What Should be my First Detector? (Not that question again!)

Hello to everybody,
Firstly I wish to pass my thanks on to all of you who contribute to this forum, it gives a newbie like myself a wealth of information to digest and though it may not lead me to the alusive nugget, at least now I know that a hot rock is not only something that sits in a Weber BBQ. I have also just learnt that if a bird cant get off the ground then throw the metal detector over it as it may have eaten a nugget or two. hehe.
After recently returning from a daytrip to Bendigo I have found a keen interest in Bendigo's history and the Gold rushes of the 1850's. I went for a drive through Whipstick State Forest and was interested to see all the old diggings.
I noticed a few people prospecting near foxes bend track and it looked like an hobby that I could get into. Therefore my question to some of you is:
What is the best detector for a beginner that intends to detect for Gold in the Greater Bendigo State Forest, predominately in the Whipstick.
My budget is between 600 and 700 dollars as thats all we can really afford. Maybe down the track we can look at a GPX but for now I want something to learn on, getting the right technique and listening to the different tones sorted. I am not expecting to find Gold but want something that I can do whilst enjoying the bush and history of the area.
I have had a look at Whites, Bounty Hunter and the X-Terra but the X-Terra is obviously out of my price range for now. Im not particularly interested in hiring something as I would like to head up to Bendigo on numerous weekends and over time that hire cost will add up.
I hope I haven't put you to sleep and really appreciate that you have taken the time to read a post with such a lame subject line.

Regards,

Banksy

not going to get much with that price range i hate to say...you could go a sd 2000 there about $1000. the other thing is just keep saving to get the gpx...
cheers
stoppsy

Hi Banksy and welcome! The only dumb question is the one you dont ask.

The biggest nugget I ever found was with an old Minelab xt17000. Not saying this will happen but it does.

An elderly gentleman I know who frequents Ophir does reasonably well with either an Ace150 or Ace250.

On another forum I am a member of, a few days ago a thread was started with a pic of a nice little nugget some young fella scored with his Gold Snoop.
While I've never used one so cannot reccommend one, it goes to show there is still gold out there to be found with the detectors that are well within your price range.

p.s. while the top classed P.I. detectors like the GPX series sure do make it easier, what were they getting all that gold out with prior to P.I.'s? Granted, the easier gotten gold isn't as much, but there's a fair whack still there well within reach of a VLF

For around that sort of money or slightly more I suggest a second -hand gold bug 2 or whites gmt just having gone through the same dilemma. Iwent for the gmt due to the auto ground balance and the user friendliness. It is excellent on very small gold. But remember once you start talking any sort of serious depth you just can't go past a pulse induction detector and really speaking there is only the whites tdi and the series of minelabs. By the way make sure you get the oz version of the tdi if you ever consider,mark P.s. the guys on the forum probably have one for sale if you ask having got mine also from here. You'll find them a good mob to deal with,happy hunting

I'd go for the whites GMT, great little detector.
My other thought is to see what prices the 2000 goes for in a month or so.

Iagree,but i doubt that the 2000 will get down to the sorts of figures you are talking about,mark

G'day Banksy.

For that amount of money,i can only recommend the new Gold bug from Kellyco Metal detectors USA.
Less than $700Au delivered to Aus.But there's a slight waiting time at the moment,even though they state
that its currently available,check with them first.

Cheers kon61.

Hi welcome mate, same place i got my 2200 from has a goldmaster 2 for sale at moment one of the most sensative vlfs made, all auto too check em out mate / www.detectabizz.vpweb.com.au, hope i was of some help, cheers dasha

Justadash, the Goldmaster Vsat they are selling is not an auto G/B detector. Banksy have a look at the Whites GMZ they retail new for around $600 and are a lot easier to use than the older model Whites. mallee00 and the mutt