Greg's Picks for VLF Gold Detectors for 2019

• Forward:   Any metal detector will respond to a gold nugget if its large enough to be heard according to the detector's circuit design. 
•   Factors to consider are the ability to ground balance without masking the nugget.   The quality of the circuit, frequency or frequencies also factor into whether the detector can see a match head nugget or smaller.   
• Todays special purpose gold detectors are of two types; VLF (Low frequencies under 100 KHz and PIs or Pulse Induction.   VLFs will detector all sorts of sizes but since the common gold nugget is match head or smaller, VLFs will detect them deeper than a PI.  That being said, PI detectors command more money but are quieter than the various VL:F Detectors and will hear the larger nuggets deeper.

Tarsacci MDT 8000....

The MDT is Tarsacci's only Model.   The Mission statement is to produce a Top Premium  Multi- Purpose Detector.   Tarsacci has succeeded in this limited distribution metal detector, made in the USA with some State of the Art advanced Technology combining the best aspects of VLF performance along AND the best that Pulse Induction offers.      The MDT 8000 offers an All Metal Mode with a fixed fast Auto Tune Tune, Mixed Mode or Silent Search Discrimination.   Silent Search because in each of the aforementioned modes, no Threshold is Needed.     In my Tests on a 2 Grain Nugget Sample,  the MDT 8000 heard it loud and clear whether behind or in black sand, under the infamous 'Coke' from England which is alkali and nearly impossible to ignore by all the other VLF Brands.   The Tarsacci can easily balance out the Coke so it disappears and has NO adverse effect on my nugget or other gold jewelry.    Selective Frequencies of 4.5, 9, 12 and 18 KHz gives you significant advantages over just single or multi-frequency detectors.    The recovery speed is excellent.   Lightweight and Durable Carbon Fibre components and chassis make this a leader in gold detection as well as relics, coin and jewelry.    The Biggest Advantage the MDT 8000 seems to have in my testing is its Unique Ability to Ignore Hot Rock Mineralization including the all too Common 'Coke' Hot Rocks.

Gold Kruzer 

Nokta-Makro has been making quality metal detectors and the Gold Kruzer is  their best special purpose detector for gold, operating at 61 Khz.   The Youtube Videos are impressive indeed.   Since the Gold Kruzer sports a wide resolution easy to read screen, it also will see micro jewelry as well.   A quality built performer and at 61 Khz, it will scream on small sub-grain nuggets.   The Lower Frequency Competition will penetrate the ground deeper and with greater efficiency but at a slight reduction in Target Response on Sub-Grain Nuggets.

Minelab Gold Monster...

Currently rated by many dealers as the King of the Hill for finding Gold Nuggets, this 45 KHz detector will find sub-grain nuggets and handle difficult ground with a minimum of ground reactivity noise.   It has an LCD visual graph which swings to the left when it detectors a piece of ferrous or to the right when it is non-ferrous such as gold.     The Gold Monster replaces the  Select-able  three frequency Eureka Gold.   On Youtube, Bill Southern uses the Minelab Gold Monster on a regular basis, but it like most Gold Hunter Detectors will be fooled by small Hot Rocks.

White's Goldmaster 24K,,,

Replaces the GMT 48 KHz with a NEW Visual Discriminator Interface.   Like the GMT, the 24K offers both Manual, Semi-Auto and Full Ground Tracking.   It's 48 KHzl Frequency will ensure a response on sub-grain targets, even down close to a flake without sacrificing depth on larger targets.  The drawback on this high a frequency is the higher the KHz, the noisier it can be over difficult ground, including hot rocks, black sand, serpentine and alkali as found in high deserts of Nevada.al Screen, it sports a resolution of -95 to +95.   It can also be use for Relic and Coin Hunting but the numbers of a nickel to quarter reads in the higher 80s to 90s.    The All Purpose White's Units like the MX-7 or Sport reads 18 to 89 for the same denominations.    Note; As of this update, Garrett Electronics has acquired White's Electronics.   

Fisher Gold Bug II...

Replaces the Fisher Gold Bug I with a much higher frequency around 72 KHz.   This is a manually controlled unit which some electronic prospectors prefer over semi-auto or auto tracking competitors.    At 72 KHz, this will ensure a response on sub-grain targets, even down close to a flake.   The drawback on this high a frequency is the higher the KHz, the noisier it can be over difficult ground, including hot rocks, black sand, serpentine and alkali as found in high deserts of Nevada.  The Threshold does not react to ground conditions which I don't like because you are not informed that your ground balance may be off.   I prefer a threshold that is naturally reactive.

Garrett AT Gold...

This unit is put together similar to the AT Pro but instead of operating at the Gold Hunter Standard frequency of 15 KHz, Garrett chose 18 KHz and it has a small visual display with a fairly wide resolution of numbers and also Iron Audio Grunt.    The balance over ground is achieved by a semi-manual button on the face of the control panel.   I found it to be a bit nosier on average than the others over black sand.   It comes standard with a 6" Elliptical which gives it very good window of sensitivity on your small nuggets.     Like the 24K from White's, you can use it for coin, jewelry and relic hunting but it will bite off on more foil.  This and the AT-Pro were the first submersible multi-purpose detectors.