Osage Roost

General Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Gitzit69 on January 05, 2010, 09:46:31 AM

Title: Striker length
Post by: Gitzit69 on January 05, 2010, 09:46:31 AM
It seems over the last year my strikers keep getting longer. These three are all around 8 1/4 to 8 1/2. I like a little longer striker myself but I'd like to get your opinion on length. Thanks
Dave
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv322/Gitzit69/2009867.jpg)
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: Bulldogmikey on January 05, 2010, 09:51:59 AM
Dave, most we have are between 7 1/4 and 8 inches. We settled on 7 5/8 and are trying to stick to it.

Mike
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: callmaker60 on January 05, 2010, 09:56:10 AM
All of mine are 7.5"
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: hunter22 on January 05, 2010, 10:06:17 AM
I like my strikers around 7 3/4 inches in length.
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: jim-n-em on January 05, 2010, 11:58:17 AM
We are trying to keep ours around 7 1/2.  Brent Stoner makes some on his own that are about the length of the leg on a bar stool.  Just kidding Brent.  He makes one piece strikers that are a little longer than our production ones.  His one piece strikers sound really good.
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: B-Ready on January 05, 2010, 10:21:44 PM
What's good about my long strikers are when your not hunting it doubles as a walking stick and they hold my sign !!!! *welcome*
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: ronmexico on January 06, 2010, 08:36:32 AM
all but one of my strikers are in the 7+ range, but i have a little one that i got from mose (with a copper pot) and that little thing is sweet.
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: Bulldogmikey on January 06, 2010, 09:14:23 AM
Dave, Adam does have a thinner 6 inch Persimmon striker that is a killer on slate. No other striker even comes close on the same call. Even a larger persimmon. Go figure.

Mike
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: Porter on January 06, 2010, 09:16:10 AM
To me it's more about the balance.  I have some that are 8 1/2 and some that are in the 6" range.  I used to prefer a smaller diameter, but now I like about anything!

If they sound good, that's all that matters to me  RkLu
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: Ghost Maker Calls on January 06, 2010, 03:59:29 PM
I make mine between 7 1/4 and 7 1/2" but have made some upwards of 8 1/4".   
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: turkey stew on January 06, 2010, 07:08:00 PM
Dave, Those are some sweet looking strikers! As long as they play that sweet hen music they are fine with me! RkLu
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: strutnrut on January 07, 2010, 06:51:33 AM
I have made strikers from 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 some people like longer some shorter.  I always let the call decide what striker and which wood sounds the best.  Some woods you can go shorter with other you can't.  Balance is the key, but a shorter well balanced striker wil keekee beter IMO.  I've watched different people over the past few years at the nationals and have come to the ideal that you can and probably should vary your strikers some so the customer has some what of a choice.
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: Bulldogmikey on January 07, 2010, 07:01:25 AM
I have made strikers from 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 some people like longer some shorter.  I always let the call decide what striker and which wood sounds the best.  Some woods you can go shorter with other you can't.  Balance is the key, but a shorter well balanced striker wil keekee beter IMO.  I've watched different people over the past few years at the nationals and have come to the ideal that you can and probably should vary your strikers some so the customer has some what of a choice.

While I agree with everything you said, Adam and I decided to use one length and let the various woods determine the best sound. Balance is a key. But we would make anything someone wanted. It seems easier for us to let the wood varieties determine the sound. The current striker he makes is well balanced with most species.

Mike
Title: Re: Striker length
Post by: jim-n-em on January 07, 2010, 08:15:26 AM
I agree, the different wood has a lot to do with it.  We have walnut, curly maple, hickory, cherry, and our old growth maple.  They are all the same length and have different sounds.  The Old Growth screams.  It is very raspy with certain calls, and has a higher pitch with others (great for long range or windy days).  The weight has a lot to do with it as well.  We have done a lot of research on weights between 16-22 grams.  They all have different tones with certain pots.