Hi Richard: Actually I did tune unisons with the machine in the Tuneoff with Virgil Smith. However, I recommend that ETD users always keep their ears turned on. It is faster to tune unisons by ear, If one is using firm blows, I think better accuracy can be obtained in the mid-range because we can then be listening to high partials during the unison tuning and thereby get better accuracy quicker. Keeping ears turned on is also good quality control for ETD users in case a slight visual error is made. Likewise, the use of an ETD is good quality control for an aural tuning. Many former aural tuners testify that their tuning has improved since the use of ETDs. It is certainly the case with me. I think it is also true that for those who have learned to tune both ways, it is fun to tune aurally again. It's just more work. I like to use "the best of both worlds." Incidentally, it is not a good idea to tune Bass unisons with machine only. The two strings are seldom well matched, making perfect unisons impossible either aurally or electronically. Compromise is achieved quicker aurally. Jim Coleman, Sr.
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