The equal temperment is the method of dividing the twelve notes of the scale at an equal number of CPS (cycles per second) apart and continuning through all 88 notes of the piano. I was trained to tune pianos by ear at the Sims School of Piano Technology in Columbus, Georgia. We spent endless hours training the ear to the relative characteristics of single, multiple, and interval string vibrations. This technique also trains the tuner to develop a method of setting the tuning pin so each string will remain in a locked position. This is a must to maximize the time a piano stays in tune. Since 2006, I have incorporated the assistance of modern technology. This technique have proven to be beneficial for pitch raises and poorly scaled pianos.
However, the final decision is always made by my ear and by how the piano sounds to me. Ear training is critical for understanding what your listening to before electronics are used. The intricate craft of tuning by ear has been handed down for generations and is now in danger of becoming a lost art.
