<html> At 09:54 AM 12/22/01 -0700, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>We hear lots from people who go from Aural to ETD tuning.  How many out there have gone from ETD to Aural tuning.  By aural tuning I mean that there is no need or desire to use an ETD.  My vote is one.</blockquote> Chris.</blockquote> Hi Chris and group, As I mentioned in a previous post, I learned on a Hale SOT and still use it, because I'm just getting back into the business and I can't yet afford an upgrade.  However, I'm committed to learning to be a good aural tuner.  My personal feeling, which seems to be supported by the group, is that no matter how good the machines are, there is just no substitute for the human element.  The other day I tuned using my SOT with its old stretch calculator, but I tuned the high end by ear, the low end by machine (4:2 and 6:3).  I just played the instrument again last night (mostly wanted to test my tuning lever technique, wanted to see how the pins had stayed) -- to my surprise, I really liked how the high end sounded, but didn't like the bass. I still have a lot to learn and an long way to go before I'm any good at this, but I think learning what to listen for, and then learning to trust one's ear, is the primary lesson.  Machines are great, but music is about people.  My other reason for learning to be a good aural tuner is strictly a business one -- what do you do if the damn machine breaks?  Mickey Kessler </html>