Welcome to the ultimate Minelab Gold Monster 1000 review.
We’re bringing you the lowdown on this metal detector and covering all the bases, so if you’ve been considering purchasing this metal detector before now, you can approach the market armed with greater knowledge.
The Minelab Gold Monster 1000 metal detector is an entry-level, easy-to-use, high-performance metal detector.
It was originally targeted at beginners, and this fact is amply reflected in its design.
Are you a beginner or experienced detectorist out there wondering what the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 metal detector brings to the table?
Then keep reading.
The Best Metal Detector?
We’re on a mission to review all the best metal detectors.
Minelab’s Gold Monster 1000 is one of the best so far…
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Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Features and Benefits
The Gold Monster 1000 is packed with loads of awesome features that stand it apart from others within its price range.
These features make it possible for users to spot gold nuggets much quicker and with far greater ease than other metal detectors can manage.
Here are some of the most important features:
1. Fully Automatic Operation
This feature is why this metal detector is particularly recommended for beginners just looking to get their feet wet for the first time. You can also check our article about the best metal detectors for beginners here.
All you have to do to operate the Gold Monster 1000 metal detector is turn it on, select a mode and start detecting.
There’s no need to waste time figuring out loads of complex settings. The automatic settings also improve efficiency, helping maintain a more than decent overall performance over different grounds.
Automatic sensitivity ensures that this metal detector picks up a wide range of targets of various sizes without you having to do a thing.
The automatic tracking system is a standout feature of this metal detector. Most manually tuned high-frequency metal detectors do not deal well with hot rocks and highly mineralized ground, requiring the user to fiddle with settings constantly.
The Gold Monster 100 metal detector automatically balances grounds, maintaining optimum performance in all conditions.
2. Single VLF Frequency
While the Gold Monster’s 45KHz frequency is not the highest ever, it’s still enough for this metal detector to be considered high frequency.
Ordinarily, this should mean that it would perform better for small shallow targets and potentially miss deeper large nuggets.
On the contrary, though, the Gold Monster 1000 captures the best attributes of lower and higher frequencies, culminating in a machine that performs more than satisfactorily in either case.
Minelab achieved this by combining the ultra-wide dynamic range of 45KHz with a high-speed 24-bit signal processor. This combination makes the detector more sensitive to gold than most other single frequency VLF detectors over a wide range of nugget sizes, without the hassles of excess noise and false signals. Here you can find out more about the best metal detectors from Minelab, check out our article.
The Monster 1000 metal detector also boasts the ability to accurately and more precisely discriminate between ferrous and non-ferrous materials. It can cope better with conductive soils than most higher frequency detectors.
3. Two Search Modes
This is another feature that lends itself well to greater ease of operation, particularly for beginners.
Minelab programmed just two search modes for this model: Gold (which is set to reject iron) and Deep All-Metal.
The Gold Monster 1000 also features a built-in Gold Chance Indicator along with 6 adjustable volume levels.
The advantage of such a back-to-basics approach is that users can launch directly into action much quicker when they don’t have to deal with too many confusing settings first.
The Gold mode is preset specifically for gold flakes and nuggets, so it may struggle to spot other objects effectively.
The advantage it offers is that armed with the Gold Chance Indicator, along with the ultra-wide dynamic 45kHz frequency, even beginners are more likely than not to strike gold.
The Deep All-Metal mode allows users to detect all kinds of objects. With this metal detector’s 45kHz frequency alongside its high-speed 24-bit signal processor, it is able to detect objects located deep within the ground.
Nevertheless, it should be remembered that while this metal detector can comfortably detect a wide range of other objects, it’s been primarily designed to detect gold.
4. Easy Controls
This metal detector’s control panel is easily accessible and provides a hub where you can fine-tune the device for enhanced performance.
Although most of the substantive settings are automatic, you still get access to several manual options.
For instance, you can select between three sensitivity options: manual sensitivity, auto sensitivity, and auto+, depending on your needs, skill level, and preferences.
You also get to switch detect modes and cycle between 6 volume levels easily. The Gold Chance Indicator provides both audio and visual feedback to aid you in your hunt.
5. Battery Life
For the Minelab’s detector, you have the option to use either a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack or 8 AA batteries.
This metal detector also comes equipped with an AC charger, and a single charge can typically last between 8-12 hours of continuous usage.
This can usually be enough to get you through a full day’s hunt. In case the battery runs out at any time, you can also switch to the AA batteries and extend your search duration.
Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Design and Appearance
Weighing just a little over 2 pounds, the Gold Monster 1000 is the definition of lightweight and compact.
Minelab designed this metal detector in such a way that beginners are not put off by the strain that these tools place on the hands.
The design of the shaft ensures that you can hunt for prolonged periods before fatigue sets in, but beyond that, it also enhances adaptability and flexibility.
The shaft features a three-piece screw-together design, with the components held with connecting sleeves and finger-tightening bolts, and also able to be slipped onto the shaft.
The great thing about this arrangement is that damaged components can be replaced by just about anything that fits.
This metal detector arrives in a tightly sealed box, along with these other kits:
- control box
- armrest
- 10×6 inches DD coil
- 5 inches DD coil
- headphones
- collapsible shaft
- AC charger
- car battery cable
- rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- universal shaft adapter
- digging tool
- getting started guides
Additional accessories, including skid plates, coils, batteries and chargers, hardware, and audio accessories, can also be purchased for this model.
Assembling this metal detector is simple, and just by following the instructions in the guides, you can get it up and running in as little as two minutes, without the need for tools.
Once set up and switched on, it can also be operated very easily.
The control panel features a monochromatic LCD screen along with four-panel rockers (on/off switch, Sensitivity, Mode, and volume) at the front.
On top of the control panel display, there’s a ferrous/non-ferrous scale meter, while the coil connector and headphone jack are located at the back of the control box.
The control box is not completely waterproof, so it may not survive complete submersion in water.
The Gold Monster 1000 comes with waterproof 10″ and 5″ Double-D search coils.
Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Performance
Performance-wise, this metal detector functions as well as can be expected for an entry-level gadget, better even than most within its price range.
As soon as you turn on the device, the noise cancellation mode is instantly activated. This feature greatly minimizes interference from other electronic devices, including other metal detectors.
Needless to say, this feature is perfect for streamlining your hunt and getting rid of unnecessary noise. Further, the Gold Chance Indicator, which reveals the possibility of spotting gold, is pretty accurate.
The sensitivity and ground balance is set automatically by the Gold Monster 1000 to perfectly suit the ground on which you’re hunting. However, you also have the option to fine-tune the sensitivity of the metal detector to the ground.
People who have extensive knowledge of metal detectors, particularly those who have gotten used to other models, may struggle to come to terms with the Gold Monster’s lack of a standard threshold.
This particular issue may be gotten around by simply setting up a pseudo threshold to guide your search. Just dial up the sensitivity to the stage where the detector starts to produce some light feedback from the ground.
On the other hand, you may just run it the way it is and trust the superb automatic ground balance to do the hard work for you.
The Gold Monster operates on a single frequency which should normally place it at a disadvantage, especially when hunting small nuggets on conductive soils.
However, this metal detector effectively fixes this with its combination of the ultra-wide dynamic range of 45KHz with a high-speed 24-bit signal processor.
Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Depth
Many things can impact the depth of any metal detector, including settings, ground conditions, and the size of the coil.
Using the All-Metal mode, the Gold Monster can comfortably locate a sub-gram piece of lead at a depth of 4 inches in iron-rich coils.
This translates to the fact that it can just as comfortably find gold nuggets weighing 5-grams at a depth of 10 inches, using the larger coil.
However, this metal detector reaches its limit around the 10 inches mark and will likely not spot a gold nugget weighing 3-grams at a depth of 12 inches.
More likely, the smaller coil may be able to spot smaller gold but will also experience reduced depth.
Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Pros and Cons
- Easy to start and use
- Highly adjustable
- Very lightweight
- Fully Automatic
- Two coils provided
- Highly sensitive 45 kHz frequency
- Adjustable length
- Can be powered by either lithium-ion batteries or AA batteries
- Gold detection has its unique discrimination
- Adaptable design
- Assembling this metal detector can be done in a matter of minutes
- Budget-friendly
- Factory headphones leave a lot to be desired
- Auto sensitivity may take some getting used to
- Only one frequency
- Not completely waterproof
Minelab Gold Monster 1000 FAQs
1. Is the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Waterproof?
The Minelab Gold Monster 1000 is weatherproof but not waterproof. The control box is not waterproof, and only one of the coils is waterproof. Even then, it is only suitable for hunting in shallow water.
You should adequately cover up the control box when it rains to prevent it from malfunctioning. The search coil is waterproof, yet it may still struggle with saltwater and wet sand.
2. Is the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 good for saltwater?
The Gold Monster 1000 boasts improved discrimination between ferrous and non-ferrous materials, so it can adapt pretty well to conductive soils such as saltwater. In this area, the Gold Monster 1000 performs better than most other high-frequency detectors.
3. Can the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 detect gold?
Absolutely. The Minelab Gold Monster 1000 can detect even the smallest gold nuggets and gold objects, even at significant depths.
As a matter of fact, this metal detector was designed specifically for the purpose of gold prospecting and gold detecting.
Nevertheless, several factors will determine the success of your metal detector in detec
4. How deep can the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 detect?
Again, this depends on several factors, including the detector’s sensitivity to gold.
This will determine how many smaller nuggets will ultimately be recovered in the difficult ground and at greater depth.
That said, the Gold Monster will comfortably locate targets up to 10 inches in the ground.
Conclusion
Gold prospecting is comfortably at the top of the list of preferred metal hunting for obvious reasons.
However, this just makes gold nuggets and flakes that much harder to find.
As a result, metal detectors that specialize in gold prospecting are complicated, prohibitively priced, and difficult to handle, placing them out of reach to the regular detectorist.
Enter Minelab Gold Monster 1000.
This gold detector is the perfect choice for you if you’re just beginning your detecting adventure.
It’s easy to set up and operate, lightweight, features a fully automatic operation, and is offered at a price that guarantees complete value for money.
All these benefits ensure that the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 is accessible to people of various skill and experience levels and a wide range of budgets.
Lest we forget, the metal detector is also offered with a two-year warranty.
If you’re interested in starting your journey to detecting greatness by purchasing the Minelab Gold Monster 1000, click below to check out the product.
