<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">David,<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I respectfully disagree with the whole tenor of your posting. I believe this idea that tuning can only be done artistically by someone using ears alone, without utilizing an ETD as any part of the process, is unfortunate and limiting. To me it borders on a sort of romanticizing mystification. ETD's are a tool, like anything else; they can be a great addition to and extension of our senses.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I believe what you say about your passion for the artistic nature of the tuning process and respect that. But I hope you won't try to define what that artistry must involve for myself or others.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Sincerely,</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Allen Wright, RPT</DIV><DIV>London, UK</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"><DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><BR>"But, today's ETDs will definitely give a more than acceptable tuning. So, nearly everyone will be happy."</SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></DIV><DIV>Except the tuner, who's trying to see himself/herself as an artisan, a craftsperson, and knows that he/she just phoned it in.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>If you died today, how does this sound?</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>"He was a tuner that did more than acceptable tunings, and gave 70 or 80% all the time."</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Now: I've heard beautiful, soaring tunings by strictly aural tuners, and by tuners who were using an ETD as a helpful tool. The tunings I've heard that were strictly by looking at the wheel or the dial or whatever---to me---suck. Average. Brittle-sounding. If average is where you want to be, by all means coast through your four or five tunings a day, make your 100 grand a year, but don't call yourself an artisan. An artisan is passionate, engaged, and doing his/her best when working.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>To them, it's not a job; it's a love and a calling. And I know so many fantastic artisans in this work; I was just with a lot of them at the California PTG Convention, and it's an honor to be with artisans and revel in their dedication. It's FUN to give something your all.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I think a lot of people use ETDs because they're not confident in their ears' ability to get the job done. This is just speculation, but I think there's some truth there.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Whattaya think?</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Best,</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>David Andersen</DIV><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></SPAN> <BR></DIV><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Allen Wright</DIV><DIV>6 Clay Court, 219 Long Lane</DIV><DIV>London SE1 4PB</DIV><DIV>United Kingdom</DIV><DIV>020 7378 8265 </DIV><DIV>0780-688-1325 (mobile)</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>