Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Metal Detector Review

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The Minelab Gold Monster 1000 kind of threw everybody off when it was released to the market.  Its been termed as an entry-level gold detector, but its design is beyond entry-level. 

You might not know that fact until you actually get out there and start detecting.  It also helps to know the technology that’s in your hands.  If you can get a gist of what the Gold Monster has been built with, you might appreciate everything it has to offer under its unassuming appearance. 

Our Verdict: The Minelab Gold Monster 1000 is a gold prospecting detector sold at the entry-level price point for such machines.  Its intermediate frequency and high-speed signal processing provide an edge when detecting for gold in deep and compromised grounds.  For those looking to satisfy their gold rush fever, the Gold Monster may be prescribed. 

Who is the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Best Suited to?

The Gold Monster 1000 enters the market in the entry-level class.  As such, it’s geared towards beginner gold prospectors looking to learn a few tricks without additional things that may inhibit or complicate learning.  Intermediate users will quickly put the Monster to work, and they’ll use experience to make up for the very few things it doesn’t have. 

Experts may find the detector satisfactory, especially with its very light weight of 2.9 lbs and its assembled build that allows for hunting on all fours under brush and scrub.  But, they may miss additional features that would provide a more thorough and detailed report of ground conditions and target data.  If you want a compact, folding gold metal detector, you can’t go past the Minelab SDC 2300 metal detector, its lightweight and excellent for hunting gold.

 

How Does the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Perform?

The Gold Monster is your conventional VLF detector that operates on a single frequency.  However, what’s been coined as Monster Technology enhances its sensitivity to detect gold nuggets of all sizes in various soil conditions.  It’s a high-precision machine that provides more than just middle ground performance like its competitors in the market. 

One thing that intermediate and expert users would want to know is that it lacks a threshold adjustment, but like an old dog with new tricks, you can rig your way around this with auto and manual sensitivity – more on this later.  The Monster allows for modular assembly, can pack to a compact size, and it takes 8x AA batteries. 

Features & Benefits

Monster Technology

Now, higher frequencies are best for finding small objects and lower frequencies are best for finding larger objects.  There is a relationship and compromise between frequency and sensitivity that affects depth detection.  Minelab decided to use an intermediate frequency of 45 kHz on the Gold Monster 1000 to provide middle range performance on a variety of nugget sizes. 

But, Minelab takes things a step further with a high-speed 24-bit signal processor.  The combo of both the processor and 45 kHz means its sensitivity has been boosted to detect even small nuggets at both deep and shallow depths while also detecting large nuggets and rocks.  It also allows for this type of enhanced sensitivity without instigating excess interference and false signals.  The end point?  It’s not your ordinary, middle-ground, VLF single frequency detector – it’s boosted. 

Assembly

The Gold Monster has a modular platform, so you can assemble and take it apart to go hunting in areas where others would shy away from and you can also pack it into your backpack for convenient portability.  The assembly of the 1000 consists of 3 shafts, 2x searchcoils, control box, and an arm cuff.  The shafts have a screw-together assembly and the cuff and control box slip onto the shaft and are secured with connection sleeves and bolts. 

There is also a universal shaft adapter that allows for connection to the searchcoil with any round-end type of rod that can act as a shaft if you were to break or lose the original shaft pieces of the detector.  Why is this designed like that?  The detector is a worldwide-use model that can be hunted with in various areas across the globe.  Not being able to use your detector due to a malfunction like this is unacceptable to Minelab, so you can essentially “rig” it in the wild until you can get appropriate replacements or repairs. 

Gold Chance Indicator Discrimination

The display has a ferrous/non-ferrous scale at the top.  When the searchcoil passes over a target, the scale will provide filled-in segment bars with non-ferrous on the right indicating higher chance of gold or filled-in segment bars on the left indicating less of a chance of finding gold. 

You can use this scale to crudely determine what type of metal is being detected, but for many, this detector supports the concept of digging when you hear a signal.  Even signals that lean slightly towards the ferrous side should be investigated as it’s not unusual to find gold when they’ve read as iron target IDs or they may be obscured under iron targets. 

Auto & Manual Sensitivity

There are three sensitivity modes: Manual (1-10), Auto (11), and Auto+ (12).  Auto Sensitivity is a conservative mode and Auto+ Sensitivity is an aggressive mode.  With manual sensitivity, you can make adjustments as you see fit to fine-tune your detector’s sensitivity to detecting targets or canceling out noise and reducing interference. 

But, what about using sensitivity in place of threshold?  Well, since there is no adjustable threshold control, you won’t be able to adjust the “hum” you hear to allow weaker signals to be heard – essentially jumping above the threshold. 

What can you do?  You can dial sensitivity to the point where you start to hear some erratic noise, and this can be used as a point of reference for the soil conditions you’re hunting in.  This is just one way to fine-tune sensitivity so you can hear signal responses from all detected targets within its capability.  One way this could be understood is that as you increase sensitivity, you decrease threshold.  Decrease sensitivity and you increase threshold. 

Limitations

Not a Multi-Purpose Detector

If you want a detector to find everything including gold, coins, jewelry, and treasures without having to dig up every single find, you’ll find it difficult to do with the Gold Monster.  It’s designed as a gold detector that is optimized with the technology to home in on gold. 

As such, it lacks a Target ID scale that would normally allow for quick identification of other types of metals.  The discrimination indicator will only provide a scale reading of either ferrous or non-ferrous targets as it will allow you to quickly determine if the target is gold or not.  If you’re the type to dig every single time you get a hit, you’ll be finding all sorts of goods and junk while you’re at it anyway. 

Popular Questions

Is the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Waterproof?

The searchcoil and shaft are waterproof, but the control box is not.  You must protect the control box with a cover-up in harsh weather, although, it is water-resistant.  It would still be best to keep it covered in inclement weather.  Although the searchcoil is waterproof, it may have issues with saltwater and wet sand.  It’s best to wash it down after use as an accumulation of salt minerals can damage the searchcoil. 

What does the Gold Monster Metal Detector Come With?

The Gold Monster 1000 comes with two searchcoils, control box, arm cuff, and a shaft adapter.  It also comes with headphones, rechargeable battery, AA battery holder, and a digging scoop.  The two searchcoils are 5” DD and 10” DD. 

What is the Warranty on the Minelab Metal Detector?

The Gold Monster 1000 comes with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.  The warranty period is effective from the date of purchase.  You should always register your detector the company and provide proof of purchase, so keep that receipt! 

What is the Battery Life of the Gold Monster 1000?

The Gold Monster can operate with a rechargeable Li-ion battery or 8x AA batteries.  There is no specification about how long the batteries last for operating the Gold Monster, but it’s been said to be more than adequate for the detector enthusiast.  With both types of battery options provided, you can switch them out in the field if it happens to run dead. 

Conclusion

The Minelab Gold Monster 1000 metal detector is far from a basic model even though it’s priced on the cheaper end for a gold-specific detector.  However, it’s still quite a hefty price tag for beginners just starting out, but if you want state of the art technology and quality you can depend on, you’ll have no reservations with this model. 

While it’s not a multi-purpose detector, it doesn’t mean you won’t find coins or other treasures with it.  Given that gold is the order of the day, with the Gold Monster, you can detect more of the good stuff, dig it out, and weigh it up.

Further Reading:

• Fisher CZ-21 Metal Detector Review (10.5 inch Coil)
• Aquascan Aquapulse AQ1B Metal Detector Review
• Minelab GPZ 7000 Metal Detector Review
• Minelab SDC 2300 Metal Detector Review
• Minelab Excalibur II Metal Detector Review

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