Garrett AT Gold Metal Detector with Garrett Pro-Pointer AT Pinpointer

The Garrett AT Gold Metal Detector with Garrett Pro-Pointer AT Pinpointer is built for prospectors who have outgrown a single-frequency coin machine and need real performance in mineralized goldfield soil. Running at 18 kHz with True All-Metal Mode and a high-resolution iron discrimination scale of 44 segments, the AT Gold pulls small nuggets and faint relic targets that lower-frequency coin detectors miss, and it stays stable in the hot ground that makes a Vanquish or ACE chatter. The package comes from a fully authorized Garrett dealer, ships with the Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer pre-bundled, and includes the full US manufacturer warranty.

What You Gain Coming from a Coin-Hunting VLF

• Hits gold most coin VLFs ignore. The 18 kHz operating frequency and All-Metal mode reach sub-grain nuggets, fine chains, and small jewelry that a 5 to 8 kHz coin machine reads as noise.
• Holds ground balance in mineralized dirt. Manual, automatic, and Garrett's Ground Balance Window settings let us spread the ground balance across mixed mineralization so the threshold stays smooth instead of breaking up.
• Clearer separation of iron from desirable targets. 44 iron discrimination segments plus Iron Audio expose flat iron like bottle caps and washers, so we stop digging junk in trashy parks and old homesteads.
• Goes in the water as-is. The control box is fully waterproof to 10 feet (3 m), so creek hunting, shallow river prospecting, and freshwater coin recovery happen with the same machine.
• True digital target ID, not just tone. A 0 to 99 Digital Target ID with both upper and lower analyzer scales gives a numeric read on every signal, so we make better dig-or-skip calls before swinging a pick.
• Comparing the AT line head to head: the AT Pro is the coin and relic version of this same platform if gold is not the priority.

What's in the Box

Factory Garrett contents:

• Garrett AT Gold metal detector control box and shaft
• 5" x 8" PROformance DD submersible searchcoil
• Garrett MS-2 land-use headphones
• Searchcoil hardware kit (nut, bolt, washers)
• (4) AA batteries (installed)
• Battery holder (installed)
• Owner's manual and online training video access
• Garrett 3-year limited warranty

Serious Detecting bundle additions:

• Garrett Pro-Pointer AT waterproof pinpointer (orange, IP68, 20 ft / 6 m)

Field Use by Hunt Type

Dry Goldfield and Tailings Prospecting

Western tailings piles and dry washes pile up hot rocks and high mineralization that overload a coin machine. The AT Gold's 18 kHz frequency, True All-Metal mode, and adjustable iron audio let us run hot on tiny nuggets while still reading ground that would lock up a Vanquish.

• Mode: True All-Metal
• Sensitivity: 6 to 8 (back off if threshold breaks)
• Ground Balance: Manual or Auto with Ground Balance Window opened 1 to 2 points
• Threshold: Light hum, just audible
• Iron Audio: Off in true all-metal hunting

Shallow Creek and Freshwater Hunts

Creek beds, gravel bars, and shallow rivers hold flood gold and lost jewelry. The AT Gold runs submerged to 10 feet, and the 5" x 8" DD coil cuts through wet gravel without losing sensitivity to small gold.

• Mode: True All-Metal for nuggets, DISC1 for jewelry recovery
• Sensitivity: 7 to 8
• Ground Balance: Auto, re-balance after each terrain change
• Iron Discrimination: 25 to 35 in DISC1 to silence common iron

Old Parks, Homesteads, and Relic Sites

Iron-heavy historic sites bury small silver and copper next to nails and bottle caps. Iron Audio plus the 44-segment discrimination scale expose flat iron without masking the good targets right next to it.

• Mode: DISC2
• Sensitivity: 5 to 7 in trashy ground
• Ground Balance: Auto
• Iron Audio: On, low volume
• Iron Discrimination: 35 to 40

How the Garrett AT Gold Technology Works

The Garrett AT Gold runs single-frequency VLF at 18 kHz, which is the part of the spectrum where small gold gives up the cleanest signal. Lower frequency coin detectors trade nugget sensitivity for depth on silver, so they skip sub-grain pieces. The 18 kHz tuning, paired with True All-Metal mode and a manually adjustable threshold, gives us the audio resolution to hear faint, repeatable nugget tones while still pulling coins and jewelry in discrimination modes.

Garrett's Ground Balance Window is the differentiator most coin VLFs do not offer. Instead of locking ground balance to a single number, the Window spreads the GB setting across a range, so subtle ground variations stop breaking the threshold. In Arizona caliche, North Carolina red clay, or any mineralized terrain the reader has fought before, that single feature is the reason a target stays a target instead of dissolving into ground noise.

Build, Display, and Audio

The Garrett AT Gold total weight comes in at 3.03 lb fully assembled, with an adjustable shaft that runs 43" to 56", which is long enough for taller detectorists and short enough to pack collapsed. The control box is sealed and submersible, the LCD shows Digital Target ID 0 to 99 along with the upper analyzer scale, and physical buttons let us adjust sensitivity, discrimination, ground balance, and iron audio without menu diving.

Audio runs through the included Garrett MS-2 land-use headphones via a 1/4" jack on the housing. The headphone jack is not waterproof, so for submerged hunting we recommend either the Garrett underwater headphones or hunting without phones. The Pro-Pointer AT in this bundle covers target recovery once the AT Gold puts us within an inch of the find. For belt-side recovery on relic and prospecting sites, pair the pinpointer with a sturdy digger or pick.

Coil Options

The included 5" x 8" PROformance DD coil is the right starting coil for gold, balancing depth, sensitivity to small targets, and ground coverage in mineralized soil. The DD geometry is what handles hot ground and saltwater far better than a concentric coil.

For tighter trash separation in old foundations or for hunting smaller specimen gold, a 4.5" Super Sniper coil drops sensitivity-per-target on small pieces and threads between iron in tight spots. For broader sweep coverage on open washes and beach edges, the larger 5" x 10" or aftermarket 15" CORS Fire coils extend ground coverage at some loss of small-target gain. We stock confirmed-fit replacement and upgrade coils alongside the detector.

Specifications

• Operating Frequency: 18 kHz VLF
• Search Modes: 3 (True All-Metal, DISC1, DISC2)
• Target ID: Digital Target ID 0 to 99 with upper analyzer scale
• Iron Discrimination: 44 segments, high resolution
• Iron Audio: Yes, adjustable
• Ground Balance: Manual, Automatic, plus Ground Balance Window
• Pinpoint: Electronic, non-motion
• Threshold: Adjustable
• Standard Searchcoil: 5" x 8" PROformance DD, submersible
• Length: 43" to 56" adjustable
• Total Weight: 3.03 lb (1.4 kg)
• Battery: (4) AA, included
• Waterproof Rating: 10 ft (3 m), full submersion
• Audio Jack: 1/4" (not waterproof)
• Warranty: 3-year limited (Garrett US)

Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer specifications:

• Operating Frequency: 11.5 kHz
• Length: 9" (22.9 cm)
• Weight: 6.5 oz
• Battery: (1) 9V, included
• Waterproof Rating: IP68, 20 ft (6 m)
• Sensitivity Levels: 3, with audio and vibration alert

Why Buy the Garrett AT Gold from Serious Detecting

We are an authorized Garrett dealer, so every Garrett AT Gold metal detector ships with the full Garrett US manufacturer warranty, real factory accessories, and access to Garrett's support network. Our team detects on Garrett gear in the field and answers tech questions before and after the sale. Orders ship free in the US, returns run 30 days, and our price-match policy keeps the AT Gold competitive against any authorized retailer. For a deeper look at gold detector selection by ground type, see our guide on detecting in mineralized soil.