Sometimes my reeds will be out of whack (usually at the start of the season) and I blame oxidation and the associated deposits for this. I will usually take an aerosol that is billed to penetrate, clean & lube and run just a few drops off the end of the straw directly on top of the reed along with a little compressed air and they are just like new again.
I purchased a Burnham call once and it came with good Inst on adjusting the reed for the sound that you want. It took me around 5min to tear this thing up but they (Burnham) were gracious enough to make repairs Free OF Charge when I sent it back to them. I work with the reeds more now a day's but this is often just to change them out with other reeds that came with the call. I might get around to trying to make a reed one day...it would be centered in cork with the cork then being centered in a wooden barrel. Would probably be ugly as sin but might just work.
I believe that the first call that I purchased was an OLT call that came from Pekin IL in the early 70's. This one will still "produce" well and is made of wood. I have plenty of Wood calls but the plastic models have been encroaching.
I do like to dabble in the electronics and have put together 3 diff elect calls but they have been commandeered by my Son & Son-in-law. Good riddance, I said to myself as I just didnt want to carry one of those contraptions along when I could be using a good mouth call and coaxer to try & bring them right up to my boot tips if that is what I would choose to do.
My best producer over the last couple years has been the Lohman circe three in one call and the Coyotes cant seem to resist it. While the sound is important, a lot lies in the setup and technique. Best thing that you can do is just to get out there and call.
