So......please don't take offense to any of this. This is simply for informative purposes. Ive been turkey hunting for a long time. Killed a bunch birds with a lot of different calls because I own like many of you a whole whole lot of calls. More box calls than anything....as I collect vintage ones and one of my best friends is a call maker so ive always had my pick of the litter with quality box calls. I own some pots, and a ton of strikers and I typically use glass pots exclusively when using a pot. Why though....? I have bought a plethora of slate calls over the years. Trough style and pot style. Double faced surface pots and just standard one sided slate pots. I just cannot find a slate call that sounds good enough for me to take to the woods. Now....I know whether or not it sounds exactly like a turkey is somewhat irrelevant. Ive killed turkeys that could have been called up by hitting sticks together...but to me every slate ive played sounded about the same as any other one ive owned....dull.....other than some very quiet barely 2 toned yelps and soft clucks and purring I cannot find a reason to use a slate call. Whether running the calls inside or in the woods...they do not sound real to me, or should I say real enough. My glass pots are absolute fire....they sound real, they are sharp and crisp. They really pop when running them inside or outside and I have massacred some turkeys with them. Im certain if I just ran my slate pots that I would get birds to respond and kill them because ive worked some with my slates with results but I cant help but notice man that don't sound good. I guess when Im used to running boxes, glass, trumpets, scratch boxes, and diaphragms that sound great its hard for me to stick a dull sounding, quiet only style calling pot in my vest. So.....my question is? is the consensus with slate calls, or have I just bought a bunch of not so good ones over the years. Id love to think its me....but I don't see how it could be ive tried 20 strikers on my slates with the same results....they sound dull if you get to loud with em. Do those of you who carry slates only call softly with them, or do you think I just haven't found the right slate over the years. I recently bought a new slate, very premium call from a very reputable custom call maker and while it is slightly better than sounding than anyone I own....the end result is the same. It sounds like a slate call.
All preference and opinion, to me slate sounds realistic and it is my favorite surface for Pot calls.
Some guys like brunettes, like chestnut hair, some like blondes which to me I have never understood to me I like a redhead, and just like some have preference to certain hair colors some like preferences to certain tones, I really like my green slate, it's my favorite call sound wise, but I like all my slates. I also like crystal and black anodize aluminum, titanium, glass and brass quite a bit. It is all what my ear is in the mood to hear at any given time of day or week or whatever. Enjoy what you enjoy, have fun, get a bird, then send me all these slates you are talking about! :P
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on March 24, 2020, 12:23:25 AM
All preference and opinion, to me slate sounds realistic and it is my favorite surface for Pot calls.
I have way more potcalls than needed of about every surface.
Probably 2 surfaces that get played the most are my glass calls and my slates. To me slates have always just been easy to run, and sound good. Conditioning them doesn't get any easier either.
It's all personal preference.
I appreciate the responses. I just wanted to know if it was me, the calls, or just simply an opinion. Ive heard slate calls that sounded good before videos mostly....but audio of call and hearing it in person is far from the same. And I agree if you just want to tree yelp or call softly they are great. The cluck great and are a consistent call to run.....but running one wide open is a different story. I think they all have this dull sound , and I put a lot of feeling into my calling and I cant seem to get the feeling that my calls have feeling when im using a slate. But there is no doubt many many turkey have died to a slate call.
The "brightest" slate call that I own and use is a slate over aluminum tone board in feather grained walnut. The call was made by Wendell Rye. Wendell hadn't tried one in that combo of calling surface and tone board. He couldn't guarantee how it would sound in the end but I kind of threw caution to the wind and tried it. I'm glad I did. Wendell said he even liked how it sounded, and he is really particular. It might be something to try if you don't want to totally give up on slate calls.
my newest one is actually slate over aluminum . and it is the better one of the ones ive purchased. My final attempt will be a ted peters slate I have available to me. If I don't like that one , im done with em. Ive always had them just rarely used because I never like them too much compared to other things I had available in my vest.
Quote from: dzsmith on March 24, 2020, 01:06:42 AM
I appreciate the responses. I just wanted to know if it was me, the calls, or just simply an opinion. Ive heard slate calls that sounded good before videos mostly....but audio of call and hearing it in person is far from the same. And I agree if you just want to tree yelp or call softly they are great. The cluck great and are a consistent call to run.....but running one wide open is a different story. I think they all have this dull sound , and I put a lot of feeling into my calling and I cant seem to get the feeling that my calls have feeling when im using a slate. But there is no doubt many many turkey have died to a slate call.
It sounds like what you are looking for is what I would call a screamer. I do not think slate is ever going to be that, I have a Sinclair Titanium in Mexican Bocote wood pot and it screams louder than any glass or crystal I have ever heard, it makes my head feel like I have pressure squeezing my head when I am using it and it gives me a headache in the blind it is so loud. I have learned to hold it out the window when in the blind. Maybe that is something you may want to look into.
The old school slate call is something i very seldom carry anymore , reason why most people are already carrying one , my main pot's are ceramic, glass and red slate , i look for pot calls with more volume, tone and sound , because i don't usually hunt in the big timber or woods , most of all my hunting is field edges, i learned long time ago , running and chasing thru the woods was causing me to bump way to many turkeys. I'm more of call the bird to me, and over the years , it has really worked well. I also look for the same in my box calls and hen box , i like higher pitch front with good break with rasp. I look for calls that will also cut the wind , because most of the early season we are still dealing with cool, fog, windy and rainy conditions. Opening weekends, I've worn my coveralls many times. Look at getting calls that work for you and your type of hunting and for the birds your hunting in your area.
that's exactly what im talking about. I look for a calls with a distinct roll over. Hek I can even make my trumpet pop....but no slate ive owned does this distinctly, by the way the slate I was talking about is a red slate "my newest one" I don't hunt many fields or openings but I with you on calling birds to me...im the same way. So many people think dang I cant call too loud. There is a time and place for quiet calling but as Lovett Williams has said more than once...turkeys talk as loud as they have to for other turkeys to hear them, and quiet often that's LOUD and OFTEN. So I just cant justify slate hardly at all. Some days the woods are dead still....usually not good when they are, and you obviously may start out initially with some toned down calling....but I can tone down the volume on 90% of the calls I use already with no need to use a slate specifically for that
I love any well made pot with just about any surface, but I always give the edge to my slates. Just hard to imitate that nasally sound with anything else. While I agree that glass and particularly crystal really have that "pop", most of my slates aren't too far below in decibels. I can't even guess how many birds I've started from way, way off with my first good slate (Cody World Class). I've retired that call now, but I run Corder, Strawser, Cornelius, Wyatt, Slaton, and Sneed slates and they are all killers that can call pretty darn loud and brite....you just got to put the coal to 'em...run 'em hard, they'll respond.
Beauty of sound is in the ear of the beholder. Being that everyone's ear varies it will come down to personal preference. I like running various pot call surfaces and let the Turkeys decide what they like as their hearing is so much better then ours. That said I always take a few slates afield with me. I have a few green slates that can get loud and reach out a long ways. They remain a versatile call in my arsenal based on how the Turkeys have responded.
Been hunting with the same Slate call for the past 25 years and it has killed more turkeys than all the other calls I have owned put together by a long shot, reason is it consistently calls birds in. With that being said there are times when I don't use it because of "humidity" and the call just doesn't sound right, I'll switch over a $10 glass call I bought on sale, yup it kills birds too. There are a bunch of quality sounding calls out there and I know most of us will pick a call by how it "sounds" but those sounds change over time and weather conditions, sound different from at a show, in a store, from the house and in the timber.
All I can say is I have a CODY World Class Slate and haven't a need to look for another.
as stated "We only build so many of these calls a year...WE DON'T WANT ALL THE TURKEYS KILLED AT ONE TIME!"
MK M GOBL
I'm a pot call guy. Love them. Slate is my GO TO. Confidence, YEP! Probably killed more birds than any other call I have. Birds respond well to them and I have one that has a Grand Slam to it's credit. To my ears, slates make the most realistic turkey sounds and the birds seem to tell me that. Don't get me wrong, the slate isn't the Holy Grail of calls. I carry a slate, a crystal, a ceramic and this year a copper along with a box and several diaphragms. They will ALL get used. Some will ask why so many? All have different sounds. As others have said, Brunettes, Redheads and/or Blondes. You never know what the birds will respond to. What I do know is Slate sounds realistic. Realism gets them coming to the gun and that leads to Confidence and Kills.
One more point. It sounds the best with several laminated strikers but the birch laminate striker seems to be the ticket.
It just seems like the older gray slate calls are better. Gray slate on newer calls seems softer, resulting in that lower tone. Green and red slate seems like the way to go now.
I'm not a slate guy per se but I've killed lots as a kid w a Cody slate.
As I aged I thought many sounded dulling too. Some of the newer skates do sound great. So far I've only got two but I def like green slate. It pops and that's what I like. I have a Mac n Lonzo and I don't think you'd be disappointed. I'd use them both before many glass
There are several call makers that can make any call do what ever you want. Wether you want it to scream or play soft...is just a matter of messing with different woods and surfaces and soundboards.
I have heard quite a few slates that you would swear are glass or crystal if you listened to them from a distance
I play both guitar and Dobro in bluegrass music. People have preferences in sounds. Some like this kind of wood or that on their guitars or it as to be a Martin or whatever. Truth is they all sound fine to the audience. Sure some are louder and some have different tone but it's in the way that you play them as well.
I think turkey calls are this way as well. They'll all sound good to the turkeys if we play them right. We as the player of the call have certain sounds we want or like. I like slates early in the morning when it's crisp out, or when there's not much foliage on yet, the winds not blowing. I like glass when I need to cut through wind, foliage or strike a bird at distance. I have box calls that I feel are the most versatile being able to play soft or loud. Many times I use a slate with a glass or box call as I feel you can give the illusion that you are moving around through different tones, when your setup working a bird.
I will add this , some people CAN build good pot calls , and LOT of builders think , they can build good sounding pot calls .. Words of Wisdom...
I like glass over aluminum, it's my favorite pot. Some of my favorite slates are Scott Hock slate over slate, Misfire slate over aluminum, Lonnie Mabry slate over glass I think. Yingling slate over slate in walnut and a Chris Brumfiel slate over glass in walnut. I don't feel I would ever need anything different but I will probably buy more. The one that really pops to my ear is the Scott Hock it's in black limba. Pm me your number and I will send you a sound file. You may or may not like it but I sure do
Have you tried a Buster Halford red slate yet?
Quote from: Chris O on March 24, 2020, 01:18:35 PM
I like glass over aluminum, it's my favorite pot. Some of my favorite slates are Scott Hock slate over slate, Misfire slate over aluminum, Lonnie Mabry slate over glass I think. Yingling slate over slate in walnut and a Chris Brumfiel slate over glass in walnut. I don't feel I would ever need anything different but I will probably buy more. The one that really pops to my ear is the Scott Hock it's in black limba. Pm me your number and I will send you a sound file. You may or may not like it but I sure do
Hi Chris the Mabry cedar slate I got you is slate over a wooden soundboard most of his slates are over a wooden soundboard.
My favorites are either glass over slate or slate over glass.
I really like some of the older grey slates I have they get real aggressive just like a glass but can mellow easier than glass.
I have noticed on most current calls the grey slate doesn't seem to have the sound that they use to (even from same makers not sure if it is the quality of the current grey slate or what) so new calls I like green better and red if you want a raspier different tone but I would have to say overall I like green slate better than red.
My favorite grey slates that I have are from Platz, Corder and Dawkins.
My favorite green slates I have are from Mark Cornelius, Clay Townsend and Paul Durham.
I feel the same way OP. The only slate pot that frequented my vest was a Platz Cherry. It sounded awesome with a certain one piece striker. I killed a few birds with it and now keep it as a shelf queen. I currently carry a ceramic at all times and alternate a crystal and aluminum. The ceramic offers a happy medium between glass and slate calls. Having the right striker makes a world of difference as well.
Quote from: va longbeard on March 24, 2020, 01:58:29 PM
Quote from: Chris O on March 24, 2020, 01:18:35 PM
I like glass over aluminum, it's my favorite pot. Some of my favorite slates are Scott Hock slate over slate, Misfire slate over aluminum, Lonnie Mabry slate over glass I think. Yingling slate over slate in walnut and a Chris Brumfiel slate over glass in walnut. I don't feel I would ever need anything different but I will probably buy more. The one that really pops to my ear is the Scott Hock it's in black limba. Pm me your number and I will send you a sound file. You may or may not like it but I sure do
Hi Chris the Mabry cedar slate I got you is slate over a wooden soundboard most of his slates are over a wooden soundboard.
Thanks I never really looked that hard at it.
I played with my new red slate today, and I found a sweet spot on it that if you play it very very hard with good pressure it will pop pretty good. So....compared to my others it will at least do it, but its not effortless to say the least. My glass is effortless....I think I will keep the red slate and see how I like it over time and in the woods. Havent used it in the woods yet "hunting" that is....ive played it outside. My glass call is floated over a cherry soundboard in a walnut pot..... the best ive heard hands down. By the way its a magnolia game calls one. an older one. The red slate is directly on top of an aluminum sound board. its a dense pot, heavy. Appears to be finished heavy to.....I know when making box calls in my experience you can ruin a one with too heavy of a finish. It can totally change the call. Not saying a heavy finish isn't necessary, and cant work ....but I do know it can alter sound.
Quote from: Chris O on March 24, 2020, 01:22:28 PM
Have you tried a Buster Halford red slate yet?
not that particular one but I do have a red slate I just purchased. I guess that's kinda my point in the post. Are there really "only good" ones out there ...because ive played and owned several and have yet to run into one that stands out to me. Ive been in the game a long time now to not run into a good one that I thought was worth taking to the woods. Im starting to like my new red slate as time goes on. Ill keep at it and see.
Quote from: Missouri hunter on March 24, 2020, 12:20:46 PM
I play both guitar and Dobro in bluegrass music. People have preferences in sounds. Some like this kind of wood or that on their guitars or it as to be a Martin or whatever. Truth is they all sound fine to the audience. Sure some are louder and some have different tone but it's in the way that you play them as well.
I think turkey calls are this way as well. They'll all sound good to the turkeys if we play them right. We as the player of the call have certain sounds we want or like. I like slates early in the morning when it's crisp out, or when there's not much foliage on yet, the winds not blowing. I like glass when I need to cut through wind, foliage or strike a bird at distance. I have box calls that I feel are the most versatile being able to play soft or loud. Many times I use a slate with a glass or box call as I feel you can give the illusion that you are moving around through different tones, when your setup working a bird.
I do the same thing......just when I pull out that slate im always like ....UHG.....put that back up.....
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 24, 2020, 12:56:07 PM
I will add this , some people CAN build good pot calls , and LOT of builders think , they can build good sounding pot calls .. Words of Wisdom...
Quote from: Greg Massey on February 15, 2020, 11:58:51 AM
For the last two day's at the NWTF, i heard as good of pot call's, that a person could play in the 50 - 100 dollar price range , just as good if not better than some of these 350 dollar pot call's that posted for sale .. I'm telling you a lot of these builders are matching these guy's in building great pot calls .. and i'm sure a lot of other people at the show , saw the same thing i did , in the quality of these other builders.
So last month it was LOTS of guys building GREAT pots, now it's just some can build them as implying it's only a few guys? Not throwing any shade here, because I agree with last months sentiment, more guys than ever are building an absolutely jam up call.
Quote from: dzsmith on March 24, 2020, 08:31:55 PM
I guess that's kinda my point in the post. Are there really "only good" ones out there ...because ive played and owned several and have yet to run into one that stands out to me. Ive been in the game a long time now to not run into a good one that I thought was worth taking to the woods. Im starting to like my new red slate as time goes on. Ill keep at it and see.
I've been in the game a long time myself. Besides air operated calls (diaphragm and yelpers) I've been a pot call aficionado for 35 years. I like them all if they're well made...they're just different sounding turkeys. Funny how we all have a different "turkey" in our heads. I think it would be a great mistake to think "good" is the best a slate can be. I can run a pot call, any surface and I am very partial to a slate call when it comes to realism. I ALWAYS have a slate in my vest.
Quote from: HookedonHooks on March 24, 2020, 08:41:30 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 24, 2020, 12:56:07 PM
I will add this , some people CAN build good pot calls , and LOT of builders think , they can build good sounding pot calls .. Words of Wisdom...
Quote from: Greg Massey on February 15, 2020, 11:58:51 AM
For the last two day's at the NWTF, i heard as good of pot call's, that a person could play in the 50 - 100 dollar price range , just as good if not better than some of these 350 dollar pot call's that posted for sale .. I'm telling you a lot of these builders are matching these guy's in building great pot calls .. and i'm sure a lot of other people at the show , saw the same thing i did , in the quality of these other builders.
So last month it was LOTS of guys building GREAT pots, now it's just some can build them as implying it's only a few guys? Not throwing any shade here, because I agree with last months sentiment, more guys than ever are building an absolutely jam up call.
I really don't care what you throw , lot of good pot call builders , and some not so good ..
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 24, 2020, 09:00:00 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 24, 2020, 12:56:07 PM
I will add this , some people CAN build good pot calls , and LOT of builders think , they can build good sounding pot calls .. Words of Wisdom...
I really don't care what you throw , lot of good pot call builders , and some not so good ..
I thought it was SOME guys can build a good pot, and LOTS think they can build one? Pick a story and sick to it.
There's no question more guys than ever are building a better pot than ever. I just don't see the need to hype it up last month like you can get a great pot from about anybody, then turn around and act like there's more builders out there selling calls that are something they're not than there are good builders.
Quote from: HookedonHooks on March 24, 2020, 09:26:57 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 24, 2020, 09:00:00 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 24, 2020, 12:56:07 PM
I will add this , some people CAN build good pot calls , and LOT of builders think , they can build good sounding pot calls .. Words of Wisdom...
I really don't care what you throw , lot of good pot call builders , and some not so good ..
I thought it was SOME guys can build a good pot, and LOTS think they can build one? Pick a story and sick to it.
There's no question more guys than ever are building a better pot than ever. I just don't see the need to hype it up last month like you can get a great pot from about anybody, then turn around and act like there's more builders out there selling calls that are something they're not than there are good builders.
Whatever you think.. but again i don't care what you think..
Slate over glass is my main call...don't use any crystal calls...none...
The last 50 or so pot calls I've bought have been repeat purchases...
Maybe I'm tone-def, but I cannot imagine anyone thinking calls from Pat Strawser, Wendell Rye, Andy Kaiser, and many more, are dull and unrealistic sounding...
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 24, 2020, 09:56:41 PM
Whatever you think.. but again i don't care what you think..
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200325/db03036c2e930a022b46641034ff642e.jpg)
Hey that's awesome , thank you for the complement ...
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 24, 2020, 10:10:37 PM
Hey that's awesome , thank you for the complement ...
Here's your compliment.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200325/0c6e52ac916d19a70e123692388c521f.jpg)
I lean towards raw aluminum. I like them all though.
Quote from: mudhen on March 24, 2020, 10:01:06 PM
Slate over glass is my main call...don't use any crystal calls...none...
The last 50 or so pot calls I've bought have been repeat purchases...
Maybe I'm tone-def, but I cannot imagine anyone thinking calls from Pat Strawser, Wendell Rye, Andy Kaiser, and many more, are dull and unrealistic sounding...
now I haven't tried any of those. everybody and there mother builds custom calls now or what they call "custom" there are so many makers who simply buy preturned pots and glue them together its unreal.....Ive always figured good ones existed, I just haven't ran into one I thought was spectacular. The more I play the red slate the more I like it. I took it outside this morning, and its definelty better than my others. Is it dull.....kinda...but not as bad as the others. The call seems a little on the heavy side . It appears to be a little to dense for me, but im liking it enough to take to the woods. it takes more effort to run than say my glass....which is unorthodox I know....but it is what it is.
Love a nice grey slate call. Love the old school hen talk that comes from it and the soft talk. I don't think there's anything said here that will change your mind though. Bottom line if you like the sound of a glass call go for it . You'll hunt it more and be happy doing it. Green slate over glass or aluminum may be close to what your looking for sound wise but I feel the glass will run easier. Me I'm not a glass call guy and will seldom run one in the woods. I have plenty that I have built that sound great just don't like that I seem to spend to much time roughing them up to call. Slate is always ready to be used. I also like the bare aluminum over glass in my micarta pot for the same reason. Hunt the glass and be happy. If slate is not your thing so be it.
Quote from: dzsmith on March 25, 2020, 08:18:56 PM
Quote from: mudhen on March 24, 2020, 10:01:06 PM
Slate over glass is my main call...don't use any crystal calls...none...
The last 50 or so pot calls I've bought have been repeat purchases...
Maybe I'm tone-def, but I cannot imagine anyone thinking calls from Pat Strawser, Wendell Rye, Andy Kaiser, and many more, are dull and unrealistic sounding...
now I haven't tried any of those. everybody and there mother builds custom calls now or what they call "custom" there are so many makers who simply buy preturned pots and glue them together its unreal.....Ive always figured good ones existed, I just haven't ran into one I thought was spectacular. The more I play the red slate the more I like it. I took it outside this morning, and its definelty better than my others. Is it dull.....kinda...but not as bad as the others. The call seems a little on the heavy side . It appears to be a little to dense for me, but im liking it enough to take to the woods. it takes more effort to run than say my glass....which is unorthodox I know....but it is what it is.
Where are you seeing all these custom call makers who sell pre-turned pots? You aren't the first person who has said this so I'm just wondering how you know the pots are pre-turned.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have several grey slate over glass pots that sing. Not sure if it's the way I play them, the wood that is used, the construction, striker or a combo of ALL 4 but the birds love them. I'm hearing many of you say, I, I, I don't like them for one reason or another. The proof is with the BIRDS. I truly understand CONFIDENCE in a call but shouldn't the birds tell us what is a good call or not? This means hunting that call and hunting it more than once to see THEIR REACTIONS. Just saying.
Quote from: Footballer on March 27, 2020, 08:31:32 AM
Quote from: dzsmith on March 25, 2020, 08:18:56 PM
Quote from: mudhen on March 24, 2020, 10:01:06 PM
Slate over glass is my main call...don't use any crystal calls...none...
The last 50 or so pot calls I've bought have been repeat purchases...
Maybe I'm tone-def, but I cannot imagine anyone thinking calls from Pat Strawser, Wendell Rye, Andy Kaiser, and many more, are dull and unrealistic sounding...
well for one...you can ask some of them who do and they'll tell you. Also I cant remember the name of the place where you buy the material. but they sell everything precut glass, slate, preturned pots. unfinished box calls you name it. Ready to be laser engraved and finished at your choosing. I know several who do this. No im not gonna any of them...you can figure that out. One of my best pots actually is a preturned one glued together by a "custom" call maker. you can literally look at the pot and go straight to the supplier and look at the preturned pots and its the exact same pot....of course im sure many people use the same design, dimension, and orientation of holes. oh yeah....one of my best childhood friends tried to start a call company once and guess what he did. He bought the unfinished premade box kits from this same supplier. got his logo engraved, and sealed the call. walla...a custom call. not to say it didn't sound good or look good...but there was nothing custom about it. I help another friend of mine make box calls, everything on the call is made by hand except the screw....we even make our own springs!!!!
now I haven't tried any of those. everybody and there mother builds custom calls now or what they call "custom" there are so many makers who simply buy preturned pots and glue them together its unreal.....Ive always figured good ones existed, I just haven't ran into one I thought was spectacular. The more I play the red slate the more I like it. I took it outside this morning, and its definelty better than my others. Is it dull.....kinda...but not as bad as the others. The call seems a little on the heavy side . It appears to be a little to dense for me, but im liking it enough to take to the woods. it takes more effort to run than say my glass....which is unorthodox I know....but it is what it is.
Where are you seeing all these custom call makers who sell pre-turned pots? You aren't the first person who has said this so I'm just wondering how you know the pots are pre-turned.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Im in the minority here I guess. I have been hunting these birds for a long long time and I still use a gray slate along with all the other surfaces. I have a persimmon and a zebrawood gray slate from Eddie Wynne that flat kills birds. I also have a cody world class and a platz cherry that would be hard pressed to be beat. I will say this , Gray slate has been killing turkeys since someone started scraping on one. Now every call has its days. Does not matter how good it sounds to me , what matters is how the birds like it.