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Turkey Calls => Box Calls => Topic started by: Paulmyr on January 17, 2023, 07:50:25 PM

Title: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Paulmyr on January 17, 2023, 07:50:25 PM
Finishing up my 1st box call build. Walnut/Quaking Aspen. A little plain but I think it turned out fairly nice for my 1st attempt. Just applied the 1st coat of tongue oil. Played before starting to finish and it sounded pretty good considering I'm a hack on a box call. Curious to see how it sounds after the finish is completed. I was surprised how lively it was. All kinds of squeaks and squawks on it.

Here's a sound file.  What do you think?

https://youtube.com/shorts/HzA8t9z9wiA?feature=share

Got another Walnut/Aspen and 2 all walnut in the works. We'll see how it goes.
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Yoder409 on January 17, 2023, 08:36:16 PM
You done GOOD !!!!!!!!    :icon_thumright:

That call will hunt !!!   100%
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Zobo on January 17, 2023, 08:49:47 PM
That's pretty awesome for a first box call, nice going :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: ferocious calls on January 17, 2023, 10:24:15 PM
Kudos! Welcome to the club. Nice work.
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: packmule on January 17, 2023, 10:51:19 PM
Quote from: Yoder409 on January 17, 2023, 08:36:16 PM
You done GOOD !!!!!!!!    :icon_thumright:

That call will hunt !!!   100%

Agreed. That's a great first call, curious why you selected that combo to start with? I'd guess that one could challenge many seasoned makers.
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Greg Massey on January 17, 2023, 10:57:23 PM
For a start I felt it was pretty good, the only thing i was missing was a good roll over yelp.. higher front with a break over bark or rasp .... but a good first start for sure ..
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Paulmyr on January 17, 2023, 11:22:30 PM
Quote from: packmule on January 17, 2023, 10:51:19 PM
Quote from: Yoder409 on January 17, 2023, 08:36:16 PM
You done GOOD !!!!!!!!    :icon_thumright:

That call will hunt !!!   100%

Agreed. That's a great first call, curious why you selected that combo to start with? I'd guess that one could challenge many seasoned makers.

Chose that option because it's the driest wood I had and when I was building the woodshed I noticed how sticky the Aspen wood was when I tried to slide one board over the other. Plus it's fairly soft and easy to work with. I figured it would be a good choice to get familiar with the process of making the sound chamber.
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Paulmyr on January 17, 2023, 11:37:52 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 17, 2023, 10:57:23 PM
For a start I felt it was pretty good, the only thing i was missing was a good roll over yelp.. higher front with a break over bark or rasp .... but a good first start for sure ..

I agree. I would put most of that on lack of good technique from the user. I have 1 Box call. We'll 2 now, got it from my grandpa. An old lynch world champion. Its in pretty rough shape. He used it the couple times he did go hunting. Don't know where he got it from. Didn't even know he hunted turkey til I got the call after he passed. I think there might have been more booze and not so much hunting with his crowd. The sound board looks like somebody scratched it with a nail or some thing. Any how what I'm trying to get at is I'm basically learning to play a box call as I make them.

I can hear the high and deep is in the call I just need more practice bringing it out.
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Paulmyr on January 18, 2023, 12:34:25 AM
Here's another sound file I think shows me accessing the lower end a little better.

https://youtu.be/-KPzqnB9kNY
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Yoder409 on January 18, 2023, 06:32:20 AM
Sounds to me like you're short-stroking that call and just not getting out of it everything it's got.

I'm hearing a really nice roll-over in there with a nice yawk on the back end.  That call is legit !!

Find yourself a stick of dry butternut and do to it exactly what you did to the aspen ad you'll have yourself a call to show ANY of the big name makers.  Your call (ESPECIALLY as a first effort) is that good.
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Paulmyr on January 18, 2023, 09:09:21 AM
Thanks for all the nice comments, I really appreciate them!

Prolly short stroking and my cadence tends to get a little fast a well. I'll get the finish done and work on the final tune up after the tung oil cures. Didn't want to get too carried away until I've had the chance to hear it after all the finish work is complete. I was thinking of trying to move the break over further up the rail to give more room for the stroke before the paddle drops from the rail. Maybe I'll get busy on finishing the other Walnut/Aspen and try and get the break over up the rail a bit further before messing with this one anymore.

Been trying to get this all walnut call tuned up a tad more before finishing. It's starting to sound pretty decent. I might have to lighten the paddle up just a smidge. I find myself trying to lift the paddle while playing to take some of the weight off. It's either the paddle or I need to make the recess where the spring goes on the call body a little deeper to take some tension off.

We'll see how it goes. I think the arch template of the rail I made with help from the Old Lynch box call is serving me well.
Title: Re: 1st Box Call Build.
Post by: Yoder409 on January 18, 2023, 10:16:01 AM
Quite nice !!   Again.   :icon_thumright: