Replacement Reeds

[JimmyDrakes]

Looking for some help with buying new reeds for my Phelps single, JJ Lares Single and possibly other various double reed calls. Looks like there are quite a few options on Mack's but I have no idea where to start.

Are they generally interchangeable between calls? What width / length / thicknesses should I start with? Should I go with a blank rectangular piece or get ones that are already trimmed and experiment with the length?

 

[DrakeStar]

RM Calls has reeds and cork
Echo Calls has reeds and cork

 

[grahler]

If you are purchasing reeds for a Lares call they are precut in different lengths.
No trimming is needed.

 

[Bullet21XD]

For the Lares, you can get precut reeds at Upperduck.com.
The rest, just get reeds from wherever and cut to length. Do not alter or throw away the reed you take out, you may need it to compare to a new reed.
Don't forget corks(minus Lares).
In my opinion, corks get changed regularly, reeds almost never. I think I changed one reed in the last 15 or so years, and that one delaminated. Corks, every month or so.

 

[JimmyDrakes]

What effect does changing the cork out have?

 

[grahler]

I notice after time a call might sound flat on the top.
Pop in a fresh cork and it sounds good again.

 

[GulfCoast]

It keeps the reed tight in the cork slot. Cork can shrink from the wet/dry expansion cycles of moisture from blowing the call. Keeps the sound as crisp as the maker intended.

 

[grahler]

Obviously with the Lares call the need for cork is eliminated since no water absorbing materials are used in the call.

Also a call like the Haydel dr 85or Buck Gardner mallard magic uses a movable wedge design with no cork which with that you have a lot of tuning variability.

OT the mallard magic can sound really great it’s just too bad it’s a double reed.
It sounds better than dr 85 imo.

 

[California Flyway]

Many years ago i got hold of a sheet of Mylar that was very,very slightly thicker than standard industry .010. It worked great in some calls.
It must have been a slight out of spec piece from the manufacturer.

 

[Bullet21XD]

You can buy sheets of mylar in various thicknesses. It's used for much more than duck and goose call reeds.