Thanks Oakview...
CharlesP, the goldbug 2 is a good detector. The main difference besides depth is the Minelab has a much cleaner sounding threshold tone which makes it easier to hear your signals...you still get some ground noise but its not as annoying with the minelab as is with the goldbug. I'm pretty sure all the pieces I found could have been found with the goldbug, but you'd have to be running in all metal mode with headphones and know what your detector is saying to you. If I were you I'd just save up and get a Minelab of some type. Before I got the 3500 I was looking at even getting an older SD2200, you might find one for about 1000 bucks. Also, if you do decide to get the goldbug, consider getting the gold bug pro, it has alot more function then the goldbug 2...such as automatic ground balancing, which I dont use on the mine lab...but it also has a better discrimination control, in case you were in a trashy area such as a cabin site and didnt want to dig up all the square nails.