Show your SOV pride!

[Rick(ND)]

Awfully quiet around here and it's been a month since any activity so what gives? Is everyone out hunting with their faithful Sovs? I sure hope so...I thought it would be fun to post pics of our current Sov set ups, especially the modified ones. I'll start with a couple pics of my beloved XS with Ron's 180 meter, NEL 5X9 Sharpshooter coil and remote all metal switch mounted on an Anderson 2-piece carbon fiber travel rod. Love this set-up and use it regularly. Also have a NEL 13X12 Thunder coil which goes DEEEEEP but the 5X9 detects as deep as I like to dig on a regular basis.
So C'mon Guys! Show 'em off! HH , George

Good to see all those posting about the Sovereigns, though everyone got rid of them as no real question ask like it used to be.
I have tried all the different models of the Sovereigns and different coils sinc3 1996 when I became a dealer myself. Didn't know what I got myself into as I had heard how great they were. It was different thats for sure, but once I got to use and understand it I found it to be the best detector out there and all those work to death spot were like virgins area as there were a lot of coins left for me. I used to show off and go to the areas I was told there is nothing left and show them what was still there.
All of the Sovereigns i used had the Sun Ray DTI meters and the S-1 probe on them and one of my favorite coils was the 8 inch Coinsearch coil and was the one I recommended to those learning the Sovereign as the signals seem bigger and easy to hear. The coils I liked were the 8 inch Sunray coil and the 10 inch Tornado coils and for the bigger coils the S12 of SunRay. I was ask to do a field test on the concentric coil someone was making and was very impresss with 2 of the 3 coils I tested, the 8 inch was very good and the 12 inch was the best in my opinion. the 8 inch was not as good for me. I fhese would have been made I would have had them, but this is the time the Explorers came out and Minelab was discontinued the Sovereigns so they never got made. I bought one of the 8 inch concentic coils that had never been used and tried it being the others were not being made and thought it was defective and sent back for a different one and it was the same so I returned it also and see now others that tried it also didnt like it.
The Problems with the Sovereigns were they were heavy and wore a person ot as you used them, but there was some straight shaft made and was able to move the control box back futher to balance it out more so it balance very good and didnt feel heavy. The contol box sat further back on my GT so changes the mounting bracket under the arm cuff so the box sat backward to it was easy to get at the controls when I need to be, On some of the older sovereigns I had a toggle switch to switch into pinpoint by the hand grip, but I never put on my my GT as I didnt want to take the control box apart.
I bought a 8 inch tornado coil and put it on a shaft, but never even used it yet as my GT has been sitting for a few years now as I have had 2 heart attacks and a tripple bypass and now both on my knees have been replaced so it hard to get down the dig and harder to get up and then fall over when I get up and still trying to figure out something that will work for me, maybe like a walker and use PVC pipe so it is not metal.
Keep on swinging the Sovereigns and keep this BBS forum alive.

George I have a Legend too and not used it yet and wonder what you think of it as it is not as simple like the Sovereign is i feel.

 

[JimmyCT]

Thanks Jimmy.
So that Tornado is best in your book ?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
I'm sure others here would as well.

As you know move slow, And on suspect targets / iffy targets incorporate the sovereign wiggle. Short and tight little sweeps over the unknown to see if you can get that target to climb in TID and audio. Even if it struggles in climbing - dig it. Also it’s imperative to hunt an area from multiple angles. You’ll be surprised what’s in an area if you do this.
I hope you feel better so you can get out and enjoy the hobby.

 

[JimmyCT]

Good to see all those posting about the Sovereigns, though everyone got rid of them as no real question ask like it used to be.
I have tried all the different models of the Sovereigns and different coils sinc3 1996 when I became a dealer myself. Didn't know what I got myself into as I had heard how great they were. It was different thats for sure, but once I got to use and understand it I found it to be the best detector out there and all those work to death spot were like virgins area as there were a lot of coins left for me. I used to show off and go to the areas I was told there is nothing left and show them what was still there.
All of the Sovereigns i used had the Sun Ray DTI meters and the S-1 probe on them and one of my favorite coils was the 8 inch Coinsearch coil and was the one I recommended to those learning the Sovereign as the signals seem bigger and easy to hear. The coils I liked were the 8 inch Sunray coil and the 10 inch Tornado coils and for the bigger coils the S12 of SunRay. I was ask to do a field test on the concentric coil someone was making and was very impresss with 2 of the 3 coils I tested, the 8 inch was very good and the 12 inch was the best in my opinion. the 8 inch was not as good for me. I fhese would have been made I would have had them, but this is the time the Explorers came out and Minelab was discontinued the Sovereigns so they never got made. I bought one of the 8 inch concentic coils that had never been used and tried it being the others were not being made and thought it was defective and sent back for a different one and it was the same so I returned it also and see now others that tried it also didnt like it.
The Problems with the Sovereigns were they were heavy and wore a person ot as you used them, but there was some straight shaft made and was able to move the control box back futher to balance it out more so it balance very good and didnt feel heavy. The contol box sat further back on my GT so changes the mounting bracket under the arm cuff so the box sat backward to it was easy to get at the controls when I need to be, On some of the older sovereigns I had a toggle switch to switch into pinpoint by the hand grip, but I never put on my my GT as I didnt want to take the control box apart.
I bought a 8 inch tornado coil and put it on a shaft, but never even used it yet as my GT has been sitting for a few years now as I have had 2 heart attacks and a tripple bypass and now both on my knees have been replaced so it hard to get down the dig and harder to get up and then fall over when I get up and still trying to figure out something that will work for me, maybe like a walker and use PVC pipe so it is not metal.
Keep on swinging the Sovereigns and keep this BBS forum alive.

George I have a Legend too and not used it yet and wonder what you think of it as it is not as simple like the Sovereign is i feel.

Rick, I’m not a doctor but wondering if something of this nature could help you?
Thank you for all your help in learning the sovereign. - Jim

The Spring Loaded Solution - Spring Loaded Technology

www.springloaded.com

 

[Odanscoils]

As you know move slow, And on suspect targets / iffy targets incorporate the sovereign wiggle. Short and tight little sweeps over the unknown to see if you can get that target to climb in TID and audio. Even if it struggles in climbing - dig it. Also it’s imperative to hunt an area from multiple angles. You’ll be surprised what’s in an area if you do this.
I hope you feel better so you can get out and enjoy the hobby.

Again. Thanks Jimmy.

 

[fwcrawford]

I tried that concentric Detech and didn’t care much for it. Not much depth and poor coverage. The Tornado 1000 is super if the ground is relatively clean. If it’s trashy or considerable amounts of iron, that coil will fail miserably. Too much masking takes place and you won’t even know it.

I’m not sure about that 10” coil failing Jim.. remember all the goodies I found in that trahy park I detected at using it before I bought the 8” coil from you?
I did make additional finds wth the small coil, but it had really slowed down on finds by that time.
I will say that small coil did well and was quite a bit lighter than the 10” coil.

 

[JimmyCT]

I’m not sure about that 10” coil failing Jim.. remember all the goodies I found in that trahy park I detected at using it before I bought the 8” coil from you?
I did make additional finds wth the small coil, but it had really slowed down on finds by that time.
I will say that small coil did well and was quite a bit lighter than the 10” coil.

I know this old fairground I use to hunt, I missed quite a bit with the 10” tornado. Once I switched over to the 8” tornado, I was surprised at how many coins I found in the same area. Maybe I’ll try again with the sov

 

[fwcrawford]

I know this old fairground I use to hunt, I missed quite a bit with the 10” tornado. Once I switched over to the 8” tornado, I was surprised at how many coins I found in the same area. Maybe I’ll try again with the sov

 

[Odanscoils]

I know this old fairground I use to hunt, I missed quite a bit with the 10” tornado. Once I switched over to the 8” tornado, I was surprised at how many coins I found in the same area. Maybe I’ll try again with the sov

I hope to see some good Sovereign finds from y'all.

 

[Odanscoils]

I measured it and it is the 10" tornado
Guess I'll be trying it out.
Heavy on the end of that shaft.
May need a counter weight.

 

[fwcrawford]

I measured it and it is the 10" tornado
Guess I'll be trying it out.
Heavy on the end of that shaft.
May need a counter weight.

I guess the main reason that I did well with that 10” coil is that it was the only coil had for about three years until I bought the 8” coil.
I was detecting a very small, old park and felt there were still good finds there due to all the trash and age of the park.
Like Jim stated, I searched this park from many different angles.
I stopped counting wheat pennies when I got to 100.
The first day there I found 26 nickels, which I thought was amazing due to all the pulltabs there.
What I found is that a signal that only responded from one angle and really sounded good, but would null or sound bad from other angles turned out to be coins lying next to junk.
That park and the Sovereign taught me alot about masked targets.

 

[Suncoast Kid]

I finally got my Sovereign GT all ready. It's that time once again, usually within the next month, when a hurricane goes up the east coast, and washes up all the goodies.
Got the Ultimate 15" coil, hipmount, Ron's 180 meter.
I made my own hipmount cable, continuous movement robotic cable that I got from Mou*$? Electronics in Texas. It has an extra lead that eliminates that extra wire from the box to the shaft. Black Widow headphones so I can hear even with the pounding surf.
Detector pal to help swing that big coil a lot longer.
I was in an accident where I broke both knees and ended up with a knee replacement, so won't be out there as long as I used to be, but if the time is right, I know that I'll have to go. If the Sovereign gets to be a little heavy, I'll still bring my Deus II as a back up, but it's always been the Sovereign for the serious business. Gold Escudos, Silver Cobs, big gold chains, or rings won't stand a chance if I get that coil over them. Previously used a NEL Thunder coil (10 1/2" x 14 1/2") that I like very much as well.

 

[Odanscoils]

I finally got my Sovereign GT all ready. It's that time once again, usually within the next month, when a hurricane goes up the east coast, and washes up all the goodies.
Got the Ultimate 15" coil, hipmount, Ron's 180 meter.
I made my own hipmount cable, continuous movement robotic cable that I got from Mou*$? Electronics in Texas. It has an extra lead that eliminates that extra wire from the box to the shaft. Black Widow headphones so I can hear even with the pounding surf.
Detector pal to help swing that big coil a lot longer.
I was in an accident where I broke both knees and ended up with a knee replacement, so won't be out there as long as I used to be, but if the time is right, I know that I'll have to go. If the Sovereign gets to be a little heavy, I'll still bring my Deus II as a back up, but it's always been the Sovereign for the serious business. Gold Escudos, Silver Cobs, big gold chains, or rings won't stand a chance if I get that coil over them. Previously used a NEL Thunder coil (10 1/2" x 14 1/2") that I like very much as well.

Nice. How ya like bagging it ?

 

[Suncoast Kid]

The set up works great. Definitely reduces the weight. Minelab came out with a hipmount bag years ago that has a flap on the top of the bag that has a clear plastic window, with a Velcro patch to keep it closed, so you can see your controls and settings. On the bottom there's a hole for your cable to come out. I took a Tupperware container and put a hole in it that the box fits into, just to protect the unit, and I put a gallon zip lock bag with a hole in the bottom and put that over the box first, pull it out the bottom and put a rubber band on it to keep the water out. It works great. I've had waves on the east coast six feet high smack me down and wash me back twenty feet up on the beach and the unit has never got wet, yet, luckily.

 

[Suncoast Kid]

I bought a new rechargeable battery for the Sovereign a few years ago while I could still get one, but usually start out with the Alkaline Battery pack first with fresh batteries when I start out, just to make sure I'm getting the most out of it, and carry the rechargeable one with me as a back up. Plus the rechargeable pack is good at home when testing everything out.
I put painters tape over the speaker as I always use headphones anyway, and to keep the sand out, also rubber boots over the switches. Before I go it gets a good coating of divers silicone spray as well. Keeps it protected and running like new.

 

[Suncoast Kid]

Just a better view of the Sovereign GT. That was with the Ultimate 13 coil. Now it's the same, but just has the Ultimate 15" coil. Hoping Hurricane Lee will make my day. Once again, it's that time of the year. Used exclusively for the beach only.

 

[Suncoast Kid]

Guess I've never been in short supply of metal detector equipment. I've thinned out the herd here recently, only keeping my favorite four. Amazing how fast new technology becomes vintage.

 

[Odanscoils]

Just a better view of the Sovereign GT. That was with the Ultimate 13 coil. Now it's the same, but just has the Ultimate 15" coil. Hoping Hurricane Lee will make my day. Once again, it's that time of the year. Used exclusively for the beach only. View attachment 45964

Nice one.

 

[Cameraniac]

This thread brings back some great, Sovereign related memories. Heck, modifying one was half the fun of owning one. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that one of you is swinging one of my old Gt's.
I have to admit that I miss them all. My first, to me, real detector was a brand spanking new Sovereign XS that I drove all the way to Kellyco to buy. I miss that detector.

 

[Rick(ND)]

This thread brings back some great, Sovereign related memories. Heck, modifying one was half the fun of owning one. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that one of you is swinging one of my old Gt's.
I have to admit that I miss them all. My first, to me, real detector was a brand spanking new Sovereign XS that I drove all the way to Kellyco to buy. I miss that detector.

The XS was my first Minelab and with the coinsearch coil it did well for me after I got to know the Sovereign. I didn't have a dealer up here in ND, so I decided to become a Minelab dealer in order to have one back in 1996 to get a Sovereign. sold the XS I had to a good friend and got the XS2 with the 10 inch coil and my friend seem to do better than me with my old XS, so got a used coinsearch coil and did much better, so I swear by the 8 inch coinsearch and shorten the cable as it was long and didnt hipmount at that time and to me made that coil more sensitive and really did real good with it.
I have tried all the different model of the Sovereign and the 2 I didn't care as well was the original and the Elite and the 2 best to me was the XS and the GT.
Haven't use the GT for a while now, but keep hoping I will be able to soon as I am not able to get up and down and being the Sovereigns are heavy, I wear out to fast and been known to fall a lot. I wish Minelab would make a light weight Sovereign, but untill they do we will just have to do a few modes to reduce the weight and balance.
With my Sovereigns I like detecting those places that were considered worked out and show those that the Sovereigns will show what is left which are the deeper coins and those close to trash. Lot of good memories with the Minelabs.

Good luck to all

Rick

 

[Cameraniac]

The XS was my first Minelab and with the coinsearch coil it did well for me after I got to know the Sovereign. I didn't have a dealer up here in ND, so I decided to become a Minelab dealer in order to have one back in 1996 to get a Sovereign. sold the XS I had to a good friend and got the XS2 with the 10 inch coil and my friend seem to do better than me with my old XS, so got a used coinsearch coil and did much better, so I swear by the 8 inch coinsearch and shorten the cable as it was long and didnt hipmount at that time and to me made that coil more sensitive and really did real good with it.
I have tried all the different model of the Sovereign and the 2 I didn't care as well was the original and the Elite and the 2 best to me was the XS and the GT.
Haven't use the GT for a while now, but keep hoping I will be able to soon as I am not able to get up and down and being the Sovereigns are heavy, I wear out to fast and been known to fall a lot. I wish Minelab would make a light weight Sovereign, but untill they do we will just have to do a few modes to reduce the weight and balance.
With my Sovereigns I like detecting those places that were considered worked out and show those that the Sovereigns will show what is left which are the deeper coins and those close to trash. Lot of good memories with the Minelabs.

Good luck to all

Rick

Right on, Rick! Anyone who's been here awhile knows that you know the Sovereigns. I know you've helped me out plenty over the years w-parts and of course, all of the posts you made that pertained to the Sovereigns. You have no problem getting the old "Detecting Fever" going. Many thanks to you for all of that.

I really hope that you'll be able to get out there sooner rather than later.

HH - Bill