Conditioning a crystal call

[Rzrbac]

I use mouth calls primarily but carry a few frictions for a change up. I have noticed a lot of pics with crystal calls only conditioned in one small area. I have also seen pics of half the surface roughed up. Why is that and what do most of you guys and girls do!

[Jbird22]

If you know you'll keep it from now on, condition the whole thing. If you want it to keep resale value, just condition a small area. Personally, if a call is worth its salt, the one area will be enough. That's my 

[Rzrbac]

So it's a resale value thing only scuffing up a small area?

[jwright8]

So it's a resale value thing only scuffing up a small area?

I think it hurts resale too, but another reason is when your playing the call your hand is resting on the call, so it would be pointless IMO, because oil from your hand would cause it not to play in that spot.

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[Jbird22]

So it's a resale value thing only scuffing up a small area?

For the most part, yes. Most folks think calls are more aesthetically pleasing with the small scuffed area, especially with callmakers using decorative soundboards.

[Greg Massey]

I don't use crystal call, because your always looking for that small spot to play the call...

[Rzrbac]

Well thanks, I've always wondered why they were done that way. I've only owned a couple of crystal calls prefer that surface more than others. I just got a new one from Mr. Trice and was thining I would just scuff the whole surface up. It's not going anywhere except the woods so I guess it will be fine.

[kjnengr]

Different parts of the call make slightly different sounds.  I only scuff the minimum area I need to get the sound I want because I will only be using one relatively small spot on the call's surface.  As mentioned, a majority of the surface of the call will be touched with your hand and that spot will be useless without re-conditioning anyway. 

I don't care about resale value because I keep my calls.

[SteelerFan]

I'm a single spot / maybe the whole top 1/3 kinda guy. Slate calls are easy to touch up the whole surface in 2 seconds. Glass or crystal, in my experience - takes a little bit to get it conditioned the way you like it. Once it's there, its easy enough to touch up - but I just don't have the need to scuff the whole thing.

Especially if it has some sort of decorative soundboard with a picture, logo, feather, etc. I've never found it difficult to "find the scuff". If I can't peek at the call, I shouldn't be trying to play it...  'cause he gonna see me!!

[Bowguy]

Conditioning a little bigger area helps in the long run play time. It will sound dif especially if dif woods are involved in say a laminate pot. Also the way you run the striker across the holes on the back. Some calls seem to need more conditioning than others. My crystal mistress seems never to need any. As stated it will hurt resale to condition too much