Hey guys, I've been making turkey calls for the past 16 years since I retired.
I have made dozens styles and wood combos in that time. I'm going to cut back on some of the different styles and would appreciate your input on which style you like best. Here are a few of my favorites over the years which would you choose of these?
Your opinion will help me decide which to continue making.
Thanks in advance for your opinion.
Bill
#1 Walnut/Poplar
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51959942057_4950110a8a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nawhvX)
#2 Bloodwood/Limba
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51982999231_c160ce4113_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ncysBr)
#3 Zebrawood/Limba
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50177183071_b14e4b1481_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jrZbo4)
#4 Purpleheart/Cherry
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48982597442_82c03bfc45_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hCqBG7)
#5 Purpleheart/Cherry
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1738/41979484195_159edf5757_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26XzQ7g)
#6 Purpleheart/Mahogany
(https://live.staticflickr.com/883/26551287007_38e82dee5b_c.jpg)[/url
#7 Purpleheart/Mahogany
[url=https://flic.kr/p/WTaxAy](https://live.staticflickr.com/4410/36022269064_d45938f703_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GsfhAt)
#8 Purpleheart/Poplar
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4351/36022299354_c9cf2f086b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WTaGAN)
#9 Purpleheart/Cherry
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4439/36946992555_0e4107c09d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/YhSZF2)
#10 Juniper/Purpleheart/Mahogany
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4557/38318302841_456c33f1c8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21o4jrP)
#11 Purpleheart/Poplar/Mahogany
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48442103562_a504e65e70_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gNErG7)
#12 Purpleheart/Limba
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51438664289_3d42363ec1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnsANe)
Bill your craftsmanship is excellent and i don't see how anyone could tell you which ones to cut back on, i think that's entirely up to you. All of those calls are beautiful and have a place. IMO never stop doing what you love doing in building calls. Lots of history in those calls and designs. So cutting back and choosing is all up to you.I just like them all myself.
Quote from: Greg Massey on June 24, 2022, 06:47:59 PM
Bill your craftsmanship is excellent and i don't see how anyone could tell you which ones to cut back on, i think that's entirely up to you. All of those calls are beautiful and have a place. IMO never stop doing what you love doing in building calls. Lots of history in those calls and designs. So cutting back and choosing is all up to you.I just like them all myself.
X2.....very well said.
Your calls are all beautiful and unique. I'd pick the ones that sound the best.
Thank you for the kind words Greg and EZ. I will be slowing down my call making next year so I want to figure out which calls to make.
Thanks, Bill
I really like 10 and 11
Thanks Zobo
If one of your designs consistently has a better sound than the others that is what I would go with.
If your getting good sound out of all of your designs, then as far as my preference in looks I like #1, then #6, then #4
All of your work is top notch, beautiful craftsmanship
Bill, your request is like asking each of us which contestant in the Miss America pageant we prefer. All of your calls are beautiful and I have always thought your craftsmanship was unparalleled. If I was asked to pick one call out of that line-up, I would probably choose #3 on appearance. That would be a difficult decision, however. Having said that, I am more of a "sound" man than a "looks" man, so what really would matter to me is choosing a call that, in my mind, sounds the best in terms of calling turkeys. I would be proud to display any one of those calls in my collection, though.
Thanks crow and Gobblenut. All this info is helpful in determining which calls to make.
Bill
What separates your work from anyone else is an absolute mastery of inlay and checkering, two very difficult things to get right. Unless you just flat don't want to make a style anymore I'd keep making whatever you want. They're all stunning and all killers.
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Thanks ChesterCopperpot.
I am going to slow down and make things simpler this coming year. Right now I have more than twenty different styles
and combos of box calls on my website, I would like to cut that back to 5 to 10 max.
In the responses so far I do see somewhat of a pattern. The surprising thing to me is the two I like best haven't been chosen.
Bill
Like others have said, they are all good looking calls. My favorites are #6 and #8.
Quote from: The Lung on June 25, 2022, 09:36:20 PM
Like others have said, they are all good looking calls. My favorites are #6 and #8.
Thanks for the input.
Bill
Thanks guys for your input. So far I do see some surprising choices, at least not what I thought would be the favorites.
If anyone else cares to comment I will take your opinion into consideration also.
Bill
So for me I love the rounded lids, and particularly 1, 6, 8, 10, and 11 with 6 and 8 being my favorites.
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Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on June 26, 2022, 01:00:08 PM
So for me I love the rounded lids, and particularly 1, 6, 8, 10, and 11 with 6 and 8 being my favorites.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That is one of the things that surprised me the fact that everyone seems to like the rounded calls. I thought the square end calls would be the most popular.
Thanks again.
Bill
For the tube callers Bill makes a good one. Gorgeous boxes
Quote from: tal on June 26, 2022, 01:48:37 PM
For the tube callers Bill makes a good one. Gorgeous boxes
Thanks Tim
Bill
Brutal honesty, they all look fantastic. There is a variety of styles for everyone, and each one has its own style. One thing that is consistent with all of them is great craftsmanship, and quality.....
Quote from: Tom007 on June 27, 2022, 08:32:11 AM
Brutal honesty, they all look fantastic. There is a variety of styles for everyone, and each one has its own style. One thing that is consistent with all of them is great craftsmanship, and quality.....
Thanks Tom007
All your calls are mighty fine. Please add 7 to that list. The inlays really pop. You probably should have a square caller in your line up.
Phil
Quote from: turkey stew on June 28, 2022, 06:51:12 AM
All your calls are mighty fine. Please add 7 to that list. The inlays really pop. You probably should have a square caller in your line up.
Phil
Thanks Phil,
Some of the responses so far have surprised me. The two that are my favorites haven't been mentioned yet.
But I do see a trend and that will help me decide which calls to make next year.
Bill
As far as looks go I like the simple yet elegant designs of #1 Walnut/Poplar & #6 Purpleheart/Mahogany.
If I want something flashier then I would choose #7 Purpleheart/Mahogany really like the looks of that one.
That said I think they are all wonderful looking pieces and you are one of my goals to get a call from before next season.
Quote from: Sir-diealot on June 28, 2022, 02:42:33 PM
As far as looks go I like the simple yet elegant designs of #1 Walnut/Poplar & #6 Purpleheart/Mahogany.
If I want something flashier then I would choose #7 Purpleheart/Mahogany really like the looks of that one.
That said I think they are all wonderful looking pieces and you are one of my goals to get a call from before next season.
Thanks for your input Sir-diealot.
#1 & #6 seem to be the most popular so far.
#11 has grown on me also,
are you getting noticeable differences in sound from the 2 different wood rails in this design
Quote from: crow on June 28, 2022, 06:14:50 PM
#11 has grown on me also,
are you getting noticeable differences in sound from the 2 different wood rails in this design
Before I made #11 I thought two different woods would give me two very different sounds but honestly there was only a slight difference.
But I thought it looked cool anyway.
Bill
:icon_thumright:, thanks
They all look really good you are very talented. I like number 2 the best.
Quote from: bear hunter on June 28, 2022, 09:22:41 PM
They all look really good you are very talented. I like number 2 the best.
Thanks bear hunter
Bill
Boy that's a tough call, they are all beautiful! My top 3 would be 7,10, and 11.
What craftsmanship!!
Quote from: spurred63 on June 29, 2022, 05:58:34 AM
Boy that's a tough call, they are all beautiful! My top 3 would be 7,10, and 11.
What craftsmanship!!
Thanks spurred63 for your opinion.
Bill