gpx4800 or 5000

Hi guys,
I am havin a battle with my other self.
I am going to upgrade from my gp3500 up to either a 48 or a 5000. Now the plan was always going to be to get a gpx5000 for obvious reasons.Cant geta price on a new 4500 as there is none. So I went into a couple of shops yesty to check em out although I already new the basic costs etc.
On the shelf was a brand new gpx4800 for $4990, and a gpx5000 for $6500, the 4800 comes with one coil and the5000 comes with two, no big deal as im gonna git some new coil- tec coils anyway, ya know the grey spoked ones. Both tectors come with the usual three year warrantee, I know the 4800 has less functions than a 5000 and not really any more than the 4500.
Does the difference in price justify the difference in the machines.
I prefer to buy a new machine than a used one.
Not many people seem to own a 4800 so im after some positives and negatives to help me decide.

Thanks
Rw

G'day rw,
Personally I would go for the 5 as the fine gold soil timing alone is worth that extra money to get those small nuggets. So the 5 will add up to more gold in the end versus the 48.

Hi roga,

How soon do you want a new tector. this looks like a good deal.

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Thanks Cliff,
That is a good deal and have looked and been considering it a coupla times. May is the time I will make my purchase as I cant get out there till then and will be for two weeks of every month until November atleast.
Lot of coin to spend with no warrantee im thinkin, that's the clincher for me. Im probably wrong but when a tector blanks out a lot over tin targets etc it is sayin "ouch !!!" and maybe its hurting the machines components. I wont detect over junk areas for that reason no matter how much gold maybe lie beneath. So a well used but in good condition doesnt appeal as much as a virgin ML.
To buy a second hand machine I will need to see it and turn it on for a paddock test first. Also the 4800 does have soil timings "I think" but just not as many as a 5000

Thanks RW

I made an enquiry on that detector 2 days ago, unfortunately for the rest of us searching for one a guy was picking it up today according to the owner.

cheers
Darren

Banjo
Not surprise it sold, Im sure they will be happy with that deal.
RW

I'm a bit like you RW, usually like to buy new with a full warranty but with those coils it was tempting   

Darren

when u get here in the pilbara come and see me and i have a deal u will like..
either the 4800 or 5000 package..

regards
oneday

Oneday,
coolcool. End of April mate I will be making a purchase for one or the other and will be in touch for sure.
Although not goin much further than Leo as you know the area I hunt. So might have to be a postal job. not a problem doin that from you.
cheers
RW

no problem--look after members of the forum..

regards
oneday

then i take a bounty on all gold--  

It's a no-brainer. The 5000. Nobody will be interested in buying a 4800 when you want to upgrade.

Robert

used the 48 today and found a small piece of the color which brings out the mystery in people.

Also pinged a hot rock so that might b a bit of a downfall but the area had a heap of iron stone-calcrete-little bit of quartz-conglomerate-and blue star rock.
All wash country coming down of the hills out the back of Ktown.

After about 10am it was too bloody hot to carry on so came home for a nanna nap under the air conditioner.-.April and the temp is still 37c

A great detector if u want to prospect for 2 months a year and u are prepared to get out and look for new ground, and the up side it that it runs smooth and its ability to play on the beach is another avenue that should make it an allround machine.

The gold up were I am isn't very deep gold at the best of times--sure there are the occasional hole about 18" deep but I would guess that that prospector had a 20" coil on or larger coz all the surrounding potholes are usually not that deep.

I'm in the Pilbara but Leonora might b a different ball game.

So in all fairness I have now a second hand detector for sale if anyone wants one.

regards
oneday

Oneday,
Thanks for the feedback, The area I go has hotrocks all over it, my buddy's 5000 still pings em too. But no where near as many that my 3500 lights up on.
Im still pretty keen on a 4800.sent you a pm.

Later
RW

mate when u get set up I'll send it down for u to try out and let us know if she works in that sort of country.

hot rocks are a worry. ...but I only had one for 2 hours of detecting.

regards
oneday

Awesome,
Only one hotty in two hours, "is that all", geez I get one every ten minutes with the 3500. haha. First week in May i'll be on it. POW-P and 40e all sent in by then.

Cheers
RW

one thing i did notice and that was when u turn it on there r a few things u must do to get it humming..

check the 2 lead connections going into the box--jiggle them and make sure they r firmly in position.

check the front panel to make sure the switches are in the position that they should be--Momo-if using a mono coil but i think the DD is more suited than the mono coils.

make sure u r not in CANCEL...

I usually leave my machines in FIXED. when in TRACKING u will hear the beep everytime u ground ballance..There was a tendancy for the machine to loose the signal on a couple of occasions but with a bit of perseverance shes all good.

EMI was evident however it was easily over come --I usually leave my machine in MANUAL TUNE so as when the warrbling occures then its a simple twist of the RH knob which either elevates or decreases the frequency rate..

There were 4 prospectors within a stones throw of each other and if u auto tune (press the button on the front panel) of yah machine by holding it up in there direction u will be back in the ball park.

next week if all is good I will venture out but this time take a couple of DD coils.

Will also play around with the HI MIneral setting as well..

we just got carried away trying to find gold..

regards
oneday

with ya roger on the hotrocks 3500 , mates out there all the time say get at least a 4500 , no more hotrocks , much ... I didn't bother when in the east Pilbara , all quiet creek work , no advantage , anyhow horses for courses