minelab SD 2000 metal detector - past it's prime?

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to pose a question out of curiosity. Is the minelab SD 2000 (or anything in the SD range) past it's prime or still reasonably suitable for todays conditions as a starting unit?

All responses are appreciated,

Nature Pete

Hi is it

Old plastic Records,minelab SD 2000


then CD,s and 3d Television GPX4500 +GPX 5000

Mate as a newbie to prospecting it will be a good unit for you to start with and learn and it will find you gold, I am only saying this if you dont want to jump in and spend over $5000+ for a 4500 and even more for the 5000 it would be a cheaper start for you to buy a 2000 hope this helps.

Hi Pete,

My theory is......if the SD found the gold when it was first released, it'll find it today. I've seen plenty of pics of big nuggets found with the SD.

The machines have advanced, but the old one's still find the good stuff.

So if your budget doesn't stretch to $6k + for a 5000, go for it. Your still gunna find the yellow stuff. And when that happens you can maybe upgrade to the latest machine.

Good luck

Don't you believe it, mate :

I started off with a stock standard un-modified second-hand SD 2000, as did my two younger bros'.
Two of us about three years ago, youngest bro around 18 years ago.

Some of our finds with this 'older technology' may be of interest ?
721 gms Magnificent Specimen, 13plus OUNCE solid nugget, 4plus ounce Specimen, 51 gm nugget, etc. etc.... And many, many other lovely pieces .....
These are genuine and documented finds - obviously the highlights, amongst many other almost unbelievable finds - ALL in North and Central Qld.
BUMMER :
Just spent 20 minutes trying to put photos' up - not very successful there !

OK - Disregard that 'bummer' bit - looks like i did it, at last !!! Yahoo !!!





For the record, one brother has subsequently upgraded to a GPX5000, traversed his old SD 2000 haunts and picked up nearly $10,000 over old worked ground, in a period of less than two weeks (thusly paying for his new technology already!! )

The other brother and myself still have our SD2000's, now modified ( by Ismael Jones).
I also have had the good fortune of acquiring Ismael Jones' (WA) personal and original fully modified SD 2000 - (his 'baby' - the first of two only ever made! ) but not yet used in anger !!! - that's how impressed I am with 'this older technology !!~' ............
BUT, given the $$$ this year - I will be getting a GPX 5000 myself, as will the other brother !!
I am a great believer in the hoary old adage :
" IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT THE BEST OF EVERYTHING - THEN MAKE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING YOU HAVE !!

To summarise, Nature Pete - a good second hand SD 2000 (get Woody or some-one to modify it with the standard mods) would be ideal to start with, as would any of the other early MineLab SD series - then get out and LEARN THE MACHINE !!!

Like St. Clint said ....... works for me !!

Will try and get my photo's up, just to 'whet the appetite. ' \
I might also mention that I am very much an amateur prospector, with very limited experience compared to many on here. TAKE HEART !!!

Thank you Pedro, Bandito, Modernprospector and shelby23. The responses were exactly what I was looking for. As I said in the original post, it was just out of curiosity to see what people thought of the earleir models. I have already decided to go down the path of the X terra 70 or 705 as they will suit what I wish to do with it (gold and relics). I just noticed as I was looking around that the SD 2000's were around the same price second hand as the latest X terra would be, so I thought I would post the question. For example:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110660881789&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com.au%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp4712.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D110660881789%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

It took my interest and I understand that people wish to have the 'latest and greatest' (like a GPX 5000) and if I only wanted to chase gold, I would definately consider it, especially after Pedro's comments. Sooner (hopefully) or later I will be out there amounst it and I can't wait, but I believe it's always better to ask the question than wonder about the answer.

Thanks again guys,

Nature Pete.

G'day Pete.

If you going to go for an SD series,(modded or not) go for the later of the three,because of the auto ground tracking system.
As Pedro the gold has stated they certainly haven't past their time yet.I still use one every now and then,with large DDs
on heavily mineralized ground,here in VIC.

Cheers kon61.

I had my SD2100 serviced at Minelab within the last 6 months. During the service I spoke to a 'tech' over the phone (pleasant chap). He said they don't 'carry' any more parts for the SD detectors.
So if a repair needs a replacement part, they would have to use a second hand part.
(just to let you know).

Hi All
Every two years the dirt doesnt change.Because of this previous models are very relevent.
Cheers Dig

G'day Pedro the Gold.

Exquisite is the word on those specimens.Bravo,exceptional finds,well done.

Cheers kon61.

Here are two little ones I found this morning with my SD2100 and the standard 11inch DD.



Will have to clean the one on the right with 'acid' to see how 'little' it really is.
The one on the left is 0.8 of a gram, found away from the diggings, sitting on top of the clay below the gravel.

Damn Clay Base,Just when I thought the dollar coin was starting to show its head,the notorious 5 cent coin took over the show once again. The tear drop on the left looks very nice though.Well done.

Cheers kon61.

Nature-Pete, an old MLSD2000 is fine.It is a Benchmark as unmodifided to coil testing for PI.the deepest field strenght,out of any Minelabs PI range to the GPX5000 even!This has been Graphed as true!still!on standard ML coils and other.
I do R&D works for PulsemateCoils from time to time an seen the datas!
The Refinement on processing and ground balance for more modern ML machines Tho is paramount tho for user,in nugget hunting 2011 .
Go for the best ML PI you can afford for your $$ at hand.dont waste it on an VLF machine,regardless off the cred.?not even ML705 X terra.
Just my 2 cents worth?Cheers!
Rov

I think if you are going to walk the same forests that have been detected since the early 1990"s (SD)and you expect to find gold you need better equipment than the previous searchers,or be a better operater than them or both. Luck plays a part but skill and equipment goes a long way. Rwork

My biased opinion:-Don't get a VLF, get a PI. Don't spend too much at the start, until you are sure you're really into prospecting. SD2000 & SD2100 are fantastic, but SD2200d are equally as good with the added bonus that it has automatic ground balance. Buy an SD2200d learn to use it (it's really a very simple machine), find gold, when you've found enough to buy a GPX, cash in your gold and buy it. You'll still get roughly all your money back for the SD2200d which can go towards your GPX.
My biased opinion, take it or leave it...

I am alittle more biased here. I feel you should buy the best unit you can afford. The PI machines will always be better for the most part. If you are real serious then I feel you should get both a PI and a VLF. They both have their strong points and if you are serious about prospecting you will need what they both have to offer sooner or later.
90 percent of the time I run with a PI but the other 10 percent the VLF comes in very handy.

whylee, just wondering if you could explain that to me please... what or why would you need the vlf in the gold fields? (thats a fairdinkum serious question by the way)
Cheers buddy

.

TheH0ward wrote:whylee, just wondering if you could explain that to me please... what or why would you need the vlf in the gold fields? (thats a fairdinkum serious question by the way)
Cheers buddy

No problem. I use my VLF's ( Fisher GB ll, and Whites GMT) to hunt the smaller nuggets. I could use smaller coils on my PI's but its just easier with my VLF's. Also in some areas EMI is so bad that the PI's just will not run smooth. I hunt around some military areas and they can be noisy at times.
My VLF's tend to be lighter and more compact, so if I am packing back into a rough area and need to carry alot, I will carry the lighter VLF's.

ah okie dokie. I was just asking only because my vlf is soooooo noisy in our highly mineralised ground. You can hear a target 1. if its big enough and 2. if you know its there. But hearing a target amongst the chatter of mineralization without dropping the gain (in case you miss targets), well its definitly a skill, lol. Ive picked up plenty of lead by learning the difference but its really slow going and ive never lucked a piece of gold.

But i must say, its brilliant for relics!
thanks for explaining
cheers

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