Still use the Compass 100khz 77 and it's variants?

[PennyFinder]

How many of you still run the Compass 77, Judge, etc 100khz detectors for high iron laden sites like old houses and such. What do you like most about the 77's capabilities.What would be some other specialized uses the 77 would niche into?
My mother lost her wedding ring long ago when she though out the wash water in front of the old homestead and went down a gopher hole on the family farm. The problem is that my uncle was the local welder for the area and there is thousands of burnt welding rod stubs littering the spot. This will make any detector go bonkers. Sure would be nice to find it for her after all these years.
The Compass 100khz detectors, I feel would be the top gun for this hunt.
What do you fellas think?

PennyFinder

 

[PennyFinder]

Here is a darn good reason to swing one. Depth is over rated anyway. I'd rather see more good targets.

http://www.dankowskidetectors.com/behindthemask.htm

PennyFinder

 

[PennyFinder]

Here is another good reason to swing the 77.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXxhIVZIrpg


PennyFinder

 

[Monte]

How many of you still run the Compass 77, Judge, etc 100khz detectors for high iron laden sites like old houses and such.

I've been thinning my collection and recently sold an excellent-working 77B Automatic and a 77B professional (worked great but needed new battery clips and holders) to Keith. There are a few older TR's (non-discriminating) that I loved to use, in their day, that still have some limited usefulness., certainly the 77-B Professional is/was one of the best of the bunch.

What do you like most about the 77's capabilities. What would be some other specialized uses the 77 would niche into?

What I like about most of those old high frequency TR's was their ability to deal with iron. Some did it better than others. Back then, in the late '60s and early '70s, we had a lot of silver and other older coins most everywhere, and the bulk of the trash we had to contend with was iron-based, such as nails, bottle caps, "church key" bottle openers, and small foil, etc.

What I liked best was the very quick response and ability to audibly discern (classify) most iron trash. These were not depth monsters, regardless of how they appear/appeared to work in bench-test demonstrations. The ground mineral environment could really hamper depth, and cause tuning/falsing challenges if the ground texture was uneven.

For me, they tend to be at their best when most desired targets are located (anticipated to be) rather shallow and the primary trash targets are nails and other small iron.

My mother lost her wedding ring long ago when she though out the wash water in front of the old homestead and went down a gopher hole on the family farm. The problem is that my uncle was the local welder for the area and there is thousands of burnt welding rod stubs littering the spot. This will make any detector go bonkers. Sure would be nice to find it for her after all these years.
The Compass 100khz detectors, I feel would be the top gun for this hunt.
What do you fellas think?

My Dad bought a new house in '72 and when working to put in the yard he lost a very nice, "showy" diamond ring. A professional musician, this was a ring that would easily catch your eye as you watched him work a keyboard.

At the time, I was using three different models, the primary unit being my 77B Professional. It was lost somewhere in the yard, but since they were shoveling piles of dirt to wheelbarrow to various spots in the yard and garden area, and planting a few shrubs, it could have been anywhere. And it could have been shallow or deep. Since it was a new home there was very little trash as there hadn't been any time for it to accumulate. There were naturally a few nails and some pieces of clipped aluminum, but very, very little trash.

I searched for it frequently when I went to their house. Years went by and I put many a detector and coil to the test there. It wasn't a big yard, either. Not as big as what they had during the previous 21+ years. Since the principle junk target was the annoying iron nail, I figured I might "get lucky" with a good TR. I didn't. Then came the TR- discriminators, and then the best of them for potentially deep targets, the VLF All metal models.

Working with a number of different makes and models in a smallish, dedicated yard that I knew the history of (I helped move all that trucked-in dirt around ), I was able to better learn and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different type of detectors, not just brands. When Compass came out with their excellent TR's they boasted that you should bury a penny and 3" and compare their detector with the competition. I can tell you that I did this, on many occasions, and there was only one TR that I felt provided comparable depth but actually quieter operation. That raspy, sputtery threshold audio of an early Compass TR with the Sensitivity set high could be annoying, but boy, they really could get a bit better "depth" than the competition. many models o the day wouldn't do well, if do anything, on a fresh-buried 3" coin.

However, in-ground detection depth was far from what an "air test" would suggest, especially in a more mineralized environment. That was back in the early days when TR's were gaining popularity over BFO, even though many still regarded a good BFO as the better all-purpose detector. I owned several Compass Klondike and Compass Yukon models. ALL OF THEM, as a matter of fact, and I wouldn't mind using a good-working versions on the IB/TR Yukons to look for a recently lost ring that was most likely shallow.

If your mother's ring went down a gopher hole, and if it happened "long ago," then my guess is that the ring is deeper than what a Compass or other TR is likely to detect. It would make a good story if you found it, and what it was found with and the depth it was located at. Sometime in the early-mid '90s, after my Dad had passed away and my Mother was moving, she was removing and potting a few of her favorite shrubs that Mom & Dad planted when they bought the new house. These shrubs, lined up in the flower bed in front of the living room window, had a root base that was about 9"-10" deep. Making sure she had plugged around the roots to not damage one of the last plants, Mom lifted it into a pot and, looking down at the bottom, under the plant at about 10

 

[PennyFinder]

Thanks for the reply there Monte,

You say you thinned out the herd a bit and sold a 77b auto to Keith, is that the rather unused one that he modded with a s rod?
If so I own it now. It was sold on the Compass forum, where I'm known as FoilFinder. It's inthe mail, can't wait until it gets here.
This unit should work nice in the pea gravel tot lots we have here, where there is alot of target masking with the iron bits in it.
You say you would like to run the IB Compass models, is that the 94IB and 77IB models? Why is that, wouldn't the 94B/77B/ 77Auto be more desirable?
The hottest 100khz Compass I have now is a red button Judge 2 Auto, it air tests a thin 18k ladies diamond ring at 9". This is compared to my 77IB and 77B.
Hopefully my new 77B Auto will trump it. The bottle cap rejection switch on the Judge 2 is rather interesting although not perfect as some bottle caps have foil and aluminum paint to through a curve ball into it, not to mention rusty ones.
We have an old 1800's park that is just littered with them.

It's is nice you Mother found your Dad's ring before she moved out. I feel you are right that my moms ring might not be found. Perhaps the Richardson's Ground Squirrel's hole it slipped into, liked shinny things and presented it to his significant other for a Mother's day present and it is now 8 feet under below the frost line safe and sound for generations to come! But then again you never know.

PennyFinder

 

[Monte]

You say you thinned out the herd a bit and sold a 77b auto to Keith, is that the rather unused one that he modded with a s rod?
If so I own it now. It was sold on the Compass forum, where I'm known as FoilFinder. It's in the mail, can't wait until it gets here.

Might be. I know the one he bought from me was quite clean and worked well.

You say you would like to run the IB Compass models, is that the 94IB and 77IB models? Why is that, wouldn't the 94B/77B/ 77Auto be more desirable?

IB Induction (or Transmit) / Balance (or Receive) are basically just nifty terms for the same thing. Popularity of terminology made T/R win-out. What I said was:

I owned several Compass Klondike and Compass Yukon models. ALL OF THEM, as a matter of fact, and I wouldn't mind using a good-working version of the IB/TR Yukons to look for a recently lost ring that was most likely shallow.

By that I mean that if I was to set out in search of a known lost ring, which had a high likelihood of being shallow (such as in tall grass, etc.), then a good IB/TR model could tackle the job and I wouldn't mind using one. It wouldn't be my first pick, but I wouldn't hesitate to employ a good, non-discriminating TR detector.

I stated, I had them all from Compass, that I am aware of, and also had a couple of Judge models. The Discriminating units just never met my demands compared with the straight TR's. While I did get to put all of the IB/TR models to the test afield, I find I am in error and need to correct my statement:

Pardon my oversight as I only recall having 5 of the 6 models in the Klondike series.

By the way, I mentioned the Klondike series and odds are you've never had one of those. As a matter of fact, most people didn't know Compass made them. If memory serves me (it's been quite a while), I only had the Klondike 45-BFO and the Klondike 44-BFO which was a chest-mount/body-mount version, and the Klondike 41-BFO and not the Klondike 40-BFO (the chest/body mount version), and the low-end single coil Klondike 64-BFO and Klondike 60-BFO.

The Klondike 44 & 45 BFO's had a meter zero and Sensitivity control not found on the 41 & 41 BFO. The Klondike 45, 44, 41 and 40 BFO's came with two coils: a 5" solid coil, and a 3

 

[PennyFinder]

Hi There Monte,

Checked with Keith and yup he confirmed the 77b auto I have, was in fact the one you sold him. Sure nice to own a 77B with some providence.
Did you own it for very long? Your kind of my detecting mentor. I'm tickled!

You say "By that I mean that if I was to set out in search of a known lost ring, which had a high likelihood of being shallow (such as in tall grass, etc.), then a good IB/TR model could tackle the job and I wouldn't mind using one. It wouldn't be my first pick, but I wouldn't hesitate to employ a good, non-discriminating TR detector."

What would be your first pick, the Classic? Sure like my Classic III on the beach, fast and light like a quick-draw pistol, deadly in trash.

Kay Modgling used a Compass 94B auto to amass $60,000 in the late 70's and early 80's before her passing. Index that to todays money and it would be at least twice that.http://www.kellycodetectors.com/hunt_amazing_treasure.htm
That's impressive for an outdated machine, mind you there was lots to find, but I'd put some merit in the machine as well. No coin masking to worry about. Like you say a pro competition hunters six gun.

Those Compass Klondike BFO's are sure rare now as not many were made, Garrett had the BFO market then. I have read about them but never had my hands on one.

My 77B auto hasn't arrived as of yet, but that's OK cause as you well know the Pacific Northwest monsoon season scorneth us mortals. Think I need a scooby doo suit if I'm ever going to get some detecting done.
Will yet you know how I do on the tot lots as soon as it arrives.

Keep yer tinder dry!
PennyFinder

 

[PennyFinder]

Well There Monte,
Your old 77B Auto came to me in the mail today, and I must say what a nice little specimen.
Briefly took her for a stroll in a tot lot for a half hour that I'd previously cleaned out with my Classic III SL. Never dug any iron targets what so ever.
I'm happy to say, I was finding those micro snaps from little baby bunting, so it should be good for micro jewelry.
The 77B Auto forces you to dig all foil targets, which is proper discipline for your upping your gold count .
The coins and rings hit hard with an unmistakable sound. Had her set to full volume on the machine, full volume on the Gray Ghosts and adjusted the tuning to a a light sizzle sound on the threshold, which the auto circuit stably maintained nicely throughout the hunt.
Love the none masking of good targets ability, and the fast response, but you can't get too close to the steel posts with the stock coil.
The S rod mod definitely adds positive ergonomics to the machine, you could swing it all day and just require a cup of tea for a refreshment instead of a chiropractor.
I see why the pro competition crowd venerates this model for their hunts.
This particular unit bench tested on my 1969 US test Dime, 6 to 7 inches in air, using the middle position on the ground adjustment setting, not too shabby for a 35 year old TR machine.
All in all not a bad dirt fishing rod! Can't wait to try it at some of the old iron target rich, houses we have around here.


PennyFinder

 

[kd7aik]

I still use a 77b have 2 the 77b and the 77b auto use them in sites were theres alot of nails not even the new machine can find coins in such places

 

[PennyFinder]

For a 35 year old detector, the 77 sure has a dedicated group of fans still. Compass really has the unique ability to ignore iron or more precisely, good targets aren't masked by iron as the VLF detectors do. The PI machines aren't bothered by masking but their iron discrimination capabilities are not quite mastered as of yet.
Have you used the reverse discrimination technique as illustrated in John's video above? The old 77B is a very reliable machine to boot, pretty cool.


PennyFinder

 

[Monte]

I've had some stinker models through the years ... from many manufacturers ... and certainly the 77B Auto's have been hot-or-cold. That unit was perhaps the best performing 'Auto' I ever owned.

Enjoy it, and I know you'll enjoy the physical mod that was done to it. The old style rod/housing configurations make you wonder how you ever lasted to make it into this modern era.

Monte

 

[PennyFinder]

Ah, thanks there Monte, that's good to know. Yep some of those old lunch box detectors made us into the the knuckle draggers we are today! LOL!
The little 77b auto sure does clean up in the bark chips, I like it alot ,as I am amazed at the micro jewelry it finds.

Earlier in this thread you said "By that I mean that if I was to set out in search of a known lost ring, which had a high likelihood of being shallow (such as in tall grass, etc.), then a good IB/TR model could tackle the job and I wouldn't mind using one. It wouldn't be my first pick, but I wouldn't hesitate to employ a good, non-discriminating TR detector."
Just curious,what would be your first pick Monte?

PennyFinder

 

[Monte]

Earlier in this thread you said:

"By that I mean that if I was to set out in search of a known lost ring, which had a high likelihood of being shallow (such as in tall grass, etc.), then a good IB/TR model could tackle the job and I wouldn't mind using one. It wouldn't be my first pick, but I wouldn't hesitate to employ a good, non-discriminating TR detector."

Just curious,what would be your first pick Monte?

Note, if you will, that I qualified by saying IF I was to set out in search of a lost ring that was likely shallow in grass (not pea gravel, etc.), and I also stated that a non-discriminating IB/TR model wouldn't be my first pick today.

So, of those non-discriminating detectors that I recall enjoying the most, let me include a Model 63 TR White's as well as a Model 64 TR. While I had all of the T-20 versions from Fisher, it was the Orion 121 w/11" coil that I found the most coins with from that maker. From Garrett it would be their Master Hunter TR or Competition Master TR (same detector except the Master Hunter came with two coils, having a 13"X16" DD to compliment the stock 8" DD. Another Garrett would be the simpler mini-Hunter Ghostowner. From Compass I'd take a 77-B or 77-B Automatic, or even one of the less-featured IB/TR units.

I narrowed it to these models from White's and Garrett because although I had/used others, these got the job done just fine for me. A couple of the early TR's were more "special" to me for various reasons and I have searched for decades now trying to find an excellent looking and working specimen. No luck.

Monte

 

[Digger]

[pre]
Master Hunter TR or Competition Master TR
[/pre]


Same way I feel about my Money Hunter TR. At $169.00, it was sure tough to justify spending 2-weeks pay on a metal detector! But as it turned out, cheap price for the hobby it grew into. HH Randy