What do you like about hand calls?

[Bob D]

Everyone has their favorite hand call or maybe some have several that they really like. What I would like to do to help some of the callmakers is to for you members to tell them exactly what characteristics of the call that really works for you. Some of the examples would be size length, width, design, wood preference, size of mouthpiece etc. Help me out Mods ,lets do a survey poll on this.
Bob D

[FinsnFur]

You askin for a poll to be set up Bob?

[Bob D]

You askin for a poll to be set up Bob?

Yeah, i think it would give some of the call builders an idea what the masses like and maybe help them to match what we like. I think one of the callmaker mods would be able to add their insight on this in making sure all the bases are covered in the poll.

[HaMeR]

It can't lock up under high pressure. I like one with a flared bell & just long enough I can run a finger or two across the end to flutter the sound. It needs to fit in my hand,, short stubby fingers ,, comfortably to eliminate movement. Then it has to look real nice.

[Hawks Feather]

BobD,

I have read this several times and like the idea of people posting what they like in a call, but I can't come up with a way that a poll will give the results that could be used.  For me personally, I like smaller calls that have good volume, and obviously good sounds.  So in a poll I would mark "small call".  If someone else has bigger hands they would mark "larger call" and it would be a wash.  Someone just getting started wouldn't know if they should make small or larger calls.  I like using more of the exotic woods, but they are more expensive to get.  So again, I would like higher priced woods, while someone else might not want to go the extra money for the more expensive wood.    This is where I am having a problem - I don't know how to word the poll so that the results would help someone getting started.  But, again, I do like the idea of people posting what they like in a call.

Hope this makes sense,

Jerry

[FinsnFur]

I'm with Jerry, this morning when I asked that I thought to myself how in the 
There's virtually no way ask enough questions in the poll and still cover everyones critique

[Bob D]

Jerry,
I started trying to build a poll and came up with the same problems you were looking at. Thanks for trying though.

As for calls , I like a small call with a shape that is easy to hold with 2 fingers that doesn't have a  large bell end because I like to control the amount of air pressure . I like the sound to really scream when I get on it hard and I like to be able to blow it softly with a lower sound if I need to. I don't like a call that locks up blowing hard on it or one that sounds like a fog horn when you are lightly puffing it.  I have a number of calls from alot of callmakers and I've learned which calls work the best for me. I don't like the calls over about 4 inches total. This is in reference to closed reed calls only.  As far as the wood, I like most woods but I really like the maple best.
Bob D

[THO Game Calls]

This is an interesting topic.  I hope you wont mind my popping in and sharing my thoughts.

I make calls to suit myself, and no one else.  If my calls suit someone else, all the better, but as a call maker, I want to be true to myself first.  That may seem selfish, or egotistical, but as call makers, I think we should ask ourselves two questions before we ever try to sell a call.  First, is this a call that I would be proud to pull out of my call bag in front of my hunting buddies, and second, is it a call I would be proud to blow with one of them sitting on stand with me?  If you have to make excuses for your call, so will your buyers.

There are so many variables.  Hunters use calls in a thousand different ways.  None of us can accommodate everyone out there, so the best we can hope for, is to make a call that we feel is the best one we have made so far, and then offer it with confidence.  In the beginning, all call makers stumble a bit.  If we love the craft of making calls, we will all have calls out there that we wish we could have back, and when confronted with one of our old calls, perhaps just smile and acknowledge that it might not be as good as one we make now, and offer a new call to the owner for free. 

One of the things I think would really help all call makers, is to supply a sound file of the exact call they are offering.   This does two things.  First it shows the range of sound that the call will produce, and if it performs well when blown softly or when we really "get on it".  Second, it shows if the call maker can even blow a call, which is probably more important than any other single factor.  For if the call maker can't run a call, how can we expect to get a call from him that will work?  I think this would go a long way to curtail some of the dissatisfaction some call buyers experience when their calling style is not the same as the call makers, which might mean that the call wont work for them, or that the call wont have the sound they want.   I've never seen a call maker say "well, it sounds just OK, locks up a bit when you get on it, but it'll probably call a coyote or two" when asked how the call sounds. 

If you asked 20 hunters, all who own the same E caller with the same 100 or 200 sounds on them to pick their top ten sounds, you would probably get 20 different list.   We all have things we like and dislike about calls and sounds.   When it comes to hand calls, unless you are sitting right next to me with the call, and I have a hand full of different reeds, a razor blade and a file, it will be very hard for me to tune a reed to exactly how you want it to sound when you blow the call.  The same goes for an open reed call.  Unless you are here in the shop with me, where we can try a few different radius's of tone boards, different thicknesses, widths, lengths and materials for reeds, and you blow the call, it will be hard for me to tune it to anything that is more that what I feel is right.

So for the new call makers, I would offer this advice.   

Don't try to make calls that are going to suit everyone.  It can't be done, and will only lead to frustration and failure.  Instead, make calls that suit you.  Make the best calls you can right now.  Calls that you are proud of.  Calls that you would take hunting.  Calls that you would not hesitate to pull out and blow in front of some of the callers you consider to be very very good at this game.  If you can do that, you will make calls that will appeal to enough callers to build a solid reputation, and you wont have any problem selling every call you make.   


Al

[iahntr]

This is a good thread, I hope it keeps goin. Al you made some very good points.
I have some open reeds that I really like, and think they sound great. Now if you really get on em, you can get them to lock up. But to me that's ok, and I know when I use it, or make it known and sell it, it is a mid ranged call. Just like a coaxer is close range, etc. That's why we make lanyards that hold like 4-6 calls.

[ninthinning]

Well written Al.
9th

[bowjunkie]

yup Ninth I must agree WELL WRITTEN  Al  glad to see ya pop in and with stile as well

[Arkyyoter]

Al eats boogies!!!  :roflmao:            :roflmao: MMMuuuUUUhahhahahahahahahahh!!!!


We love ya Al!!! You were on the money with your post.....good to see ya still got a grip on stuff, what with you being all old and stuff!! MMMuuuUUHhahahhahahahah



Joe

[Coulter]

you hit it right on Al - oh wise one I said wise just to reiterate the old thing Arky mentioned. I didn't want to be rude or anything

Seriously though, that was some very thoughtful insight and it helped me to put some thoughts behind me.

Steve

[Bob D]

   When I look at a call on a forum the first thing I look for is if its a good looking call or not. Some are, alot aren't. Included in the looks department is the shape of the call and how I think it will work for me. Most calls will work of course but some of the shapes I've seen need changing. I wish I could go into detail on this but it's hard to explain without pictures and I don't have any of those.
   Of course the sound part of the call doesn't enter into the equasion unless it's from a maker that you are familiar with or the callmaker is providing the sound files to hear. Most don't so you are taking a chance while not knowing  how it sounds except for the callmakers claim of jack or cottontail.
   Finally, you have the price. Since I've been on the forums , calls have gone up and now appear to have dropped in price a bit. Not really on this forum but on another that I watch daily. I think it is a case of supply and demand. Lots of callmakers  with lots of calls over there selling at reduced prices. Not eveyone is doing this. There are some top shelf callmakers who build a superior product that can pretty much name their price and get it. We have some of those on this forum.  Actually we have some quality call makers here whose calls are way underpriced and they know it. Anyway, alot of the calls that I look at on other forums are priced right, look good and are very tempting even though I know nothing about the maker. Enough for now!
Bob D