Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Review

Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Review product photo
Based on the spec sheet and owner reports, the Gold Monster 1000 is worth it if you want a simple, fully automatic VLF detector for small to mid-size gold - skip it if you're hunting deep nuggets in heavily mineralized ground.

Pros

  • Fully automatic operation with auto ground balance, noise canceling, and sensitivity - no settings to learn
  • 45 kHz VLF plus 24-bit signal processor gives strong sensitivity across a wide range of nugget sizes
  • Comes with both a 10x6 inch and a 5 inch DD waterproof search coil, covering open ground and tight spots
  • Owners report it's great for small shallow gold and picks up fine pieces other machines miss

Cons

  • One owner called it a down grade in some ways versus other options and said it's pretty much useless for really fine gold in their experience
  • Hot rocks and large rocks can trigger false solid-iron signals according to an owner report
  • As a single-frequency VLF machine, it copes with salty, conductive soils less well than higher-end pulse induction models
  • Not built for the extreme depth that pulse induction flagships like the GPZ 7000 offer

Specifications

BrandMINELAB
ColorBlack
NumberOfItems1
Height5.5 inches
Length21.5 inches
Weight7.19 Pounds
Width10.0 inches

Source: amazon.com

What Owners Say

The Minelab Gold Monster 2000 truly excels in highly mineralized environments. identify deeper targets, making it an overall better machine ...

r/metaldetecting

I think it's a down grade in some ways … these things are pretty much useless for really fine gold. Opinions on the Minelab gold monster 1000 ...

r/Prospecting

Great for small shallow gold. The monster picks up the crumbs. The high and lows of metal detecting for gold. Opinions on the Minelab gold ...

r/Prospecting

The best gold detector money can buy is the Minelab GPZ 7000. It's the only detector that uses ZVT technology. A used Gold Monster 1000 for 6- ...

r/Prospecting

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Gold Monster 1000 worth it compared to the Gold Monster 2000?

See our Gold Monster 1000 vs 2000 comparison - owner reports say the 2000 handles highly mineralized ground better, but the 1000 remains a simpler, more affordable pick.

What's the step-up model from the Gold Monster 1000?

Owners point to the Gold Monster 1000's automatic simplicity as its strength, but for more depth and mineralized-ground performance, Minelab's pulse induction models go further.

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