I talked to Albert today and found out just how hard really good Butternut is to find these days. ( or at least him ). He prefers to have all his wood air dried when possible. Yet he has no control over imported wood like domestic. He was able to acquire half of a Good Tree and is looking forward to making calls from that wood. Every call maker knows you can't use crappy wood to make good callers. With great wood you can make exceptional ones
Some Instrument Grade woods used for musical instruments are in such high demand that call makers can't even get their hands on the really good stuff. With some consuming most of the world supply on some exotics.
He explained why he chose the Butternut/Walnut combo for his 20th anniversary caller. As not only him but others have been inspired to reproduce callers from the Neil Cost design. Just like Neils inspiration and desire came from M L Lynch. Which in my opinion ML had the greatest impact on box call making.
Twenty years ago there were 4 basic woods used for making the majority box calls. These were the old stand by and proven. Them being Cedar,Poplar,Mahogany and Butternut. Neil made a Limited Edition of 150 triple checked with laminated bottoms. I owned one and regret selling it now.
As we know Alberts calls will be triple checked but with space on the side boards for artwork and the 20th anniversary markings. Or at least thats the plan for now. It's not really due till 2013 which leaves time for fine tuning the finished caller. If you ordered a custom built caller, triple checked and custom artwork off his website it would cost more than 220.00. So I asked him how he came up with the price. He said the numbers are 20. So in all respects it's a bargain even as a hunting caller. Some makers get more than that for a standard caller.
I talked to him about a smaller Limited Edition for collectors. But we could not (he) think of what to make that would be special. He is thinking about it and has time before 2013. Albert is the quintessential Turkey Hunters call maker and has not really made calls for collectors as others have. You can't blame him for wanting his callers used in the field and not Shelf Decorations. I have some ideas I am going to float by him......... so maybe he will surprise us
