Two questions for predator call makers...

[sharkathmi]

For predator call makers using JC Products voices:

To sleeve or not to sleeve?

Of the JC Product reeds for predators, which reed(s) is your favorite?

I'd like to narrow my choices down to just a couple before I make an order for voices.

Thanks for any opinions shared.

Mark

[Hawks Feather]

Mark,

I use the sleeves.  My personal belief is that as the call barrel expands or contracts the sleeve will allow the reed to remain more consistent and not get pinched or fall out.  Just my gut feeling and I have absolutely no proof of this.

Rather than me give you the numbers of the reeds that I like best, I would suggest that you get the starter kit from JC Products.  This will give you a couple of each reed and you can decide the sound that you like the best. 

As for reeds, THO has had a couple of posts on his board about reeds and John has also added to the list.  I will post both of them here in case you don't have this information.

Jerry

Al's Listing
JC Products Reeds

LV 002     Fawn and Jackrabbit

LV 003     Cottontail, Brass Reed

LVDR 002     Coon Squaller, Cottontail raspy, Jackrabbit bladed raspy

LVDR 025     Cottontail, high pitched

LVDR 005     Squirrel

MV 002     Cottontail

MV 003     Cottontail (same as LV 003)

MVDR 002     Cottontail

MVDR 025     Cottontail, high pitched

MV means Medium Voice
LV means Loud Voice
DR as in LVDR means double reed

There is no difference in sound between the MV 003 and the LV 003 brass reeds because of the material.

Loud voice reeds are voiced for aggressive calling.
Medium voiced reeds are for close in work.

Hope that helps some

Al @ THO


John_NY
JC Products Reeds

LV 002:    Stainless, good raspy jackrabbit, bladed and played softly a great fawn bleat (the standard commercial fawn bleat).

LV 025:    Stainless, is another very high pitched reed, not raspy, but a good baby cottontail.

LV 003:    Brass, Makes a good mellow cottontail - bladed to a raspy jack rabbit, but easy to over do and ruin the reed.  Makes a good snowshoe hare.

LVDR 002:    Double Stainless, nice very raspy cottontail.  Can be bladed for a jack but again, easy to over do.  Makes a good snowshoe hare.  Al listed it as also good for coon.

LVDR 005    Double Stainless, 1 reed each of "Stainless Steel & Mylar Reeds" Squirrel.  After blading you get a high pitched raspy cottontail or jack rabbit voice.

LVDR 025:    Double Stainless, very high pitched cottontail.

LV-010-LS   Long sleeve and short sleeve, Hawk screamer.

MV 002:    Stainless, good cottontail reed.  Novice call makers will tell you that the louder you play it the raspier it gets.  True.  But the reed wears out fast when you really get aggressive on it.  Better as a nice mellow cottontail reed.

MV 025:    Stainless, is high pitched, very high pitched.

MVDR 002:    Double Stainless, a bit higher pitched but a very good cottontail.

MVDR 005:    Double Stainless, same as LVDR 005 except medium voice.

MVDR 025:    Double Stainless, another high pitched distress reed.  Baby cottontail.

There are some mylar and stainless voices available, the wounded chicken is supposed to be had using one but I have never used them.  That's pretty much it for the JC reeds.



edited the color

[sharkathmi]

Thanks Jerry.
I have a copy of the JC Products catalog downloaded as a reference.
I keep a copy of the information you supplied with me in the garage when I go to voice the calls.
I did buy the sampler pack and got 2 reeds of each one they make. Fact is, I just ordered another one.
I was just wondering if there was one or two of these voices that was clearly more popular and the others due to their versatility by blading, scoring or shaving.
I know its kind of goofy to ask such a question as some folks may not want to give out their secrets, but I thought I'd ask anyway.
Thanks for your input!
Mark

[Hawks Feather]

Mark,

I am not trying to keep any secrets, just that individual call makers have their own preferences.  I normally have LV-002, LVDR-002, MV-025, and LV-003, that I keep and use for my calls.  I will usually change out the sound if I know that a person has several of my calls.  For example if they have several with the LV-002 reeds then I might use a different reed in the next call that I make for him.  That way there is a variety in the sounds that he has.

Jerry

[sharkathmi]

Jerry...please don't take me wrong!!
I wasn't implying that you were withholding your secrets!!
But I'm guessing some folks may not want to share that information....and that is OK too! No worries!!
I'm just curious as to what others may be using, that's all.
I appreciate your time and information though. Thank you.
I'm sorry for any misunderstanding.
Mark

[HaMeR]

Don't worry about Jerry.    He's a purdy cool fella that will help honestly as to his experiences. 

[alscalls]

Dont forget you can also blade them........For a different sound.

[Hawks Feather]

Here is the link to Uncle Jay's site in case you don't have the link or download.

http://www.rhinocalls.com/user/TuningReeds.pdf

Jerry

HaMeR, who you talking about Lewis?

[Todd Rahm]

Mark, just stick with the three boards I mentioned earlier and you won't have to worry to much about secrets. The fellas on those boards (Yes, Jim this one  ) are way more then willing to help out.

Now as a customer, I prefer a sleeve. 

[iahntr]

I'm basically a newbe call spinner, that hasn't spun one in dang near a year  ,
I gotta stop and think.  First I definitely sleeve em. As far as reeds go, I'm pretty sure I have
at least the LV002, LV003, LV(or MV )025, and then the LVDR002 and MVDR002.
Once I find out what sound the customer wants, I'll try maybe a half dozen different reed
combination's, types, bladed to different degrees, etc. in a call to get the sound I want.
Different call designs, and different woods or materials also affect the sound, so the reed I
like best in one call, might not be the reed I end up in the next call. Hope that makes sense.
Scott

[HaMeR]

I think you'll also find an LV002 might sound different in a coco call than a walnut call too. It has to do with the density of the walls & the even the thickness of them. Whatever you do make sure you have a hole for the sound to come out. And I don't mean a 9/32 hole thru it either. Open em up.

Yes Yerry Lewis. 

[alscalls]

Horn makes a big difference in sound If ya opener up as Glen said......It is very loud.

[sharkathmi]

Thanks for the input guys.
I think I'm getting it figured out.
Mark

[HaMeR]

Mark-- Just don't make a science out of it. There a few things to learn when it comes to working with wood. The most important is that the calls you make will last a lifetime or 2. So use good woods. A moisture meter will tell you if you need to let it set for a couple months. There's nothing worse than a project drying out & splitting on you. Especially when made from high dollar woods. Make sure you finish them inside & out. Ideally the inside would be finished in the same steps as the outside. That's a little tough to do tho on the smaller calls unless you're dipping. If you think the wood might be too wet after you drill it let it set & re-drill it. The wood will shrink & reduce the hole size. Re-drill & spin it. In the line of importance is call sound too. With todays reeds & sleeves it's easier to make a very good sounding call without blading or bending the reeds. Just let the reeds do the talking for themselves & use the thicker LRV reeds. They will last longer. And probably the absolute most important rule is to have fun making them & to never let your backlog of orders force you to pull one off the lathe before it's done to your satisfaction. 

Oh yeah!! Get some serious tunes in your shop too!!         

[sharkathmi]

Thanks HaMeR 
M

[HaMeR]

You're Welcome.