Diaphragm or Open Reed?

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

kYoteSmoker

Member
I am currently using an open reed howler from Carver's strictly business set, and just ordered a coyote howler diaphragm call. I was just wondering what you guys prefer to use. I plan to buy a wood open reed in the near future, and also a horn open reed too, unless I fall in love with this diaphragm.
 
I always carry both. The more tools in your toolbox, the better. In my experience, on any given day, coyotes will respond better to one than the other. Just like sometimes a turkey will respond better to a pot call than a diaphragm (or vice versa).
 
Like mentioned above, the more calls you carry the more sounds you can make. I always carry an open reed and diaphragm call. I like the sound of my diaphragm call better, as it sounds more like a coyote to me. The coyotes don't seem to mind if its diaphragm or open reed though.
 
Diaphragm smokes open reeds everytime as far as realistic sounds, as long as you don't get some crap that some wanna be has attempted to replicate from another call. But you can definitely kill predators with open reeds. I'm all diaphragms all the time. But, I know some good hunters who use sother things with good success.
 
Originally Posted By: ARDaveDiaphragm smokes open reeds everytime as far as realistic sounds, as long as you don't get some crap that some wanna be has attempted to replicate from another call. But you can definitely kill predators with open reeds. I'm all diaphragms all the time. But, I know some good hunters who use sother things with good success.

I agree that diaphragms tend to sound more realistic, but I wonder how one manufacturer could ever really claim that another manufacturer tried to "replicate" their diaphragms. Between elk, turkey, and predator diaphragms, there are literally dozens and dozens of companies who make various diaphragms. The frames and tape are essentially the same. What makes them different is obviously how the latex/prophylactic is stretched, layered, notched, manipulated, etc. I won't pretend to be an expert on call making, but what I do know is that in order to make the desired sound/tone/pitch, latex has to be stretched just right; often times right down to the thousandth of an inch. The layers/reeds have to be stacked and spaced just right as well. I guess what I'm getting at is that reputable companies "A through Z" most likely have diaphragms that are stretched within a thousandth of each other and are all very similar in the big picture. I don't see how company "A" can claim that company "B", "C", or "D" replicated their call because they look and sound the same as theirs. By that logic, every diaphragm maker out there would have "replicated" the first ever diaphragm creator. Not to over-simplify, but in the end, a diaphragm is a diaphragm. Good diaphragms are made so much like one another that I believe it just comes down to personal preference. All that being said, I have one brand and one brand only that I have migrated to for predators, and a different brand for turkey and elk; HAHA. I might be a bit of a hypocrite.
smile.gif

This post sounds a bit argumentative; that wasn't my intent. I'm sure there are other opinions on the matter.
 
Use both. I really like to use diaphragms, but my NCK cow horn howler just performs too well to take it off my lanyard.
 
Originally Posted By: MerditUse both. I really like to use diaphragms, but my NCK cow horn howler just performs too well to take it off my lanyard.

Ding ding ding! Winner!

I also have and use some diaphragms and they do sound awesome! But the learning curve on diaphragms is the steepest. I also will NOT ever be in the field without my NCK howler, far and away the easiest and best sounding horn howler I've ever used.


Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: BUXH8MEOriginally Posted By: ARDaveDiaphragm smokes open reeds everytime as far as realistic sounds, as long as you don't get some crap that some wanna be has attempted to replicate from another call. But you can definitely kill predators with open reeds. I'm all diaphragms all the time. But, I know some good hunters who use sother things with good success.

I agree that diaphragms tend to sound more realistic, but I wonder how one manufacturer could ever really claim that another manufacturer tried to "replicate" their diaphragms. Between elk, turkey, and predator diaphragms, there are literally dozens and dozens of companies who make various diaphragms. The frames and tape are essentially the same. What makes them different is obviously how the latex/prophylactic is stretched, layered, notched, manipulated, etc. I won't pretend to be an expert on call making, but what I do know is that in order to make the desired sound/tone/pitch, latex has to be stretched just right; often times right down to the thousandth of an inch. The layers/reeds have to be stacked and spaced just right as well. I guess what I'm getting at is that reputable companies "A through Z" most likely have diaphragms that are stretched within a thousandth of each other and are all very similar in the big picture. I don't see how company "A" can claim that company "B", "C", or "D" replicated their call because they look and sound the same as theirs. By that logic, every diaphragm maker out there would have "replicated" the first ever diaphragm creator. Not to over-simplify, but in the end, a diaphragm is a diaphragm. Good diaphragms are made so much like one another that I believe it just comes down to personal preference. All that being said, I have one brand and one brand only that I have migrated to for predators, and a different brand for turkey and elk; HAHA. I might be a bit of a hypocrite.
smile.gif

This post sounds a bit argumentative; that wasn't my intent. I'm sure there are other opinions on the matter.

I don't take it that way at all. There's more to it than what you'd think. Not sayin it's rocket science either. Cuts, stretch, brand, thickness of latex, types, and a few more tricks are in there... Then ya got the ones who buy the calls after they see the momentum swing that direction and attemp to copy them as best they can. Original vs copy. Goes on all the time. Only thing is, they don't back up their claims when they tell ya how great they are, because more often than not, they can't use them themselves.

Take care

-Dave
 
ARDave,
That's a valid point. There are those that don't know how to use their own calls very well and there is most likely much more to building diaphragms then what I touched on.

Most stage callers these days seem to use diaphragms quite a bit; and sound great doing so. Most folks are not near as good as those who are sponsered stage callers who compete professionally. I've noticed that even some of these "sponsered" stage callers use other manufacturers calls to achieve certain sounds (and some do not). I guess if they REALLY believed that their sponsers product was the absolute best, they would not use a competing product, custom made call, or anything other than those calls made by their sponser. Even the best callers in the country sometimes use calls that may have been "replicated" from another company. Just a thought.

On another note, thanks for your response Dave. It's always nice to hear differing opinions on any given subject.

kYoteSmoker - sorry for hijacking the thread; I realize how off-topic it is from the original post.
 
Yeah, it's not always like that, but I get what yer sayin. Even we have used other calls (very little) to add to our sounds as well, but never solely. Some of the other callers have used our calls simply because their sponsors didn't have a line of diaphragms, so it was no attempt to hide it at all that I'm aware of. Your always gonna have a handful that will critique you to death or tell ya what they'd have done, but that's just what ya get into when you decide to get in front of everyone. I'm looking foward to it again in a few weeks.
 
Years ago, I tried to learn how to use diaphragm calls, but just never could get the hang of it.
Same for using the few closed-reed howlers on the market. Just can't get the hang of them.

So, for me...regardless of who made it...I don't think that open-reed howlers can be beat. Obviously, that's only an opinion.
In my collection, there are various woods, acrylic, antler (whitetail, muley and elk), exotic Springbok, Pronghorn, Bison horn, and a variety of breeds of cattle horn.
 
Diaphragms are a nice addition and sound really good, I'm even not to bad with em. The only problem is every once in a while I'll throw a lame duck and that really pizzes me off. I never throw a lame duck with my open reed howler, therefore I have more confidence in the open reed. I give them both a fair amount of work and can't say I see any advantage one over the other.
 
I prefer open reeds. Less dinking around.The call is on a lanyard. When I finish with it i let it go and it's there when I want to use it again. I can have a half dozen calls on a lanyard and they are always handy and serviceable.

With the diaphragms, you need to put it back in it's box or it gets damaged. Put away wet with spit when it's freezing out and try to use it. It might even be frozen in the bottom of it's box.

Drop one in the snow and see how that works. I've used them and they sound ok. I've seen others use them and they still used a cowhorn to get direction or volume. May as well use a custom cowhorn howler. They flat work all the time withouT the fuss.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top