Any body make box turkey calls?

I've been making turkey box calls for years with fair success. Thought I'd try a pot belly call this time. I started with a cedar 1 1/2 X 5 X 6" long. Drilled several holes all the way through edge wise and filled the bottom with a walnut block. Looks very nice so far but the tone is very high. Sides are about 1/16" thick. Anybody have any ideas for lowering the pitch? Thinner sides? Cut the ends deeper?

(I'll try to post a pic but I'm still struggling with this resize stuff. Even e-mailed these to myself but still turn out big.)

Edited by Rockydog

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

Rob, Looks like you caught me in the edit mode. I wanted to share the others too but they were so big I started over. Those are red cedar with white cedar paddles. Maybe I'll try another post. RD

Edited by Rockydog

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

Very much so but I just made a box call from the same block that's the sweetest call I ever made. I tried to get roughly the same square inches of sounding board with the pot belly but in a "square" rather than rectangle shape. Sound is close but just a little squeeky.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

And the other side...

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

Well, from physics. Sound is vibration. The higher the frequency of vibration the the higher pitched the call.

The box vibrates, mainly the long sides and the bottom acts like a sounding board to project the sound. But the bottom must vibrate in the same frequency as the long sides.

Long dimensions usually make deeper (lower) sounds, as the vibration frequency is a wavelength of the length. So bass fiddles are lower than violins.

Softer materials vibrate at a lower frequency. think of a metal rod and a brass or aluminum rod. The strings are tightened on a guitar to make the string denser and the pitch, frequency goes up.

Taking your first call, if you benchmarked on an existing call that you liked...then the sizes should be OK.

Id try to fix the first call by: making sure the bottom is firmly, rigidly attached to the four sides. Then I'd check it. Then I might try to get the material "denser (heavier). a solution of polyurethane cut with thinner will penetrate the outside of the call box, try a coat of two, if it lowers the call sound you could also try it on the interior but keeping it away from the edges.

Because of shooting with out EP as a kid, most of my high frequency is lost. i use a call box called the canoe paddle...it is big. I like not because it sounds better to turkey, but because I can hear it better . Might be stupid, but when you are in the woods, I need to like listening to my call!

just some thoughts.

BEAR

"Looks very nice so far but the tone is very high."

"The box call is perfect in tone as is. "

I know it is easy to confuse and olde codger....but i'm not sure what the problem is???

"The pot belly is the problem" I have apot belly...it isn't a problem...holds more beer!!!

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Rockydog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 13 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3191	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockydog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Any body make box turkey calls? Posted: 08 April 2008 at 15:42
	I've been making turkey box calls for years with fair success. Thought I'd try a pot belly call this time. I started with a cedar 1 1/2 X 5 X 6" long. Drilled several holes all the way through edge wise and filled the bottom with a walnut block. Looks very nice so far but the tone is very high. Sides are about 1/16" thick. Anybody have any ideas for lowering the pitch? Thinner sides? Cut the ends deeper? (I'll try to post a pic but I'm still struggling with this resize stuff. Even e-mailed these to myself but still turn out big.) Edited by Rockydog
	When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson

Rob1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby The Walnut Whisperer Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: Vatican City State Status: Offline Points: 3413	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rob1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 April 2008 at 15:49
	What type of wood do you use for those?
	last in line for the nobel peace prize. first in line for pie Charter Member of the Round Earth Society

Rockydog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 13 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3191	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockydog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 April 2008 at 15:56
	Rob, Looks like you caught me in the edit mode. I wanted to share the others too but they were so big I started over. Those are red cedar with white cedar paddles. Maybe I'll try another post. RD Edited by Rockydog
	When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson

Rob1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby The Walnut Whisperer Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: Vatican City State Status: Offline Points: 3413	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rob1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 April 2008 at 15:58
	Does the type of wood dictate the tone of the call?
	last in line for the nobel peace prize. first in line for pie Charter Member of the Round Earth Society

Rockydog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 13 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3191	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockydog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 April 2008 at 16:01
	Very much so but I just made a box call from the same block that's the sweetest call I ever made. I tried to get roughly the same square inches of sounding board with the pot belly but in a "square" rather than rectangle shape. Sound is close but just a little squeeky.
	When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson

Rockydog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 13 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3191	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockydog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 April 2008 at 16:04
	The box call.
	When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson

Rockydog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 13 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3191	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockydog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 April 2008 at 16:05
	And the other side...
	When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson

Rockydog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 13 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3191	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockydog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 April 2008 at 16:07
	The pot belly side view. .
	When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 April 2008 at 01:16
	Well, from physics. Sound is vibration. The higher the frequency of vibration the the higher pitched the call. The box vibrates, mainly the long sides and the bottom acts like a sounding board to project the sound. But the bottom must vibrate in the same frequency as the long sides. Long dimensions usually make deeper (lower) sounds, as the vibration frequency is a wavelength of the length. So bass fiddles are lower than violins. Softer materials vibrate at a lower frequency. think of a metal rod and a brass or aluminum rod. The strings are tightened on a guitar to make the string denser and the pitch, frequency goes up. Taking your first call, if you benchmarked on an existing call that you liked...then the sizes should be OK. Id try to fix the first call by: making sure the bottom is firmly, rigidly attached to the four sides. Then I'd check it. Then I might try to get the material "denser (heavier). a solution of polyurethane cut with thinner will penetrate the outside of the call box, try a coat of two, if it lowers the call sound you could also try it on the interior but keeping it away from the edges. Because of shooting with out EP as a kid, most of my high frequency is lost. i use a call box called the canoe paddle...it is big. I like not because it sounds better to turkey, but because I can hear it better . Might be stupid, but when you are in the woods, I need to like listening to my call! just some thoughts. BEAR

Rockydog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 13 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3191	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockydog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 April 2008 at 13:50
	Thanks for the reply Bear. I was thinking of a finish lower the pitch too but decided that might make it worse due to a higher density for the mass ala your steel vs brass rod theory. The box call is perfect in tone as is. The pot belly is the problem. I'm wondering if removing more of the end walls might change it, or further thinning the sides. I think the first thing I'll try is a different striker. I'm thinking a softer wood or a more open grain wood might get a little more "bite" on the sides and lengthen the sound wave by imparting more vibration.
	When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 April 2008 at 14:53
	"Looks very nice so far but the tone is very high." "The box call is perfect in tone as is. " I know it is easy to confuse and olde codger....but i'm not sure what the problem is??? "The pot belly is the problem" I have apot belly...it isn't a problem...holds more beer!!!