Obviously this is going to be really subjective, but a comment I made on another post got me to thinking, who do you consider the top five yelper makers alive? I think most would mention Zach Farmer, Billy Buice, LF Cox (albeit a bit controversial), Kenny Pedelahore, and Mark Prudhomme. I personally wouldn't place KP or Mark in my top five, but Farmer would probably be there. I'm a bit specific in what I like but I'd go Ralph Permar in my top two or three and Charlie Trotter in the same boat. Guess my top five would go Ralph Permar, Charlie Trotter, Herb Hornstra, Zach Farmer, and Billy Buice. Honorable mentions goes to Steve Lumma and Austy Bott. My best of the new generation is hands down Anthony Ellis and he's top five for me if I eliminate all sentimentality from my decision making. Anyhow, who's in your top three or top five?
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I should probably specify trumpets instead of just yelpers because if we move into Jordans or wingbones or Roanokes specifically the lists get altered.
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Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on February 23, 2023, 11:54:33 AM
Obviously this is going to be really subjective, but a comment I made on another post got me to thinking, who do you consider the top five yelper makers alive? I think most would mention Zach Farmer, Billy Buice, LF Cox (albeit a bit controversial), Kenny Pedelahore, and Mark Prudhomme. I personally wouldn't place KP or Mark in my top five, but Farmer would probably be there. I'm a bit specific in what I like but I'd go Ralph Permar in my top two or three and Charlie Trotter in the same boat. Guess my top five would go Ralph Permar, Charlie Trotter, Herb Hornstra, Zach Farmer, and Billy Buice. Honorable mentions goes to Steve Lumma and Austy Bott. My best of the new generation is hands down Anthony Ellis and he's top five for me if I eliminate all sentimentality from my decision making. Anyhow, who's in your top three or top five?
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I don't have experience with a bunch of makers, but of the ones I've tried, I'm saying Kenneth Mullins, and Daryl Gosey, and hopefully will be saying Ralph Permar when I get mine in from him.
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No top 5 is complete without Hegler.
I have a wide variety of callmaker's trumpets but I can't play any of them to their potential. Ha Ha!!
:popcorn: Good post ... I'm in the category / learning stage of these trumpets, but so far all the ones I've received from mostly trumpet builders have been very good. Very unique in the different styles and play of these trumpets ... But of the ones I have right NOW, Ralph's is outstanding with what little playing ability i have so far in learning to play... I'm still in my training pants ... LOL...
Exactly paboxcall!
I think trumpet makers come can be categorized in tiers. Once they make it to the top tier, it's all personal preference and style after that. I have my favorite, and a few others I like. But if I spent time with any top tier makers call, I don't think I'd be at any disadvantage with any one of them.
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I think the picture says it all. To me these are the easiest trumpets to draw with little air needed to get great yelps on and I have run a lot of other trumpets. Just my opinion.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52707477343_330c6461a8_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2oizAHn)
Quote from: Terry on February 23, 2023, 03:11:53 PM
I think trumpet makers come can be categorized in tiers. Once they make it to the top tier, it's all personal preference and style after that. I have my favorite, and a few others I like. But if I spent time with any top tier makers call, I don't think I'd be at any disadvantage with any one of them.
I definitely think this statement is very much the truth. I will play along though and name five makers that I do believe to belong in that top tier, but in no particular order from best to worst or even saying they are the definitive top 5 but they're all up there near the top no doubt. Billy Buice, Steve Lumma, Seth Hamon, Mark Prudhomme, last and certainly least has to be Cox.
Yelper, forgive me for being obtuse. I am not really a yelper guy, though I am starting to get the bug. Whose trumpets are in the picture?
Quote from: Yelper on February 23, 2023, 04:08:23 PM
I think the picture says it all. To me these are the easiest trumpets to draw with little air needed to get great yelps on and I have run a lot of other trumpets. Totally my own opinion.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52707477343_330c6461a8_z.jpg)
(https://flic.kr/p/2oizAHn)
Buddy, I'm with you. Of the calls that make it into the woods with me most often it's this old osage XT, a Permar delrin classic, and a satin micarta Trotter. Anthony's calls require the least air of any yelper I've ever run. Tuned perfectly and his finish is impeccable. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230223/82efec5d8f9beca7d3fce5e0a969d616.jpg)
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Quote from: Notsoyoungturk on February 23, 2023, 05:12:12 PM
Yelper, forgive me for being obtuse. I am not really a yelper guy, though I am starting to get the bug. Whose trumpets are in the picture?
AGE - Anthony Ellis
If MKW was still making trumpets the world we're living in would be a better place.
There are a lot of good makers I haven't tried, which I'm sure I would like. some top favorites of makers I have played, in alphabetical order
Hornstra MKW Permar and Trotter
Billy Buice, Bob Buckner, Mark Prudhomme would be my top 3. I think Mr. Buckners calls are way under the radar to most people. Beautiful calls and run amazing too.
I will never get to hunt a Zach farmer call although I did get the opportunity to run one and it ran amazing.
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Quote from: MossyOak92 on February 23, 2023, 07:17:16 PM
Billy Buice, Bob Buckner, Mark Prudhomme would be my top 3. I think Mr. Buckners calls are way under the radar to most people. Beautiful calls and run amazing too.
I will never get to hunt a Zach farmer call although I did get the opportunity to run one and it ran amazing.
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Did someone say Bob Buckner? (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230224/3fb448b8df07ce08bd0fcea6301adae8.jpg)
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Sweet
Marlin Watkins makes an outstanding yelper. You don't hear many people speak of his work in regards to trumpets.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230224/ab64e0d050d951b1fccecff68e73b302.jpg)
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I think that you need to define the top five yelpers by means of which category the calls fit into. Appearance, craftsmanship, playability, call material (natural or synthetic), mouthpiece material (ivory, bone, wingbone) and time period. I can't name five , but I can comment on some of my personal favorite calls. Original TomTurpin, Innman Turpin, LF Cox, Frank Hegler, Zach Farmer, Ralph Permar, Herb Hornstra, Parker Whedon, Billy Buice, Marlin Watkins and Steve Lumma
There are a lot of great callmakers out there and great calls. I am going to break my choices down to my top trumpets I used for hunting last season. I find it easier to rate and judge individual calls rather than judging a callmaker in general. Number 1 trumpet last 10+ seasons was LF Cox Desert Ironwood with Ivory Mouthpiece ( I own several of Franks calls (they're all amazing, but this one just always finds its way to the top of the list). Number 2 was Marlin Watkins Snakewood with blackwood Ivory mouthpiece.
My top picks from first to fifth
1. Zach Farmer
2. Mark Prudhomme
3. Frank Cox
4. Anthony Elliss
5. Kenny Pedelahore