Fisher Gold Bug 2 Metal Detector with 6.5 in Coil (Open Box)

This is an open-box Fisher Gold Bug 2 with the 6.5 in elliptical search coil, the small-coil setup of Fisher's 71 kHz gold machine. It is built for one job: finding small nuggets in mineralised ground, the flakes and pickers that lower-frequency detectors ride over. If you already know you want a Gold Bug 2 and would rather not pay new-box price for it, this unit gets you the same detector and the same factory warranty for less.

Open-Box Condition and Warranty

The box on this unit has been opened for inspection only; the detector itself is unused. Because the factory seal is broken, we sell it as open box and price it below a new Fisher Gold Bug 2 with the 6.5 in coil. It carries the same 2-year Fisher manufacturer warranty as new stock. Other open-box and demo detectors are listed in our open box and demo units collection.

Is the Gold Bug 2 the Right Detector for You?

The Gold Bug 2 rewards prospectors who are willing to learn manual ground balance. It has no automatic ground tracking, no target ID numbers, and no coin or relic modes to speak of. What it gives you instead is very high sensitivity to small gold and fine control over how the detector handles hot ground. If you want a gold machine you can switch on and hunt with from day one, or one that also works for coins and relics, the 19 kHz Fisher Gold Bug Pro is the easier machine. Our Gold Bug Pro vs Gold Bug 2 comparison walks through where each one earns its place.

The 6.5 in coil suits tight work: bedrock cracks, rocky washes, and trashy old diggings where a small footprint separates targets. If most of your ground is open and you want more coverage per swing, look at the Gold Bug 2 with the 10 in coil instead.

What's Included

• Fisher Gold Bug 2 metal detector
• 6.5 in elliptical search coil
• Two 9V batteries
• 2-year Fisher warranty

How the Gold Bug 2 Works in the Field

At 71 kHz the Gold Bug 2 runs at roughly four times the frequency of a typical coin detector. Higher frequency responds more strongly to small, low-conductivity targets, which is why this machine hears tiny nuggets that a 15 to 19 kHz detector misses. The trade-off is that very high frequency also responds more strongly to mineralised ground, so ground balance matters more than on most detectors.

Ground balance is manual, set with coarse and fine controls, so you can null out the ground precisely rather than accepting an automatic setting. Three modes cover the hunt: Normal for everyday searching, Audio Boost to lift faint signals so deep or very small targets are easier to hear, and Iron Disc to check a signal for iron or hot rock before you dig. Most prospectors search in Normal or Audio Boost and switch to Iron Disc only to check a target.

The detector weighs 2.9 lbs and the control housing can be hip-mounted, which moves most of the weight off your arm for long days on steep ground. The housing is moisture and dust resistant, not waterproof, so keep it out of water even though the coil can go into shallow creeks. Two 9V batteries run for up to 35 hours. The Gold Bug 2 instruction manual is worth reading before your first outing, because the ground balance routine is the step new owners most often get wrong.

Fisher Gold Bug 2 Specifications

• Operating Frequency: 71 kHz VLF
• Modes: Normal, Audio Boost, Iron Disc
• Ground Balance: Manual, coarse and fine controls
• Search Coil: 6.5 in elliptical
• Weight: 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg)
• Batteries: 2 x 9V, up to 35 hours
• Control Housing: Moisture and dust resistant, hip-mountable
• Warranty: 2 years
• Condition: Open box, inspected only, unused

Why Buy from Serious Detecting

Serious Detecting is an authorized Fisher dealer, so this open-box Gold Bug 2 is covered by Fisher's manufacturer warranty just like a new unit. Our team can help with ground balance setup and coil choice before and after your order. Browse the full Fisher range and every Fisher Gold Bug 2 option in one place. Every order ships free, and our 30-day return policy and price-match guarantee back the purchase.