Lance,
I am glad to hear you like the call! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif It's one I made way back when, and I had been keeping for myself, but I never seemed to take it hunting... so I figured it'd have a better home with you.
The wood is hazel, it's smaller than most of the other calls I make and that may be where some of the volume was lost.
If you lean on it a little hard, it won't sound so duckish, and it might bring back some of the volume.
The thin soundreed (not the topreed), about half as thick as most call makers use, is what allows it to play at lower air flow but I think the reeds suffer a shorter life span for it. But it also allows you to play the call without clamping down so hard on it with your lips (and I'll make new reeds for it forever).
The doubled reed "concept" comes to me from duck calls (P.S. Olt), and I figured it can't hurt on a rabbit (or any other mammal) distress sound... I mean after all don't mammals have
two vocal cords?
The flame maple call collection I am building up is still a work in progress (so far I only have the one from you, and one from LJ), and I am having trouble getting a couple of call makers on board, not to mention I ran out of the wood in turnable size blanks (I used mostly the odds and ends scrap sizes, since I hand shape them anyways).
I have a couple pieces I am saving until Jay Nitsetter can get ahold of me, I want him one of his call in the collection more than any other.
I got to feeling guilty about leaving all this hanging... so I dug out a bunch of my suplies and got quite a bit of work done (it's been raining too hard to do much else).
Bud, I have your four calls finished (topcoat is drying as I type) and I'll ship them to you on my way to work tomorrow.
Jerryboy, I got your call all done except I am out of reeds and sleeves... as soon as I can get some ordered I'll send it on out (if it takes more than a few days to get that happening, I'll take apart one of my own calls to get parts for your call), I sent a fox whistle to hold you over until your higher pitched call has a reed in it.
Marc, I just sent the wood right now, I didn't add my copy of the Coyote Gods Video (two thumbs up), because I had already packed the wood up before you asked, and I only had so much money for shipping.
Lemme know if you found a copy of your own yet, or if you still would like to borrow mine, we'll work somethin' out! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Travis A, I didn't send your package of wood yet, I couldn't find your mailing address without a running computer.
I got it now and I'll try to ship yours the end of the week.
Randy, I am workin' on it, times are very tight.
I haven't received a single payment, or an order, since we made our deal for the return of your money... so it's not like I am just ignoring you.
I actually debated long and hard whether to pay you, or my phone bill, the other day.
Crapshoot, I got yours almost done now too, I'll get ahold of you in a week or so about payment/shipping arrangements.
Walt, have fun with all the wood. I can't wait to see what you spin up for me, the maple is so beautiful.
After this round of calls/orders is all taken care of, I am gonna have to think long and hard whether or not I am gonna keep at this call making thing at all.
I haven't had the fun at it lately, that I did when I first started...
And I am more than tired of my abilties (or lack thereof) as a hunter being compared to my ability to make a quality call... do guys who've killed hundreds of coyotes automatically know how to make calls?
What about a Critr Call made by a plastics worker in Korea, I bet that guy never killed a coyote either?
But I digress... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Jeff