Calling elk is a great time and rewarding to boot. I wouldn't worry as much about how your bugles sound, as opposed to knowing how to communicate with elk and when and what to say. Frankly, if I hear a "classic bugle" while I'm hunting I always assume it's another hunter. Elk bugles in the wild sound terrible a lot of times. I sound better then most of the bulls I hear. In fact, I worked the last two years at sounding like an elk, not like sounding like somebody in a calling contest. However, I personally would rather be "called in" by another hunter, then let a big bull go because I thought it was a hunter. In general you are right that you don't want to sound like a big bull and push away lesser bulls. I have, and I'm sure others on this board have, run into bulls that don't give a crap how big you sound. These bulls in my opinion are just mountain studs. They will scream back at you and come in because they just know there the baddest thing in the drainage. Most bulls are not like this, they would rather scoot up the slope with their herd then risk losing a cow. I primarily use bugles to locate bulls then slip in close and try to cow call. I'll use every call in my possession depending on the situation. I too am going to get elk nuts videos but I'll wait for him to come on here and tell me where to send a check as I never use credit cards.