I know more expensive calls like zink, woodhaven and gooserbat are fancier looking, but is there a real difference in performance or sound quality in these $$$ calls?
Your customs Calls are generally made better, last much longer, and sometimes easier to get the correct sound. Some of the mass produced Calls are definitely not made very well, latex does not last as long due to improper fit, bad material or poor construction. However some of the production Calls work ok. Over the years I simply got tired of paying the prices on the production call getting 2 to 3 uses out of them. You could buy a production call then buy a custom that's close to the same design or reed count and see if there is a big enough difference quality and sound wise to see if the custom is worth it. Best of luck with whichever one you chose.
No.
Ok thanks usmc0331 i wasn't sure if a $100 call sounded better than a $20. There was a $9 turkey thugs slate call at walmart with three strikers carbon, ash and rosewood i saw today. I was going to buy it just for the strikers, sound like a good deal?
Depends on the type of call. My opinion is a custom box made well sounds much better than a mass produced box call. I do prefer a woodhaven mouth call to a cheaper one. I find mouth calls to be kind of finicky though. I've killed birds with an H&S raspy old hen and I've killed them with a Scott Ellis signature series. I just find the woodhaven to be more versatile. To me, and it's just my opinion, the biggest difference is in the box/pot categories. The custom call generally sounds and plays much better than a cheap one.
The truth is yes n no. A $9 walmart special is never going to come close to most custom calls. Zink, Woodhaven are imo not worth anything near what they ask. To each his own.
Price wise you can pay tons for a box or get one from SS that will blow most others away for way less, so there more expensive is not better, unless you're talking about the walmart stuff again.
Some calls are made from expensive woods, that adds to price. You can get some pots as good as others for less but again no comparison to the production stuff, it's much better.
And some makers just don't make good calls.
Look on the site n see who's names are mentioned over n over, those are good guys. Look at which calls are always for sale, even quickly after being bought, while that might not mean anything a history of it may make you wonder?
Learn who to count on for good information. If all you can afford is the $9 so be it, you're gonna get a call that sounds like you paid $9 for it imo most times
There is a lot of junk out there, and some of it custom.
I'd prefer playing any call before I commit to buying it, or at the least hearing the maker play it. The good thing about a custom call is most of your call makers stand behind their product and will make it right if your not satisfied. You can usually get the maker on the phone. Not true with mass produced calls. I'd rather have a call made by an American turkey hunter than someone in another country who thinks their producing coasters with a drink stirrer.
And I'm sure a lot of folks could take that $9 call and tag out year after year.
There are friction calls,...and there are mouth-operated calls (mouth calls/diaphrams).
Mouth calls cannot be "tuned" due to obvious reasons, so every single one of them is a crapshoot, no matter who makes the calls. Very minute differences in the call construction and the latex materials used can make significant differences in the sound of the call. Not only that, but the ability of the call user really comes into play. Mouth calls cost less than a dollar in materials to make and take no more than about five minutes to construct,...and there is no "rocket science" involved. One guy makes a call and sells it for fifteen bucks,...and another makes a call with the exact same construction and sells it for five bucks. You won't know which is the best until you put both of them in your mouth and give them a go. You do the math,....and make the decision on which to buy.
Friction calls are another story. There are companies/individuals that are in it to make money,...and there are those that make calls because it is their passion and art. The mass-production, money-maker companies are going to put out some calls that are great calls, but most of them will not have any level of quality control that will insure that every call sounds good. In most cases, the custom call makers will have that kind of quality control.
Finally, the average turkey hunter doesn't have the experience or knowledge to know what constitutes a great call in comparison to a so-so call. Heck, I've been doing this for over fifty years now and there are times when I have doubts about my ability to recognize great turkey calls when I hear them. I do know this for certain, the real judge is not us,...it is the turkey you are calling to at the time. I have witnessed over and over and over again gobblers come running to calls that I thought would have scared them out of the country,...and other times I have heard guys run calls that I thought sounded amazing only to have the gobbler act like he was completely deaf.
...Go figure....
In my opinion, there are several classes of calls priced as such:
$ being a "dollar" digit"
Store bought production calls: $ to $$$
Some are just over priced junk made to sell hunters, not call turkeys.
SOME of the least expensive ones are the better ones.
Middle of the road.....you start to be in the custom range
High dollar calls are usually, over-hyped and not worth the price.
Custom Turkey Calls: $$ to $$$
I have some very in-expensive custom calls that are nothing worth looking at, but man do they talk turkey. Do you want a call to: Call Turkeys, Look at, or both. Of course, exceptions apply.
Generally your best HUNTING calls are in this group.
Collector Calls: (As I call them:) $$$ to ?
Very beautiful calls
Very good sounding calls
Valuable, due to availability
No longer made
Or, just want one
Any of the above features combined
To me, these are TURKEY CALLS, not hunting calls. If I owned them, chances are the wouldn't be in my vest. Well maybe on special occasions.
Of course, this is just my opinion and not carved in stone.
XYZ may be a great turkey call and not cost much.
ZYX may be a beautiful call, but couldn't get a gobble.
YZX may not look like much, but can get a bird to gobble.
ZZZ may belong in the fireplace.
And so on.
Also, if you get a BAD call, don't give it to a kid or a beginner. Wong way for them to start. GOOD calls are not that more expensive and good deals can be found.
Unless of course, you just want to give someone (a kid), something to get under someone else's (parents) skin...LOL
:OGturkeyhead:
Previous post are all sound advice.
I have spent too much money trying to trying to strike gold with a mass produced call at Walmart. Most of the time, it doesn't work out. However, I have had much better luck with custom call makers. You can try your luck and buy 5 pot calls at Walmart for $10-20 or spend $50 from a call maker on this forum and get a winner.
With mouth calls, in my experience it's all about finding whatever cut suits you, for me it's a half batwing. I've yet to find one in that cut that I can't get turkey out of, but I've tried some other cuts from some of the better call makers and just could never be consistent. So for mouth calls, no there is no real difference. Just find the cut that suits you and role with it.
Friction calls are a whole new ball game. You can count on any pot or box call coming from one the highly reputable makers to be better than the vast majority of production calls. Not saying it's impossible to find an awesome production call but they're few and far between. Heck I've got a stone cold killer in a production call, but I still don't buy production calls anymore. The box I have is a $12 hs strut with the plastic sound board and ends. I dropped the call on concrete when I was 12 years old, breaking a piece of the sound board off. From that moment on it has been a turkey slayer.
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I like the raspy old hen. I would probably like a custom with similar characteristics better.
I think a decent call, used from the right location with the right cadence, is better than a world class call, from the wrong spot, with the wrong cadence. Some of the ugliest calls I have ever heard were from live hens.
I bought a pretty, custom made, hand tuned duck call because I wanted it. I blew a couple and the guy picked the right one for me (grunter) that would sound the best. It looks good on my lanyard. I use it a lot, and have called a lot of birds in (or at least did not turn them). I also have a cheap acrylic that I was given a long time ago, can't even tell who made it or recall where I got it, that I get compliments on the sound from experienced mallard hunters and want to know what it is. It just fits me, I reckon. Maybe the chunks of chewing tobacco in it are the key to the sound ( :P. My buddy duck calls like ****. It sounds ugly to me. A lot of my other friends have laughed when he started calling. But he calls in birds, all the time, in SK, MO and MS. I have seen it. There are a lot of voices in the duck and turkey worlds.
Nothing wrong with buying one because it is pretty, but you probably don't need it. You can kill plenty of turkeys with a single shot H&R.
Thanks for all the advice guys. Im go ahead and post all the calls i currently use.
Mouth calls: primos true double.
Will primos signature series. (or something like that)
Box calls: primos hook up.
Primos box cutter.
Pot calls: primos power crystal.
Lohmann turkey tracer.
As you can see i reckon im a primos fan, also got some HS diaphragms and flextone locator calls. My go to call for hunting is the pot call, so im looking to buy a new one. I want a good alluminum call and some quality strikers. Any suggestions?
I'm on Darrin Dawkins list for his stoned aluminum. I've never heard a bad thing about his, jimmy schaefers, John Sinclaire or Lonzos aluminum. Sure I missed some awesome builders too. But if you're considering something metal give Ryan Hershberger a shout and check out his copper trough call.
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Try Mike Yingling, he is on this forum , I got one on the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E67hwBMOwY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31TjYyytm2A
RB
Great aluminum you can get quickly
Schafer atomic 13
Schafer Sapele alumium over aluminum
Mac walnut or redheart aluminum
Lonzo aluminums
Dawkins aluminum in the plastic pot. M
Other worthy aluminums are Platz or Dawkins walnut pot but the wait time is long
For great stikers well worth the $15-$20 fowler strikers. Get a tulipwood, Snakewood n Dymondwood
i had a nice Warbird copper pot. I think he sells strikers too. David Halloran also makes good calls. As far as strikers, I'd be a little nervous buying one without hearing it on the call I was buying it for. Or look on here for call makers. There are some phenomenal call makers on here. All that said, you can pile up dead turkeys with any priced call. Cheap or expensive. It's just a matter of what you're willing to pay for. There is a lot of attention and craftsmanship that goes into building a custom call. That's really what you're paying for. I think it's usually better quality than something a CNC milled out in ten minutes. Again, just my opinion.
This is my experience with custom vs cheap calls. I have never purchased a custom call in my life, I would love to have one but I just don't have the $$$ to purchase one. Other than this year, the cheap calls that I own have never had a problem calling in mature birds, some of them don't sound like the custom calls but I have heard some pretty bad sounding hens in the woods that I would have thought were hunters but turned out to be real hens. With some time and patience those cheap calls and be made to sound pretty decent. I would suggest that you buy what you can afford, if its a custom call good for you, but cheap calls have killed many turkeys. As far as durability goes, I have many cheaper production friction calls that I have used for many years and haven't had any issues with them.
I have killed them with production calls and I have killed them with custom calls. On the right day a turkey will come running to a squeezing barbed wire fence and you will have to peel him off your leg if you don't shoot him quick enough. However if I am to buy a call I would rather my money go to a guy that takes pride in his work and stands behind his product. You can meet many great call makers and most will let you hear their product before you buy. That's worth a few extra bucks to me.
I might just splurge this once and buy a custom pot. I actually had a couple of marked down pots from wally world i was going to buy, but they wouldn't take my dad's card and he got p-oed, cause we also had a cart full of groceries, so we left. Looking back, im kinda glad i didn't buy them, but in our small town walmart is the only store that even sells hunting stuff.
This was my first year turkey hunting and I got 7 days hunting in Wisconsin and Minnesota. All I had was one glass pot made by Cody. I'm buying some custom calls right now but am not going hog wild. I'm looking at two maybe three custom calls, OK 4 actually. One ss field box and ss scratcher which are very reasonably priced in my opinion. One slate and maybe a metal pot. I look at it as I will be getting good quality calls that have received great reviews from members on this site. I plan on using these calls for the rest of my life. Why buy some shoddy mass produced calls when I can get hand made calls from proven call makers who you can talk to on the phone to get the call you want versus guessing on something off the store shelf. Not very expensive in the long run.
In the main, you pay more for a call from a fella who knows what a turkey sounds like and can reliably time a call. If you know what a turkey sounds like and have experience to know what kind of sound you need, you can go through stacks of mass produced calls to find one that happened to go together right. Otherwise you pay the $$$ to be sure the call works.
Quote from: Life of Riley on June 07, 2016, 01:15:44 AM
This was my first year turkey hunting and I got 7 days hunting in Wisconsin and Minnesota. All I had was one glass pot made by Cody. I'm buying some custom calls right now but am not going hog wild. I'm looking at two maybe three custom calls, OK 4 actually. One ss field box and ss scratcher which are very reasonably priced in my opinion. One slate and maybe a metal pot. I look at it as I will be getting good quality calls that have received great reviews from members on this site. I plan on using these calls for the rest of my life. Why buy some shoddy mass produced calls when I can get hand made calls from proven call makers who you can talk to on the phone to get the call you want versus guessing on something off the store shelf. Not very expensive in the long run.
Very good plan to start with. Call makers on here can supply you with all you need. However, you stated "Not very expensive in the long run".
:blob10: :newmascot:
Please let us know how that works out for you "in the long run". We all know where that one will go....LOL. Just saying that once you start, it's VERY HARD, not to try another, then another, then another type, then this one. It's an addiction man, but a good one.
Have fun on your journey!
:drool:
Tullahoma is not far from you. One of the sporting goods store there should probably carry calls around spring, I imagine one of them would probably offer a small selection of custom calls. May try All Seasons Outdoors.
Sent from the Strut Zone
I think a lot of people get to caught up on how a sounds to them and not how it sounds to a turkey. A cheap "bad sounding" call used correctly and used at the right time will beat an expensive "good sounding" call every time. Practice and concentrate on cadence and making the right call at the right time. Remember, if you can make a turkey gobble with a cheap call then he deffinatly thinks you're a hen. After that it's up to you to make the right moves and calls. A custom call ain't gonna do that for ya any better than a Wally World special.
Yes...
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I good custom call taken care of isn't going to go bad so really its an affordable investment.. don't get me wrong I still waste lots of money buying way more calls than I could carry or use in a season but you dont have to if you just wanted a few quality one. for $50-60 you can have a hand made box call that will run for years and I can honestly say is going to be better than any production I've ever touched. I just prefer to carry the best I can rather than "it'll do or i can make it work" gear but thats how I an with everything. Camo, back pack, arrows, ammo, sights I want the best I can afford. Its part of the sport/hobby to me but might not be to you
Honestly mouth calls can be had for same prices and better consistency and quality, $5 for Hooks $8 for houndstooth and Halloran those are just some of my favorite customs but they are cheaper than woodhaven and about what you'd pay at cabelas for anything else.
Although pot or box calls may be a bit easier to learn how to call my preference is diaphragm calls. My hands are free and I'm able to do a lot more with diaphragm calls. When a cheap diaphram call is $6 and and a super expensive one is $15 there is really no need to worry about price. I usually have a couple in my pocket. One that is raspy and loud...and a second one that I can call softly. For the most part, my expensive custom pot calls sit in my truck. Another plus is the diaphragm calls are a lighter and less bulky to carry around. I pretty much gagged when I first used diaphragm calls but once I got used to them I sound a lot more realistic and that's all I use.
Quote from: supremepredator on June 06, 2016, 06:01:01 PM
Thanks for all the advice guys. Im go ahead and post all the calls i currently use.
Mouth calls: primos true double.
Will primos signature series. (or something like that)
Box calls: primos hook up.
Primos box cutter.
Pot calls: primos power crystal.
Lohmann turkey tracer.
As you can see i reckon im a primos fan, also got some HS diaphragms and flextone locator calls. My go to call for hunting is the pot call, so im looking to buy a new one. I want a good alluminum call and some quality strikers. Any suggestions?
I'm a Primos fan myself. I've killed numerous of birds with his calls. That being said, I have a $5 aluminum call made by MAD calls that got several thunder chickens to meet their demise. However, I added a Derby, Sinclair, and Hooks pot call (1-each) to my arsenal this year. Did I need them? No. Do I regret buying them? Absolutely not. Just more tools added to my vest. BTW, I used a damaged thunder dome slate (which I believe is discontinued) to call in a stubborn bird for my cuz that has been not cooperating with us for the past two years. Lesson learned - he liked the sound of that call at that moment and paid the price for it. Good luck and treat yourself to a custom call or two!
All The Way!
Custom callers day in and day out will out perform mass produced calls.
Cheap vs. Expensive doesn't always equal Bad vs. Great
There are great "cheap" calls, and bad "expensive" calls...
Custom vs. Production isn't always a clear difference either - but generally speaking, as pointed out by the previous responses - a custom call maker that is a true craftsman at making a call will most always be better than a mass produced call glued together in a shop in China. A truly talented call maker will only sell what they believe to be a quality product - or at least they should! That is generally the advantage with custom - the call you are buying should have been played by the call maker and passed his / her personal standard before they put their name on it and ship it out.
The ability to play the call factors in when it comes to final judgement. A great call made by a custom call maker will still sound mediocre in the hands of someone that doesn't play it well. But that same call in the hands of a proficient caller will sound fantastic. Likewise, a poor sounding call can only do so much, regardless of who is playing it. To quote: "Sometimes it's the Indian, and not the arrow..." - works both ways.
I've had great and consistent results with a Primos gobbler tube. While I replace this call every two-three years, I'm still using the mouth calls that I started with eight season ago. I store them in a ziplock-type plastic bag in the refrigerator and soak them in a 50:50 solution of mouth wash and water for a couple of hours sometime before the season to soften them up, then use toothpicks to separate the reeds. When hunting, I use the mouth calls for tree yelps, fly down, and soft yelp to which gobblers usually respond. While the gobbler is still on the roost but has responded to my hen calling, I cut in with my gobbler tube to give the impression that a new hen to the area is being courted by an intruder gobbler. This way, I've got two things working for me, (1) the breeding instinct and (2) the peck order. This combination, along with a gobbler decoy of some sort-Pretty Boy, Funky Chicken, foam body, etc.- along with a hen on the ground directly in from of the gobbler decoy simulating the breeding position is usually deadly and has worked for several years in Southern Illinois to fill all three of my tags, most often with 20 yard shots or less.
Looking at custom diaphragm calls verses mass-produced, there is not a huge price difference, and in many cases the custom calls are less expensive.
I have used Zink and Woodhaven, and although a grade above many other mass-produced calls, I would agree that they are over-priced... Last couple season I have used Hooks and Gooserbat, and have been very happy with their calls in both the quality of sound and the durability... The price of their calls is right in line with most mass-produced calls, but I feel there is a difference in quality and a world of difference in customer service.
One big advantage of a custom call is calling and talking to the call-maker. I have talked on the phone with everyone that has made a turkey call for me (diaphragm, box, or scratch box). I have told them what I want, and asked them for their advice as to which call will suit my needs... I believe this has saved me a lot of money in trial and error.
That being said, there are box calls such as Lynch's Fool Proof, or the Primos Heartbreaker that are proven calls in the field... Although, not a lot of cost difference from most custom calls.
And, there is something to be said about holding a call in your hand or putting a call in your mouth that was made for you by someone taking pride in the quality of their work... Kinda makes you feel all "special" inside...
Just fyi i bought that $9 thugs pot call. It was crap. Rosewood striker had a spilt and numerous chips in wood. Ash striker was uneven along the shaft and don't get me started on how bad the acrylic one sounded! A screen door made a better yelp! The pot was ok, a little heavy and felt that if it fell out of a vest it would shatter. Also bought a primos double gobble thinking it was the gobble tube. Sounded like a kazoo. Both are being returned and buying a custom pot, prolly from mike yingling
Quote from: supremepredator on June 16, 2016, 05:50:02 PM
Just fyi i bought that $9 thugs pot call. It was crap. Rosewood striker had a spilt and numerous chips in wood. Ash striker was uneven along the shaft and don't get me started on how bad the acrylic one sounded! A screen door made a better yelp! The pot was ok, a little heavy and felt that if it fell out of a vest it would shatter. Also bought a primos double gobble thinking it was the gobble tube. Sounded like a kazoo. Both are being returned and buying a custom pot, prolly from mike yingling
Most of the turkey thug merchandise is sub par to put it nicely. Cheap junk to put it plainly. They are bottem of the barrel production calls made for walmart. There still are good production, big name calls that work fine. They just haven't sold their souls to walmart!
Quote from: supremepredator on June 16, 2016, 05:50:02 PM
Just fyi i bought that $9 thugs pot call. It was crap. Rosewood striker had a spilt and numerous chips in wood. Ash striker was uneven along the shaft and don't get me started on how bad the acrylic one sounded! A screen door made a better yelp! The pot was ok, a little heavy and felt that if it fell out of a vest it would shatter. Also bought a primos double gobble thinking it was the gobble tube. Sounded like a kazoo. Both are being returned and buying a custom pot, prolly from mike yingling
Now you're talking. Can't go wrong with a Yingling call man. I've got several Yingling pots and love them all. The crystal over slate is probably my go to pot but his titanium is gaining strong favor with me at the moment as well. I've got an aluminum, copper and just got his slate in the mail yesterday. The slate is by far the best slate I've ever played and while I'm not a slate fan, I'll be carrying this thing as it will make every turkey sound (minus a gobble) with the greatest of ease. Mike has all of his sound files on YouTube and uploads a sound file for all the calls he sells. Again, can't go wrong there man.
Quote from: guesswho on June 06, 2016, 08:56:38 AM
There is a lot of junk out there, and some of it custom.
I'd prefer playing any call before I commit to buying it, or at the least hearing the maker play it. The good thing about a custom call is most of your call makers stand behind their product and will make it right if your not satisfied. You can usually get the maker on the phone. Not true with mass produced calls. I'd rather have a call made by an American turkey hunter than someone in another country who thinks their producing coasters with a drink stirrer.
And I'm sure a lot of folks could take that $9 call and tag out year after year.
:z-winnersmiley:
:z-twocents: I've used production calls and custom calls and I'ld use custom over production calls anyday. Take Al Hobart of Enticer Calls. His Silver Fox is a consistent killer for me. He uses raw aluminum in an English Walnut pot and all you need is a piece of sandpaper to clean the striker once in a while. He has a good web site with plenty of how to videos. Part of consistently calling in birds is confidence in your caller and your calling with it. For a friction call I use a Marlin Watkins fiddle paddle, I've got two, both with bloodwood lids and they are killers. Enticer pots average $35 which is not out of most people's price range and SS calls are also reasonable, also Yingling pots. You can google names or just peg and pot calls and you will come up with many. A pot I would like to get in the future when I save the money is a Gary Anderson of Daybreak Calls. a ceramic, in Shedua wood. We are all looking for that siren caller that will call in toms with consistency. Tha main thing is having confidence in your call and your ability in using it. When you get hooked on turkey hunting this part of the allure of our sport, finding good calls and adding them to our arsenal. Its all personal preference. Good luck with your search, keep looking ! :newmascot:
For diaphragm calls, I think money comes less into play.
Woodhaven are amongst the more pricey calls, and they do make a nice call... But, looking at guys like Gooserbat and Hooks, you can call them up, tell them what you are looking for, and they will send it to you (I figure if I purchase 5 calls, from one of these guys, I will really like 3-4 of them). Their calls are about the same price as most commercial calls (less than some, more than others).
If I had to go into a sporting goods store and purchase a call, it would probably be a Woodhaven or Zink... Both of which are priced more than most "custom" calls... Not needing a call tomorrow, I would rather order "custom" calls.
With box calls, there are some good production calls made... Topping my list would be the Primos Heartbreaker and the Lynch Foolproof. Mike from Spring Creek makes a less expensive quality call than either of these, and once again you can call him and tell him what you want... But, you get to pick up and try that Primos or Lynch in the store before you take it home.
I recently had an SS call made, and the cost ain't much more than the Primos or the Lynch, and it would most certainly go in my vest before either of those calls.
Then there are calls such as the Scratch Box calls, that are very affordable, and provide a unique sound... I have one from SS and one from Lonnie Gilbert, and they will both be in my vest next season... Being new to these calls, I find myself intrigued, and will likely play them more than other calls next season. Once again, I was able to talk to the call maker and tell him what I wanted.
What I have found, is that for the most part, the really cheap calls are inexpensive for a reason... I do believe there is some degree of correlation between cheaper calls and more expensive calls, but there are a number of reasonably priced calls out there that sound great.
I I'll jump in and say first"thanks for the kind words" I try to build good calls and I know others do as well. I'll say I agree with most of what has been said. Especially about the pot and box calls. I have made a blanket statement for years that not all custom calls are premium, and not all premium calls are custom. For instance some makers pots, as are mine, are pretty much standardized and other makers, are rarely alike.
Best advice I'd say is to go to the NWTF convention in nashville since your right down the road. Meet some of these call makers and see the care and pride that goes into their calls and play theirs vs the big names like primos there. Not saying production calls are bad, I own some, but you can buy "field grade" custom calls for 30-50 range and that is buying a well built hand made call. Watch the classifieds also for really good deals if you want to save money. As far as sound goes most serious call makers wouldn't ever want their name on a bad products because reputation is everything in this business. I plan to acquire more custom calls, but still hit up wal mart for post season sales. I'm pretty new at turkey hunting but when the woods are quiet I'll pull out something different to try.
BTW I see gooserbat replied. If you make it to the convention go see him. Very nice guy, makes a great call, and has a great son who was also very helpful.
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If you do a search there are great call reviews on this website. If you notice favorable trends towards certain less expensive calls...it is likely worth trying one out. I bought several fairly expensive pot calls when I first started turkey hunting. Now that I have a lot more experience under my belt an have tried out a number of calls...the fancy pot calls stay in my truck and I only use diaphragm calls. Diaphragms are a fraction of the price, less movement to spook turkeys, and I can give a lot more variety of calls. D-calls are a pain in the rear to learn how to use but are amazing once you get it down. If it weren't for great youtube D-call videos I would have likely never have figure it out!
Quote from: southern_leo on December 31, 2016, 07:29:50 PM
Best advice I'd say is to go to the NWTF convention in nashville since your right down the road. Meet some of these call makers and see the care and pride that goes into their calls and play theirs vs the big names like primos there. Not saying production calls are bad, I own some, but you can buy "field grade" custom calls for 30-50 range and that is buying a well built hand made call. Watch the classifieds also for really good deals if you want to save money. As far as sound goes most serious call makers wouldn't ever want their name on a bad products because reputation is everything in this business. I plan to acquire more custom calls, but still hit up wal mart for post season sales. I'm pretty new at turkey hunting but when the woods are quiet I'll pull out something different to try.
BTW I see gooserbat replied. If you make it to the convention go see him. Very nice guy, makes a great call, and has a great son who was also very helpful.
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i had no idea there was a convention in Nashville. I'd check it out if i wasn't strapped for cash and had a vehicle.
I hunt just public land and I try to use custom calls alot. I have 2 MELVIN NEWMAN Box callers that I like alot. Now my Brother in Law made mr laugh one time in the Spring woods. We heard a guy yelping non-stop on a box caller as we were walking out and he said-- That sounds like a Lynch Box. We both have a Lynch Box and it did !!
For us yes. For the turkeys no.
I didn't know of any custom call makers (and there weren't so many around here) when I started turkey hunting. I learned to get the best sounds possible out of the production calls I owned. I also learned from an old time turkey hunter not to fall in love with the sounds I was making from my turkey calls. Less was more, to keep 'em guessing, and to leave the turkeys wanting more. I'm sure that plenty of birds walked away because I wasn't talking a lot, but a lot of gobblers died trying to find the "new" hen they heard.
I have a few custom calls that sound great, but my "go to" box call is still a production call. It just sounds good. I bought some others exactly like it and most didn't have the same tonal quality, so the inferior ones got sold or given away. I make enough of the right sounds out of that production box to get a gobbler's attention and get him coming my way. Some of why it works well is the confidence I have in it from past successes. The better you can get any call to sound, the more success you're liable to have in it. You're definitely more likely to get better sound quality from a custom call simply because they're not mass produced and the maker cares about what they produce. It is not about quantity, it is about quality with custom makers.
Jim
Depends on what call and what maker and how well you can use the call...I call in most of my birds with home made calls that didn't cost anything so I can't offer much input on the expensive custom calls. Except that some of them sound really good to my ears.
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Like most I have both and I carry a $$$ and a $$ call in my turkey pack. My go to call is a Cody World Class Slate that I have had for over 20 years and have killed birds and birds and birds with. My other call is a very inexpensive aluminum call that I'll take out when I want to throw the switch-up at a bird, sounds so different than the slate.
I always say I look at performance not pretty :)
I do buy some collector "pretty" calls but they are for the wall not the woods...
MK M GOBL
Last year was an especially tough year in PA.
Lots of non co-operative birds.
If a bird doesn't want to play......he isn't going to play!
Good call, bad call, yelling at them, etc........................LOL
Some birds just don't want to play.
:fud: :OGani:
I've used both and find that some custom calls are better made, but many production calls will do the job very well. I let the birds decide. I've used calls that are custom ,high dollar, works of art that sound great to me. But get no response from the birds. I've also used cheap horrible sounding calls to me , that bring toms in running. I find myself using more of my production calls over the custom jobs.
Some of the worst turkey calling I've ever heard in the woods came from real wild turkeys so I don't put too much stock in the school of thought that you need to have a custom call. Then, consider the fact that far more turkeys are lured in with production calls. My advice is to buy some calls (production, custom, or homemade) that you think sound good and, above all, learn how to play them well.
Nothing at all against expensive custom calls but I sincerely doubt the turkeys can discern the difference between a well-made custom versus a well-made production model. IMHO, custom calls made from exotic woods and other unique materials with fine finishes are works of art made to appeal to the buyer/owner. The fact that they are beautiful and also functional is why some feel they are worth the expense. :gobble:
I use a little of everything I only recently started buying some custom calls.And the biggest reason is that I don't want to have the same call as 10 other guys that I compete against.I also have some production calls that I would not want to be with out also.One is a 25 year old M.A.D. Slate call that still sounds good to me and I have confidence in.The other is a Quaker boy trough call that you can buy today. I don't like the Quaker boy in the rain though.My dad's go to call is a 35 year old Lynch foolproof box call that has been glued back together a couple times,but he has killed a lot of turkeys with it.If you can afford it I would buy a custom call off of one of the call makers on this site that you keep hearing good things about and I bet you will always be happy with your purchase. I plan on buying more calls from some of the guys on here because I am addicted to great looking and great sounding calls and there a lot worse things to spend your money on.Just remember that if you find the right turkey it's easy to call them in.
No matter if the call came from Walmart or is an expensive custom it's the man operating the call. You have to practice until proficient and a lot of people think you can buy that with an expensive call.
Quote from: Phillipshunt on February 17, 2018, 11:25:02 AM
No matter if the call came from Walmart or is an expensive custom it's the man operating the call. You have to practice until proficient and a lot of people think you can buy that with an expensive call.
^^^This
I've hunted turkeys for closing in on 40 years. I've been a pro-staffer for a call company. I've manufactured my own calls for over a decade.
All turkey calls are primarily manufactured to attract turkey hunters and not turkeys. That goes for mine as well as anyone else's. General Mattis said it best: "The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears." It ain't the call that counts.
When I decided to make my own box calls, I asked around and found a highly touted custom call maker. I told him to create a call that was ideal for the conditions I hunted. He sent me the call, and I not only hunted with it, but I studied it at great length. It was a nice call. I'm not going to give specifics. I bought some material, not nearly as fine as this custom call, and tried to make a box call as best I could. I've hunted with both calls extensively since, and the Shamanic MK I box has brought in several gobblers, and the expensive custom call has so far brought in nary a one.
I don't clam to be a genius turkey hunter. I don't claim the custom call was a dud. I'm just saying it ain't the price of the call that brings in the gobs.
I've been making pot calls for over a decade now. I started off just making them for my family and friends. It was an easy way to get off the hook for Christmas and birthday gifts for a while. For my own personal use, I found it was cheaper to DIY and experiment with various materials. A few years in, I fell in with a fellow who was manufacturing some really revolutionary designs, and he wanted me to come on board as a pro-staffer. Frankly, his top-of-the-line calls were much better than mine, and I treasure them. However, I can just as easily go out with my $5 pot calls and call in a gob.
Quote from: Phillipshunt on February 17, 2018, 11:25:02 AM
No matter if the call came from Walmart or is an expensive custom it's the man operating the call. You have to practice until proficient and a lot of people think you can buy that with an expensive call.
[/quote. ] X2"
A well conditioned cheap call will call birds and won't hurt that bad if lost or damaged.
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If shot a heck of a lot of toms using diaphragms. Both hands are free and they are pretty darn inexpensive. If I loose one....no big deal. I do a lot of run and gun hunting so it's nice not having to haul around a bunch of calls, strikers, etc. I have one call ready in my mouth while hiking and another in a pocket. You can get a great diaphragm call for around $10 and a top of the line diaphragm for around $15! It took some time to get rid of the gag reflex and figure out how to use a diaphragm. I've learned how to do a bunch of different turkey calls. YouTube was a great source figuring out how it's done....saved me a lot of time and frustration. I bought a couple pot calls when I first starting turkey hunting....and they now stay in my truck!
Some people have made some good points about cheap calls and it's more the hunter than the call. I agree to a point. First, yes the hunter must absolutely understand how to run a call properly before anything else. Secondly some cheap calls may work, but I would argue true effectiveness, and honestly it's all anecdotal which ever side of the argument you fall on. To call a hot lonely 2 year old you could probably yell HEN OVER HERE loud enough and he will come. I'd say most any turkey call will pull a really hot bird. Now if you start pursuing mature long beards or public land pressured birds then i think realism counts. I say spend time in the woods and listen to really hens, then play some different calls and compare. To me a good custom pot usually is more consistent with real hens. There are also some really good production pots too. But many production calls don't have THAT sound or the ear hit we like to listen for. So bottom line is a proficient hunter maybe able to get it done with a cheap call, but I'll bet a proficient hunter with a good call consistently kills more birds. Again I think all of our arguments are anecdotal and everyone has different experiences and stories but this is my opinion. If I'm spending money, time, and gas to go hunting even if it helps me 10% I want to prepare myself for success. So even if I don't kill a bird I know I at least gave it my best effort.
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One time ,I was walkin and calling and I walked up on a hunter that was sitting and calling
And I thought that was the worst sounding turkey I'v ever ever herd and ended up being
A hunter , we talked for a while, and I ask what call he was using, all he said was , store
Bought and he has taking a lot of turkeys with. ..........
To a point doesn't matter the cost, if the hunter knows how to converse with a turkey they can make most anything work. But with high volume production calls it is inevitable you will find a few duds mixed in with the good ones.
I have purchased production calls over the years that are in a landfill somewhere. I also have a couple that ride in the vest. One summer, I found a Quaker Boy aluminum / black plastic pot in the clearance bin of a local box store, and its just perfect in every way. Couple of bucks for what is a production call in every sense of the word, and it is perfect. Loud, soft, playable, forgiving, takes a beating, plays well with different strikers, etc.
I also carry a couple high end trumpets, long boxes and pot calls calls as well. I just gravitate to what my ear likes, and that translates to confidence.
Mike Yingling or Lon Trice "Lonzo" on the aluminum pot call. They are fairly priced and very well made calls. Depending on the reason for wanting aluminum...I got one of the waterproof aluminum pots from Mike for the reason of hunting in the rain and it's a call that never leaves the vest because it sounds so good (to me and turkeys) The other call that never leaves my vest is a glass top Lonzo, they are both turkey killers. Buying a reasonably priced custom call is well worth the money IMO.
Quote from: supremepredator on June 05, 2016, 10:16:55 PM
I know more expensive calls like zink, woodhaven and gooserbat are fancier looking, but is there a real difference in performance or sound quality in these $$$ calls?
Sometimes.
At the NWTF show I wanted to buy an aluminum pot call. Narrowed it down to two. $100 call from Woodhaven or a $50 call from Obsession Calls. Woodhaven's booth at the convention was big. They had fancy lights and Scott Ellis their selling calls. Obsession's booth was just the owner and his kid/kids I believe. To my ears the calls sounded identical. The difference was Woodhaven needed that additional $50 to pay for all their marketing. Walked out of their with the Obsession pot.
I'm no expert but I have always believed that you get what you pay for. However.... I have also come to realize that in many things you end up paying for the name that was once quality and after they become known a bit you are paying for the name and not the quality. You have to take the time and weigh the two out. Just one dumb guys opinion.
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 23, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
Best. Post. Ever.
I'm amazed that no one else hasn't chimed in about diaphragm calls! The very best diaphragms are dirt cheap ($15) and if you are willing to practice are just as good as pot or box calls! They may not be as pleasing to the eye as fancy wood but it sure is nice having hands free and only having to carry a tiny little call rather than several box, pot, or other calls plus strikers!
Quote from: 2dogs1name on February 23, 2018, 08:26:20 PM
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 23, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
Best. Post. Ever.
WOW I HAD A GOOD Laugh......... THANKS
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 23, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
LOL Best read in a while!!
Might need to re-think my "I don't pick pretty, I pick performance" quote in this case LOL
MK M GOBL
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 23, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
I believe I have just been to the mountain...........................
Quote from: Yoder409 on February 24, 2018, 06:44:39 PM
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 23, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
I believe I have just been to the mountain...........................
:TooFunny: :TooFunny:
And some will tease you along, make you keep dumping piles of money into them, but in the end never pair up with you no matter what you do, or how hard you try.
Try as I may, I can't get a tube call to take a shine to me no way no how.
I didnt read all the responses so please forgive me if im repeating anyone. I think it depends on whos hands(or mouth) the call is in. An expensive call in the hands of an inexperienced caller is not going to sound much if any different than a production call. An experienced caller can make a production call sound ok but have to work at it harder sometimes
I'd have to say it depends on what the bird wants to hear. I've have a power crystal fire up birds a custom glass call wouldn't. Depends on several factors. One being if you can tune and run the call in your hands.
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Quote from: boatpaddle on February 23, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
Difference is the beautiful turkey calls aren't crazy!!!!!!
Quote from: Bowguy on March 09, 2018, 07:53:12 AM
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 23, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
Difference is the beautiful turkey calls aren't crazy!!!!!!
Lol....
If you find one that goobles good, does that qualify as a "KEEPER" ???
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Quote from: boatpaddle on March 09, 2018, 08:04:34 AM
If you find one that goobles good, does that qualify as a "KEEPER" ???
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: That can be a positive, but I think it depends on how much gobbling she did before I came along. If she gobbles at everybody, then I would probably look at her from the "catch and release" standpoint. ;D :toothy9:
"Good callers ain't Cheap; cheap callers ain't good."
Quote from a deceased alcoholic turkey hunter.
Quote from: boatpaddle on March 09, 2018, 08:04:34 AM
Quote from: Bowguy on March 09, 2018, 07:53:12 AM
Quote from: boatpaddle on February 23, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
Buying turkey calls is comparable to finding a good woman......
Some are much more cost effective then others..
Some are very expensive to get to know and then carry a very high cost factor to keep in your life....
Some are beautiful & some aren't......
Some are easy to get to know & others are quite tough to learn about...
Both pretty much make the same sounds, depending how they are played....
Both types can do what they were made for, but you need to spend time & effort to learn their sweet spot(s)
It's all about the choice of what makes you happy...
Difference is the beautiful turkey calls aren't crazy!!!!!!
Lol....
If you find one that goobles good, does that qualify as a "KEEPER" ???
Sent from my SM-J320P using Tapatalk
Not to hihack but you tube hot crazy matrix. Tells you all you need to know
Hang out in the classifieds and you can pick up some good deals. But, yes some cheap calls work just as well. Believe it or not some guys don't fret near as much about calls as we do. I got a buddy that runs the same old primos power crystal every year and he does fine. He has one other call, a flipsider Blodgett and sometimes it comes out too but the primos just gets it done for him.
too many calls, too little time! I want to play them all! :turkey2:
It's sometimes pretty easy to get toms to shock call by gobbling with your own voice....cheapest call of them all! It isn't too terribly difficult to use your own voice to gobble, crow call, etc without a call! The best bang for your buck is diaphrams!
From my experience, the expensive calls are worth it. After using custom pot calls and mouth calls THEN picking up a call at the sporting goods store, I'll NEVER go back.
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Quote from: kdsberman on March 21, 2018, 06:46:44 PM
From my experience, the expensive calls are worth it. After using custom pot calls and mouth calls THEN picking up a call at the sporting goods store, I'll NEVER go back.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This ^
I'm not saying you can't find a store bought call that sounds good, but from my experience the "custom" calls are much easier to make good sounds out of them. Most of the production calls take much more work to get a good consistent sound. Although I won't say they don't exist, I've never held a "custom" call (of any type) that sounded bad. On the other hand it takes a handful of production calls to find one that works well and is easy to run.
I even find that the "custom" diaphragm calls are much more consistent and sound better than the store bought varieties.