Confessions of a scratch box rookie:
I wanted to try a scratch box, it looked like fun, and I remember some older versions that I've seen from time to time so it has a nostalgic aspect too. Well, I obtained a custom scratch from Mike at Spring Creek. It looks very nice... it's a cherry box with a hard maple striker. I had done my research, and watched some videos (thanks drenalinld), I was set.
I held the call as I had seen & learned, and prepared myself to hear the sweetest hen yelps, ever. That did NOT happen. I must not have it right, I thought to myself... let me adjust my grip. Again I slid the box across the striker as I had seen others do so many times before. SQUEEEK...SKREEETCH. Wow...this is not good. Hmmm...must need more chalk, yeah, that's got to be it. (*adds too much chalk) SQUEEEEEEEK.... O.K. Obviously this can't be me, right? Did Mike send me a call without even trying it, to see if it at least remotely sounded like a turkey? Mike seems like a really good guy? Others always say nice things about him?
Hmmm, maybe it is me. O.K. I'll try adjusting it this way, or that way (because you know what they say, "the definition of insanity is repeating the exact same behavior hoping for different results). The right amount of chalk seems to be on there now.... YELP,YELP, YELP, YELP, YELP! And there it was... as if the good Lord himself had elbowed Ben Rogers Lee and asked him to intervene just a little, so as to quiet down that other ear-bleeding noise! The sound that came out of my hands amazed me. There was a whole lot of turkey packed into that little box!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not ready to walk out on stage with it at the Grand Nationals...but with a little more practice, it will make the starting line-up in the vest. Same principal as a box call really, but with more "touch". Hard to explain the exact "how to", other than to say if you stick with it a little, and give it a chance, you might be surprised. And like other calls - once you get it... you get it!
It really is a cool little call... I wanted to post this here in case others might be on the fence about trying one. :icon_thumright:
Thanks for a great looking, AND SOUNDING call Mike!
**probably a couple of hours invested, putting it down and just walking away from it, over a day or two. But, it's now putting out more turkey sounds than not!
I plan on carrying a scratch box in my vest this spring also. It's a great tool.
Good luck with a great little call!
Got three of Mike's scratchers in my vest right now...
I had no idea how to operate mine so I called Mike...HAH!!! He made me my own video of how to do it! Can you imagine that??? My own custom video!
They're actually easy to run if you just get a little knowledge about them...That Mike is THE MAN!!!
I am amazed at how much sound these little calls can put out. I'm finding it more and more difficult to put it down and stop playing it.
I own three of Mike's scratch boxes and all of them are stuffed full of turkey. You made a great choice for your first scratcher.
That's too funny SteelerFan. What makes it even funnier is those are probably the same thoughts that would run through my head.
I just got my first scratch box this week, an SS and I was pretty surprised whe the first noise out of it was all turkey.. LOL
Ive watched several youtube videos before hand but rarely does it work that watching something and doing something translates that quickly.
These things are great I am half mad that i haven't tried them before and want to make up for lost time and buy a bunch more right away.