How does the Sovereign do as a coin shooter in trashy parks? I saw it has a notch feature but is it the type of notch that will take out certain things and leave the rest or will it notch everything at one setting and everything below it? Will I find myself wanting the optional meter to help id tabs, bottle caps and can slaw from coins? I would also like to use it on the occaisonal beach trip is why I was interested in a bbs or fbs detector. Has anyone tried placing this thing in an otter box to use in the water? I appreciate any feedback you can give!
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Sovereign GT as a coin shooter in trashy parks
- Thread starter Habanero
- Start date
Critterhunter
New member
First, yes...Many have waterproofed the Sovereign in a water tight box or even a water tight marine bag. Just search for "waterproof" or "waterproofing" in this forum and also in the beach forum and you'll see lots of ideas and projects done with it. The FBS machines won't do any better than the BBS Sovereign or Excal in terms of beach or water hunting. Some even say the BBS machines hit harder on gold rings at depth.
For trashy parks that's were the Sovereign excels. Sure, it's slow like any Minelab but if you sweep slow recovery speed to unmask stuff isn't an issue. It will also find coins in iron better than any machine I've ever owned. The notch doesn't kill everything below it. If I remember right in my tests it's about 12.5 digits wide on the VDI. By raising it just high enough to kill a 165 VDI # pulltab you'll elimate roughly 85% of all tabs (round or square) and still be able to recover the vast majority of rings. We scanned in over 100 rings and a bunch of tabs and ran those numbers. Of course you don't want to do this at the beach, but ring hunting in a park filled with tabs this strategy has some merit. Also, most rings will sound round, warm, and smooth, and lock into one or maybe two VDI numbers. If they sound hollow, bangy, harsh, or change VDI numbers by 3 digits or more then chances are it's trash. Trash not uniform in shape will change it's VDI a lot based on which way you sweep over it.
The Sovereign is also as deep as any machine on the market in terms of hunting for old coins, so you've got your bases covered there too.
For water hunting I just put mine in the Minelab hip/chest mount bag and throw that over my shoulder and around my left arm so it's roughly up by my left shoulder. Before putting it in the bag I put a plastic bag around it and seal it off with rubber bands at the coil cable (hole poked through the bag for this), then ziplock the top of the bag after adjusting my controls. The headphone plug I just poke through the plastic into the machine. With it sealed up this way I'm confident I can withstand the rogue wave or something that hits it without water getting to the machine. I wade up to my belly button without issues, but of course you can't do this with bad waves.
The tone ID is excellent and many guys just hunt by using that. It has the best audio in both tone and also target traits than any machine I've owned. However, a meter will for sure give you even more ability to split hairs on targets. The Sovereign has the highest resolution from foil all the way up to copper penny on any machine I've ever used. It makes it real easy to find nickles while avoiding tabs and other junk, and also to pick out a few pesky tab numbers to note and avoid while digging all other signals around it for a gold ring.
Coins from copper pennies on up get compressed into the 180 number, but for old coin hunting that's all you need. I've dug plenty of silver dimes that read like other coins so if it's deep or in trash I don't trust having resolution on a machine to tell me what kind of coin it thinks it is. I just want to know it's a coin and dig. The Sovereign can ID zinc pennies though with a lower number, as well as some other coins such as indians. For clad hunting the only coin I want to be able to ID and avoid is zincs so that's all the ability I want for that.
For trashy parks that's were the Sovereign excels. Sure, it's slow like any Minelab but if you sweep slow recovery speed to unmask stuff isn't an issue. It will also find coins in iron better than any machine I've ever owned. The notch doesn't kill everything below it. If I remember right in my tests it's about 12.5 digits wide on the VDI. By raising it just high enough to kill a 165 VDI # pulltab you'll elimate roughly 85% of all tabs (round or square) and still be able to recover the vast majority of rings. We scanned in over 100 rings and a bunch of tabs and ran those numbers. Of course you don't want to do this at the beach, but ring hunting in a park filled with tabs this strategy has some merit. Also, most rings will sound round, warm, and smooth, and lock into one or maybe two VDI numbers. If they sound hollow, bangy, harsh, or change VDI numbers by 3 digits or more then chances are it's trash. Trash not uniform in shape will change it's VDI a lot based on which way you sweep over it.
The Sovereign is also as deep as any machine on the market in terms of hunting for old coins, so you've got your bases covered there too.
For water hunting I just put mine in the Minelab hip/chest mount bag and throw that over my shoulder and around my left arm so it's roughly up by my left shoulder. Before putting it in the bag I put a plastic bag around it and seal it off with rubber bands at the coil cable (hole poked through the bag for this), then ziplock the top of the bag after adjusting my controls. The headphone plug I just poke through the plastic into the machine. With it sealed up this way I'm confident I can withstand the rogue wave or something that hits it without water getting to the machine. I wade up to my belly button without issues, but of course you can't do this with bad waves.
The tone ID is excellent and many guys just hunt by using that. It has the best audio in both tone and also target traits than any machine I've owned. However, a meter will for sure give you even more ability to split hairs on targets. The Sovereign has the highest resolution from foil all the way up to copper penny on any machine I've ever used. It makes it real easy to find nickles while avoiding tabs and other junk, and also to pick out a few pesky tab numbers to note and avoid while digging all other signals around it for a gold ring.
Coins from copper pennies on up get compressed into the 180 number, but for old coin hunting that's all you need. I've dug plenty of silver dimes that read like other coins so if it's deep or in trash I don't trust having resolution on a machine to tell me what kind of coin it thinks it is. I just want to know it's a coin and dig. The Sovereign can ID zinc pennies though with a lower number, as well as some other coins such as indians. For clad hunting the only coin I want to be able to ID and avoid is zincs so that's all the ability I want for that.
I have used Sovereigns with both 550 or 180 meter in very thrashy parks.The GT with a meter and 800 Tornado coil will exceed your expectations.HH Ron
This is all sounding very good! So, if I understand right, it's an excellent coin shooter enhanced even more with the meter for really getting close on target id but needs a slower sweep speed? How slow is slow? Most of the touted coin shooters like the whites mxt/m6, garrett at pro, teknetics omega and fisher f series seem to have a fast sweep speed but i find myself going fairly slow with them unless I get impatient and want to "go detect under that tree over there" and walk/swing fast towards it. How does it stack up compared to any of those units I just mentioned if anyone has used them in comparison? Are those meters for the sovereign readily available and affordable? I looked on the Minelab site and when you click on Accessories then Headphones/meters it only lists the headphones. Did Minelab stop making them and why? Seems if they still made a detector that could use the meter then they should also still offer the meter. Thanks.
Critterhunter
New member
Yes, Minelab stopped making the meter. There are plenty of used ones floating around out there from Minelab and a few other companies who used to make them. There's also Ron who makes a meter for people at a very affordable price (roughly half the price of what Minelab sold theirs for)...And works just as good. Look at the sticky thread about the meters at the top of the message listings and you'll find a picture of his meter and be able to PM him (click on his name) to ask about it.
As for sweep speed...Yes...The slower the better. While you can swing it as fast as a Whites, you'll miss the deep stuff or coins next to trash. I only swing that fast with my GT if I'm clad hunting for the shallow stuff. One way to tell if you are swinging too fast is if the threshold keeps dropping out. Slow down some more and see if the threshold stays. If it still won't stay then either your sensitivity is too high or you are going over iron, which nulls.
There are many things to like about this machine. In terms of raw depth it will keep up with any Minelab. It's audio is also more rich and detailed than any machine I've ever owned. Does the target sound smooth, warm, round, and soft? Dig it...because chances are it's something round and a good find...Like a coin, or an old button, or a token, or a gold ring. Some guys are purists with this machine and only use sound to hunt. If your one of those guys then you'll love this machine. Many of the more "advanced" detectors on the market highly process the audio and you don't get a very true representation of the target's audio traits...But instead more of a "beep" or "blurp" and no real meat to the audio to pick apart and analyze by ear. That makes it harder to judge junk from good stuff in my opinion.
It does take some time to learn it, though...Even for me who has owned many other detectors. Like any other machine, it takes a learning curve where you can get a bit frustrated for a while. Just don't give up and those old pounded out parks will be like new again!
As for sweep speed...Yes...The slower the better. While you can swing it as fast as a Whites, you'll miss the deep stuff or coins next to trash. I only swing that fast with my GT if I'm clad hunting for the shallow stuff. One way to tell if you are swinging too fast is if the threshold keeps dropping out. Slow down some more and see if the threshold stays. If it still won't stay then either your sensitivity is too high or you are going over iron, which nulls.
There are many things to like about this machine. In terms of raw depth it will keep up with any Minelab. It's audio is also more rich and detailed than any machine I've ever owned. Does the target sound smooth, warm, round, and soft? Dig it...because chances are it's something round and a good find...Like a coin, or an old button, or a token, or a gold ring. Some guys are purists with this machine and only use sound to hunt. If your one of those guys then you'll love this machine. Many of the more "advanced" detectors on the market highly process the audio and you don't get a very true representation of the target's audio traits...But instead more of a "beep" or "blurp" and no real meat to the audio to pick apart and analyze by ear. That makes it harder to judge junk from good stuff in my opinion.
It does take some time to learn it, though...Even for me who has owned many other detectors. Like any other machine, it takes a learning curve where you can get a bit frustrated for a while. Just don't give up and those old pounded out parks will be like new again!
JASONSPAZ1
New member
The Gt is absolutely great as a coin shooter in parks. Get a Ron's 180 meter. You can then cherry pick silver all day long. Look at some of my posts through the years in the Sovereign forum. You will see some amazing finds I have got from old parks that others have given up on. You can feel absolutely confident with a GT in the park. Plus one of the great things about a Ron's meter is that it, like all the other Sovereign meters have instant feedback. What I mean is that the moment the GT beeps you see the id number. No Lag at all. Not even an e-trac has that. That feature is one of the reasons the GT is a good trashy park machines. Plus the audio that gives the warble tones on aluminum enhances the meter to help sort out even more junk.
Good luck
HH
Jason
Good luck
HH
Jason
Critterhunter
New member
That's true...No ID lag that lags behind the audio like I had on my Explorers which was hard to work with in trashy spots. That's one of the reasons why many Explorer guys say to pay attention to the audio and not the VDI. Another great feature only found on the Sovereign (don't know of any other machines that do this?) is that there is a calibration adjustment on the back of the meter for adjusting it when you switch coils and such so that stuff IDs properly by adjusting to 180 on a dime or quarter. On other machines if you go to a smaller or bigger coil than stock the ID can be a little "off" on targets due to the different nature of the coil.
The Whites M6 is a great detector,but the Sovereign works better for me.There is a learning curve with the Sovereign slower sweep and will sound noisy at first.Suggestion use the Sovereign only for a couple of weeks to learn.HH Ron
Another thing I really need to ask now that I think of it. The price of a new GT plus whatever the meter costs is putting me in range of the Safari, SE Pro and close to the Etrac. Would those be better options for coin shooting over the GT and save on weight? Just seems like you kind of piece together the GT once you decide you want the meter.
Critterhunter
New member
Well, if you like to tweak a computer screen and have some settings that can be useful in rare situations then get the Etrac or SE Pro. I don't care for the Safari myself. The Explorer is deeper than the Safari from what people say, as the Safari is just a stripped down Explorer without as many features for the most part.
Pretty much all these Minelabs (Etrac, SE, GT) get the same depth. Coil size probably determines which one is deeper. I like the 12x10 on my GT as it's a bit bigger than the 11" Pro Coil on those machines so I can keep up if not get deeper. The 12x10 also improves separation to where I've been able to see any severly masked coins that my friend's Etrac has found too.
Really, if I was going the Explorer route again I'd look for a used one as there are some great deals out there for those. Put a Pro Coil or a 12x10 on it and it will keep up and do just as well in depth and separation as the SE Pro or Etrac from what people say. It's harder to find good used deals on the GT than it is the Explorer, as I've seen more Explorers at a cheaper price here and there than a used GT. If you want simple controls and raw power then get a GT. If you want to wade in the water then get a GT. If you want computer controls and some additional features the Sovereign doesn't have then get an Explorer or Etrac.
The Etrac/Se Pro/GT are all heavy, but the GT is balanced better...And you can also easily hip mount it or build a light weight shaft to drop more weight off it if you want. I built a custom shaft for mine and am running a lipo battery and dropped almost a pound and a half off the weight.
Ron's meter...Scroll up a few messages in this thread and you'll see his name. Click on his name and send him a PM. But then again I see you are new and I think new people can't PM until they post enough public messages. Read the forum rules and find out. His meter mounts on the shaft and is not that internal meter by somebody else which is called the Insight Meter. Be careful getting that, as it won't work with SEF coils and isn't useful unless you have the control box hip or chest mounted where you can see it. You also can't use another meter once that one is installed in the machine. Some who hip or chest mount love that meter, though.
Pretty much all these Minelabs (Etrac, SE, GT) get the same depth. Coil size probably determines which one is deeper. I like the 12x10 on my GT as it's a bit bigger than the 11" Pro Coil on those machines so I can keep up if not get deeper. The 12x10 also improves separation to where I've been able to see any severly masked coins that my friend's Etrac has found too.
Really, if I was going the Explorer route again I'd look for a used one as there are some great deals out there for those. Put a Pro Coil or a 12x10 on it and it will keep up and do just as well in depth and separation as the SE Pro or Etrac from what people say. It's harder to find good used deals on the GT than it is the Explorer, as I've seen more Explorers at a cheaper price here and there than a used GT. If you want simple controls and raw power then get a GT. If you want to wade in the water then get a GT. If you want computer controls and some additional features the Sovereign doesn't have then get an Explorer or Etrac.
The Etrac/Se Pro/GT are all heavy, but the GT is balanced better...And you can also easily hip mount it or build a light weight shaft to drop more weight off it if you want. I built a custom shaft for mine and am running a lipo battery and dropped almost a pound and a half off the weight.
Ron's meter...Scroll up a few messages in this thread and you'll see his name. Click on his name and send him a PM. But then again I see you are new and I think new people can't PM until they post enough public messages. Read the forum rules and find out. His meter mounts on the shaft and is not that internal meter by somebody else which is called the Insight Meter. Be careful getting that, as it won't work with SEF coils and isn't useful unless you have the control box hip or chest mounted where you can see it. You also can't use another meter once that one is installed in the machine. Some who hip or chest mount love that meter, though.
Ok thank you for the information. I like how you were able to shave off that much weight with your mods. I think I will start hanging out on the classifieds to see what comes up now that Minelab is gonna be releasing that CTX; maybe I can snag a deal on a great used Sovereign GT!
Critterhunter
New member
I bet you'll see a lot of used Etracs, SE Pros, and even GTs up for sale as people want the latest that Minelab has to offer. Right now used Etracs are as hard to find as hen's teeth. Se Pros a little easier, and older Explorers even easier than the GT to find and at a better price. I'd say the GT used is probably just about as rare to find as an Etrac, and the price on used GTs has gone up since they raised the price of a new one. They seem to hold onto their resale value very well. But as said, yes...I bet you'll see a lot of other Minelabs go up for sale by people who just have to try the new machine. On the other hand, many guys do that and end up going back to the other Minelab they used to own. Just look at how many Etrac guys went on to try the Deus, and many of those same guys ended up going back to the Etrac.
I posted a thread on the light weight mods. Search for "light weight" or "custom" and you'll probably find it. If you can't then drop me a note and I'll dig it up for you.
I posted a thread on the light weight mods. Search for "light weight" or "custom" and you'll probably find it. If you can't then drop me a note and I'll dig it up for you.
Critterhunter
New member
I'm thinking new in the box that's probably a good price. Not sure but I think a new GT is more than that from dealers. Anybody? I paid $650 used for my GT and that included the Digisearch meter and thought I got a great deal, but as said the prices are a bit higher now on used ones because of the price increase.
imalookin2
New member
You can get one used right here on this forum. Look at the classifieds. Some guy named imalookin2 has one posted. Oh heck, that is ME.Habanero said:
OR you can buy one from Ron. He posted just before you asked where you can get a meter. Check his post or my classified. So easy a cave man can do it.Critterhunter
New member
You can also post a Want To Buy post in the classifieds section. That's how I snagged my GT as well as my S-5 coil. Come to think of it, that's how I got my 12x10 too. Great resource. Many people won't post an item for sale but rather wait to see somebody say they want to buy something, so post a WTB add. Even still, Ron's meter is probably cheaper new than any used Sovereign meter out there and from what I hear works fantastic so you might want to go that route. If you do buy a used meter I'd lean away from the old 550 meters and get any meter that uses 180 as it's highest ID number, as most Sovereign guys prefer the 180 meter...But there are some hardcore 550 meter fans out there too.