New MineLab Explorer XS

[ganixle]

Got a small time local dealer going out of business, selling Minelab Explorer XS (2 each) new in box for $765.00 each shipping included anywhere in the US also has a Minelab Musketeer for $325.00 new in box shipped anywhere in US. I just bought one today on the spot when he told me the price. Got it together and am finding it to be a totally different animal and a large learning process to follow. First day out tomorrow on preset.

Let me know if you need his contact information, he takes credit cards.

 

[D&P-OR]

BE CAREFUL!---See Eltons post on XS repair.

 

[amustel]

Ganixle, do not sweat on it. Until this moment they are only RUMORS. Great buy. Enjoy it!

 

[D&P-OR]

Just saying---Watch Minelabs 10 year "axe list" as that list is NOT a rumor.----I purchased a XS new in '02 (don't know how long they made them before that) but it has to be approaching 10 yrs (total).----At this point in time, Minelab has stated that they are still serviceing the XS.-----Enjoy your new XS--it's a great machine (as is ALL the Explorers/Etrac).

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Second version 2000 XS the 11 model and SE and now the e-TRAC...Rumors tend to be half truths and using the first 3 all were similiar so imagine Minelab will have parts for a while...Talked to Minelab within the last week and they stated as long as they have the parts will service even the original XS-99 version...

 

[D&P-OR]

Dan----Was that the "S" model Explorer that came out in '99 (and the XS in 2000)?------There was that EX "S" that came out but never really did "fly" because it was something of a less featured XS.----For about the same money (not much more), a person could purchase the XS.---That's what most people did (opted for the XS).----Some problems early on with the XS (ask me AND OTHERS)! -----Minelab quality has REALLY improved since those days (IMHO).-----They ARE great machines!---------Del

 

[ganixle]

Well guys my first day out with this thing was a hoot. Went to a really trashy area in Apalachicola Florida that has produced some old Spanish and US Coins along with the odd button and civil war relic from time to time and went nuts trying to figure the thing out. Found a neat twenty five cent trade token along with some modern coins at another location. The guy gave me a small 5 inch coil to go with it just this afternoon so I'm thinking of returning soon for a rematch. This thing is so much different from White's, my old Minelab Sovereign and the Troy Shadow X-5. I'll be bugging the crap out of the Explorer guru for some advice as long as he'll put up with me. I started out on factory presets and later adjusted sensitivity and gain up along with threshold down to where I could just barely hear it. Having a heck of a time pinpointing but did locate one good sounding target really deep and in an area too difficult to dig with what I had. It was under a thick layer of oyster shells along the sidewalk and they are pretty much cemented together with sand and clay.

Stopped at the beach on the way back and after having my eyeballs seared out of my head in the mid day sun, I lasted only about 10 minutes before calling it quits.

 

[Shambler]

That's too bad. It's arguably the best one they've ever made.

 

[ganixle]

Back to the trashy iron site today, over an hour away. Heat and bugs were bad but with the small coil got to work sorting out some things and with the thing set to max on sensitivity, 8 on gain, deep on and threshold lowered to a comfortable hum I was able to snipe out 3 wheaties, an old button, a brass ring and an ornamental piece of brass along with an assortment of lead and even a handful of iron pieces that were quite large. The good targets sounded so sweet. All sharp and repeatable. It took some doing to separate the good targets from the junk but I'm learning. If anyone can help, I am getting quite a few good sounding targets that end with a sound not at all unlike someone beating on a bongo drum...good sound one or two swings and then bong....none of those turned up anything good.

 

[RiverJohn]

Might have the sensitivity to high.

 

[chuck ky]

was it just one bong or several at once. it does a funny type of overload on large targets but i wouldn't call it a bong. good luck.

 

[ganixle]

It was a deep bong sound after several repeated high tone sounds. I'll try turning the sensitiviy down and see what happens.