I got bit by the push pin bug pretty hard last season and this year has been no different leading in to season. I bought a call off Winky Hicks and got a Loftis Chatterbox, a persimmon hills push pin, as well as a primos spring hen and multiple Knight and Hale push pins. Is there any way to tune a push pin?. Winky's calls use rubber bands, the loftis and spring hen use what looks like a piano wire spring and the Knight and Hale and persimmon hills calls use a coil spring on the paddle. I've been playing with running them and figuring them out but can't quite get them tuned. It seems like if I get what I think is a good sounding yelp, it won't purr for nothing, or if I get my purr and cluck good then yelp sounds terrible. And that's been on all of them, I'm just curious what you guys do?.
I'm hoping to get a Shannon call in the future
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That's a hope most of us have ..
Quote from: Lcmacd 58 on January 12, 2025, 08:59:06 AMThat's a hope most of us have ..
I've been wanting one for years, I just can't be on here enough to catch one when the opportunity comes due to work and having 3 small kids. Maybe one day lol
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Shannon's calls are the peak of turkey and craftsmanship. No tuning necessary.
That being said Tim Bullock makes an equally great sounding push pin that needs no tuning.
They are on the same level from a sound standpoint.
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Best advice for any pushpin call is to watch Shannon's videos and use that same technique he demonstrates on any of them. Nothing beats his call, but they can sound better with proper technique.
In my opinion don't over think your pushpin and it's turning to hit every note perfectly. You are never going to hear that real perfect hen either. Sure practice plays a big part in learning and getting to know how your call wants to be run / played. I tell people regardless of the call it has feelings and meaning. Just like the call you buy from a call builder, you buy the call from him as to what the turkey sounds to him and his turning. That's why most all of us like calls from didn't makers and builders , it's about the sound and tones we are hearing in our head and looking for that sound. So regardless again you're not going to find that perfect call in my opinion, but you will find really good calls... JUST like you're not going to find the real perfect hen sounds either in the wild... IMO
Hope this helps...
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 16, 2025, 12:24:02 PMIn my opinion don't over think your pushpin and it's turning to hit every note perfectly. You are never going to hear that real perfect hen either. Sure practice plays a big part in learning and getting to know how your call wants to be run / played. I tell people regardless of the call it has feelings and meaning. Just like the call you buy from a call builder, you buy the call from him as to what the turkey sounds to him and his turning. That's why most all of us like calls from didn't makers and builders , it's about the sound and tones we are hearing in our head and looking for that sound. So regardless again you're not going to find that perfect call in my opinion, but you will find really good calls... JUST like you're not going to find the real perfect hen sounds either in the wild... IMO
Hope this helps...
Very well said.
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 16, 2025, 12:24:02 PMIn my opinion don't over think your pushpin and it's turning to hit every note perfectly. You are never going to hear that real perfect hen either. Sure practice plays a big part in learning and getting to know how your call wants to be run / played. I tell people regardless of the call it has feelings and meaning. Just like the call you buy from a call builder, you buy the call from him as to what the turkey sounds to him and his turning. That's why most all of us like calls from didn't makers and builders , it's about the sound and tones we are hearing in our head and looking for that sound. So regardless again you're not going to find that perfect call in my opinion, but you will find really good calls... JUST like you're not going to find the real perfect hen sounds either in the wild... IMO
Hope this helps...
Thank you Greg. I learned that a long time ago with mouth calls. And when I started building my own pots I realized that with them as well. That's why my call buying diminished significantly. I bought calls from several of the big name builders and had mine that I make, and honestly on a recording cycling through calls, they all had very, very minute differences. And the same with trumpets, I have had several trumpets but as far as in my collection now, I have a Mike Battey Omega, a DES, a Moses creek wing wood, and some me and the kids made from river cane and on a sound file cycling through them, there is no difference in sound regardless of price. I guess never giving the push pins a fair shake over the years contributed to me thinking they'd be different as far as that goes based on the difference in sound quality from the ones I've handled.
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Push-pin tuning for me goes like this. I take a dry clean Kleenex and wipe the paddle and striker off removing the old chalk. Shannon recommends Primos brown box call chalk. I re-chalk mine if it gets damp, or is exposed to any moisture. I lightly chalk the paddle. As far as actual tuning, Shannon has a small pin-hole where he locates the spring. On all push-pins, you can change the position of the spring higher or lower. This will create tension changing the pitch of the call. You'll find the sweet spot playing around with the spring location. A good thing to remember is don't keep your Push-pins in a hot car/truck or trunk. Extreme heat will possibly affect the glue on the body of the PP possibly damaging it. Good luck!
Quote from: Tom007 on January 19, 2025, 09:19:42 AMPush-pin tuning for me goes like this. I take a dry clean Kleenex and wipe the paddle and striker off removing the old chalk. Shannon recommends Primos brown box call chalk. I re-chalk mine if it gets damp, or is exposed to any moisture. I lightly chalk the paddle. As far as actual tuning, Shannon has a small pin-hole where he locates the spring. On all push-pins, you can change the position of the spring higher or lower. This will create tension changing the pitch of the call. You'll find the sweet spot playing around with the spring location. A good thing to remember is don't keep your Push-pins in a hot car/truck or trunk. Extreme heat will possibly affect the glue on the body of the PP possibly damaging it. Good luck!
Thank you Tom!.
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All very good info. I love hearing about how other use and take care of there finely made and tuned turkey calling /killing pp machines!!! They work that's one thing for sure we all can agree on!!!!!
Chalk is a BIG deal , I highly recommend primos box call chalk ...take any old chalk off and use that chalk.
Most issues can be corrected with the right chalk
I also recommend storing your call in a cool dry place ...just like your ammunition