Who is the best at building a call like Neil's? Short box
Mike Lapp
Frank Kruer
Jeff Mckamey
Lamar
Darren Dawkins also but he doesnt checker them anymore.
I will add Steve Mann to the list
Marlin ...has built a lot of them ... i think he will still make you one ....
Steve Mann nails the style and he is a student who was trained by Neil Cost.
josh and Al Shoemaker two of the best.the SSboys
It WAS Darrin until he stopped checkering. Probably Lamar, now.
Albert Paul
Steve Mann and Bob Harwell
Man , Albert Paul should get a little love to. He was also a student of Neil.
Pat Strawser
Eric Pettit makes a smoking checkered box call.
Albert Paul
Jeff McKamey
Dawkins , when he was making checkered boxes
Albert Paul
I think it's worthy to note the sound you are looking for, for if it is Neil's, then some builders won't fill your request or meet your expectations, but they do build good sounding calls.
I heard one of Scott Witters shortboxes over the weekend for the first time and man it was smoking. His are right up there with the list of others I mentioned earlier. Really liked it. Another callmaker recommended his calls to me and I know why now.
Lamar williams or Albert Paul