I have settled on a very simple yet great sounding 1 piece scratch box design (1 pc. call and a striker, no glue). Do you think it is worth the extra money to get instrument grade cedar or cherry. Just curious.
I haven't found it necessary for a scratch box, as long as the wood is sound/solid it has always worked great for me..
It's all about tuning the call. And then matching the striker. Wood may or may not even matter if everything else is right. As far as your wood choices, cedar is always a great scratchbox wood. I don't like cherry much as a sound board. Not that it can't be done. Good luck and keep us updated!
I have built a bunch of scratchers with scrap wood from the shop. I always use cedar soundboards that are from old siding, sound great when tuned properly. As Allen said, tuning is the key, it is amazing all of the variables involved, but pretty easy & fun to figure it all out. As in all musical instruments, everything matters relative to tone generation.