I would like the opinions from you guys on this one. Last year, I bought a Twisted Sister from David Halloran. I was really impressed with this call. I have decided I want more, but only going to buy 1 more at a time. Im really looking at a couple, but knowing already that I have the Twisted Sister, which one would you choose from the following.
Crystal Mistress
Laminated Slate
Sassy Ceramic
Birdseye Maple Aluminum
Ive got a smaller 3'' cherry slate, but I am curious about the laminated slate, and I have wanted a Crystal Mistress for a long time so Im really torn. I know many of you have the Mistress, but if any of you have run any of the other or own the others, please chime in.
I own the aluminum and its a great sounding call. Haven't tried the ceramic or laminated slate but my father has the spalted maple slate which sounds great also. If it were me though I would go with the mistress, sounds much clearer than the sister so you'll have two awesome sounding calls and they will sound different.
I vote Crystal Mistress. It's the best sounding call I own and well worth his price. You probably can't go wrong with any of them. Good luck with your decision.
Jim
Since you already own a Twisted Sister Id go more diverse than getting the Mistress. I love the sound of his slates and they placed really well at the southeastern Comp. I do plan on picking one up myself sometime here but also want a Hot Hen. Im sure his ceramic sound great too, I have a ceramic on order with Houndstooth right now and cant wait for that its an awesome surface.
I would lean toward the slate, theres something about slates thats just natrual and really works the birds.
I bought the twisted sister and the mistress. I also have his aluminum and it is a great call and a good complement to the other two. I found the mistress on sell and ordered one for my son. When the mistress came in and I had a chance to run it I kept the mistress and gave the twisted sister to my son. I love that call. Good luck this year. Ken
David makes a killer call. I got the Mistress last year and it produces that "wow " sound. I just got his aluminum call a few days ago and it sounds awesome too with the right striker. Some of the Mistress calls are more raspy than others, pretty close in sound to a less raspy Sister. I would choose aluminum, ceramic or slate to give you a different hen sound. Any of the three would do the trick, but the aluminum call brings the funk. David and I had this same discussion when I ordered my last call and he suggested the aluminum. I wish I had all of his calls.
can't go wrong with any of them. i have the aluminum and the cherry slate. went to the convention to get a checkered short box and a crystal call. after playing both the mistress and the sister and listening to halloran's wife and other staffers running his calls, i decided on the sister as it complimented my slate and aluminum better. the sister was much cleaner sounding and very similar to the front end of my aluminum, so i went with the more raspy all the way through call, which was the sister. the mistress sounded great also, just too similar to what i already have. good luck.
Ben, I own about 5 of those pots.
Id suggest the aluminum or ceramic. The crystal mistress sounds awesome, but you already have the twisted sister crystal. Why not get your self a different sound. You can always go back and get a mistress.
I called in a bird with a halloran ceramic last year.
Del, I like the way you think.
Thanks to all who weighed in. I still haven't made up my mind, but I certainly appreciate the input.
The Sister and Mistress are much alike, in my opinion. The Mistress is a great call but I would look into the Aluminum call that David makes. If you don't have a copper or aluminum call, David's aluminum would make a great addition. The aluminum can be extra loud for locating and can produce soft yelps when needed. I have both the Mistress and Aluminum and you will not be disappointed with either call.
The first call I bought from David was the aluminum and birdseye maple, then I had him make me a crystal/slate double sider in a Sugartown Sweetness II pot and my next pot will be ceramic from David. I think these really will give me all the sounds and pitches that I want in a pot call