Capstan Angle

[Phillip Ford]

>I'd like to add my slant to this discussion.
>
>Repeatedly, time and time again, I've corrected regulation problems
>(insufficient after touch) by decreasing the angle of the capstan without 
>altering KR.
>...
>Regards,
>
>Jon Page

Jon,

If I understand what you're saying here, by moving the capstan you achieved 
more keydip.  I'm assuming that is what you mean by correcting for 
insufficient aftertouch.  My contention is that you cannot get more keydip 
with the same blow distance without changing key ratio (KR).  When you 
changed the capstan angle you also changed the point of contact between 
wippen heel and capstan, altering the key ratio, even though you think that 
you didn't.  This is the point that I was also trying to make in my 
previous post about changing the ratio by leaning the capstans back.  It's 
not the change in capstan angle which has caused the change, but the change 
in the contact point, or point of force application.

Phil Ford