Garrett Goldmaster 24k Metal Detector with 6" x 10" DD Coil

The Garrett Goldmaster 24k with 6 x 10 inch DD coil is a 48 kHz VLF gold detector for prospectors who search creeks, exposed bedrock and gold-bearing hillsides for small nuggets, specimens and fine gold. XGB automatic ground tracking keeps it stable as the soil changes, and the target ID reads from 0 to 99. Garrett's box includes the waterproof 6 x 10 inch DD searchcoil, Clearsound Easy Stow headphones and eight rechargeable AA batteries with a charging kit.

What is in the box with the Garrett Goldmaster 24k

Garrett's standard contents for the Goldmaster 24k with 6 x 10 inch DD coil (Garrett part 1142650)

• Garrett Goldmaster 24k control box with S-shaped stem, middle stem and lower stem
• Armrest with armrest strap
• 6 x 10 inch DD waterproof searchcoil
• Mounting washers, nut and bolt
• Garrett Clearsound Easy Stow headphones with volume control
• Headphone adaptor and headphone jack dust cover
• 8 AA battery holder with eight NiMH rechargeable AA batteries
• AA battery recharging kit with universal adaptors
• 12 V charger cables for car or battery
• Rubber feet and Velcro cable retainers
• Quick start guide

About the Garrett Goldmaster 24k

The Garrett Goldmaster 24k is a VLF gold detector that runs at 48 kHz, a high frequency Garrett uses to find tiny gold nuggets. Garrett's advanced guide calls it an extremely "hot" machine on small gold and specimen nuggets, even at lower gain settings. It pairs that frequency with the XGB ground balance system, which works with multiple ground points for stable operation, and it shows a two-digit target ID from 0 to 99, where a higher number means a better chance that the target is non-ferrous.

What we like about the Goldmaster 24k is the combination: 48 kHz for high sensitivity to small, low-conductivity targets, and XGB automatic ground tracking to compensate for changing mineralization. That makes it approachable for a beginner while keeping useful adjustments for an experienced prospector, and it gives a dedicated gold detector to someone who does not want to invest in a more expensive pulse induction system such as the Garrett Axiom.

Ground balance on the Goldmaster 24k

• XGB automatic tracking: the factory setting. XGB keeps adjusting to the ground under the coil, so you can move from one patch of soil to the next without stopping to rebalance.
• TracLock: locks the current ground setting, which Garrett calls the manual ground setting.
• Ground Grab: while tracking is locked, updates the ground setting to the ground under the coil.
• Ground-Sync: Garrett lists Ground-Sync with XGB and TracLock as the Goldmaster 24k ground balance tools.
• Ground Scan: switched on by holding the LOCK button. Garrett's advanced guide calls it very useful in dry washes or creek beds for black sand deposits.

Goldmaster 24k controls: sensitivity, Iron Cancel, audio and threshold

• Sensitivity: 0 to 10, with level 10 adding an Audio Boost. Garrett's advanced guide says average ground generally allows settings of 5 to 7, and that dropping below 7 to 8 costs some depth.
• Iron Cancel: an adjustable discrimination range for hot rocks and iron trash. Tapping LOCK while you set it blocks out signals from 94 to 99. Garrett's advice is to use only as much as smooth operation needs; we use it cautiously, because aggressive iron rejection can cause questionable small-gold responses to be missed.
• Two audio modes: Beep mode gives two distinct beeps, one high and one low, for different types of targets; Zip mode is a standard VCO sound where both pitch and volume rise as the signal gets stronger.
• Threshold and SAT: the threshold is adjustable, and the SAT (Self Adjusting Threshold) speed, off, medium or fast, sets how quickly the threshold hum recovers.
• Volume, frequency shift and backlight: volume levels 9 and 10 add two audio boosts for weak signals, a frequency shift at power on steps away from interference, and a short tap of the power button turns on the backlight.

Goldmaster 24k batteries, weight and weather

Garrett puts eight NiMH rechargeable AA batteries in the box with a recharging kit, universal adaptors and 12 V charger cables for a car or battery. The manual says to expect about 20 hours of hunting from fully charged batteries, and 15 to 20 or more hours from a set of alkaline AA cells. Garrett lists the detector at about 3.0 to 3.4 lbs (1.36 to 1.54 kg). The searchcoil is waterproof, but the control box and battery box are not: Garrett calls them water resistant and says the control box must be protected from heavy rain.

Where the Garrett Goldmaster 24k works well, and where it does not

Small nuggets, specimens and fine gold in creeks, exposed bedrock and gold-bearing hillsides suit the Goldmaster 24k. Picture a dry creek bed in Arizona where earlier prospectors took the larger nuggets and small pieces of gold may remain in the cracks between rocks: the high frequency and the relatively narrow 6 x 10 inch DD coil suit careful work in those spots, with the coil close to the ground and each sweep overlapped. Garrett pairs every Goldmaster 24k with that DD coil to overcome mineralized soil. The control box is only water resistant, so the waterproof coil goes into a creek and the control box stays dry. We would not choose the Goldmaster 24k for someone who mainly hunts highly mineralized ground for larger nuggets at depth; that is a job for the pulse induction Axiom or Garrett Axiom Lite. For one detector for coins, jewelry and occasional prospecting, we would look at the Garrett AT Gold. See our gold detectors.

Getting started with the Garrett Goldmaster 24k

Start by learning XGB automatic tracking, because mineralized ground can change a lot over short distances. Learn the difference between the Zip (VCO) and two-tone Beep responses, since small gold can give subtle signals, and use Iron Cancel cautiously. A common mistake is assuming that maximum sensitivity gives maximum useful depth: in difficult ground, too much sensitivity creates so much noise that faint targets get harder to recognize, so lower it when ground noise masks faint responses. Our coil guide explains what coil size and shape change.

Target ID and iron on the Goldmaster 24k

The Goldmaster 24k shows a two-digit number from 0 to 99 and a bar that puts the target in the Iron, Gold or Alloy range. Garrett frames the number as a likelihood: the higher it reads, the better the chance the target is non-ferrous. Garrett's advanced guide adds that some hot rocks may still read as iron. Iron Cancel is where we are most careful: aggressive iron rejection can cause questionable small-gold responses to be missed.

Recovery and carrying gear for the Goldmaster 24k

Garrett's Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer runs at 11.5 kHz, is waterproof to 20 feet (6 meters), IP68, and has three sensitivity levels with audio or silent vibrate-only alerts; a single 9V battery runs it for about 30 hours on alkaline. See our Garrett pinpointers. For the walk in, Garrett's All-Purpose Carry Bag is 50 inches long and takes any current Garrett detector without removing the searchcoil; see our Garrett carry bags and pouches.

Who we would recommend the Garrett Goldmaster 24k to

We recommend the Goldmaster 24k for dedicated small-gold prospecting: small nuggets, specimens and fine gold in creeks, on exposed bedrock and on gold-bearing hillsides. Its biggest advantage is 48 kHz sensitivity combined with automatic ground tracking, and it is a dedicated gold detector for customers who do not want to invest in a pulse induction system.

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Garrett's gold detectors cover different jobs; these are the differences that decide between them, from Garrett's published specifications. Our best Garrett metal detectors guide covers more choices.

Garrett Goldmaster 24k specifications

Garrett covers the Goldmaster 24k with a 3-year limited parts and labor warranty, as it now does for its detectors, pinpointers and searchcoils.

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