As I get older, and with the increased popularity of turkey hunting, I naturally am finding myself talking with a lot of younger hunters. They usually want to know what I think the "best" call is. I tell them I believe there is no best, It's like asking what's the best color.
But I do believe in a great value. And value is something they should be looking for, especially on a limited budget. So what do you think is your best value call? Consider sound quality, design/craftsmanship and of course price. Any type of call.
I just received this "Money Call" from SS. Beautiful bloodwood over chestnut with purpleheart end blocks. As you can see in the picture the main body of the call is a solid piece of chestnut and the ends add a design feature. This is way out of the park for just over $100. Sounds so good it's unreal. As my sons friend said " this money call is money!"
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The best value call and the first ceramic pot I ever bought was Jim Shelley that i got back many many years ago, It's ceramic over glass in a cherry pot. It's some of the old darker ceramic and I paid like 35 dollars for the call... It goes with me on all hunting trips and has helped in killing several gobblers over the years.. All these years all I've had to do to condition the ceramic is rub it with a piece of Scotch - Brite pad and keep the striker tip clean..
Bought a Flextone Ol' Faithful mini-paddle on clearance at Rural King a few years back. Paid $8. Who can turn down an $8 box call ??
That call will ABSOLUTELY hunt !!!!!!!!! All things considered...........it's probably the "best value" in the house.
Quote from: Yoder409 on January 11, 2023, 07:41:07 PM
Bought a Flextone Ol' Faithful mini-paddle on clearance at Rural King a few years back. Paid $8. Who can turn down an $8 box call ??
That call will ABSOLUTELY hunt !!!!!!!!! All things considered...........it's probably the "best value" in the house.
Considering I paid more than that fir two "coffees" at Starbucks for my daughter and my niece last weekend, I'd say so!
Stowe pink ivory trumpet I got at Unicoi last year!
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 11, 2023, 10:38:30 AM
The best value call and the first ceramic pot I ever bought was Jim Shelley that i got back many many years ago, It's ceramic over glass in a cherry pot. It's some of the old darker ceramic and I paid like 35 dollars for the call... It goes with me on all hunting trips
I have a more recently made slate by him that's excellent, it cost me less than most
Quote from: RunNGunSC on January 12, 2023, 09:10:13 AM
Stowe pink ivory trumpet I got at Unicoi last year!
Definitely! No matter what you paid that was a great buy, loved that guy
Excluding my 25yr old(maybe more) Lil Dueces in glass and slate, I'd have to say it is my bloodwood over cedar from Spring Creek. It well exceeded my expectation for the $60 I spent.
$25 Lonnie Mabry Walnut slate with wood soundboard and 2 strikers. Came with handmade craftsmanship, is full of hen turkey talk, also came with several hours of verbal instruction and comparisons, the 'store' even had a house my wife would sit and wait in and an amazing and hospitable southern lady for her to talk to. Got to pick the call and strikers I preferred, not what was boxed for me, and the call is now proven from March to May and coast to coast. Not a better value in my case
Quote from: Ranger on January 12, 2023, 09:43:27 AM
$25 Lonnie Mabry Walnut slate with wood soundboard and 2 strikers. Came with handmade craftsmanship, is full of hen turkey talk, also came with several hours of verbal instruction and comparisons, the 'store' even had a house my wife would sit and wait in and an amazing and hospitable southern lady for her to talk to. Got to pick the call and strikers I preferred, not what was boxed for me, and the call is now proven from March to May and coast to coast. Not a better value in my case
Don't you wish that all shopping was like when you go shopping at the Mabry's? I have spoken to both Mr. and Mrs. Mabry in the last month and they are first class folks.
Back to the question at hand. First, let me say that is an awesome money box that you just picked up. Hard to beat SS calls for quality and sound.
That said, I would agree with Ranger and Greg. Mr. Lonnie's pots (now they are 30.00) just cannot be beat for the money. As far as Dr. Shelley, you just cannot beat his eastern assasin or his purpleheart over walnut short boxes for 30.00. In all seriousness, I have three of them and they sound as good as the boxes that I have that cost seven times as much. Those boxes are a hair shorter than a regular short box, but still have a larger box sound and you can also get soft on them with ease. And like Mr. Lonnie, Dr. Jim Shelley is a joy to do business with. Both men are very honest and give you way more than your money's worth.
Mine would be my Primos Battleship. Got this one used, great price. This call is great in the wind, calls soft and loud. They were on the cheaper side when they were new, now that they are longer made, the prices have gone up substantially. Great value, easy to use call. I wish I would have bought several years ago.....
Quote from: btomlin on January 12, 2023, 09:32:00 AM
Excluding my 25yr old(maybe more) Lil Dueces in glass and slate, I'd have to say it is my bloodwood over cedar from Spring Creek. It well exceeded my expectation for the $60 I spent.
:agreed:
Mike makes an excellent box call that's for sure!
For me, found a Quaker Boy aluminator on the clearance table marked down to $5.00
That call will pull gobbles out of the quietest birds, light weight, and easy to run and condition.
My best value calls are my Spring creek box calls and all of my Lonnie Mabry calls and I have a few! The above calls are full of turkey and Lonnie Mabry is worth the visit even if you don't buy anything!
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on January 15, 2023, 10:17:26 PM
My best value calls are my Spring creek box calls and all of my Lonnie Mabry calls and I have a few! The above calls are full of turkey and Lonnie Mabry is worth the visit even if you don't buy anything!
I haven't got any calls from these two gentlemen but I've heard so many great things about them and their calls. No doubt those calls can sing!
Pretty easy imo. SS scratch box. Does almost everything within normal call distance, is small and cheap. Most scratchers fall in that description. Easy to keep dry, not extreme moisture sensitive like pots can be.
A mouth call is even a better bargain but takes more learning
The post about a Stowe call being a good value brings up an interesting thought I hadn't really considered. I didn't factor "appreciation" (whether a call holds its money value or increases in money value) into whether or not something is a good value. For me value is just a function of whether or not a call functions well and is crafted well in relation (good utility) to its price. Desirability and availability certainly have a strong influence on price and value too I suppose. But if you find a Cost box at a garage sale for $15 is that a good value or just a lucky find? If you think a makers calls will be worth more in the future is THAT a good value? Or are you just speculating and treating calls as commodities? I know some people do this, they collect things and don't use them.
Quote from: mountainhunter1 on January 12, 2023, 12:44:39 PM
Quote from: Ranger on January 12, 2023, 09:43:27 AM
$25 Lonnie Mabry Walnut slate with wood soundboard and 2 strikers. Came with handmade craftsmanship, is full of hen turkey talk, also came with several hours of verbal instruction and comparisons, the 'store' even had a house my wife would sit and wait in and an amazing and hospitable southern lady for her to talk to. Got to pick the call and strikers I preferred, not what was boxed for me, and the call is now proven from March to May and coast to coast. Not a better value in my case
Don't you wish that all shopping was like when you go shopping at the Mabry's? I have spoken to both Mr. and Mrs. Mabry in the last month and they are first class folks.
Back to the question at hand. First, let me say that is an awesome money box that you just picked up. Hard to beat SS calls for quality and sound.
That said, I would agree with Ranger and Greg. Mr. Lonnie's pots (now they are 30.00) just cannot be beat for the money. As far as Dr. Shelley, you just cannot beat his eastern assasin or his purpleheart over walnut short boxes for 30.00. In all seriousness, I have three of them and they sound as good as the boxes that I have that cost seven times as much. Those boxes are a hair shorter than a regular short box, but still have a larger box sound and you can also get soft on them with ease. And like Mr. Lonnie, Dr. Jim Shelley is a joy to do business with. Both men are very honest and give you way more than your money's worth.
How does someone go about getting ahold of either one of them?
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Mr. Lonnie only sells in person from his shop I believe. Mr. Shelley posts some calls on eBay and is also on FB. Look up Persimmon Hill Calls.
Zobo,
There are a few turkey callmakers that over the years become icons in the turkey hunting and callmaking industry. If you are able to pick up their early calls cheap when they are beginning callmakers and relatively unknown to the masses, your purchases have the potential to be very good investments years later if having to sell. It's really hit or miss. You can't always predict how the market for turkey calls will turn or if buyers will look favorably on particular callmakers enough to add value to their calls in the future. I restricted my turkey call purchases over the years to just calls I would be willing to take hunting. I passed up a lot of bargains and good investments, but the calls I did purchase were really nice. I kept the nice ones in one side of my gun safe. Unfortunately, my home was burglarized in 2010, and I lost my collection of turkey calls. Kemper Insurance and I went toe-to-toe for 5 years; and if I had not had pictures and good records, I would have had more problems than I did have. Keeping records and documenting what you have and being able to establish credible value acceptable to an insurance company should be important in how you look at the calls you have....and help you determine what to purchase as an investment.
Quote from: Tarheel on January 16, 2023, 11:05:51 PM
Keeping records and documenting what you have and being able to establish credible value acceptable to an insurance company should be important in how you look at the calls you have....and help you determine what to purchase as an investment.
THIS, sir.........is SOLID advice for anyone that has any calls that may be of more value than average, or may appreciate in value one day. :icon_thumright:
That's excellent information to know. It's horrible to hear about your theft, and I know insurance will try try to disclaim all they can. I use all my calls, every one has been hunted but i have quite a few and some evidently are quite valuable. So i probably should take some pictures i guess. But ive never bought a call as an investment and i just dont look at them that way even though truth be told ive spent quite a bit through the years for sure. I've actually been giving some of my calls away lately to friends and family which sometimes feels good and right and other times, to be honest, I kind of miss the calls. But this info makes me feel better about what I'm doing, spread the "wealth" out so to speak, safer that way. :icon_thumright:
It's always good to keep information about your calls. Every call has a history and story including how i acquired the call. I always included dates, price and history of the call builder in my log book. If i buy a call from the classifieds on this forum, i will list the member who i got the call from. My family knows where to find the log book with all the information.. Collector or NOT in my opinion all calls are an investment, the investment could include if you killed a gobbler with the call or you gave the call away to family members or friends. Again WHY i feel its investment is your call collection has the start of a story from the day you contacted the builder and made that purchase of how you acquired the call even from a friend or seller. A FRIEND or MEMBER on this forum could have helped you acquire a call you wanted or was looking for in doing so this call has the start of a history and a story... IMO ... You see what i mean.... IMO.... Collector / Investment / Hunter
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 18, 2023, 10:49:26 AM
It's always good to keep information about your calls. Every call has a history and story including how i acquired the call. I always included dates, price and history of the call builder in my log book. If i buy a call from the classifieds on this forum, i will list the member who i got the call from. My family knows where to find the log book with all the information.. Collector or NOT in my opinion all calls are an investment, the investment could include if you killed a gobbler with the call or you gave the call away to family members or friends. Again WHY i feel its investment is your call collection has the start of a story from the day you contacted the builder and made that purchase of how you acquired the call even from a friend or seller. A FRIEND or MEMBER on this forum could have helped you acquire a call you wanted or was looking for in doing so this call has the start of a history and a story... IMO ... You see what i mean.... IMO.... Collector/ Investment
I would think there are times the value of the call starts before the call is even being made. What mean by this is many times there's a story about where the wood came from. Was it from that tree in the yard you used to climb when growing up? Did it come from salvage wood from an old Church? Maybe it came from the Mossy Oak tree? Value could be sentimental or monetary accordingly based on aspects that came into play before the maker even had thoughts about placing his hands on the wood.
Right now im working on my 1st box calls with some Walnut wood salvaged from a friends firewood pile. The thought that I maybe producing something of worth from it when it was slated to go up in smoke definitely adds sentimental value for me.
Quote from: Paulmyr on January 18, 2023, 11:18:06 AM
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 18, 2023, 10:49:26 AM
It's always good to keep information about your calls. Every call has a history and story including how i acquired the call. I always included dates, price and history of the call builder in my log book. If i buy a call from the classifieds on this forum, i will list the member who i got the call from. My family knows where to find the log book with all the information.. Collector or NOT in my opinion all calls are an investment, the investment could include if you killed a gobbler with the call or you gave the call away to family members or friends. Again WHY i feel its investment is your call collection has the start of a story from the day you contacted the builder and made that purchase of how you acquired the call even from a friend or seller. A FRIEND or MEMBER on this forum could have helped you acquire a call you wanted or was looking for in doing so this call has the start of a history and a story... IMO ... You see what i mean.... IMO.... Collector/ Investment
I would think there are times the value of the call starts before the call is even being made. What mean by this is many times there's a story about where the wood came from. Was it from that tree in the yard you used to climb when growing up? Did it come from salvage wood from an old Church? Maybe it came from the Mossy Oak tree? Value could be sentimental or monetary accordingly based on aspects that came into play before the maker even had thoughts about placing his hands on the wood.
Right now im working on my 1st box calls with some Walnut wood salvaged from a friends firewood pile. The thought that I maybe producing something of worth from it when it was slated to go up in smoke definitely adds sentimental value for me.
Yes for sure .... story and history ...
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 18, 2023, 10:49:26 AM
It's always good to keep information about your calls. Every call has a history and story including how i acquired the call. I always included dates, price and history of the call builder in my log book. If i buy a call from the classifieds on this forum, i will list the member who i got the call from. My family knows where to find the log book with all the information.. Collector or NOT in my opinion all calls are an investment, the investment could include if you killed a gobbler with the call or you gave the call away to family members or friends. Again WHY i feel its investment is your call collection has the start of a story from the day you contacted the builder and made that purchase of how you acquired the call even from a friend or seller. A FRIEND or MEMBER on this forum could have helped you acquire a call you wanted or was looking for in doing so this call has the start of a history and a story... IMO ... You see what i mean.... IMO.... Collector / Investment / Hunter
You make some good points Greg, value is not only dollars and cents.
My still do this day best value is a Primos ol Betsy skate call. It's ugly and cheap and maybe I got luck but the one I have surely does have a sweet sound and the turkeys seem to like it. And I actually have a buddy who has one older than mine and his is the same.
My CODY World Class has cost me less than a dollar a bird, so far at .65 is pretty cost effective :icon_thumright:
MK M GOBL
I've been fortunate to be gifted calls from some of the finest callmakers around so those are definitely my personal best values. Outside of that, our classifieds section here on OG produces some stupidly good deals on calls year to year. Right now I'm obsessed with a Preacherman box I picked up a few months ago for about half what it would've cost new. This thing is pure turkey. But if I was going with calls that could be purchased new I'd go Greg Gwaltney on a trumpet. He's making calls on par with yelpers that cost twice what he's asking. I'd go with them Shoemaker boys at SS Custom Calls on a box, and if I had to go cheaper there I'd get a Spring Creek and hunt hell out of it. With pot calls there's a whole lot of makers you can pick up in the $50-$65 range. I'd get something plain jane from Buster Halford and again hunt the hell out of it. I'm not very proficient on a diaphragm otherwise I'd say that call would be hard to beat as it can do everything and worst case you've got $10 tied up, most times $5.
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Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on January 31, 2023, 07:15:02 AM
........ and if I had to go cheaper there I'd get a Spring Creek and hunt hell out of it.
X2 !!!
Mike's calls are some of the best values out there. Very well one. Very reasonably priced. And ALL turkey !!!!
Yep.
:turkey2:
Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on January 31, 2023, 07:15:02 AM
I've been fortunate to be gifted calls from some of the finest callmakers around so those are definitely my personal best values. Outside of that, our classifieds section here on OG produces some stupidly good deals on calls year to year. Right now I'm obsessed with a Preacherman box I picked up a few months ago for about half what it would've cost new. This thing is pure turkey. But if I was going with calls that could be purchased new I'd go Greg Gwaltney on a trumpet. He's making calls on par with yelpers that cost twice what he's asking. I'd go with them Shoemaker boys at SS Custom Calls on a box, and if I had to go cheaper there I'd get a Spring Creek and hunt hell out of it. With pot calls there's a whole lot of makers you can pick up in the $50-$65 range. I'd get something plain jane from Buster Halford and again hunt the hell out of it. I'm not very proficient on a diaphragm otherwise I'd say that call would be hard to beat as it can do everything and worst case you've got $10 tied up, most times $5.
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All excellent recommendations!
:biggringift:
Quote from: MK M GOBL on January 31, 2023, 12:11:19 AM
My CODY World Class has cost me less than a dollar a bird, so far at .65 is pretty cost effective :icon_thumright:
MK M GOBL
You can't argue with success!!!
Quote from: Yoder409 on January 31, 2023, 08:52:56 AM
Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on January 31, 2023, 07:15:02 AM
........ and if I had to go cheaper there I'd get a Spring Creek and hunt hell out of it.
X2 !!!
Mike's calls are some of the best values out there. Very well one. Very reasonably priced. And ALL turkey !!!!
Yep.
:agreed:
With Spring Creek one just can't ask for a better tuned short box.
You would have a hard time beating derrin dawkins pot call for $50 imo
Lonnie Mabry pots and boxes
SS boxes and scratchers
Andy Terrell trumpets
SS scratch box. Inexpensive and very deadly with the soft stuff.
For being well under 50$ when I bought them maybe 5 years ago. Eckle Smith from Mississippi makes a box call that will put many expensive calls to shame. They are nothing fancy but the sound is definitely there. There used to be a sound file from bugaman with one of his calls on the forum.
Anything I've ever received from SS is pretty deep into the value side of the equation. Always affordable and deadly
Best values is probably a cedar scratch box from L&L I think cost me $22 and has accounted for 8-10 gobblers and a $50 box I got from a call maker I can no longer track down or find thats up there with everything I've ever played
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A $8 Knight and Hale model 150 push pin. A $12 lynch composite pot call. They are in my vest every time I hit the woods.
I get the most value from the calls I make. You can too. Ask any that get Ferocious. Lots of singers ready to ship. Short boxes. Fancy or real fancy you pick.
Quote from: ferocious calls on February 20, 2023, 07:53:45 AM
I get the most value from the calls I make. You can too. Ask any that get Ferocious. Lots of singers ready to ship. Short boxes. Fancy or real fancy you pick.
:agreed:
ALL of Kip's boxes (granted I've only played 40 or 50 of them) are pure turkey !!!!!
ONLY guy I know that can pull a perfect hen outta a 100% red oak box call. THAT...........is sayin' something !!!
Quote from: Gobblechicken4 on January 30, 2023, 11:36:50 PM
My still do this day best value is a Primos ol Betsy slate call. It's ugly and cheap and maybe I got luck but the one I have surely does have a sweet sound and the turkeys seem to like it. And I actually have a buddy who has one older than mine and his is the same.
X2!!!! Cheap, Ugly but it just gets the job done Day in and Day Out!!! This call has killed birds in Florida, NC, Kansas and South Dakota (Slam). I'm not sure what it is about this call but it will GETTER DONE! I've Gifted several to hunting buddies and they have killed birds with theirs as well. My Go To!
Preston Pittman "Flap N Scratch"!!!! Perfect for when you don't have any leaves around to Scratch in!!!! One of the best calls I've ever used!!! Deadly.
Have a good one and May God bless, Bo
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(https://www.staples-3p.com/s7/is/image/Staples/s1165431_sc7?wid=70&hei=70)
Best value? Coffee stirrer straw. Use as a Yelper for clucks and yelps.
Best value? HS Strut Triple Glass. First call I bought and always in my vest. Have called in a lot of turkeys with it. I have some nice calls, but that one is still my go to call, first I pull out.
I agree with the Preston Pittman Flap n Scratch. In addition to scratching I also use mine to sound like wings flapping as a turkey flying down off the limb.
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 11, 2023, 10:38:30 AM
The best value call and the first ceramic pot I ever bought was Jim Shelley that i got back many many years ago, It's ceramic over glass in a cherry pot. It's some of the old darker ceramic and I paid like 35 dollars for the call... It goes with me on all hunting trips and has helped in killing several gobblers over the years.. All these years all I've had to do to condition the ceramic is rub it with a piece of Scotch - Brite pad and keep the striker tip clean..
I understand completely! I just bought one from him in a holly pot and paired it with a holly striker sound awesome and the going rate in 2023? A whopping $45 and he still using the old darker ceramic. Honestly I'd have paid the $45 for the pleasure of getting to chat with him for 20 minutes or so at the convention
I would have to add a Ralph Permar Improved Jordan yelper. I got one in the mail today and it's full of turkey. Definitely will get hunted.
I do have an array of custom calls and they can play. However.... My first pot I will always pull out will be my go to. It's a 6/7 dollar Knight & Hale Glass Hammer, I got it in a clearance bin at Cabela's and the birds love it.