I thought I had my wheel tight but it wasn't even close. I bought the Park TM-1 and having used it for the first time yesterday it just seems like a better way to build wheels, if a little slower. On a new build you can get all the spokes up to an even measured tension and then just true it from there. After truing I found my tension was still even too.

This is one of those tools you don't think you need until you have one. Even if you never plan on building wheels again you should get your hands on one for the one build you do. Buy one and sell it on eBay when you're done (my plan, except I never end up selling anything) use one from a bike coop, borrow one. If you were in the NYC area I'd have you come by to try it here. Jenson has them cheaper than anywhere else.