The first thing you have to find out is if it is the cork insert ( holds the reed in place) Cork will get wet from spitting and then absorbs the water and dries out which causes it to shrink and not hold the reed properly. If you have an old cork, just replaced the cork and your problem may be solved. If your insert is not cork and is plastic then i would suggest you put a light coat of PAM the cooking spray on your reeds. this will make them slick so the air can push through, very light coat.. You need to put the PAM on the inside of the reed ( the portion that rest directly against the barrel.

 

Like stated before, if the wedge is cork replace it first and see what you get. If that doesn't work pull the call apart and put a thin coat of chap stick on the reeds and then reasemble, just don't pry up on the reeds as this will knock it out of tune. I've also heard of people spraying rain-x on the reeds, but i've never tried it myself. Since some calls are more prone to sticking than others this might be only a temporary fix. If you continue to have problems i'd get a diffrent call or send it back to the maker. There are too many good "non sticking" calls out there to fiddle with one that does.

BTW what kind of call is it?

THIN MAN

 

new here hope yall don't mind my two cents
the cork has alot to do with the sound of the call . If mine starts to sound funny I take the cork out and bite it to swell it back out . also keep the call warm and it will help it from sticking.

 

whats the best way to remove the cork and reed without bending the reed, also whats the best way to tune it back the way it sounded before, i have a cheap quackhead timber call and the reed and cork are held together in a cut out insert. i guess i could just spend 20 bucks and buy a new one but i thought it would be good to know when i get a nicer call.

 

The two best way's i've found are pulling the reed straight out and then removing the cork, or using a key or small screw driver and push the cork out the side. The reed will come out with it. As for retuning the call, unless you've bent or broke the reed the original will usually be ok to reuse. If you need to replace it keep the original as a reference and start close to there with a new one. I wouldn't cut the new reed to the exact size as the old because of variations in material. Just start close to the original size and then trim VERY SMALL amounts till you get it where you want.

Hope this helps!

THIN MAN

 

thanks man, where can i get a new reed just in case... and cork too for that matter

 

All that my mouth can blow is a Rich-n-Tone. I have tried all other call but none work. If you have any suggestions let me know but I LOVE an RNT.

 

Santa brought me an RNT original acrylic for christmas, and I cant believe the difference. RNT made me a believer in acrylic. Not that the ducks come in much better... the call just sounds good! haha

 

I have blown a RNT for 15 years and the same one for 10 years. I was hoping I could find some random fix for a stuck call. I really don't think I replace the cork often enough.

I don't understand how everytime I change the cork my call is messed up for weeks. Its like the cork needs to get worn in or something.

 

I have blown a RNT for 15 years and the same one for 10 years. I was hoping I could find some random fix for a stuck call. I really don't think I replace the cork often enough.

I don't understand how everytime I change the cork my call is messed up for weeks. Its like the cork needs to get worn in or something.

I've heard the older RNT'S had a problem with sticking, some worse than others. I own several and really like them and never had any trouble, but my short barrell will sound funny right after I change the cork. After a few practice sessions it'll be fine.

Mountain Mallard have you ever tried a Watkins? If you haven't you should! The Watkins original sounds alot like a RNT original, not as loud but a MUCH better low end.

THIN MAN

 

Thin man. Thank you very much for the advice. My RNT is old and I would like to retire it, if the right call comes along. My buddy gave me some acrylic call and I like it.

I like the short barrel.

 

Thin man. You think it matters which wood.

 

Thin man. You think it matters which wood.

It's really just a matter of prefrence. Each wood will differ in sound due to hardness and oil content. For instance a soft wood with high oil content will tend to have a soft mellow sound where as a hard dry wood will be louder and sharper. Out of the "big" four... bocote is the softest, cocabolo has the highest oil content, hedge is the hardest and driest, and african black falls between coco and hedge. Also the harder drier woods are more unstable than softer oily woods. Meaning they're more prone to swelling, shrinking, splitting, etc. Really it just depends on what kind of sound you want out of the call.

THIN MAN