Friend and I took the three hour drive to visit with Jimmy Schaffer of Oak Ridge Custom Calls, in Northern N.J. yesterday. Our anticipation was, we'd see his shop, buy a call or two and have a short chat, and return home...
Well, that's not at all what happened...Jimmy invited us into his shop as soon as we arrived. We chatted about his operation. He showed us how he makes his calls and gave us some insight about sound quality, materials, history of the materials in his calls (there's some interesting stuff there). We talked about hunting and kids and people in the turkey world. He graciously opened his home to us and showed us his call collection and his big dog and his ribbons and trophies (which he minimizes). He dragged out any number of calls that he's made, both present and past. He showed us his turkey vest and gave us some tee's and hats and covers for our calls. We sat in his living room and he treated us like old friends...
He played call after call so we could decide which ones we liked...And get this! There was a prototype that didn't even have a finish on it yet. He had used it in the woods and called in two gobblers with it.We liked it, so he put a finish on it while we were there. It came home with me!
I got the very first new iteration of his bronzed glass over aluminum. It's in a cherry pot that, if I recall correctly came from cherry wood from a local farm (could have come out of an old barn...Too much info. to recall for sure)...Beautiful call and it sounds GREAT!
My friend got a few gorgeous pots and some strikers that I'm sure he'll post soon...
Jimmy invited us to lunch and offered some other kindnesses that were above and beyond...
What struck us the most though was the genuine likability and kindness of a guy who owed us nothing. A guy who has gained notoriety by way of his extraordinary skill at his craft...A humble guy who has made a mark on the turkey hunting world like only a handful of others. He's at the pinnacle of his craft...Yet, he treated a couple of knuckleheads like us like we were something special...
So...If you're looking for a great call, from a great guy, don't hesitate to call Jimmy. He's the real deal and he'll "hook you up!" 1-973-208-9029 or 1-973-479-3690
I agree. A great call maker is only half of what Mr. Schaffer is. I have purchased two calls from him and he is a pleasure to deal with. He made a call to commemorate my son's first gobbler and it sounds as beautiful as it looks. You cannot go wrong ordering from him.
Sounds like a class act! :icon_thumright:
Quote from: Tail Feathers on July 09, 2016, 03:27:26 PM
Sounds like a class act! :icon_thumright:
He is a super nice and talented callmaker. ..
Never met him face to face, but talked to him last season about a few calls for me and a buddy. Great guy to chat with, he put the calls in the mail to me right after we hung up the phone.. without payment yet mind you. Was reassuring to to see some people still do business like that.
And to add.. I have a wall full of pot calls.. too many. Jimmy's call is 1 of the 2 calls I actually carry in my vest when I hunt. I killed a nice Merriam with it a few weeks after I got it. He makes a top notch all around pot call.
:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
:z-winnersmiley: I bought an aluminum call from him in one of his bargain closeouts he did this spring.. wound up beating out my other calls for first outta the vest all spring. called up SEVERAL longbeards with it...Will surely try more of his calls in the future..
Great guy to deal with and treats people good plus he makes a killer turkey call!
Jimmy is the best
Super stand up guy. I just got a blue mahoe from him last week. Call came in the mail and I was shocked because I hadn't paid for it. I called him right away and he said he works on a honor system, send you the call then you see payment if you're happy with the call (of course I was, it's all hen turkey!). Ended up talking turkeys and bass fishing for an hour with him. Great guy and awesome call maker.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I can't add to but I can definitely confirm all of the good things that were said about him.
He'd be a good neighbor.
Agreed.... class act and one of the good people in this world. I appreciate his enthusiasm for his call making and wanting you to enjoy it.
Jimmy is the Man!!! My next call(s) will be from him.
I was looking for somebody to make a call for as a graduation gift for my buddy's boy and Jimmy was suggest by a couple of people. I contacted him by email and the response I got was to call him. I made the call and spent about an hour with him on the phone discussing the call. He brought up things I hadn't thought of and gave me several options & ideas. Through the process I spoke with him 5-6 times. Each time we talked(about 15-20 minutes each), he made me feel that this project was just as important to him(if not more) as it was to me. We got everything figured out and in less than 1 1/2 weeks I had the call in my hands. Along with the call there was a hand written letter congratulating him on getting the Gobbler, explaining that I had asked him(Jimmy) to make the call, what the call was made of, a matched striker with the boys name on it, a T-shirt and a can koozie.
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c112/PyreCapt/Deer%20-%20turks/000_0462_zpszmcvsxhc.jpg) (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PyreCapt/media/Deer%20-%20turks/000_0462_zpszmcvsxhc.jpg.html)
Jimmy is a good guy. It's hard to believe I haven't known him my whole life. Sometimes I stop by after work just to run calls or bs w him. I'm sure he has calls to make yet never short changes anyone. Of course he makes some great calls n there's never not at least one of his in my vest.
Quote from: yelpaholic on July 09, 2016, 09:49:26 PM
:z-winnersmiley: I bought an aluminum call from him in one of his bargain closeouts he did this spring.. wound up beating out my other calls for first outta the vest all spring. called up SEVERAL longbeards with it...Will surely try more of his calls in the future..
Jimmys aluminum are some of the best if not the best. I have 2 n they've been outstanding on birds. Id never be without at least one one, even carrying other makers aluminum Jimmys is always w me.
Jimmy makes a great call and is an even better person. Here is a story I shared about his kindness in a post from a couple of months ago.
Mad crystal, blue crystal, no name crystal. Crystal this and crystal that. You name it and the man from Jersey puts a hen in it. I have only been knowing Jimmy and buying calls from him for about three years now. He is a great friend with a big heart. When he sent me my first call, he sent a trough call that was was personalized to my son. When I started a Make A Wish fund raiser this past year for my son, Jimmy was the first one to offer a donation. He later donated a second call out of his personal collection. If that was not enough, after discussing Coleman's wish which was for a playground set, he volunteered to give him his son's playground set that he had outgrown. Not only did he want to give it to him, he wanted to personally deliver it from New Jersey and then install it. I was very grateful, but I had to respectfully decline his offer because I knew Make A Wish would grant his wish. Anyway, during this three year period, I couldn't ever recall seeing a glass call come from his shop. I jokingly challenged him to build me a glass call and boy did he deliver. This walnut double glass call will do it all in realistic tone; tree yelps, clucks and purrs to some nasty yelping and cutting. Thanks for the call Jimbo and most of all thank you for your friendship buddy.
(http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo261/JODYLOVE01/Mobile%20Uploads/9FF47D4E-CCAE-4182-AE99-6FA0293F4F09_zps2wt305d1.jpg) (http://s382.photobucket.com/user/JODYLOVE01/media/Mobile%20Uploads/9FF47D4E-CCAE-4182-AE99-6FA0293F4F09_zps2wt305d1.jpg.html)
I'm a minimalist when it comes to calls I carry while hunting. I carry one pot call and it's Jimmy's Gen 1 Mad Hen. He's most definitely a class act. Along my US Slam journey I have Jimmy to thank for more than 1 destination suggestion. On my visit, we hunted together and also played in his shop a while. I experienced everything everyone else has already mentioned. Jimmy is flat out "good people."
i agree,jimmy is a great guy,i too have only been getting calls from jimmy for about 3 years,and in that time he has been one of the greatest people to deal with i have ever had the pleasure to deal with.there have been times when i would order a call and get to talking about another call i would be wanting and telling him how in a month or so i would be getting in touch with him to order one only to find that when i get my call i had ordered the one i was talking about would be in the box too,with a note telling me not to worry about paying him until i was ready and on my feet good enough no matter how long it takes,he said aint no reason on having to pay shipping twice when this one was already coming.i would always pay him quickly as i could and write him a note telling him what it was for and thanking him.he makes a great call and even better his personality matches the quality he puts forth in his calls.jimmy,billy buice,and al shoemaker have all been great callmakers to deal with,and each has did some little something to help me,not knowing me from no one,and for that i greatly appreciate it,and will always get a call or two along the way from them,plus they make some of the finest calls you can get.glad there are still people in this world that takes the time to go out of the way to help people and do buisness in the manner in which they do.
Character is how you treat those that can do nothing for you.
That's what this is called my brothers.
Flounder
Sounds like a great guy! :icon_thumright:
Also spent a day with him in his shop and basement. Good man. Hope to do it again some day.
Some of the best pots out there! Always been a pleasure to talk with on the phone. Sounds like a great day.
Jimmy is a hell of a guy! I've bought several from him and even had to send one in for repair a few weeks ago. My son spilled water on his call and it saturated it for several days before anyone knew about it. I told Jimmy about it and he said just to send it back to him. The call ran like a brand new one when we got it back. I've only met him once but I can honestly say that he will treat you right and like he has been your friend for a long time! He wants his customers to be happy and that is #1 to him!