Question for box call gurus

[OldSwamper]

I have seen a lot of box calls lately with "wormy" woods for sides, and I love the look (wormy butternut for example). For lack of a better word, does the worminess (worm holes) change the sound versus a clean piece of wood? And, is it more expensive?

[Yoder409]

Each call blank............each block of wood is like a fingerprint, in that no two are alike and the variations between blocks (even if tiny) will change the sound from one to another.  No two calls will sound the same.  "Worminess" is just another variation.  It will not sound exactly the same as, say, a portion of the same board that does NOT have worm holes or as many worm holes.  The sound is affected, although only in "a way".................. not in "a bad way".  It's just up to you to decide if you like it, I guess.

The ONLY drawback I could ever see to wormwood in a call is that if the piece of wood was VERY severely "wormy", it could affect the strength of the soundboard and make the call more fragile to drops, bumps and bruises.  I have a wormy butternut paddle caller that is so "holey" you can look through it !!!   Sounds GREAT !!!  Probably wouldn't fare too well if it happened to get sat upon.....................

[Yoder409]

PS.......    I am NOT a guru.

I am sure some of the freakishly skilled callmakers who frequent this site can provide a better and more coherent answer to your question.

[OldSwamper]

Either way, thx for response

[pauld]

Each call blank............each block of wood is like a fingerprint, in that no two are alike and the variations between blocks (even if tiny) will change the sound from one to another.  No two calls will sound the same.  "Worminess" is just another variation.  It will not sound exactly the same as, say, a portion of the same board that does NOT have worm holes or as many worm holes.  The sound is affected, although only in "a way".................. not in "a bad way".  It's just up to you to decide if you like it, I guess.

^ THAT

[mtns2hunt]

Each call blank............each block of wood is like a fingerprint, in that no two are alike and the variations between blocks (even if tiny) will change the sound from one to another.  No two calls will sound the same.  "Worminess" is just another variation.  It will not sound exactly the same as, say, a portion of the same board that does NOT have worm holes or as many worm holes.  The sound is affected, although only in "a way".................. not in "a bad way".  It's just up to you to decide if you like it, I guess.

The ONLY drawback I could ever see to wormwood in a call is that if the piece of wood was VERY severely "wormy", it could affect the strength of the soundboard and make the call more fragile to drops, bumps and bruises.  I have a wormy butternut paddle caller that is so "holey" you can look through it !!!   Sounds GREAT !!!  Probably wouldn't fare too well if it happened to get sat upon.....................

Good answer!