I just read recently on a dealer forum that “for the same basic cost” a new GPX-4000 could be purchased by the time an SD2100 was modified with all the bells and whistles that most serious 21 users have their machines outfitted with.

Hmmm. (that wasn’t my exact thought or reaction but, use your imagination. I’m trying to be nice here).

A brand new Minelab GPX-4000 has a street price of $3995.00. Normally this comes with a host of accessories with the package deals that are often offered with purchase. In the If you go to a local dealer (which I always suggest) rather than a discount dealer, you will get after purchase support for life and usually some free field instruction as well and the savings from a discount dealer doesn’t usually add up to much anyhow.

So $3995 vs. ?? What exactly….?

Well, it’s like this:

New SD2100 with factory warranty: $1695

Ismael Mod Box: $275(estimate)

2 12v Batteries from Batteries plus $50

OR

Coiltek LI Pocket Rocket $275

Black Widow Headphones $135

Coiltek amp $100
Total Cost: $2205

or

$2255 if you go with the Ismael mods ( which most people don’t).
That’s it folks. I suppose you could just go nuts and purchase your batteries at jacked up dealer prices and go ahead and get an extra protective cover at $39.95 (normally free in the package deal), but why would you do that? Even still, it would even come close to a new GPX4000.

Here is what my setup cost me:
Used 2100 with 3 stock coils: $1000.

Used 12v batteries with Coiltek amp and regulator $90.

Used Coiltek 14″ mono $ A 3.5 gram nugget I found with the stock coil.

A brand new set of Black Widow headphones $120 or something.

And that is it. All equipment has paid for itself in gold! Can you say the same thing? For less than $1300 I’ve got all those brutally costly mods and all the rigamarole. Oh man, what a fool I am.

I should have bought a GPX 4000 for the same basic cost.

I challenge anyone to sell me a GPX for $1300. I’ll pay you off in gold!

Whatever. I’ve spent exactly $0 on coils so far from my $2800 budget, instead opting to trade a nugget.

How does $2800 equate to “Same basic cost”?

IT DOESN’T!

Remember, comments are always open here but $2800 bucks is a lot of money. I’ve supported a family of 5 on less for a month on many occasions believe it or not.

The thing that ticks me off is, if I was to believe all this crap, I’d still be out of a hobby and I suspect many take one look at all the advertised cost and hype and just go off looking for a less expensive hobby. Not everybody is wealthy to the point where they can afford the best of the best in this hobby. The GPX may be the best, I don’t know.Time will tell if it will actually surpass the performance of the GPExtreme (the real GPX). I’ll bet it’s pretty darn good or close. I’ve recommended people buy them (because they stated cost was no object) and I’d buy one myself if I could afford it (which I can’t).
I’m not against dealers or new detectors or Minelab or anything like that. The truth is, I want them to succeed because Minelab makes the best gold detectors around. Someday, I may either make enough to actually afford one or I’ll buy another used one. Probably from a dealer! (Ebay can be risky). Like another wise one said on one of the forums - Minelab needs to develop a hype filter for their next machine.

Then again maybe not. Like I said, I want them to succeed and do so large. If you believe all the hype about these machines, you deserve to buy every new machine that comes onto the market, every 18 months to two years. I hope you have a good time paying for the machines in gold.

Want a truely honest dealer opinion?

Steve Herschbach

I’ve posted it before but go see what the honorable Mr. Herschbach has to say about the various models of Minelab. It’s the same thing I’ve been saying for awhile now. Bravo Steve! Honesty rocks the house!

Good luck. End of rant…