How important are sound files to you when buying a custom call?

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

And more importantly, how important do you think they are to a customer?

I recently saw a very pretty call on another site.  The maker wanted something over 200 bucks for it.  I asked for a sound file and got a run a round.

So I let it go.  I wont buy the call now.

But a new call maker, or even an experianced one, asking that kind of money for a call, do you think they should put a sound file up?


Al @ THO

[Troy of Run -N- Gun Game Calls]

   The sound that is what makes a call.Anybody can turn and with time can put a nice finish on, but if you just make the call body and slap in a reed or buy someone elses open reeds to put in your call body in my mind you are not a call maker you are a spinner. This post is not to offend anyone that uses other peoples open reeds it is just my outlook on call making.Sorry

[dogcatcher]

I agree the sound is what makes a call.  But a sound file?  Nobody would ever buy one of my calls because I haven't the slightest idea as to how to make a sound file.  I guess it would be nice to know how to make one, but for me I see no reason for it.

Twakter4, I have to agree, anybody can turn a call body and stick a reed in it.  But some of those "anybodies" can also turn a call and turn a really good reed into a sorry call.  I won't spend much on a JC reed or a molded reed call.   Molded and JC reeds have their place in production calls, not in collector calls.  It would take some very special material and design for me to consider either type of these calls to be a collector call.

Marvin

[Troy of Run -N- Gun Game Calls]

Yes I am in the same boat Marvin,if I had to make a sound file I would be screwed.But back to sounds I believe JC reed do have a place in custom calls you can take a Jc reed and do all kinds of things to that reed to get differant tones you want.But to just put in a JC reed without no changes then yes I would agree that is just a fancy body with a JC reed.As far as mold reeds I would agree.As far as charging 200 for a call in my mind there is no way I would pay 200 for a call and not get to hear it.Odds are I would not pay that if I did hear it. But I am cheap.

[Vince at VECtor Calls]

I don't know how to make sound files either.   ???

Don't think a call should go for $200 unless its a collector's item either though.

I'd like to have sound files, especially of my deer grunters on my website that I'm working on.  I think it would be a nice addition, showing what the lowest tone you can get with a store-bought call compared to mine. 

Parker

[blacky]

Here is how I feel about this matter.

I am sure there are some in here who make great calls but I just can't see anyone charging $200 for a call that was just produced. If I had been making predator calls and had a well known reputation, been around for a long time then maybe someone would pay that kind of money. I think people who pay large amounts of money for calls are not so much interested in the call as the callmaker. Granted that person has to have made some good products or he wouldn't have that reputation to merit someone paying such a high figure.

Lets take a turkey call maker for instance. Neil Cost made a lot of outstanding calls but I have heard some just as good if not better. He was the master when it came to making box calls and his calls brought huge amounts of money but after his passing there was a dramatic increase in the prices.

I am not trying to put anyone down, just making a point. I have one of Al's predator calls and I think a lot of him for helping me at times but would I pay $200 for that little call?  I don't think so. Al is still living. LOL

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

WHAT?

I'm crushed.   You wouldn't pay 200 bucks for my little call?   


How rude   :P    :P :P     :P


Al @ THO

[Homochitto Hollow]

I would.............

[Braz]

As has been said, a $200 call damn well better sound great too. If I were putting something up like that, it would have had a lot more, and better pictrues, and a sound file attached. I don't do sound files. I don't claim to make collectable calls. My calls are all going to the local guys who hunt with them. Some go elsewhere too, but they are hunting calls. Can I make a sound file, sure and have. And if someone asks me for a sound file I will gladly oblige. But my calls are one selling for 1/10 of what he asked for his. It was a very nice looking call, but sure not, in my opinion, worth what he was asking. But just wait, someone will pay for it. So, good for him. It becomes a real question whether we want to be charging more for the calls. Look at the Duck and Goose calls. They regularly get $60 up for them. Is there more material in them? NO. Is there a whole lot more time involved in makeing them? NO. But they sure get the money. I am pretty happy getting what I get now, as it allows the regular guy to buy custom calls.

KInda got off subject, didn't I.  ;D

[blacky]

AL,   ha ha ha   you know i was just kiddin you.

[Vince at VECtor Calls]

 :P  I've had guys contemplate on the internet about killing me to make my calls be worth more.  If someone's going to 'off' Al, I'm going to have to get one of his calls before they do it!

Parker

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

21 years in the US Marine Corps.

If you're coming, you better be good.   ;D   ;D

AL @ THO

[dogcatcher]

I guess I am too old and ornery, if someone wants a sound file I would add that time to the price, and you can bet that it would be a chunk of paper not coin.  I have sent calls out on approval, I tell them either pay or send them back, never had one sent back.  Did have one guy try to stiff me for payment, explained to him I am a disgruntled postal worker and a deranged Vietnam vet, than asked which one of me he wants to come for a visit.  Had a check in less than a week.

Braz, a duck call for $60 is cheap, if I make the toneboard you can bet on $75 for a minimum and that is without fancy wood, add in fancy wood and it will hit a $100 in a second, anything special and it will go $125.  Used to get decent prices for varmint calls, but over the last few years the bottom has fell out of the varmint call market.  Now I set my price less than I did 10 years ago, but in some cases still to high.  But I never drop the price after I ask it.    Cannot take them with me, but my granddaughter will have a helluva collection, I have some classics in it, 2 Richard Granthams, 1 Rich Cronk, W Williams, and others, even some guy named Al Woodard, plus all of the old calls like the Weems, Circe, Olt etc..

Twalter, JC reeds have their place, but it is very low on my totem pole of importance on a custom call.  If it is a JC reed the first thing I do is look at the other calls the maker makes.  If he makes complete calls, toneboard etc,. I will look at it, but if they are all closed reeds with JC reeds and store bought toneboards, then I would pass on it even if it was out of solid gold, unless the weight of the gold was worth more than the price of the call.   That is a turner, not a callmaker.

Marvin

[kkbait]

a tutorial on making tone boards sure would be nice  ;D

[Vince at VECtor Calls]

21 years in the US Marine Corps.

If you're coming, you better be good.   ;D   ;D

AL @ THO

 ;D  That's FUNNY!  Hard to kill!  That means you're worth more!   ;D

That's impressive Al.  I know several Marines, and none of them put in anywhere near 21 years.  Thank you for your service.

Parker