ok i am thinking about getting a copper call but I have not ever really used one or messed with one. What is the deal with copper in your opinion. I have no problems using slates, glass or aluminum but thinking copper may be a good option to add to the list.
I messed with one at the nashville show, i wasnt a fan of the call in general so i am trying to not judge it on that one but seemed fairly slippery as a surface and alot like aluminum.
obviously it will be opinions and to each his own but I am just trying to figure out pitch and surface wise if it is something i may be into.
To me copper has a different tone/pitch than other surfaces. I have two an old Preston Pittman and a new copper/ Osage from lights out. I have the rest of the surfaces but more often than not I use copper. Soft or alot of rasp.
I think the thing with copper is that it has a ring to it that I haven't heard in any other surface. It really only needs conditioned with a green scotch brite pad. The slickness could have been due to the striker wood or too much pressure on the striker. That is probably the most common problem. Ipe, dymondwood, purpleheart and yellowheart all grip well.
Copper does have a good bit of rasp. It is pretty consistant and can be ran loud or you can tone it down soft and not lose the quality of sound.
I did pick up a striker in Nashville that sounds great on copper and has almost no rasp.
Takes a little getting used to, but copper is awesome. I really like sycamore for a striker with it. The wood is really soft and shaggy so it grips really well and makes a sweet sound. White oak is another good choice. It lowers the pitch a bit and really piles on the raspiness.
my copper takes far far less pressure to run than my other surfaces and squeaks if I get on it to hard. but barks out ringing rasp
it really does sound different but sometimes thats what you need
I think a copper surface adds to a hunters bag of tricks and it really depends on who makes the call. I will add to what others have said by saying that a copper call over 3" is a waste of money as you will not get the sound your looking for from a larger diameter copper surface. I'd also recommend a really dense wood for the pot, and having both a dense and softer striker like hickory/osage, and cedar for the soft wood. I would recommend talking to Andy Kaiser of Kaisers Kalls, Wendell Rye of Lights Out Calls, Jack Lewis of Pappy's Game Calls, or Daryl Slayton.
Good Luck.
Copper is a calling surface that many will give up on too soon. They are expecting a sound much like glass, and that just isnt going to happen. The first copper call I made I absolutely despised. Sold it before I had a chance to throw it at a wall. But I had to make four more. Same thing on the next. Made the next and played it once and walked away, then came back and played it again. I noticed that it didnt seem as bad as the first time. The more you play it, the more it will appeal to you. As far as being slick, I condition mine with a green Scotchbrite pad and it works just fine. It will require more conditioning as you use it as copper is a soft material
thanks everyone, for now i just went with a glass call from Warbird just because it was too sweet to pass up. I may look at the copper more down the road but for now the 3 glass, 2 aluminum, 2 slates and 1 ceramic will just have to do lol.
Once you learn how to play it, a good copper pot will probably have a permanent spot in your vest....I know mine does.
There just isnt another surface that can produce the same kind of sound that a copper pot can.
Hey REN, Andy S. here. I have a 3" copper pot from Daryl Slaton that really sings turkey. It is not bad on the eyes either. The wood is Quartersawn Cocobolo and the striker is Bloodwood and Wenge.
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/andysimmerman_9/003_edited.jpg)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/andysimmerman_9/002_edited.jpg)