Anti-Skate::Playing LP's vs. 12

Hifitime, I just read your great first link, and wrote them a letter, which may help some people(I don't know how to indent, etc.). "I may have inadvertantly come to the same conclusion about dynamics, while using a different method to anti-skate. I think I used something like this: if it sounds better towards the end of a record than at the beginning, you have too much anti-skate(I've posted on Audiogon, under mmakshak, about this.). Then you reach a point(super-close to the correct anti-skate)where you have to throw out that rule, because the dynamics(I call it excitement.)dimish-along with your desire to run to the record player to listen to another lp. Also, nerver use anti-skate for other reasons-such as channel balance(Many factors affect channel balance. Why use anti-skate for this purpose?). Remember, anti-skate is a compromise, so you may have to give up the setting that makes one song on the lp sound the best. You want the setting that makes all the songs on the lp sound good."

I should also mention a problem that has been expressed before about the hanging weight anti-skate method. The notches aren't refined enough to fine tune anti-skate, and it is hard to make new notches. I don't know if anyone has provided a proper solution to this.

Mmakshak,
I've found some eyeglass tightening O rings(2 together with string between)that I've been using for my string anti-skate setting.A lot were to big,but at $1-4 for a kit to find tight ones,I figured why not.I don't know if they have any drawbacks.I've read a lot of those threads and never knew there were so many opinions.The inner and outer groove walls each contain the left and right channel info separately,but can't remember what part(inner or outer)has the left and right.I guess keeping the stylus floating dead centered between the two is the reason for channel balance.I've always started in the center song of an album side that has equal left to right info on good hi-frequencys,and never found a good mono album. Years back I had a couple of good test records but they disappeared with albums plus gear during a vacation robbery,and I need to get another test/setup record.Some may say this is wrong,but a lot of times I used less VTF to help make it easier to find the center of the groove,then increased the VTF while checking to see if all starts sounding better.I don't know if this is a good way,but it seemed to work for me.The last song was always the most problems for friends and myself probably due to all the info squeezed into the smaller/shorter groove area.I think the stylus has to do the most work there.Even with linear track TT's too.The dealer in my area that had a good microscope retired.I've always had good wear patterns according to him,but now I'm on my own just hoping the next one I do will be fairly good.

Mmakshak,
I've should have said that I used less VTF while trying to get the anti-skate setting as good as possible.I know some won't like this idea,but it gave me good results and wear patterns.

Mmakshak,
Also when I started using the less VTF method to help set the
anti-skate, it tested out pretty good when the dealer used his test record and measured my settings electronically with his test gear.After measuring my setups,he said my method seems to work.