yeah I sent a fiddle back once as it was out of tune when I took it out of its' case - no disrespect to brioc I couldn't resistr that one,! I think it has all been covered above. I rarely cross tune though, it changes the wave patterns in the wood and does not help the long term life and sound of the instrument. If I do I usually tune down GDGD - AEAE stresses all the gluing etc. and I don't like it - personal bent - I know some folk who have a standard and a cross tuned fiddle for those reasons.

Andy