Question for everybody that has a shortbox. How do you prefer to hold them. As I'm tuning the calls Im making I tend to grasp the box on the screw end with my thumb on the left corner of the base and fingers spread along the right side of the base. I also have a tendency to hold the call almost vertical while playing but change that angle if I feel I need to change pitch.
Are you guys the about the same? How do you grasp your box call? In the front(screw side) middle, or back?
Gently like baby bird with thumb pad, index, middle, and ring fingers
Depending on which side of the box I'm playing determine how i hold the call... Also finger pressure on the side of the box if i'm wanting a softer tone / quieter sound / deeper tone... as you play you learn tricks that you like in a time of need ...
I paddle with the box end holding the lid still. Backwards I guess
Gently as others have said, my most comfortable position is underhand as opposed to overhand (Call toward my head instead of the ground) just because my hands are messed up I guess and it hurts my hands to hold them down words, though I am practicing that way as well.
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My thumb runs along its length on base of side A and my 4 finger tips hold side B with paddle handle toward me. Paddle is held lightly between thumb and 1st finger. Cutting is different. I use my thumb as a stop/pressure guide and hold side A with hand area below thumb. Right hand pops side of paddle.
Call is held on back end toward paddle handle.
Nuances to running a box call are infinite...I like the "bird in a hand" reference. I'm a left rail player, looking down at the call with the paddle handle pointed at my belly. From thumb pressure to the sides, to even where you hold the paddle. Pitch is easily changed from hold the paddle end to where the paddle handle shoulders start...really good box calls have literally hundreds of turkeys in em :)
Depends on what I'm trying to achieve. I'll hold the paddle and move the box to work it aggressively or hold the box and move the paddle for gentle sounds
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I switch up constantly. Different hen every time you do that. Overhand , underhand upside down. Depending on the sound I want at that particular time.
Thanks for the reply guys. I get there are nuances to playing a call. Im trying to find out if there is a general consensus on where you grasp the box for possible comfort reasons in future box call builds. Also if a majority of people grasp the call similarly i better get used to tuning that way as well.
I guess a better way to put it is how does the call sit in your hand and where on the call is your hand.
I too am just learning on making box calls so take this with a grain of salt. But i found out the hard way if you just tune it to the way you play will result in a call that may sound horrible in someone elses hand. Ive started playing my calls while tuning every way i can think to get an idea what it will sound like with different people might play it. This has led me to keep tuning calls that i thought were done.
I guess I better way to put it is, how does the call sit in your hand and where on the call is your hand?
Quote from: Paulmyr on February 22, 2023, 02:25:39 PM
I guess I better way to put it is, how does the call sit in your hand and where on the call is your hand?
Again my answer depends on the boxes... boxes without a handle, box with a handle , hen boxes all have a different style and different way of holding them. Before you were making boxes, do you own a lot of box calls of different varieties from builders? If so you would know people play boxes in so many different ways ... It all depends on the person in my opinion in how they feel confident in playing whatever style ... Some boxes you run and others you finesse in your playing .. Spring / non spring ...calls ...... Have you ever run one of Roger Parks aluminum lid longboxes or one of his short box style with the aluminum lid, these all have a unique way of holding and playing with the lid ...
Paddle handle facing up, screw end facing down. Being right handed, paddle in right hand, box in left.
Quote from: paboxcall on February 22, 2023, 03:49:28 PM
Paddle handle facing up, screw end facing down. Being right handed, paddle in right hand, box in left.
Do you hold the box base in the middle or by the ends?
Hold the box and use the lid, hit the lid on the box like I am chopping wood! I usually only use the box call for aggressive cutting for locating birds, add some loud yelps in there too.
By the time I am done with a sequence there should be smoke coming from it!
Rarely carry one anymore.
I think hes not wanting a tutorial on how to play the call . If I'm hearing him right he is thinking about how the call sits in your hand .
Not the lid.
Possibly working on forming the bottom so that it conforms to the hand profile?
Quote from: Paulmyr on February 22, 2023, 03:55:58 PM
Quote from: paboxcall on February 22, 2023, 03:49:28 PM
Paddle handle facing up, screw end facing down. Being right handed, paddle in right hand, box in left.
Do you hold the box base in the middle or by the ends?
Box is held at the end, the paddle handle end to b clear. I feel I have best control of the box that way. Others' mileage may differ.
Quote from: strum on February 22, 2023, 05:36:33 PM
I think hes not wanting a tutorial on how to play the call . If I'm hearing him right he is thinking about how the call sits in your hand .
Not the lid.
Possibly working on forming the bottom so that it conforms to the hand profile?
Possibly that and I seem to notice changes in pitch and vibration depending on where I hold it.
I hold it like this
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Paddle in left hand , box in right .
Hold up side down , pushing box onto the paddle , pushing box with left to right strokes .
Everyone laughs at my up side down backwards box skills . But I've yelped up many with my backwardness.
Steve Mann and Marlin Watkins have good videos on youtube. Both credible, outstanding callmakers.
Hold the box in my left hand with the thumb on the left along the front 1/4 of the box, four fingers on the right side of the box opposite the the thumb position. Use my right hand to run the paddle.
A GOOD running box call takes very little hand holding ... if the lid and rails are smooth and not grabbing on each other then you have a good running box that will pretty much run itself with very little holding just mainly using your finger tips. I will add different combos of boxes they all have a different feel as to how it wants to be played, it's like you have to get to know your call.