Product Review: Gaston Custom Calls

That afternoon I received an e-mail from Ron Pharr offering to custom hand-turn me a Short Barrel with an end piece of half the normal diameter.  When the call arrived, it was perfect for my tiny hands, it was hand signed by David Gaston, and the call came with 4 sets of matched reeds and corks from “extra stiff” to “light” in case I wanted to retune the call.  You simply cannot find customer service like that very often in our society today.  Gaston Custom Calls have an almost cult following on many of the duck calling boards on the internet.  Due to the increasing demand for these calls, they have also started appearing in Mack’s Prairie Wings and other better waterfowl hunting catalogs.  David Gaston learned the call making trade under the mentorship of the late Alvin Taylor of Clarendon, Arkansas.  Taylor was the creator of the renowned “Taylor Made” duck calls, and the tradition of his call making lives on in the Gaston calls.  I once watched Mr. Taylor use a cut down cigar tube to make the greeting call of a mallard hen.  Years later I saw him do the same trick on the video “Legends of the Call II.”  I can only imagine the wisdom Taylor imparted to David Gaston over the years. 

The Gaston calls come in two basic shapes.  The original Gaston calls have a very eye-catching “tulip” shape with a slightly fluted mouthpiece.The front of the barrel is fitted with a stylish brass band with both edges of the band having a slight bevel.  The band is fairly narrow, and is neither gaudy nor overpowering in the manner of some of the current “big band” decorations that are becoming popular.  The end piece of the Gaston call is a substantial conical shape that increases in diameter towards the end of the call.  This conical taper terminates in a half-inch parallel section at the end of the tone channel.  The end of the insert has a slight counter-bore similar to the cone of a trumpet.  The second call shape presently offered by Gaston is the “straight barrel” which has a similar end piece as the original call design.  However, the insert has been redesigned to make the call louder for open water hunting.  In a departure from the original design, the new barrel is fairly straight, with only a slight taper at the end and a stainless steel band.  Both call designs are quite stylish, and are very pleasing to the eye.  They also have a very pleasing feeling of “heft” to them, given their substantial construction. 

Mr. Gaston does not skimp on material, but his calls are still stylish and have a very classy look.   One of the benchmarks of the Gaston line of calls is the impeccable craftsmanship and finish on the calls.  You will not find a stray tool mark or scratch on any Gaston call that I have ever seen.  This is remarkable given that every barrel and insert has been hand turned and not milled by a CNC machine.  One of the best areas to “spot check” an acrylic call for fit and finish is the “ramp” at the tip of the insert where the insert rises up to the tip of the reed.  Because this area is so critical to the overall sound of a duck call, many call makers only to the bare minimum of sanding and polishing in this area. 

On all my Gaston calls, the tip of the tone channel is mirror polished just like the rest of the call.  Another area where the Gaston calls really show a craftsman’s detail is the finish inside of the bore of the insert.  This is a particularly difficult place to polish on an acrylic call.  Many call makers simply leave the interior of the bore rough finished, leaving a white frosted appearance.   In a Gaston call, the interior of the bore is also thoroughly polished and glassy in appearance. This attention to detail shows how much painstaking care David Gaston and Ron Pharr put into every single call that leaves the shop.   

The same attention to detail is also evident in the sound quality of the Gaston line of calls.  To a large degree, the sound quality of a duck call is dependant on the skill of the operator.  I am no champion caller, and make no claim to that level of operational skill.  However, the Gaston calls are capable of a full range of sound for every level of caller from beginner to the more advanced.  Obviously, for the more advanced caller, these musical instruments will really shine.  However, I would not hesitate to recommend these calls to a beginner as well.  If I can take these calls and sound good, a truly accomplished competition caller will think he has stumbled across a Stradivarius.  I have found the Gaston calls to be capable of a piercing ring on the top end, yet able to transition smoothly to a raspy bottom-end duck.  The ability to perform equally well on the top and bottom of the scale is the sign of a full-range call, and the Gaston calls do not disappoint.  They can be either crisp or raunchy, depending on how you blow them.  The ability to produce the sound of multiple ducks from a single call is a testament to the versatility built into the entire Gaston line.  Despite the impressive range of the Gaston calls, where they really excel is on the bottom end.  If you are looking for snotty, raunchy low-end duck, a Gaston call is not likely to disappoint you.  David Gaston’s newly redesigned timber call is particularly notable on the low end. 

At the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival in Memphis this summer, the new Gaston timber call was a “must-hear” according to the buzz at the event. Another notable achievement that Gaston has pulled off is with the “Straight Barrel” call that was introduced in 2001.  The Straight Barrel is a true “open water” call, yet retains the substantial low-end duck usually associated with timber calls.  For that reason, it is my favorite call in the Gaston line.   Gaston has also modified the Straight Barrel into a competition call known as the “Rival” this year, and it is already winning on the contest circuit.  In addition to the open water Straight Barrel, Gaston also offers calls in the timber and field volume levels for a very balanced line of calls.  There are a couple of other things that I really like about the Gaston calls.  One is that they are not prone to sticking.  No one likes a call that locks up when ducks are working your blocks.  The Gaston call design does not have any cut-outs on the tone board or other manipulations to prevent sticking that I could discern.  However, I have never had any problem with my two Gaston’s sticking, which is a welcome relief from many of the calls that I have worked with recently.  Another thing that I like about David Gaston’s calls is the cork.  The cork in a call is important.  The cork holds the reed up off the tone channel and gives you that quick, crisp, snappy sound.  When the reed goes flat from too much moisture, the sound of your call can go flat, too. 

Therefore, I do not like calls with little wimpy corks.  Gaston calls have big beefy corks.  They do not need constant attention like a wimpy cork.  This is an often overlooked aspect of call making and call design where Gaston does a great job and the buyer benefits.   Gaston Custom Calls offer a tremendous value for the hunter looking for a true “hand- turned, hand-tuned” custom duck call.  When you buy a call from Gaston, you are also buying custom tuning for your calling style and dedicated “after the sale” service.  Gaston calls are available in multiple colors of cast acrylic.  They also offer wood calls turned from Cocobolo and Hedge, which is also called Bois d’Arc or Bodock depending on your region of the country.  Each call comes with extra reeds and corks.    You can order a Gaston call by calling David or Ron at (334) 636-0492, or you may order online at Gaston Custom Calls.