Just like the title says.
I'm curious who people think is thr best builder of each different surface pot call. I can't say who's best because I only have had the opportunity to own a hand full of custom calls but I csn offer my opinion on who makes the best I've ran or own.
Slate - lonnie sneed.
Chystal - david holloran
Aluminum - lights out
Copper - yingling
I guess the reason I made this thread is because I'm always looking to upgrade something snd plus I've got to where I am starting to build a little bit of a collection up on calls. The best sounding ones I csn find will go to the woods, the others will be displayed. So far my favorite is my david holloran twisted sister. She's definitely a go to.
I'm on the waiting list for one of Mr bill lymans wenge aluminum calls and a soft talker slate with open back.
I only one one slate now and it's a Mr Sneed slate. Really want to put it in the collection and find a better sounding slate to hunt with.
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I've not run all the customs out there, by far, but I did just get my hands on a killer deal for a Woodhaven Vision Crystal. I can honestly say, it's the best friction call I've ever tried. I've run some before at the NWTF and compared to some others, I thought they were a great call, but not for over $100. I couldn't pass up the deal on this one so I took it and it is better than any of the ones I've tried at the convention.
Slate - don't own one of his but the best my ears have heard is a Paul Platz/Curly Maple
Glass/Crystal - I just got a Glass/Walnut from Gary Joffrion (Magnolia Game Calls) that sounds as good as any glass/crystal I've ever heard. Got it after my season closed and can't wait to try it next year! Looks great also!
Aluminum - love my Lights Out/Mahogany!
Copper - don't own one of his but love the sound coming from a Daryl Slaton/Osage with Slaton Zebrawood striker!
Copper: mike yingling. Sweet sounding call
Crystal: David halloran twisted sister. Great call for aggressive cutting very easy call to run
Slate, Lonnie Sneed
Glass, Glen Marrer
Aluminum, Anodized - Lamar Williams
Copper, Frank Kruer III
Slate-Darrin Dawkins
Glass-Darrin Dawkins
Aluminum-Darrin Dawkins
Quote from: JBIRD22 on May 08, 2014, 11:49:15 AM
Slate - don't own one of his but the best my ears have heard is a Paul Platz/Curly Maple
Glass/Crystal - I just got a Glass/Walnut from Gary Joffrion (Magnolia Game Calls) that sounds as good as any glass/crystal I've ever heard. Got it after my season closed and can't wait to try it next year! Looks great also!
Aluminum - love my Lights Out/Mahogany!
Copper - don't own one of his but love the sound coming from a Daryl Slaton/Osage with Slaton Zebrawood striker!
If you like the sound of Daryls' copper, try it with a hollow carbon striker...All I can say is WOW!!!
Slate: Lon Trice's birdseye maple
Glass: Halloran double glass
Aluminum: Halloran/Dawkins
If you like aluminum ...try the Warbird 'preacher man'. I like the SS , halloran, and lights out also but the Warbird fits my style and sounds real turkey good.! The hooks is a great aluminum also.
before i got onto this site and realized the great customes out there whihc i still havent purchased however i will soon!
dont laugh but i love my tom teaser aluminum as well as the tom teasers slate!
I also love my down and dirty glass call as well
i know those arent custom but i love the sounds they both make!
I was recently given a Pat Strawser slate that is flat out turkey. I love it.
I've never heard a crystal call that sounded better than a Woodhaven crystal. (Apologies to the custom call makers!)
Can't comment too much on the aluminum, I run an old Cane Creek aluminum that still sounds pretty good.
There is no best, it's all opinion.
Yep, just opinions, and not sure that any pot without a good striker will see it's full potential.
But, with maybe 100+- calls acquired, here are my opinions:
Slate: maybe Light's Out? Slate over glass? Laminated wood seems to give me a good tone.
Crystal: I don't use crystal much, but I like the laminated wood crystal calls from Andy Kaiser.
Aluminum: I've never loved aluminum, so I can't fairly name a favorite.
Copper: Not a huge fan of copper, but I do like copper from Yingling with a striker he picks out.
Ceramic: I added this because it's the main call surface I use now. I used to hate it, but something must have changed with the material, because I can't get enough of it now. Favorite is a dead heat between Light's Out (only with certain woods picked by Wendell), and Andy Kaiser (same thing, certain woods picked by Andy). Seems like some hard woods & some stabilized woods just match up very well with a ceramic surface.
Honestly, turkey hunting is not a simple 'hobby' to me, so I have no problem buying tons of different calls, and trying different strikers, and see what works best for me.
Turkey calls are fun to collect, and I have met some real decent people in the business :)
mudhen
I totally agree there is no "best", and opinion matters a lot. There are TONS of calls and makers I've never got to sample.
My favorite pot call varies from year to year. I usually swap out during the season a few times to sound a bit different each time I go back to an area I've hunted.
My favorites are 3 I assembled from parts. They are getting birds to answer better than anything I have had before. Ceramic, aluminum, and crystal all over glass are winning for me.
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