How To Know A Good Call?

[Dhamilton1]

When it comes to custom calls, how do you know if you get a call that isn't good? Most specifically pot calls?


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[Upfold99]

If it's a custom call and you don't like it.I'm sure the maker would try to make it right, or take it back and refund you. I don't think they would want a call out there with their name on it and a unsatisfied customer.

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[davisd9]

Sound


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[Dhamilton1]

If it's a custom call and you don't like it.I'm sure the maker would try to make it right, or take it back and refund you. I don't think they would want a call out there with their name on it and a unsatisfied customer.

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Yes, I would figure the same thing. I would also think that they run each call to make sure they don't have any that are unacceptable to them.

[Dhamilton1]

Sound


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What specifically though? Dull/dead spots on the playing surface? Too high pitched or too dull sounding? Roll over on yelp not good?


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[Greg Massey]

Agree sound, pitch and tone, it's what sounds good to you and the turkeys... If you don't like the call more than likely you will never hunt the call... So most of it depends on you. I have heard terrible sounding calls that the turkeys like better than good sounding calls or calls I thought sounded better to my ear..


It's all about the sound in your head ...

davisd9 said it in one word - Sound ..

[Davyalabama]

Agree sound, pitch and tone, it's what sounds good to you and the turkeys... If you don't like the call more than likely you will never hunt the call... So most of it depends on you. I have heard terrible sounding calls that the turkeys like better than good sounding calls or calls I thought sounded better to my ear..


It's all about the sound in your head ...

davisd9 said it in one word - Sound ..

Yep, agreed.

I also agree that if you don't like a call, you won't trust it nor use it.

What exactly do you not like about the sound?  Also, are you playing this call in the house/garage/truck or are you out in the woods?      I would take it into the woods, use your phone or another recording device, then see what it sounds like.  Before returning it, try to hunt it once or twice and see if the birds like it.

[davisd9]

Agree sound, pitch and tone, it's what sounds good to you and the turkeys... If you don't like the call more than likely you will never hunt the call... So most of it depends on you. I have heard terrible sounding calls that the turkeys like better than good sounding calls or calls I thought sounded better to my ear..


It's all about the sound in your head ...

davisd9 said it in one word - Sound ..

Yep, agreed.

I also agree that if you don't like a call, you won't trust it nor use it.

What exactly do you not like about the sound?  Also, are you playing this call in the house/garage/truck or are you out in the woods?      I would take it into the woods, use your phone or another recording device, then see what it sounds like.  Before returning it, try to hunt it once or twice and see if the birds like it.

Some words of wisdom here!


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[rasnickr]

I bought a call from a reputable builder, Copper to be exact.  The two strikers he sent didn't work for me.  I already had the strikers that I wanted to try and use on the call when I bought it.  So, I like the call but if I had only used his strikers; that call would not have worked for me.

[Notsoyoungturk]

Things can happen to calls in transit so I would not be afraid to reach out to the maker if the sound is not right.  For a pot, something could have happened with the sound board.  They want happy customers because they are repeat customers and sell calls to their friends. 

As far as strikers, I don't think I play a single one of my pots with the striker sent by the maker.  It is not that they are bad, but they are not the best sound to my ear.  At the end of the day, it is the sound that I think the turkey wants that matters.  Then, I use the call and play it with confidence.  My two cents.

[bbcoach]

IMO, each of the responses are Spot On.  The deciding factors for me is 1. How does the call sound to me with different strikers? 2. Do the birds respond to it?  This particular question needs to be answered with multiple trips afield.  If you get very little response and don't have CONFIDENCE in the call, then it will only collect dust or take up space in your vest.  Time to contact the maker or send it down the road.  CONFIDENCE is KEY for me.