herschbach
I guess Minelab's marketing has upset you. I for one am thankful they continue to try and improve the product in any way possible. The fact is that real breaktroughs are rare in any type of product lines. Most of what comes later are just refinements. Check out my post on the subject at http://bb.bbboy.net/alaskagoldforum-viewthread?forum=2&thread=32
The point you seem to miss is that not everyone in the world already has a Minelab. I know for a fact most of mine go to first time buyers. If you are happy with your current Minelab, then great. Keep it and be happy.
But why begrudge the new buyers a choice in what they get? Minelab still makes the SD2100v2 and SD2200v2, both excellent machines. I still have a 2200 myself that I will not part with, and for sheer bang-for-the-buck the SD2100v2 is a real bargain. But I can assure you demand for these units is minimal. It seems once you break the $1000 barrier, people just want to buy what they perceive is the top of the line unit. And while you may have little use for Minelab's latest, I have moved up to each new models as they came along, and have been happy I did. As you noted, Minelab has stumbled along the way, but the GP has improved over time, and I've beem very happy with my GP 3500.
So now we get the GPX-4000. I don't see any need for anyone to ditch their old Minelab and run out and get a GPX-4000. Time will tell if it offers enough extra power for a guy like you to part with his old unit. But in the meantime first time buyers will have their choice to make, and if what I've seen in the past holds true then they will want the GPX-4000.
Steve Herschbach
I thought that I would never agree with Bris Dave but I do and as a customer I think this new model is BS.My wife even said how stupid is putting the LCD panel on the back of the detector., put it where I can use it /see it.
Why don't all the dealers that sell Minelab , tell Minelab what the customer wants and needs, like a big difference in sound between gold ,iron,and lead.How about better discrimination.How about putting the LCD panel on the front of the machine, USER FRIENDLY. How about a detector that realy kicks ass and has what we realy want/ need.
You dealers get feed back from us and tell Minelab what we want.
Minelab wants to sell detectors to the dealers , dealers sell to us the customer. In the last few years the customer has got the bad end of the deal. GP3000 great GP3500 great GP4000 Well we will see. Lets add it up , If you bought a 3000 and coils, batteries, head phones and other stuff for the detector, then bought the 3500 lets say all the same stuff, thats about $8000 to $12000 in cash and now they come out with the 4000.Fine, but why, because Minelab wants to keep sucking the money from us.Come on Minelab give us a detector with BIG IMPROVMENTS.Come on dealers tell MINELAB to give the customer something worth there money . Don't get me wrong I have a 3000, thought about getting the 3500 but in less than a year and a half Minelab comes out with the 4000 with no Big changes that help. Makes you want to think about it.
DARIN WAGNER eye4gold
Why don't all the dealers that sell Minelab , tell Minelab what the customer wants and needs, like a big difference in sound between gold ,iron,and lead.How about better discrimination.How about putting the LCD panel on the front of the machine, USER FRIENDLY. How about a detector that realy kicks ass and has what we realy want/ need.
You dealers get feed back from us and tell Minelab what we want.
Minelab wants to sell detectors to the dealers , dealers sell to us the customer. In the last few years the customer has got the bad end of the deal. GP3000 great GP3500 great GP4000 Well we will see. Lets add it up , If you bought a 3000 and coils, batteries, head phones and other stuff for the detector, then bought the 3500 lets say all the same stuff, thats about $8000 to $12000 in cash and now they come out with the 4000.Fine, but why, because Minelab wants to keep sucking the money from us.Come on Minelab give us a detector with BIG IMPROVMENTS.Come on dealers tell MINELAB to give the customer something worth there money . Don't get me wrong I have a 3000, thought about getting the 3500 but in less than a year and a half Minelab comes out with the 4000 with no Big changes that help. Makes you want to think about it.
DARIN WAGNER eye4gold
I think, the future of minelab will be getting a detector like the 4000, but instead of getting or making a new detector every year, to have a softwhere based detector, that has online or cd type up grades with a usb port, that you can do on your own computor. You either buy a new cd upgrade or pay a fee to minelab and down load the upgrade you want. ie: disscrimation, custom ground programs and such. then you could have the same detector, but customise it with softwhere up grades as they become available.I see in the neer future a softwhere based detector. As Brent said, they already do it with cars and trucks, you can buy a chip or a program to get more power or torque. So why not on detectors? Sounds good to me. Grubstake
We dealers do tell Minelab what you customers want, and Minelab listens, and I am sure they determine which things they can do that are cost effective and which things are not, and which things are put on the drawing board for later incorporation.
You know there are things I would like to see Minelab do as well, but, Minelab does not work for me. As a consumer, I get to decide, do I like the ideas they did implement? Are these extra bells and whistles worth the extra money?
I look at something as simple as the fact that they changed the darn power cord from a 4 pin to a 5 pin configuration and I want to bang my head against a wall. Do you know how many COILTEK heavy duty power cords I have in four pin configuration? Do you know how many Lithium Ion systems I have in stock? Do you know how many signal amplifers I have in stock? What about all of those COILTEK coils? I have no idea if they will work on this new detector. All in all I am sitting on about $300,000 worth of inventory, some of which is now obsolete, some which may be. So I understand what frustration is all about. We have a lot of detectorists who have hearing loss. I am one of them. I cannot work without a signal enhancer. But I can't use a signal ehancher on this new unit. Minelab apparently didn't consider the hundreds of hearing impaired detectorists that their five pin configuration will affect. They didn't consider that this may keep a hard of hearing detectorist from buying a new GPX-4000 if they don't think they will be able to hear it without a signal enhancer. But all of these things are Minelab's choices.
As far as the location of the LCD panel, remember this is only a screen that tells you where the settings are, there is no information that is going to be displayed as you detect. It's sort of a set it and forget it screen as far as I can see.
Like the threshold for example. I usually set it and that is where it stays. Volume the same way. If on the other hand they had located discriminate or all metal on the LCD screen that is going to be a problem because I swtich around in that all the time, as well as tracking or fixed.
I will have to wait and see. One of the wonderful things about a free society and captialism is if you don't like the way a company makes a product, you don't have to buy it. If you don't like how much the charge, no one makes you fork over the money. If you think they could do things better, and refuse to listen to you, you can take your business to a company that is more responsive to your needs.
Make no mistake about this, the consumer gets exactly the detector the consumer demands.
A company comes out with a detector that does not do all the things you would like it to do however it still finds a lot of gold, you are disgusted with the fact that the company does not listen to every one of your needs, however you all buy the machine anyway. In fact so many of you buy the machine that the company makes a profit. You the consumer have just rewarded them for not listening to you. The company thinks, well, we made money off of that detector and we didn't listen to anyone, why should we have to listen to anyone to make a different newer detector? If our formula for making a profit ain't broke, why fix it?
Now, the other side of the coin, from the company's perspective is, they can't please everyone, and they can't make a detector do everything. Even if they could, are you prepared to pay $25 to $30,000 for your dream machine?
SO, the answer is, if you really want a company to sit up and take notice that what they are doing isn't working, quit giving them your money.
If a company produced a new detector and 3 months after producing it and releasing it to the public, no one had bought one, you can bet all of a sudden that company would have a keen interest in what customer's wanted and needed and they would be asking a lot of questions.
The fact remains that no one, and I mean no one has produced detectors as technologically advanced as Minelab, so they don't have all the bells and whistles where you would like them to be positioned. So far, I know of no law that has been passed that will force you to buy one.
Everytime Minelab produces a new detector the same aruments erupt. WHY? This is the way they want to make detectors, it is their right to run their business the way they want. Don't like it? Don't buy the detector, it's just that simple.
And by the way, why do you get mad at Minelab, no one is keeping anyone else, any other detector company from giving you all those things you want, better discrimination, target tones to ID gold, iron, lead. WHY is it all on Minelab's head?
Did it ever occur to you that if those things were easy to do, along with all of the other sophisticated technology that Minelab employs that someone else would have come on the scene with a super detector and taken all of Minelab's business.
BUT NO ONE HAS ! MAYBE just maybe, it isn't that easy to do! But I will bet when and if such a machine is ever made, Minelab will have a hand in it.
For years and years we have heard about a secret new detector coming out that will do all of these wonderful things, produced by a new company. Do you know the one question that is always asked? Will it be better than a Minelab? You know why? Because it is Minelab that blazes the trail, it is Minelab who sets the standard for excellence, because Minelab is the company to beat.
I know of two companies who spent thousands upon thousands of dollars doing very detailed research on what it would take to make a detector that would surpass the technology of Minelab. One concept was a detector that identified gold by being able to decipher the molecular structure. That would be the perfect detector, because only gold has the molecular structure of gold. PERFECT DISCRIMINATION. Do you know what the conclusion was of these two different companies? That number 1. It would take literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to research and develop a machine that was technologically superior to Minelab. 2. Even after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, these experts (which consisted of two physicists, two electronical engineers and three computer geeks to the 10th power,) concluded that there was about a 60% chance that you could not develop a metal detector superior to the Minelab at this time, knowing what we know.
Did it ever occur to anyone that the reason these detectors don't cost $25,000 and are so far superior to anything else is because most of the R&D costs of Minelab machines have been paid for with BIG GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS on their mine sweeping machines. We as consumers, have been able to benefit from all those big R&D dollars being paid for by government contracts and we have been able to reap the benefit in superior technology that we are paying only a small fraction of the price tag for. It's also why no one else has been able to match Minelab's technology, because other companies do not have that kind of money to spend on R&D.
DOC
You know there are things I would like to see Minelab do as well, but, Minelab does not work for me. As a consumer, I get to decide, do I like the ideas they did implement? Are these extra bells and whistles worth the extra money?
I look at something as simple as the fact that they changed the darn power cord from a 4 pin to a 5 pin configuration and I want to bang my head against a wall. Do you know how many COILTEK heavy duty power cords I have in four pin configuration? Do you know how many Lithium Ion systems I have in stock? Do you know how many signal amplifers I have in stock? What about all of those COILTEK coils? I have no idea if they will work on this new detector. All in all I am sitting on about $300,000 worth of inventory, some of which is now obsolete, some which may be. So I understand what frustration is all about. We have a lot of detectorists who have hearing loss. I am one of them. I cannot work without a signal enhancer. But I can't use a signal ehancher on this new unit. Minelab apparently didn't consider the hundreds of hearing impaired detectorists that their five pin configuration will affect. They didn't consider that this may keep a hard of hearing detectorist from buying a new GPX-4000 if they don't think they will be able to hear it without a signal enhancer. But all of these things are Minelab's choices.
As far as the location of the LCD panel, remember this is only a screen that tells you where the settings are, there is no information that is going to be displayed as you detect. It's sort of a set it and forget it screen as far as I can see.
Like the threshold for example. I usually set it and that is where it stays. Volume the same way. If on the other hand they had located discriminate or all metal on the LCD screen that is going to be a problem because I swtich around in that all the time, as well as tracking or fixed.
I will have to wait and see. One of the wonderful things about a free society and captialism is if you don't like the way a company makes a product, you don't have to buy it. If you don't like how much the charge, no one makes you fork over the money. If you think they could do things better, and refuse to listen to you, you can take your business to a company that is more responsive to your needs.
Make no mistake about this, the consumer gets exactly the detector the consumer demands.
A company comes out with a detector that does not do all the things you would like it to do however it still finds a lot of gold, you are disgusted with the fact that the company does not listen to every one of your needs, however you all buy the machine anyway. In fact so many of you buy the machine that the company makes a profit. You the consumer have just rewarded them for not listening to you. The company thinks, well, we made money off of that detector and we didn't listen to anyone, why should we have to listen to anyone to make a different newer detector? If our formula for making a profit ain't broke, why fix it?
Now, the other side of the coin, from the company's perspective is, they can't please everyone, and they can't make a detector do everything. Even if they could, are you prepared to pay $25 to $30,000 for your dream machine?
SO, the answer is, if you really want a company to sit up and take notice that what they are doing isn't working, quit giving them your money.
If a company produced a new detector and 3 months after producing it and releasing it to the public, no one had bought one, you can bet all of a sudden that company would have a keen interest in what customer's wanted and needed and they would be asking a lot of questions.
The fact remains that no one, and I mean no one has produced detectors as technologically advanced as Minelab, so they don't have all the bells and whistles where you would like them to be positioned. So far, I know of no law that has been passed that will force you to buy one.
Everytime Minelab produces a new detector the same aruments erupt. WHY? This is the way they want to make detectors, it is their right to run their business the way they want. Don't like it? Don't buy the detector, it's just that simple.
And by the way, why do you get mad at Minelab, no one is keeping anyone else, any other detector company from giving you all those things you want, better discrimination, target tones to ID gold, iron, lead. WHY is it all on Minelab's head?
Did it ever occur to you that if those things were easy to do, along with all of the other sophisticated technology that Minelab employs that someone else would have come on the scene with a super detector and taken all of Minelab's business.
BUT NO ONE HAS ! MAYBE just maybe, it isn't that easy to do! But I will bet when and if such a machine is ever made, Minelab will have a hand in it.
For years and years we have heard about a secret new detector coming out that will do all of these wonderful things, produced by a new company. Do you know the one question that is always asked? Will it be better than a Minelab? You know why? Because it is Minelab that blazes the trail, it is Minelab who sets the standard for excellence, because Minelab is the company to beat.
I know of two companies who spent thousands upon thousands of dollars doing very detailed research on what it would take to make a detector that would surpass the technology of Minelab. One concept was a detector that identified gold by being able to decipher the molecular structure. That would be the perfect detector, because only gold has the molecular structure of gold. PERFECT DISCRIMINATION. Do you know what the conclusion was of these two different companies? That number 1. It would take literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to research and develop a machine that was technologically superior to Minelab. 2. Even after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, these experts (which consisted of two physicists, two electronical engineers and three computer geeks to the 10th power,) concluded that there was about a 60% chance that you could not develop a metal detector superior to the Minelab at this time, knowing what we know.
Did it ever occur to anyone that the reason these detectors don't cost $25,000 and are so far superior to anything else is because most of the R&D costs of Minelab machines have been paid for with BIG GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS on their mine sweeping machines. We as consumers, have been able to benefit from all those big R&D dollars being paid for by government contracts and we have been able to reap the benefit in superior technology that we are paying only a small fraction of the price tag for. It's also why no one else has been able to match Minelab's technology, because other companies do not have that kind of money to spend on R&D.
DOC
Yep. I would agree with that Doc.
The modifications to the 2000 were not that sophisticated but made a big performance difference especially when combined with the mono coils.
Similarly I agree with youre assessment of the 2100 offering the best value for money. It is a great machine and is very easy to use without all the bells and whistles of the later machines.
I would also suggest that learning the art of detecting on a 2100 will give the user a better idea on ground conditions and detecting skill than the GP series.
The modifications to the 2000 were not that sophisticated but made a big performance difference especially when combined with the mono coils.
Similarly I agree with youre assessment of the 2100 offering the best value for money. It is a great machine and is very easy to use without all the bells and whistles of the later machines.
I would also suggest that learning the art of detecting on a 2100 will give the user a better idea on ground conditions and detecting skill than the GP series.
Steve.
I believe Minelab are playing the average punters as suckers.
They know full well a vast number of customers will jump on board to grab the new model thinking they have an edge over the rest or, if they believe they advertising "fluff" have a machine that will open up old ground like the introduction of the SD2000 did a decade ago.
I have no problem with your comments about how happy you are with your 3500. You are correct, they are a fine machine.
My arguement is that Minelab are making good money on new models with little or no innovative improvement on performance.
I believe Minelab are playing the average punters as suckers.
They know full well a vast number of customers will jump on board to grab the new model thinking they have an edge over the rest or, if they believe they advertising "fluff" have a machine that will open up old ground like the introduction of the SD2000 did a decade ago.
I have no problem with your comments about how happy you are with your 3500. You are correct, they are a fine machine.
My arguement is that Minelab are making good money on new models with little or no innovative improvement on performance.
steve herschbach
New member
Hi Dave,
You know, I am the largest Ski-Doo dealer in the United States, maybe the world. I am going to sell over 1000 snowmobiles this year. The lowest priced units go for more than a GPX-4000.
Some people buy snowmobiles for transportation, but most buy them for fun. There is one crowd that sells the machine they bought last year, so they can always have the newest units.
Are the changes in snowmobiles year to year enough to warrant that? No. But people do it as they are enthusiasts.
Metal detecting is no different. Some people make an income detecting, but they are not the norm. Most people are looking for some adventure and hopefully some gold. The vast majority of purchasers never find enough of anything to pay for a unit, or even keep up with battery costs. But they are enjoying themselves, so what of it. Detecting is a dirt cheap hobby compared to boating, or motorcycles, or golf.
New computers come out every day, and the minute you buy one somebody comesout with a unit that has more power. But the old one you got ten years ago probably does everything you really need. Why get a new one?
The point I guess I'm trying to make is some people are not just prospectors. Some are detector nuts. I'm both. I see the practical end, but I also just like playing with new toys. I do not spend my money foolishly, and in most ways am very frugal. But I spend freely on detectors as I really get a kick out of detecting, and part of that for me is using new units. And why not? It really is a cheap hobby when you look at it. And as one of the guys that does bring home the finds, one that I actually must pay taxes on for my profits. The last specimen I found weighed 3 ounces and will bring me a couple thousand dollars.
So I sell my GP 3500 for $2600 and pony up the difference to get a GPX-4000. Paid for with one find, and money left over. Will it be any better? Who knows, but I'll have fun finding out. And hopefully while I'm doing that Minelab will be working on the GPX-5000!
Steve Herschbach
You know, I am the largest Ski-Doo dealer in the United States, maybe the world. I am going to sell over 1000 snowmobiles this year. The lowest priced units go for more than a GPX-4000.
Some people buy snowmobiles for transportation, but most buy them for fun. There is one crowd that sells the machine they bought last year, so they can always have the newest units.
Are the changes in snowmobiles year to year enough to warrant that? No. But people do it as they are enthusiasts.
Metal detecting is no different. Some people make an income detecting, but they are not the norm. Most people are looking for some adventure and hopefully some gold. The vast majority of purchasers never find enough of anything to pay for a unit, or even keep up with battery costs. But they are enjoying themselves, so what of it. Detecting is a dirt cheap hobby compared to boating, or motorcycles, or golf.
New computers come out every day, and the minute you buy one somebody comesout with a unit that has more power. But the old one you got ten years ago probably does everything you really need. Why get a new one?
The point I guess I'm trying to make is some people are not just prospectors. Some are detector nuts. I'm both. I see the practical end, but I also just like playing with new toys. I do not spend my money foolishly, and in most ways am very frugal. But I spend freely on detectors as I really get a kick out of detecting, and part of that for me is using new units. And why not? It really is a cheap hobby when you look at it. And as one of the guys that does bring home the finds, one that I actually must pay taxes on for my profits. The last specimen I found weighed 3 ounces and will bring me a couple thousand dollars.
So I sell my GP 3500 for $2600 and pony up the difference to get a GPX-4000. Paid for with one find, and money left over. Will it be any better? Who knows, but I'll have fun finding out. And hopefully while I'm doing that Minelab will be working on the GPX-5000!
Steve Herschbach
That is exactly what I was trying to say Bris Dave.
Doc , you are wright Minelab can do what they want, but wouldn't you be mad if you just bought the 3500 and some other coils to go along with the detector and six months goes by and Minelab comes out with a new model. I would. I just would like to see Minelab come up with better upgrades than this.
DARIN WAGNER eye4gold
Doc , you are wright Minelab can do what they want, but wouldn't you be mad if you just bought the 3500 and some other coils to go along with the detector and six months goes by and Minelab comes out with a new model. I would. I just would like to see Minelab come up with better upgrades than this.
DARIN WAGNER eye4gold