Another way of saying what Ganey stated is, I somewhat play with the air valve cracked open all the time , and let off of it at critical points .
So, you could say that it's more about "when to let off", than it is "when to open". And also more important than "when", is how much to open or let off, in order to soften a note or highlight it.
Jude Moreau

nonc,

Yep .. as everyone has indicated, the leather does
indeed stretch over time and requires peridoic
adjustment!

Now .. if Cajun boxes were built like Fender
guitars, someone would have come up an adjustable
thumb-strap wheel, an adjustable left hand strap
as piano accordions have, and micro flapper stops
to tailor your individual flapper throw .. akin to
the individual pole-piece guitar bridge

I'd call it the Big-Nick-Thumbs-Up adjustment wheel,
(C) 2007, available thru Ronco-Popeil and K-Mart

--Big nick

I like it!

Where can I get one!

As a new-be this has been a great discussion for me. Excuse me for this but I am not playing Cajun music. Trying to play other types of music on this box is very difficult. Always running out of air, one way or another. For example, 'Immigrant Eyes ' by Steve Earl, a tune great for accordion, You really have to study where you can catch a breath, and make it smooth.

And that air button needs to be faster. Has anyone messed with this?

You players have a real advantage that brings the soul of your instrument out because you are using the instrument to write your music.

Also, I bet as you learn a tune you are also placeing the bellows position and not even thinking about that part of the learning. Enough of this, Jerry