Just for the heck of it... kind of like asking which child is your favorite, BUT:
2017 season is upon us (here, soon, or coming up). All of your pot calls are on the table, along with all of your strikers. This isn't a top 10 list, and this isn't the "if you only had one call" scenario. You'll most likely be carrying a vest full or pocket full of assorted calls. This is just - "what is your current favorite pot call combination for this season". Could be same as always, or could be a new one.
You pick 1 combo... What & Why
What: Hanks Zebrawood Bronzed Glass over aluminum & Lyman Black & White Ebony striker
Why: Pretty sure a blindfolded monkey could make it sound like a turkey - it plays that easily. To my ear, this combo has the right amount of rasp, excellent back-end and insane front if you want it. Has a nice "full" sound, good clucks and can also kee-kee easily if wanted. It's just an all around great call.
My Lonnie Sneed Hot Hen slate with a Harold Fowler one piece Ipe striker.
Eddie Wynne persimmon slate call with his persimmon striker. I had heard Eddie builds a killer slate so I took the plunge and asked him what he recommends. He told me he has been building this slate for 15 years and its his go to call. When I received mine I was like man this is good and believe me, I own a lot of slate calls. It rolls over so easy with little ovals and you can really get on it and get that rasp on the back end if you want. It has a little deeper tone to it but I am starting to love that sound myself. Has some of the best clucks and purrs for even a slate call also. This slate call and my Platz slate are my two favorites. By the way the craftsmanship is great also. Scoot
I haven't received all of my 2017 calls yet, but as of right now I am with Steelerfan.
It's hard to pick one but Jimmy Schaffer's sapele double aluminum with a fowler two piece ipe has grown on me it plays super easy and has a lively (nasty) yelp to it.
I have that same call from Hanks, it's a sweet sounding call and easy to run. My new favorite!!!!
Id have to pick one of Schafers aluminums. They've been good to me. Got a Dustin Jones aluminum that I love but it's not yet tested
My 3.5" Sinclair Titanium over slate in Kingwood quickly got my attention! Likes just about every striker I throw at it, but probably a Cox Tulipwood or dymondwood 1 piece. Lots of rasp and a great break over plays soft to ear splitting.
Been playing it every night (to my wife's delight :angel9:) I think I heard a gobbler pecking on my basement window.
Working on every subtle hand change and surface placement to bring it out guns blazing on opening day. It's an impressive call.
Doug Morgan Yellowheart Slate with Harold Fowler Pacific Dogwood striker is my current favorite combo.
Lon Trice Anodized Aluminum over Aluminum in Acrylic pot with his original two-piece dymondwood striker.
Whatever combo your going to use the first day to call one in for me- Steelerfan!! :icon_thumright:
crystal mistress with a stuckey tulipwood striker. Unless it's raining.
I was planning on the hanks Osage Goulds coming out of my vest first, but the more I play with my halloran sugartown sweetness, the more I favor it. Paired with a fowler snakewood it's a match made in heaven.
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WHAT:Scott Hock's white oak slate over slate. I have two of them and just missed out on another (ebay). Running it with a Lyman Dymalux and/or Torman tulipwood.
WHY: Best sounding pot call I have run to date. Superior sound. It is effortless to play and if I were to loose my striker, I gaurentee I could find a bone or twig that would work on it!
Steve Reeves Strut Buster with a Lyman snake wood striker.
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I'm going with my Brad Roberts Poplar Glass with a Lyman Tulipwood. It's all turkey, soft, loud, kee kees. Great combo!
Cody SPEC 1 slate with a Fowler Babinga striker.....
It's a teriffic sounding combo.... :newmascot:
Sinclair 3.25" stainless steel over slate.....it has everything.
Tons of rasp, can scream if you need it and such a natural roll over...and definately a unique sound.
Plays great with gaboon, snakewood and katalox.....
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g382/jlhoverkill/20170313_074105.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/jlhoverkill/media/20170313_074105.jpg.html)
So far Hanks Aluminum in Padauk. One bird on the board and he went down with it being the reason. Made him gobble at 10:15 when nothing else had. To me the roll over on it is just plain nasty and the cutts are ear piercing.
Mine is the Blue Deuce with a Lyman dymondwood striker. Why? Because it's two for two right now. Took my son on the TN. juvenile hunt last weekend and called his first longbeard in Saturday morning at 7:20. Took him back Sunday morning before church and called in his second longbeard at 7:25. We were blessed with two great birds and lifetime memories. He made great shots on both and he's hooked now!
My pick is a Yingling (beer + copper pot)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170330/f043112068267bccba6ea18cdb01e306.jpg)
Quote from: scoot12 on March 29, 2017, 11:44:31 AM
Eddie Wynne persimmon slate call with his persimmon striker. I had heard Eddie builds a killer slate so I took the plunge and asked him what he recommends. He told me he has been building this slate for 15 years and its his go to call. When I received mine I was like man this is good and believe me, I own a lot of slate calls. It rolls over so easy with little ovals and you can really get on it and get that rasp on the back end if you want. It has a little deeper tone to it but I am starting to love that sound myself. Has some of the best clucks and purrs for even a slate call also. This slate call and my Platz slate are my two favorites. By the way the craftsmanship is great also. Scoot
This is my exact feelings. I received my persimmon slate on day and first time I used it , I killed a nice bird. As for as a slate surface , I have not found one that is any better.
I got a Longbeard Life slate at the convention that I would say is my favorite pot for this year. It came with a purpleheart striker. Killer at low and high volume.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170330/d5016b4983955fc27a283d3d68bdd42e.jpg)
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Paul Platz Walnut Glass with a Stuckey Macassar Ebony striker. Deadly
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170330/0c95f733bac1a580281329c26ea16757.jpg)
Golfer, is that one of Pauls older walnut double glass calls, I have the same call. Scoot
Quote from: scoot12 on March 30, 2017, 04:15:00 PM
Golfer, is that one of Pauls older walnut double glass calls, I have the same call. Scoot
Yep. Walnut double glass. It is a killer. Very versatile, can play loud or soft and the birds just love it!!!
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LOTS of great combos so far... keep 'em coming!
(is it any wonder a poor guy or gal gets bombarded when they ask "which one should I buy?" :TooFunny:)
Steeler, they should buy all of them, eventually we all do lol. Golfer, I have the same pot and love it too. I think mine was in 2013. Scoot
I have bought and traded for some really outstanding calls this year but I believe this one will be the first call out of my vest when our season starts April 10th.
(http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/hunter2233/Platz%2033_zpsn03rgjzt.jpg) (http://s433.photobucket.com/user/hunter2233/media/Platz%2033_zpsn03rgjzt.jpg.html)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170331/bcb666d290124101df68a8ba2a537f26.jpg)
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You got a good one there Rickey, I heard a few of Pauls double glass calls and man are they good. Scoot
Scoot--- I like the way this one will tone down or really crank it up. I have picked up a Platz Maple slate, this Walnut double glass, and a Cherry aluminum/glass recently. Paul's calls are really good.
If you ever get a chance, Pauls cherry aluminum over slate is one of if not my favorite aluminum calls, I believe last time he entered this combo, it came one point from the DD adams award. Scoot
Scoot---I just took a closer look at my Platz Cherry aluminum and it is over slate. It is a killer sounding call.
My Sinclair Brass over Slate in a Kingwood pot with his Tulipwood striker but any striker works. That call gives me those purty, popping, nasal clucks. It's user friendly and you don't have to worry about striking against the hills and valleys of conditioning. It gives me that raspy tone a little higher than copper. The purrs are bubbling with authentic turkey talk. I love it and I make my own calls and strikers. Can I say more? I love it. The Kingwood and the finish is absolutely beautiful. I NEED his cocobolo which is gorgeous and without a doubt just as good sounding as his other calls.
Quote from: Clardh on March 29, 2017, 04:47:22 PM
WHAT:Scott Hock's white oak slate over slate. I have two of them and just missed out on another (ebay). Running it with a Lyman Dymalux and/or Torman tulipwood.
WHY: Best sounding pot call I have run to date. Superior sound. It is effortless to play and if I were to loose my striker, I gaurentee I could find a bone or twig that would work on it!
Second that!
I'm looking forward to trying my Richard Hudson Hen Box and Riley Corder's Aluminum pot call this year.
Pete Peters Sweet Lips slate 2017. Just received it today.
Yingling walnut slate.
It's hard to beat a good slate
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Old Knight and Hale Silver Queen, when aluminum calls first came out. Unfortunately I lost the original striker so I use a hickory striker.
First pot call I ever had and usually gets a response. Always goes in my vest.
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The only pot call I added this year isn't here yet so since I can't say if that one will be the new top dog or not I'd say my Mad Hen I if I could only carry one But I really like the schaffer atomic 13 with yellowheart striker I just haven't gotten to put any "notches" on it yet like the mad hen.
If I could only carry one call for an entire hunt it'd be a mouth call, if you gave me two calls it'd be a mouth call and a short box, 3rd would be a scratch box, pot call would be down at #4
Glad I can carry as many as I want though :turkey2:
(http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t452/rgillikin2/Mobile%20Uploads/595C116D-EBAD-4110-BE43-ED4A64F9420B_zpsuekgq24t.jpg) (http://s1060.photobucket.com/user/rgillikin2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/595C116D-EBAD-4110-BE43-ED4A64F9420B_zpsuekgq24t.jpg.html)
Rosewood glass over aluminum and rosewood striker geat range and can soft talk. And I made it :gobble:
Quote from: rodney gillikin on April 07, 2017, 11:22:42 AM
(http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t452/rgillikin2/Mobile%20Uploads/595C116D-EBAD-4110-BE43-ED4A64F9420B_zpsuekgq24t.jpg) (http://s1060.photobucket.com/user/rgillikin2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/595C116D-EBAD-4110-BE43-ED4A64F9420B_zpsuekgq24t.jpg.html)
Rosewood glass over aluminum and rosewood striker geat range and can soft talk. And I made it :gobble:
Beautiful Rodney!!! Good Luck tomorrow and the rest of the season.
SS custom crystal heat with a Torman dymondwood striker.