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Cody Single Sided Box Call

Single-Sided Quick-Change

The Quick Change single-sided box call from Illusion Systems allows the user to change paddles to quickly switch tone or pitch. The system includes two paddles (canary and purple heart) with a walnut box that features a quick attach/detach device that secures the paddle to the box.

Illusion used its existing Flat Stroke single-side box call — one that already enjoyed a solid reputation for excellent sound quality — as a base to build this new call. Then they joined forces with the acoustical engineering team at McPherson guitars to perfect the box call's final design and quality sound.

It's as easy as changing a CD in your stereo from Kenny Chesney to Metallica — same box, but a totally different sound. — J.R.

Quick Change Box Call Lids

Single-sided box

Don't underestimate the power
of this easy call

Double-sided box calls are popular because they provide versatility in the field. You can sound like two different birds, depending on which side you use.

The call maker purposely created and tuned each side to sound different (one side is an old hen and the other is a young one).

However, acoustic balance is difficult to accomplish when making a two-sided box call. Once the call maker tunes and modifies one side of the sound chamber (box), it naturally impacts the other side. Perfect balance is rarely achieved.

Single-minded

What a single-sided box call lacks in versatility, it often makes up for in superior sound quality. A call maker can concentrate on producing the highest-quality sound from one striking side while tweaking the other side (echo side) to enhance the overall acoustics, achieving ideal sound vibrations and harmony.

One-sided creations

The construction of a single-sided call is quite different than a two-sided call.

Generally, one-sided calls are more compact. Many have straight sides (no angles) with a thicker wall on the echo side of the chamber, which allows the crafter to more easily tune the call. The lid is usually off center on the box, so the operator has better leverage when running the paddle across the sound chamber.

It doesn't take as much practice to master a one-sided call. They are designed to produce a perfect stoke every time. They usually have a raised edge on the echo side of the box that stops the stroke of the paddle at the perfect time — just after the breaking point on the second note of a yelp.

An expert example

The Holei Box Call took six years for Cody Turkey Calls to master, but the result is an expertly crafted and tuned single-sided box call. Its sound chamber features a hole on the echo side to generate remarkable acoustics. Other innovative enhancements used to produce easy, precise and realistic hen sounds include the use of durable, blended and laminated woods; an innovative concave lid; and a stronger core design of the call's striking side.

"Through science and engineering, we have created superior strength in our calls," said Bill Zearing, owner of Cody Turkey Calls. "This strength along with the innovative acoustical hole allow us to precisely control rollover, volume, rasp, tone and pitch."

Basically, they've done the hard work to ensure you get a spot-on call straight from the package. — J.J. Reich

Nine Super Single-Siders