Here is my take on buying mouth calls. If you are in a store where you can pick up a call and examine it in the blister pack. Look to see if the reeds have ripples in the back and look very closely to see if the latex has "slipped" in the frame. To tell this, look for a faint glue line all the way around the edge of the frame. Some times the glue in a fram is crap and it will turn loose.
I would look to see if the tape is applied relatively straight. All of that is just tell tale signs of sloppy work. The reed slipping is not the call makers fault, but they shouldnt put one in the pack if it has.
Look at how the cutts open up. If the slits are almost closed back up, that tells you there is not much stretch on the call. If they are really spread open, there is a lot more stretch to the call. The way a call is cut can also make a call appear to have considerable amount of stretch. My combo cutt calls really open up, but it is just a trick for looks.
In my opinion, crazy shaped cutts and tits of latex pointing in every direction are just for looks and to make a bunch of "latex racket". Stick with tried and true cutts, V cutt, Combo/Shipwreck, Ghost Cutt, Bat Wing and a W cutt. All of those are a spin off or a hybird of a plain old V cut.
As far as reed #s, most calls will either be 2. 2.5 or 3 reeds. I cant do anything with 2 reeds. A 2.5 reed call is easier to ROLL OVER, 3 reed will give you more volume per say, but you can still get soft with one.
Colors of latex, and this is just a general rule. If it is white/natural it is .003 thick. If the latex is colored, it will run ..004 to .006 and is usually used on the top of calls. Most times colored is thicker and is on the top reed. You will see colored reeds on the bottom, usually it will be a thinner version.
As far as price, you get what you pay for too a certain extent. The cheap crap that you find at Walmart, might be fine for you. I have won every calling contest under the sun, and I couldnt make some of that junk sound good. A $7-$10 call is right there were they should be. Any thing over that , I just dont know what to say.
Sorry for the rant. There are some good calls out there, and there is some real trash being made and sold as well. Hope this will let some of you know what you are looking at.
In the early to mid 90's I bought what seemed like 100's of store bought calls, most of them got spit out the window of my truck. Not until I met Barry Springfield form GA, in 1997, I had no idea you could get a custom mouth call made. One i met him and actually had calls made for me, my calling went through the roof. Good calls will help you sound better if that is what you desire.
Sadler McGraw
Champions Choice Game Calls
2012 World Turkey Calling Champion
