I have this Scott Hembrook parquet tongue call made of Padauk and Curly Maple. Neat call to play, the closer you get to the center hole the easier it is to play. I have fooled around with different chalks with it but it truly seems to work far better with the blue chalk than any other. I will look into those other strikers you mention, I do not know what this striker is made of, I bought it from a member here a few years ago, perhaps he will recall and chime in with what it is. They are fun to play and have a sound all their own.
Edit: I see above that others mentioned them being finicky about chalk, glad it was just not just something I had imagined. By the way, the call may have been a gift as I seem to remember them saying something about the fact that I like odd calls.
