Your Perfect Mouth Reed!

[ElkNut1]

Well, Packs are being discussed so how about your choice of Mouth Reeds for you mouth reed users! Which ones have performed for you in the past & which ones get the nod for this year! Also, which ones would you not recommend? A grade once again would be very helpful to all.

My # 1 is the Raging Bull which is A+ & # 2 Mellow Yellow is an A. I enjoy using others but for me nothing beats these for ease of use & sound quality.

Grade yours please!

A

B

C

D

F

ElkNut1

[Swede]

I have liked palate plate diaphragms since I started using them in the 1990s. I have now grown accustomed to the Bugling Bull calls. If I have to pick my favorite, I guess it would be the Full Rut diaphragm, even though I use the Mellow Yellow more. I like the sound of the Full Rut, but I have no idea if the bulls prefer it.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Used 3 mouth reeds this year.

GCHC Orange Enrager: A+
GCHC Sweet Temptation: A
GCHC Secret Weapon: A

Called ChuckerNUT's bull in with the Enrager.

jf

[>>>---WW---->]

#1: Raging Bull. This call can do it all. And has won more world championships than any other call. But what would you expect when both Rockie and Corey use it. LOL!

#2: Herd Master. It has a real hi pitch if you know what you are doing. And has good enough control you can whistle Dixie on it!

[WapitiTalk1]

I still use the Berry doubles. Not for everyone as they take more wind and are more difficult than many to get all the sounds. I think their durability is one of their most prominent features. Just my thoughts.

[JJ Overkill]

there are four I like the raging bull, scream n tormentor, challenger, mini master ( used to take my bull).

raging bull - (A+) very versatile for me, very good sounds, used for every bugle including a lip bawl. not very good cow calling with this.

scream and tormentor- (B) close to the raging bull but I cant get some bugles to sound like I want. i have a very hard time lip bawling with this call.

challenger- (A) very good tones, I can use it for any bull sound I want.

mini master-(A+) my primary cow call, I can make almost every cow sound with it. I haven't been able to get the estrus buzz down yet. I can get good bull sounds but nothing to big.

these are my personal thoughts on these calls. i really like most of them. i normally have the mini dome in the corner of my mouth while out hunting. it is my most versatile call as far a cow and bull sounds. i have the raging bull close to hand incase i need a big sound fast.

i would like to hear some reviews on the closer, full rut and all star. im looking at trying a double reed to see what sounds i can get out them.

[JohnFitzgerald]

bump...would like to hear more opinions.

[BrentLaBere]

Primos sonic dome D Size just doesnt work for me at all.
Ivory Plate- Primos B-
Bugling Bulls Allstar B
Bugling Bull's Challenge B+
Bugling Bull's Closer C+
Bugling Bull's Mellow Yellow B
Bugling Bull's Raging Bull A
Glacier Country Watermelon B+ (need more practice for cow calls)

I need to record my sounds a bit more in this off season again. It actually changed my mind to move towards the raging bull instead of others. Being versatile with my calls was important to me. I did find that I didn't mind switching calls at times if I had to.
Mellow yellow, raging bull and the watermelon made the cut for me. Raging bull being my go to call.

"i would like to hear some reviews on the closer, full rut and all star. im looking at trying a double reed to see what sounds i can get out them." jerinmn

I found the all star to be to soft of a latex. I commented on it in the durability thread about how I think its my fault for the way I use them. But the sound would not stay consistent for me. For the closer I would like a full double instead of the slit. I found I can hit different levels more readily ones it breaks over.

Cant go wrong with the mellow yellow. Very easy to use cow call and used it a lot in cold calling set ups. However, I am finding myself moving away from it and using more of the raging bull and wanting to use more of the doubles to reach these sounds in set ups. Having a call ready to go for anything is what I want and the mellow yellow wont reach those big bugles. (i blew it out very quick testing this)

[elkmtngear]

I thought I had the domed reeds mastered...until I got out into the elk and the adrenaline started flowing (along with the huffing and puffing, lack of oxygen, etc.)

Switched over to a Carltons Triple...it made a world of difference for me. Maybe it just has the proper fit, not sure, but I found I could use it for almost anything on the fly (spike squeals, aggressive bugles, etc.)

I also found that if I flipped it over in my mouth, I could pull off some decent cow calling.

Took a while to find the right reed, but I finally found it.

[slim9300]

Raging Bull - A+ grade

[Trophyhill]

I still use the Berry doubles. Not for everyone as they take more wind and are more difficult than many to get all the sounds. I think their durability is one of their most prominent features. Just my thoughts.

I read on his FB page that he designed a new reed and used it on his hunt this year and will offer it up for next season.

[Trophyhill]

Phelps Herd Wrecker A+

[WindedBowhunter]

I will have to align myself with Paul,

Bugling Bull Raging Bull - A
Bugling Bull Mellow Yellow -A

Both are very easy to use, they are durable and get the elk talking to you!

I primarily used the Raging Bull, but will add the Mellow Yellow in cow setups and if I want to make it sound like several elk are "over here"!

[Swede]

Paul: I am wondering what reeds you sell the most of. Can you give us an approximate breakdown? I know a novice may go with what is recommended, but which reeds are your more experienced customers, who know what they personally like buying? Thanks.

[Heartwood]

I went with Pauls recommendation a few years back and wasn't dissapointed.

Bugling Bull Raging Bull is best allaround for me.

Mellow yellow best cow sounds for me


That said i plan to try GC and Phelps calls in 2014.

[Glacier Country]

I went with Pauls recommendation a few years back and wasn't dissapointed.

Bugling Bull Raging Bull is best allaround for me.

Mellow yellow best cow sounds for me


That said i plan to try GC and Phelps calls in 2014.

Heartwood, You will not be disappointed.If you like the Raging Bull and mellow yellow, You will like Glacier Country Hunting Calls Orange Enrager , Watermelon For bull and cow sounds, And Sweet Temptation or Seduction for cow calls. I also have a prototype that is another Rock Star! All of these are very versatile.
I'm sure Phelps makes some good ones as well. The Bull my wife just killed last weekend I had called in 3 different days this season. I just switched calls on him.

[Swede]

Glacier Country: I asked Paul, but he has not responded yet, so maybe you can help out here too. I would guess hunters, with some familiarity with different reeds, find some they like more than others. My assumption is that they choose reeds that are versatile and easy to use. We can change the tone somewhat with different grunt tubes. Which reeds are you selling most to experienced callers? Which reeds fit most hunters well and are used in the widest variety of situations?

[Glacier Country]

Glacier Country: I asked Paul, but he has not responded yet, so maybe you can help out here too. I would guess hunters, with some familiarity with different reeds, find some they like more than others. My assumption is that they choose reeds that are versatile and easy to use. We can change the tone somewhat with different grunt tubes. Which reeds are you selling most to experienced callers? Which reeds fit most hunters well and are used in the widest variety of situations?

Swede, Well lets see, I think we need to break your question down and answer it like this...
We sell lots of Orange Enragers ,Watermelons, Sweet Seductions , Sweet Temptations and Troy's Secret Weapon , as they are very versatile and easy to use. TSW starts out as a Bull only call that as the latex stretches makes decent cow calls.
They all will do bull calls and cow calls. I generally recommend starting with an Orange Enrager or a Watermelon.
Super easy to use. These calls are more bull calls that will do good cow calls out of the package and as the latex stretches they make better cow sounds and the high end of the bugle softens. If you are the kind of caller that wants to do cow calls mostly and a few bugles, the sweet seduction is what you want. Just looking for a call that does awesome realistic cow/calf calls and an occasional small bugle,the Sweet Temptation is what you want.
Not only are there different types of callers there are different experience levels and calling abilities that determine which calls guys use. Some guys only want to cow call, some want very versatile calls that will do both Bull Bugles and cow calls, and some guys only want to Bugle and Challenge Herd bulls with bugle only calls. I also make calls that are more for long location bugles (Blue Blaster & Red Ripper, make Great older cow sounds and bull bugles ) These have a thicker latex for belting out loud long Bugles. The Yellow Triple Threat is for POWERFUL loud Bugles. Some guys really want to blow a triple!
So I have developed a line of calls to try to cater to each segment and type caller. Most guys do want to be able to do Bull calls and cow calls on one call.
Lots of you have experience with Bugling Bulls Raging Bull and mellow Yellow.
I would compare GCHC Orange Enrager and Watermelon to the Raging Bull ... Easy to use very versatile... but they sound a little different. Out of the package they make really good cow sounds and Fantastic Bull sounds.
I would compare our Sweet Seduction to GCHC Sweet Seduction. or even our Sweet Temptation.
If guys would learn to blow calls with a little more camber to their tongue and start blowing from a mid tone, let the latex break on its own and THEN put your tongue into the latex they would get better sounds and far better tongue control. Not just with my calls but any diaphragm call. ----> Hope this Helps. Troy.

[Swede]

Thanks Troy. That is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I hope it is helpful for a lot of hunters here, and will give them better information about reeds than just knowing what you or Paul have been using. If all I know is that you are a great caller, and use GC's model xyz reed, I may be tempted to do the same, but having less experience or a myriad of other things to consider, I may go totally wrong. Thanks.

[PHELPS GAME CALLS]

The perfect mouth reed for me has been my Phelps Signature Bull. This year I tested a new call (which is similar to the signature bull but is able to make a easier locator bugle).

I want to take a look at a great caller like Jay Scott who offered some feedback on my calls. He likes bugling on a call that is way lighter than I do. I have to completely change the way I bugle on the diaphragms he graded as great bugling diaphragms. A good caller can use any diaphragm. Most are looking for a quality sound first and ease of use second. I think if a beginner picked these up they would blow right through them.

So the real trick is to market and design calls for everyone. From the beginner to the experienced. I'm not going to lie; stretching, clamping and choosing latex isn't that hard for reputable call builders. I think the biggest decision is what calls to market. For me when hunting I want a call that doesn't require me to think about making the call.

The other thing I have found is experienced/good callers all prefer something different. Some want a call with a lot of backbone and some want a light latex that flies through the octaves and hammers the high note. This all comes from guys applying different tongue pressures with different mouths.

I am excited to start building production calls on my new frame size. Early testing is promising. I feel I can produce some better all around calls (essentially combining some of the highlights from calls in my current line).

[Glacier Country]

A good caller can use any diaphragm. Most are looking for a quality sound first and ease of use second.

So the real trick is to market and design calls for everyone. From the beginner to the experienced. I'm not going to lie; stretching, clamping and choosing latex isn't that hard for reputable call builders. I think the biggest decision is what calls to market. For me when hunting I want a call that doesn't require me to think about making the call.

The other thing I have found is experienced/good callers all prefer something different. Some want a call with a lot of backbone and some want a light latex that flies through the octaves and hammers the high note. This all comes from guys applying different tongue pressures with different mouths.

Exactly, Yep ,YEP. Jason , makes some good points here. Also as a caller don't you guys want a call that sounds a bit different in your pocket also? I sure do. If I make a mistake on a bull or get busted. I generally back out and leave them. Then I come back later and use a little different sounding call to call them in. It has worked way too many times for me to ignore. Calls for me are one of my most important pieces of equipment.