In your opinion who makes the best slate, chystal/glass, aluminum, copper

[Onpoint]

Just like the title says.
I'm curious who people think is thr best builder of each different surface pot call. I can't say who's best because I only have had the opportunity to own a hand full of custom calls but I csn offer my opinion on who makes the best I've ran or own.

Slate - lonnie sneed.
Chystal - david holloran
Aluminum - lights out
Copper - yingling

I guess the reason I made this thread is because I'm always looking to upgrade something snd plus I've got to where I am starting to build a little bit of a collection up on calls. The best sounding ones I csn find will go to the woods, the others will be displayed.  So far my favorite is my david holloran twisted sister. She's definitely a go to.

I'm on the waiting list for one of Mr bill lymans wenge aluminum calls and a soft talker slate with open back.
I only one one slate now and it's a Mr Sneed slate. Really want to put it in the collection and find a better sounding slate to hunt with.


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[Chris Downs]

I've not run all the customs out there, by far, but I did just get my hands on a killer deal for a Woodhaven Vision Crystal.  I can honestly say, it's the best friction call I've ever tried.  I've run some before at the NWTF and compared to some others, I thought they were a great call, but not for over $100.  I couldn't pass up the deal on this one so I took it and it is better than any of the ones I've tried at the convention. 

[Jbird22]

Slate - don't own one of his but the best my ears have heard is a Paul Platz/Curly Maple
Glass/Crystal - I just got a Glass/Walnut from Gary Joffrion (Magnolia Game Calls) that sounds as good as any glass/crystal I've ever heard. Got it after my season closed and can't wait to try it next year! Looks great also!
Aluminum - love my Lights Out/Mahogany!
Copper - don't own one of his but love the sound coming from a Daryl Slaton/Osage with Slaton Zebrawood striker!

[Hitman 23]

Copper: mike yingling. Sweet sounding call
Crystal: David halloran twisted sister. Great call for aggressive cutting very easy call to run

[West Augusta]

Slate, Lonnie Sneed
Glass, Glen Marrer
Aluminum, Anodized - Lamar Williams
Copper, Frank Kruer III

[29810434]

Slate-Darrin Dawkins
Glass-Darrin Dawkins
Aluminum-Darrin Dawkins

[sixbird]

Slate - don't own one of his but the best my ears have heard is a Paul Platz/Curly Maple
Glass/Crystal - I just got a Glass/Walnut from Gary Joffrion (Magnolia Game Calls) that sounds as good as any glass/crystal I've ever heard. Got it after my season closed and can't wait to try it next year! Looks great also!
Aluminum - love my Lights Out/Mahogany!
Copper - don't own one of his but love the sound coming from a Daryl Slaton/Osage with Slaton Zebrawood striker!

If you like the sound of Daryls' copper, try it with a hollow carbon striker...All I can say is WOW!!!

[Footballer]

Slate: Lon Trice's birdseye maple
Glass: Halloran double glass
Aluminum: Halloran/Dawkins

[VAarrowslinger]

If you like aluminum ...try the Warbird 'preacher man'. I like the SS , halloran, and lights out also but the Warbird fits my style and sounds real turkey good.! The hooks is a great aluminum also.

[dfresh55]

before i got onto this site and realized the great customes out there whihc i still havent purchased however i will soon!

dont laugh but i love my tom teaser aluminum as well as the tom teasers slate!

I also love my down and dirty glass call as well

i know those arent custom but i love the sounds they both make!

[Tail Feathers]

I was recently given a Pat Strawser slate that is flat out turkey.  I love it.
I've never heard a crystal call that sounded better than a Woodhaven crystal. (Apologies to the custom call makers!)
Can't comment too much on the aluminum, I run an old Cane Creek aluminum that still sounds pretty good.

[a-j calls]

There is no best, it's all opinion.

[mudhen]

Yep, just opinions, and not sure that any pot without a good striker will see it's full potential.

But, with maybe 100+- calls acquired, here are my opinions:

Slate: maybe Light's Out?  Slate over glass?  Laminated wood seems to give me a good tone.

Crystal: I don't use crystal much, but I like the laminated wood crystal calls from Andy Kaiser.

Aluminum: I've never loved aluminum, so I can't fairly name a favorite.

Copper: Not a huge fan of copper, but I do like copper from Yingling with a striker he picks out.

Ceramic: I added this because it's the main call surface I use now.  I used to hate it, but something must have changed with the material, because I can't get enough of it now.  Favorite is a dead heat between Light's Out (only with certain woods picked by Wendell), and Andy Kaiser (same thing, certain woods picked by Andy).  Seems like some hard woods & some stabilized woods just match up very well with a ceramic surface.

Honestly, turkey hunting is not a simple 'hobby' to me, so I have no problem buying tons of different calls, and trying different strikers, and see what works best for me.

Turkey calls are fun to collect, and I have met some real decent people in the business 

mudhen

[Tail Feathers]

I totally agree there is no "best", and opinion matters a lot.  There are TONS of calls and makers I've never got to sample.
My favorite pot call varies from year to year.  I usually swap out during the season a few times to sound a bit different each time I go back to an area I've hunted.

[WildSpur]

My favorites are 3 I assembled from parts.  They are getting birds to answer better than anything I have had before.  Ceramic,  aluminum,  and crystal all over glass are winning for me.

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