Exotic woodn call problems

[Wildfowler]

Lately, I have been playing with a 10 year old wooded Carlson call that I've had and never really liked too much. I changed the reeds out and played around with to the point where I think this may me my newest favorite call. The reason I broke this out is because I have had at least 7 or 8, really nice quality exotic wood calls that have gone from being my favorite call, to one that just doesn't sound right anymore.

Question: Do calls made from exotic woods deteriorate in a relatively short period of time? I'm not just talking about one brand either. I've been through several different brands of calls. My experience is that I'll get a call that sounds good, but it only seems to last for a year or two. It's like the wood dries out, and changes the sound of the call. The most likely common denominator is the type of wood. Most of the calls that I am referring to that have "crapped out" after two seasons are made from Coco bolo wood. But there are a couple of exceptions where some other wood also crapped out.

I think I have ruled out the cork as the problem, because I have changed it out with no improved sound. Unless the extra cork that was supplied with the call dries out at the same rate. Do I need to try "fresh" cork rather than just an unused piece of "old" cork?

Two years ago, I gave in, and bought an acrylic call. So far, it's held up.
Does anyone else have this same problem with exotic wood calls "crapping out"? Or am I just too hard on my equipment.

[Model12]

As a call maker, I haven't seen your problem happen. Have the tone boards in question been changed in any way? While most any wood can change with moisture content, you should'nt be seeing these problems with Cocobola. Coco is a very oily wood that usually holds up well. I use woods that are acrylic injected to get the advantages of acrylic, and the beauty of wood....

[Wildfowler]

Model 12, the tone boards haven't been changed that I am aware of. Do you think the cork could be the problem? Does a piece of unused cork loose some properties from simply being stored?

In other words, should I be concerned with the "freshness" of the cork? And if so, where can I get "fresh" cork? Because I don't know what else to do, and I really don't want to commit to acrylic.

Thanks.

[Greenhead22]

Andy,

All wood calls will change in volume and sound over time. It mainly depends on what condition the calls are in and what they were put through during hunting season. You will find that some wood calls will "mellow" in sound at some point and time, and you'll find a sound that you like the best, you just hope the call stays like that. I know some people that keep their cocabola calls in water during hunting season to get that mellower tone, but the call will not last very long doing that, that's why I haven't tried it, don't need to. When using wood calls, I usually will change my cork and reed every other week or so. Several times last year I could tell that my calls started sounding flat, and I had been leaving the cork and reed in too long.

As for acrylics, the tone will never change, no matter what you put your call through.

[Wildfowler]

I usually will change my cork and reed every other week or so.

I think the way you described it earilier about the call going "flat" is exactly what I am talking about. So how much cork do you have onhand and where did you get it all? Why does the reed need to be changed out too? It's synthetic, it should be impervious, shouldn't it? I will clean the reed from time to time, but I've never disgarded it completely.

Do you disgard all of these components that you change out weekly? I'll admit, that I have never thought that a call needed so much attention. I may just need to maintain my calls a little better.

Thanks.

[Greenhead22]

I have to order all of my extra corks and reeds from RNT. I have kept every cork and reed that I have changed. Half of them I changed out because they got to making a certain sound that I loved and wanted to have at another time. I would tend to agree about the reed, but there have been times when I put a new cork with the older reed and didn't sound like I wanted it to, put the old cork back in with the reed, ducky as hell, so I dunno. When I have a cork/reed setup that makes a good sound I'll usually try my best to keep them together when I replace them with new ones. You can probably contact that call maker and tell them how old the call is and what you are wanting, and they should be able to help you.

[SoftCall]

Wildfowler - I know exactly what you mean. My coco bola call sounds good for about 10 days, then goes flat. That's why I alway finish the season off with my acrylic. Maybe we need to call Greg Hood and get some reeds and corks. I have never changed them but I do clean all of the hack off of them a few times each season.

[injun_23]

I v had the same problem with the coca bolas. Sometimes they just wont tune. Rick Dunn (ECHO) has a Q&A site that may get you some help... or you can always call these guys or send the call back for a $5 re-tune. New reed and cork every week or two seems excessive......Rick says new cork every year, reeds good for 2-3 years. A trip by Southern Game Calls would be a great thing to do about now as Greg Hood is prolly havin PDSWS (POST DUCK SEASON WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME or whatever that was) as bad as anyone. Hes a very nice and PATIENT man,LOL. Post the results. the INJUN

PS: Wood=prettiest/most mellow
Moulded Acrylic=most practical
Turned Acrylic=best all round

[Bustin' Ducks]

Good gosh..all the technology..lol

[Wildfowler]

A trip by Southern Game Calls would be a great thing to do about now as Greg Hood is prolly havin PDSWS (POST DUCK SEASON WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME or whatever that was) as bad as anyone. Hes a very nice and PATIENT man,LOL. Post the results. the INJUN

Yah Robbie, I couldn't agree with you more. He spent about an hour with me the first year he ever came to the wildlife expo in Jackson, and I have been a fan ever since. I've got about 3 or 4 of his calls, unfortunantly, they are not immune to this problem. Which is too bad, because I really like them.

Thanks.

[Bustin' Ducks]

tell ya one thing..greg hood stands behind his calls..I bought one one time..no box or anything..couldn't get it right...he chatted with me for a while about the call....he told me to mail it to him...he tuned it for me and sent me extra reeds/corks....didnt charge me a thing...

[Wildfowler]

tell ya one thing..greg hood stands behind his calls..I bought one one time..no box or anything..couldn't get it right...he chatted with me for a while about the call....he told me to mail it to him...he tuned it for me and sent me extra reeds/corks....didnt charge me a thing...

Hey Bustn, don't get me wrong, I'm not knockin' Greg at all. He's got a great product, that I often recommend to others. I'm just trying to figure out why I am having problems with my calls going "flat" after a couple of seasons.

THanks.

[Bustin' Ducks]

Wildfowler...Sorry I wasn't tryin' to fuss @ ya...i was just sayin' that Greg hood stands behind his calls...that's all...sorry for the confusion!!

[bust em]

Dude are we talking about a Carlson.I hate to bust your bubble but you can't polish a turd.....

[Wildfowler]

Dude are we talking about a Carlson.I hate to bust your bubble but you can't polish a turd.....

Dude, it's the only turd I've got that's not made out of an exotic wood. I'm trying to figure out if my problem is the type of wood or the cork that keeps causing my calls to go "flat". Do you even have any legit duck calling experience and could offer some intelligent advise here? Or are you just full of hot air?

Thanks.