Aluminum surface question?

[mastevt]

Those of you who like alum. surface's, what type do you have, the black anodized, or natural?  And do you know what it has for a soundboard?  Thanks  Scott.

[Bowguy]

Anondized. Mine is lights out green. Gonna pick up one from Schafer next week

[MikeStaten]

I've got both types, anodized and raw.  They all sound a bit different. Some anodized surfaces seemed to have too much "grip" on the striker for me, to the point that it would almost chatter in mid yelp when transitioning during the break.  I believe most of mine have glass soundboards but I would need to double check on that. 

Top few for me are Lyman, Mabry, Schaffer and, believe it or not, the HS Strut Black Magic. 

[mastevt]

Thanks, I've never been a fan of it.  I don't know why, guess I need to change my thinking a bit.  I got both in stock,  I just finished stabilizing some walnut root, and was gonna do up a couple in Alumn, and see how they sound.

[scoot12]

I have both and like anodized a little better,  as far as soundboards got,  I like slate for a soundboard.  Scoot

[ncturkey]

I like anodized green or black calling surface. My daughter as a awesome sounding double sided Green anodized over slate caller.

[mastevt]

what are you guys using to condition the anodized surface?  scotchbrite?

[Triple B]

Alcohol swabs is all I ever used on mine to clean them.

[MikeStaten]

what are you guys using to condition the anodized surface?  scotchbrite?

Different calls use different anodized aluminum.  My Mabry aluminums sound incredible but I need to touch them up with scotch brite.  Most others (Lights Out, Schaffer's etc..) only need to clean them every once in a while with alcohol pad. 

[drum817]

I have a SS black anodized aluminum "game over" series..... It's designed without a soundboard & it sounds fantastic!!!

[Gooserbat]

I build mine with a glass soundboard, and I use powder blasted anodized aluminum.  You should only need to clean with alcohol pads, however if a call isn't a blasted surface then scotchbrite comes into play, or that's the common perception.

[greencop01]

      I own an Enticer Silver Fox, raw aluminum over glass and its been my go to call for the last 4 or 5 years. It can scream and can whisper. You got to carry a piece of sandpaper though to clean build up off the striker. I carry a caller kit in a zip-lock sandwich baggie. Mr Al Hobart builds a fine caller.