Call Care

Sean Mann’s Answers to Call Repair or Re-tuning

As long as it hasn’t been played with, your call will never go out of tune. They will occasionally get dirty.

If the call starts to sound higher in pitch, or you lose the “low-note”, it is likely that you have some dirt in the reed assembly. Most of the calls that are returned to me have this problem. Fixing this problem is usually simple. Here is how you do it.

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If you are in the field, I recommend that you do this with the mouthpiece on, so that you disturb fewer parts, and can get right back to calling. The mouthpiece is off in the pictures to show you what is really going on.
Turn the call around backwards as in the picture. Gently lift the reed and blow through the call backwards. Be careful to avoid kinking the reed.

You can do the same procedure using water from your kitchen sink, instead of air.

Remember that a single grain of sand is usually invisible, but it will change the tone of your call.

The three parts of the reed assembly are: 1- The reed, 2- The “reed base”(long plastic part), and 3- The “wedge”(small plastic part).

If the call is still set up in its original tuning (the one I did) then proceed with these directions, if it isn’t original, then send it back to me with $20.00 to cover parts, and shipping, and I’ll fix it.

This means:

1. Take a fine point permanent marker and mark the parts as they sit in the call, so that if you have to take it apart, you can get it back together just as it was.

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This means:
1a. Draw a line around the whole assembly (3 parts together)where it enters the call barrel.
1b. Draw a line across the reed, where it meets the wedge, making sure you have touched the reed base surface on either side of the wedge.

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2. Take a dollar bill and slip it under the reed sideways, pulling it sideways under the reed to “floss” out the assembly. Do not use a piece of paper to do this. It will tear and make things worse. Money, especially newer bills, won’t tear like paper does.

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3. Try the call.

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It should sound like it originally did.

4. If that doesn’t work, and you have marked the parts properly, take the pieces apart.

5. Rinse the pieces, and make sure they are clean.

6. Re-assemble the parts. Be careful to line everything up as it originally was.

Don’t try to jam the parts into the call. Line them up to the original marks. More pressure is not necessary, and can ruin your parts.

7. Try the call.

It should sound like it originally did.

If it doesn’t, I’ll be happy to fix it for you. Send it back to me with $20.00 to cover parts, and shipping.

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