Comments on my new Single Reed Dead Meat Mallard

[LuvMyLab]

Just wondering if other people get are getting the same comments. I was showing (more like showing off LOL! ) my new Single Reed Max4 DDM to some friends.

They all commented on how raspy it is. Just wondering if this is a normal charactistic for the ddm.

I'm asking becuase I'm having sticking problems and have taken it appart a few times to dry it and try the rain-x tip.

I've pushed the reed back as far as it will go and actually it sounds better when there is some water stuck underneath the reed closer to the wedge.

[Killer Miller]

If it's a new call, then it's a new reed in it too. The reed probably doesn't have much of a natural curve to it yet. When it sticks, take the call apart and flick the reed a few times. Just take a finger and put it between the tone board and the tip of the reed and pull back. Don't actually grab the reed, just pull and it will flick back. That eventually will give the reed a natural curve in the opposite direction of the way the tone board curves. Most of the reed will still be sitting on the tone board, but not the last part of the reed.

[LuvMyLab]

Thanks Killer Miller,

I will try that as well, are these calls generally really raspy? Or might I have damanged the reed?

[Killer Miller]

Yes, they're pretty raspy....especially if they're set as a double-reed like mine. You don't like the rasp?

[LuvMyLab]

Mine is a single reed.

I like the raspiness but everybody that hears it says its really raspy and it's winter time so I have no ducks in my area to test it's sound against and it's kill'n me to wait until the summer to start practicing with real ducks LOL!

[HRK]

Miller, theres a natural curve to the reed before its even put in, it just doesnt get one after blowing it...they all have it.

LuvmyLab, I highly dought you damaged your reed, just make sure the natural curve is up, you can check this by squeezing the reed between your thumb and forefinger. If the reed flexes downwords its the bottom of the reed, you may need to flip it to find which way the curve is.

[LuvMyLab]

Thanks Hunters Ridge Kennel :)

I have been surprised at how raspy it is LOL!

The other call I had that this one replaced was a Single Reed Lohman Sweet Talker and it was not nearly as raspy.

I do love the sound of this DMM. I guess I just need to get used to how raspy it is :)

[HRK]

If your putting any vocalization into the call it will make it more raspy.

[ia_young_gun]

raspiness is good unless youre actually growling into the call, most hen mallards sound raspy when they call, unless they are young or have a craw full of food(depending on who you ask)

[Killer Miller]

Excuse me....the reed will get even more curved as you flick it. You can spin it on a flat surface to find out the curved side also. It will spin easier when the curved part is up...if it doesn't spin much, flip it over and that's the right way.

[Bossman]

How about alittle lesson on mylar reeds? :wink: ....... Reeds are made of mylar and they are made up of laminated layers. There are different thickness of mylar reeds available, .010" mylar and .014" mylar. These mylar sheets are made on a continuous roll (huge roll!!), then they cut the sheets out and from there they cut out the individual reeds. This natural curve that everyone is talking about is formed from the manufacturing process when it it put into roll form. This puts a permanent memory into the mylar sheets and so it has a tendency to curve one direction. This curve is a permanent memory, it can not be enhanced or redirected, you can try all you want to curve the reed by flipping, etc., but it will always return to the permanent memory unless you bend or crease the reed and then it it ruined. There really is no need to do this anyway. The bow of the reed faces down on the toneboard of the call and all the way set into the slot. If you want to tune your call you need to adjust the length of the reed and the dogear of the tip, and I suggest you learn these things as it will help you to get your call to fit you individually, if you are extremely raspy you can go with a square tipped reed instead of a dog earred tip or at least a smaller dog ear than what you have.