So on Saturday's (re-)opener I hunted some wide open shore-accessible "water" (it's mostly muck now, but got serious duck movement 300 yards away and had some inches-deep "channels" within gun range).
It was a calm day, and I quickly realized my single-reed Quackhead J-frame poly was way too loud while quacking even when I was blowing it soft as I could while still using what I understand to be proper technique (diaphragm). Only could manage a feeder chuckle at anywhere near appropriate volume levels. And even at that it was probably too loud, since sound carries so well over wide open drawdown flats. I certainly felt I was way louder than the ducks I heard, anyway.
So what's the best solution here? A different tone board design (definitively not inclined to get another J-frame)? Different barrel design? Different material (strongly considering bumping up my own investment by $50-$60 at some point to get a wooden call, which seems to be cheaper than acrylic versions
I admit I'm biased against double-reeds, but this is not rooted in experience. Just the abstract idea that they're less versatile and are more likely to wear you out while blowing. But I can probably be persuaded to go the double-reed route.
What stinks is with COVID going on I doubt there's anywhere I can go to actually blow calls before buying them. So it'd be ideal if buying blind I can stay in the cheap range, though I'm more likely to be able to sell something that doesn't work for me if it's in a higher tier.
Anyway, thanks for your suggestions in advance.
It was a calm day, and I quickly realized my single-reed Quackhead J-frame poly was way too loud while quacking even when I was blowing it soft as I could while still using what I understand to be proper technique (diaphragm). Only could manage a feeder chuckle at anywhere near appropriate volume levels. And even at that it was probably too loud, since sound carries so well over wide open drawdown flats. I certainly felt I was way louder than the ducks I heard, anyway.
So what's the best solution here? A different tone board design (definitively not inclined to get another J-frame)? Different barrel design? Different material (strongly considering bumping up my own investment by $50-$60 at some point to get a wooden call, which seems to be cheaper than acrylic versions
I admit I'm biased against double-reeds, but this is not rooted in experience. Just the abstract idea that they're less versatile and are more likely to wear you out while blowing. But I can probably be persuaded to go the double-reed route.
What stinks is with COVID going on I doubt there's anywhere I can go to actually blow calls before buying them. So it'd be ideal if buying blind I can stay in the cheap range, though I'm more likely to be able to sell something that doesn't work for me if it's in a higher tier.
Anyway, thanks for your suggestions in advance.
