First time out

[markg]

Received the Gold Bug DP Thursday, but finally got out today.
Got to hunt about an hour before the skies became dark and the rain set in.
First thoughts were very promising.
Ground balance is much faster than previous machines I've used.
Extremely sensitivity to lower conductors like gold and nickels (a plus to me).
I did several air test using small gold nuggets and found this machine equal to or better than three other machines I've owned at half the cost.
I know, it might not seem like much, but one of these nickels was totally missed by another detector that cost almost three times as much as the Gold Bug.
I love the way you can adjust where the low/high tone breaks.
Stay tuned, more to come.

 

[godigit1]

Glad its looking good for you so far, I bought one of the non VCO Models(2.0 software) just before the 2.9 came out and then upgraded to a G2. Both are killer on the gold and low conductors. My buddies etrac does very well as well but when we check small gold I hit hard at twice the depth that he can barely scratch it. (1.2 gram 20K specimen used).
I really want to try the new Ctx but I just cant let the bug lie!!!! The 11DD is a great coil but if you can give the 5x10 coil a shot. It never comes off my G2 and the 5 stays on the bug.

Hope you get gold soon!!!!

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Nice! It only gets better!

 

[markg]

I would like to add to what I have learned since my first post.
I really like having two headphone options on this machine. As all know in very hot weather a regular, full size, set of headphones adds to the heat factor by a huge margin.
Using smaller, more compact stereo phones reduces the heat fatigue by a considerable amount, which in turns allows longer hunts in hot weather. One thing I would like to add about the placement of the headphone ports, which created a stress point for me especially when using a wide sweep. I was constantly worrying about bending or breaking the plug on the side of the control box as the headphone cord swung back and forth, but there seems to be no damage.
One very important thing to mention was the fact that lowering the gain did not change the depth of the machine by much. It did, as expected, reduce the volume of audio response of the deeper targets. But actually stabilized the ID numbers especially if there were other targets in the same area, case in point, I had detected what I believed was a nickel signal (it sounded better than junk) even though the ID numbers would jump from 55-62, I was running with the gain set to 95 (very stable). As I circled, the target the ID numbers were still jumpy, so I began reducing the gain and as I approached the setting of 50, the ID numbers became more constant ranging from 56-59. I dug, a 4

 

[godigit1]

Great observation,
Ive been saying for a long time now you don't want to run at max all the time but allot of people really love to run at max because you can.
I started as a nugget hunter primarily for the first 16 years I detected. It took a year for me to find my first nugget and that was because I listened to what everyone was saying about my machine (GM 3) run it hot!!!! Showing my Dad how to run his new Mxt I set up text book on my machine and was showing what hot and cold rocks sound like when I hit a good signal.
Thought for sure it was lead when I bit down on it but it came out of my mouth gold what a surprise.
I know this is different but I like to describe it like headlights in the fog some times less is more!

HH

 

[markg]

Great observation,
Ive been saying for a long time now you don't want to run at max all the time but allot of people really love to run at max because you can.
I started as a nugget hunter primarily for the first 16 years I detected. It took a year for me to find my first nugget and that was because I listened to what everyone was saying about my machine (GM 3) run it hot!!!! Showing my Dad how to run his new Mxt I set up text book on my machine and was showing what hot and cold rocks sound like when I hit a good signal.
Thought for sure it was lead when I bit down on it but it came out of my mouth gold what a surprise.
I know this is different but I like to describe it like headlights in the fog some times less is more!

HH

I agree with what you are saying. I might add one thing: If the ground is fairly clean, not a lot of targets, and the sink rate is high for the place you are hunting, running hot will have an advantage. But if the area is trashy, and the sink rate is slow, then reducing the sensitivity or gain will help with target masking and put a lot more goodies in your pouch.

 

[markg]

Glad its looking good for you so far, I bought one of the non VCO Models(2.0 software) just before the 2.9 came out and then upgraded to a G2. Both are killer on the gold and low conductors. My buddies etrac does very well as well but when we check small gold I hit hard at twice the depth that he can barely scratch it. (1.2 gram 20K specimen used).
I really want to try the new Ctx but I just cant let the bug lie!!!! The 11DD is a great coil but if you can give the 5x10 coil a shot. It never comes off my G2 and the 5 stays on the bug.

Hope you get gold soon!!!!

Eventhough the Etrac is my main machine at the moment I've also noticed the same on low conductors. In my opinion, by my observations, the Gold Bug out performs the Etrac on low conductors.

 

[Smudge]

Yes, its those high conductors like bottlecaps that are a killer to deal with.

 

[GunnarMN]

Its working for U keep up the pressure on those sites.

 

[markg]

The iron audio while in Pro Mode will allow identification of steel bottle caps close to 100% of the time. Very interesting sounds.

 

[Smudge]

Glad its looking good for you so far, I bought one of the non VCO Models(2.0 software) just before the 2.9 came out and then upgraded to a G2. Both are killer on the gold and low conductors. My buddies etrac does very well as well but when we check small gold I hit hard at twice the depth that he can barely scratch it. (1.2 gram 20K specimen used).
I really want to try the new Ctx but I just cant let the bug lie!!!! The 11DD is a great coil but if you can give the 5x10 coil a shot. It never comes off my G2 and the 5 stays on the bug.

Hope you get gold soon!!!!

Those Minelab FBS detectors just don't have the sensitivity to small gold like the G2/GB detectors do.

 

[Smudge]

The iron audio while in Pro Mode will allow identification of steel bottle caps close to 100% of the time. Very interesting sounds.

The Gold Bug has an iron audio and a Pro mode?

 

[EtracTom-AdirondacksNY]

No, he's thinking of an At Pro machine.

 

[markg]

The iron audio while in Pro Mode will allow identification of steel bottle caps close to 100% of the time. Very interesting sounds.

I apologize for not making myself clear. The Pro mode is on the Garrett AT Pro.

 

[KyJoe]

Same experience with my Bug DP, alot of nickels I missed with my other machines. And it will run quiet in iron, hallelujah. Found my Grandfather's gold wedding band (lost in the late 80's) in the front yard. I know I passed my other detectors over it but the Bug found it. As for deep silver it is adequate, but for low conductors the Bug is truly hard to beat.

 

[Hobbyist]

Thought for sure it was lead when I bit down on it but it came out of my mouth gold what a surprise.

HH

Spare your teeth! Get a streak plate to test your finds. I made mine from part of a ceramic tile, and if there's any color in the find, it'll show up when rubbed.

 

[Coinex]

Same experience with my Bug DP, alot of nickels I missed with my other machines. And it will run quiet in iron, hallelujah. Found my Grandfather's gold wedding band (lost in the late 80's) in the front yard. I know I passed my other detectors over it but the Bug found it. As for deep silver it is adequate, but for low conductors the Bug is truly hard to beat.

Nice! I am new here and I already read a lot of good info and topics. Hope this will be the beginning of good relationships with "true blue" collectors...