Do you prefer ( or have reason to believe that gobblers prefer) the unique, raspy calling style of Zach Farmer or the more common (it seems) muted, subtle, calling style of LF Cox? I've heard both of these heralded masters on youtube videos, and while I'm amazed at Zach's ability, which I cannot begin to duplicate, I think I prefer Cox's style. What do you think?
The subtle approach. Having a flock of hens beneath me a few times archery hunting this season I heard that low talk you can get on a yelper. I could count on one hand how many times they yelped loudly and it was only in response to me using my voice to yelp. Not sure I would have heard them if it wasn't for me calling to them. It's amazing how much vocal noise they make when your only 10 or 20 yards away from them. Sounds you don't hear from a distance like 40 or more yards. I guess that's why they have such good hearing.
I don't think its a matter of preference. Turkeys use both, will respond to both and we should as well. I, like you, will never be even near as good as either of these gentlemen but will continue to try my best to duplicate each of them. In addition, it's not just the type of calling that's important, its knowing when to use each one and I'm still working on that as well.
Well said. Thanks to both of you for your replies. I really appreciate the collective experience and wisdom this site provides!
I really like this question... Obviously both of these guys can call. What I would add to the conversation is how crappy someone can sound, and still harvest a turkey.. I have a brother-in-law that has a screachy loud long box that you would swear would scare every turkey in the county, but they come into it. He breaks every old timer suggestion you have heard and it still works out for him sometimes. Cheers gentlemen..
Out of these two, Farmer.
Cox
I have actually sat with both Gentlemen and listened to them call - live.
Both can call loud or subtle. Different styles of course, but Zach and Frank are trumpet calling masters. The large stack of Gobblers that they have each killed should serve as proof of their prowess.There is much to learn from either man.
I have no preference as to style and I doubt Gobblers do either.
When I listen to Farmer play a trumpet on those you tube videos it amazes me how he does that!
That sound does not sound like what most people think a trumpet should sound like or even a turkey call should sound like to most people.
Doing a little research last year after hearing his videos there are two keys to that sound.
The first one is his mouthpiece design hard to describe but its an open slit, image a traditional mouthpiece cut in half diagonally almost like a cutaway to show the inside of the mouthpiece.
Second the man definitely is using a specific technique in drawing air, I have never played one of his trumpets but I have read its not easy.
Certainly no love lost between Cox towards reverend Farmer and I don't know the background behind that or really care to get involved in that.
Reverend Farmer is from a small South Carolina town very close to where I am from and everyone in that area speaks highly of him as a true southern gentleman.
There is no doubt there both talented call makers and callers.
Rasp can be rendered on mouthpiece shapes that may include round, square, beveled, or notched. Certainly some lend themselves to rasp more than others. Proficiency of the person holding the instrument is key.
Agree 1,000,000 percent. :icon_thumright:
You get any turkey hunting master in the woods and they know how to make any call work to their advantage. I personally prefer the clearer sounding calls from a yelper simply because I have plenty of other calls that are raspy. I have also noticed (or it may be my imagination) that turkeys seem to respond best to soft and simple. The range at which a turkey can hear a yelper (Wingbone, cane or trumpet) played softly continues (after 30 years) to amaze me.
Quote from: EZ on December 03, 2019, 09:03:25 AM
You get any turkey hunting master in the woods and they know how to make any call work to their advantage. I personally prefer the clearer sounding calls from a yelper simply because I have plenty of other calls that are raspy. I have also noticed (or it may be my imagination) that turkeys seem to respond best to soft and simple. The range at which a turkey can hear a yelper (Wingbone, cane or trumpet) played softly continues (after 30 years) to amaze me.
Well said Tony and I agree with you, its a hard lesson to learn to call softer but once you realize that most of the turkey's your around, you realize they do call soft more often than not.
Mr Gamble has replied. He is a damn fine trumpet man. He is a subtle caller from what I know. His sometime hunting partner a certain Mr. James Buice is a loud caller from what I know..
Two sides of the coin. Both sides can shine and only a Gobbler knows what he likes.
Trumpet calls aren't for most as they require more " due diligence" to be great with. Most folks won't put in the time behind the wheel.
The way I see it, there are two different styles of yelping. What I call the traditional way and the Farmeristic style. Both can be played loud or softly. Too me the biggest difference is the transition of the yelp going from the high end to the lower end. The Farmeristic style TO ME is a much smother roll over are transition with a slight rasp at the end. The yelp of the traditional way has more of a pop when going from high to low. To MY ear the Farmeristic style produces a more realistic yelp.
Quote from: nitro on December 02, 2019, 05:00:28 PM
I have actually sat with both Gentlemen and listened to them call - live.
Both can call loud or subtle. Different styles of course, but Zach and Frank are trumpet calling masters. The large stack of Gobblers that they have each killed should serve as proof of their prowess.There is much to learn from either man.
I have no preference as to style and I doubt Gobblers do either.
Nitro, Have you really ever sit with Frank and heard him call to live turkeys? I heard you hadn't.......
Never said I have hunted with them. I have sat and listened to them both call live and in person. What's your point other than poor reading comprehension on your part?
Give him time. He will be back. He's just waiting on further instructions....????
The two best I've heard don't have the last names of Farmer or cOx.
I can read and comprehend what you wrote. Maybe you didn't say hunt, but you did say sit with both gentlemen and listened to them call - live........If he said he's never played a call around you, so just wondering why you acted like you heard him play that's all.
Quote from: KPcalls on December 06, 2019, 07:45:05 PM
Give him time. He will be back. He's just waiting on further instructions....????
The two best I've heard don't have the last names of Farmer or cOx.
I'm glad for you KP, that's great.
100% of the turkeys in the world don't know who Mr Farmer or Mr Cox are and they sure don't care how they play a trumpet. On some days any one that can make a half way turkey sound on a trumpet can kill one other days no one can regardless how good they play just because turkeys are turkeys.
Quote from: KPcalls on December 06, 2019, 07:45:05 PM
Give him time. He will be back. He's just waiting on further instructions....????
It's funny because it is true!
I think it's funny you buying a bunch of trumpets makes you think you're a calling expert? That's the joke!
Quote from: ol bob on December 07, 2019, 11:32:04 AM
100% of the turkeys in the world don't know who Mr Farmer or Mr Cox are and they sure don't care how they play a trumpet. On some days any one that can make a half way turkey sound on a trumpet can kill one other days no one can regardless how good they play just because turkeys are turkeys.
This. And I will add Mark Prudhomme as one of the best I've EVER heard.
Quote from: KentuckyHeadhunter on December 08, 2019, 03:39:12 PM
Quote from: ol bob on December 07, 2019, 11:32:04 AM
100% of the turkeys in the world don't know who Mr Farmer or Mr Cox are and they sure don't care how they play a trumpet. On some days any one that can make a half way turkey sound on a trumpet can kill one other days no one can regardless how good they play just because turkeys are turkeys.
This. And I will add Mark Prudhomme as one of the best I've EVER heard.
No doubt about that Alan!!!
I have both calls. The cox is much easier to call on , it is a great call, the farmer took years to master. I play guitar trying to master master the farmer was like learning to play guitar. I have used both in combination for. 20 plus years. 38 all together. I have 492 kills, 111 with the farmer, and equal that with the cox . It's been fun, 8 more to go , then golf and finish butterfly collection if u believe that ####### .easternassassin acorns and turkey tracks
Quote from: nitro on December 04, 2019, 05:35:30 PM
Mr Gamble has replied. He is a damn fine trumpet man. He is a subtle caller from what I know. His sometime hunting partner a certain Mr. James Buice is a loud caller from what I know..
Two sides of the coin. Both sides can shine and only a Gobbler knows what he likes.
Trumpet calls aren't for most as they require more " due diligence" to be great with. Most folks won't put in the time behind the wheel.
If you are referring to the same Mr. Gamble that I had to pleasure to meet at Unicoi this past weekend, then all I have to say is WOW. A true master of an air operated call. I can absolutely say he is by far the best I've ever heard. He actually made my weekend and is an inspiration and a truly humble man.
Quote from: EZ on January 13, 2020, 09:47:37 AM
Quote from: nitro on December 04, 2019, 05:35:30 PM
Mr Gamble has replied. He is a damn fine trumpet man. He is a subtle caller from what I know. His sometime hunting partner a certain Mr. James Buice is a loud caller from what I know..
Two sides of the coin. Both sides can shine and only a Gobbler knows what he likes.
Trumpet calls aren't for most as they require more " due diligence" to be great with. Most folks won't put in the time behind the wheel.
If you are referring to the same Mr. Gamble that I had to pleasure to meet at Unicoi this past weekend, then all I have to say is WOW. A true master of an air operated call. I can absolutely say he is by far the best I've ever heard. He actually made my weekend and is an inspiration and a truly humble man.
PG is definitely the best and I enjoyed conversation with him and hearing his thoughts and ideas on suction style calls!
I've been making trumpets over 25 years and have had quite a few experts play them but i will have to say that Mr Gamble is in a class by himself, and if you ever meet him be sure to ask him to play for you. He can make anyone's trumpet or wing bone sound good even mine.
Why have a preference. Just call as you need
Both imitate turkeys. Been putting in some time the last couple years to get better. Recently had some encounters with hens and it quickly became obvious I was way too caught up in sound of yelps and yelping way too slow. Always been my tendency with calls to get so focused on sound of box, pot and now trumpet that I'm over playing the yelps and slower than most hens. Both men listed reproduce turkeys pretty well and are two quite different examples of trumpet capability. Just remember to listen to real birds to influence the hen in your head.
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Quote from: KPcalls on December 05, 2019, 03:48:06 PM
The way I see it, there are two different styles of yelping. What I call the traditional way and the Farmeristic style. Both can be played loud or softly. Too me the biggest difference is the transition of the yelp going from the high end to the lower end. The Farmeristic style TO ME is a much smother roll over are transition with a slight rasp at the end. The yelp of the traditional way has more of a pop when going from high to low. To MY ear the Farmeristic style produces a more realistic yelp.
Well said. I love the farmer style and have been constantly working at it for 2 years. Im not farmer good but I call in birds so im happy.
I know what you're saying, however I don't try to mimic either of those styles anymore. I listen to recordings of real hens when I practice and try my best to imitate them. It helps tremendously
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Quote from: EZ on January 13, 2020, 09:47:37 AM
Quote from: nitro on December 04, 2019, 05:35:30 PM
Mr Gamble has replied. He is a damn fine trumpet man. He is a subtle caller from what I know. His sometime hunting partner a certain Mr. James Buice is a loud caller from what I know..
Two sides of the coin. Both sides can shine and only a Gobbler knows what he likes.
Trumpet calls aren't for most as they require more " due diligence" to be great with. Most folks won't put in the time behind the wheel.
If you are referring to the same Mr. Gamble that I had to pleasure to meet at Unicoi this past weekend, then all I have to say is WOW. A true master of an air operated call. I can absolutely say he is by far the best I've ever heard. He actually made my weekend and is an inspiration and a truly humble man.
That calling sequence you are referring to may be some of the best calling I have ever heard in or out of the woods-in person or video. When he started all I could see was a bright light and I was walking toward it. Thank you, Mr. Gamble for sharing with us.
As stated, both Farmer and Cox are outstanding callers and I can't leave out my buddys MP and PG! That said, I prefer to hear the more raspy Farmer style but play a more clear style myself, mainly because I have been unable to master the Farmer style to my satisfaction. Interestingly, reading through these responses, I'm surprised that it hasn't been mentioned that regardless how you might sound, it is the cadence of the call that is of most importance. A horrible trumpet, wingbone or cane caller can kill turkeys if the cadence is spot on. Just my opinion.
Fred Cox (no relation) and I say that because I'm asked that all the time, I'm called Frank Cox quite a bit, have nothing against Frank and actually refer to one another as "Cuz".
Any given Sunday. When a gobbler is ready to die it doesnt matter what style or cadence or even if your wearing camoflage.
Be where he is willing to come die and if his mood is right you cant do much wrong. Ive heard real turkeys sound like both styles. Both will kill turkeys.
Farmer's sound isn't entirely in the call. You can call like that with any style mouthpiece. I hate having figured that out, because it isn't what I think is the killingest sound to get from a suction yelper. It is easier to relax into if you switch back and forth.
The big difference is that if that video Cox put on youtube wasn't a joke, he doesn't actually sound like a turkey. But maybe he was just having an episode that day. :goofball:
If I could have a live hen yelping beside me or MP calling for me, Id prob take Mark.
All can call and all can kill turkeys
I have never met the man and only watched him on video a few times, but Farmer has a rather consistently odd cadence to my ear.
Quote from: Wind Call on December 02, 2019, 05:30:19 PM
Rasp can be rendered on mouthpiece shapes that may include round, square, beveled, or notched. Certainly some lend themselves to rasp more than others. Proficiency of the person holding the instrument is key.
Rasp with a trumpet?
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Yessir
Quote from: savduck on January 21, 2020, 09:03:49 AM
Any given Sunday. When a gobbler is ready to die it doesnt matter what style or cadence or even if your wearing camoflage.
Be where he is willing to come die and if his mood is right you cant do much wrong. Ive heard real turkeys sound like both styles. Both will kill turkeys.
I believe this 110%