Technical data
| Material | Steel, nickel plated or gold plated |
| Frequencies | a1 440 Hz and 443 Hz, c2 523.3 Hz, e1 329.6 Hz, f♯1 370 Hz, 313.25 Hz (Saturn); others on request |
| Country of manufacture | Germany |
Features
- Cases and resonance boxes available
- Wittner in Isny, founded 1895, today a division of Gewa Music GmbH
In practice
- Hold the fork by the stem and strike it on your knee or the ball of your hand, never on a hard edge.
- Swinging freely the tone is quiet. Set the stem on a resonating body, on string instruments on the top.
- Many orchestras today tune to 442 Hz or higher, while 440 Hz is the reference pitch of the frequency tables. That is why Wittner offers both.
Versions
- a' 440 Hz (Modell 920, rund), WIT-920440
- e' 329.6 Hz (Modell 921), WIT-921329
- e' 329.6 Hz (Modell 921 SB), WIT-921329SB
- 370 Hz (Modell 921), WIT-921370
- a' 440 Hz (Modell 921 SB), WIT-921440SB
- a' 440 Hz gold plated, WIT-921440VGO
- a' 443 Hz (Modell 921), WIT-921443
- c'' 523.3 Hz (Modell 921), WIT-921523
- a' 440 Hz (Modell 922), WIT-922440SB
- 313.25 Hz (Saturn, Modell 924), WIT-9243132
- a' 440 Hz with resonance box, WIT-924440-RA
- dis' 311.13 Hz (Modell 924), WIT-92431113
Technology and use
A tuning fork gives a fixed reference pitch to which the A string is tuned; tables and calculations take the reference pitch a1 at 440 Hz as their basis. In practice many orchestras tune higher, often to 442 Hz and above.
For a violin with the factory set Dominant 135 (21.2 kg of total tension), a fork at 442 Hz instead of 440 Hz means around 0.9 per cent or 0.2 kg more string tension, one at 443 Hz around 1.4 per cent or 0.3 kg; at baroque pitch of 415 Hz the tension is around 11 per cent lower.
A trained ear clearly hears the step from 440 to 442 or 443 Hz: it amounts to around 8 and 12 cents respectively (a cent is a hundredth of a semitone), while in an overtone-rich violin tone the ear distinguishes as little as 0.5 to 1 cent under good conditions. Tuning fork and electronic tuner are therefore the tools for absolute tuning.
Wittner makes its tuning forks nickel-plated, the model 921 also gold-plated, and distinguishes the models by the gauge of the fork.
- Model 920: diameter 3.6 mm, for a1 at 440 Hz and c2 at 523.3 Hz.
- Model 921: diameter 4.5 mm, standard range 128 to 880 Hz; within this range Wittner supplies any frequency on request, such as 415 Hz for baroque pitch or 441 to 445 Hz.
- Model 924: cross-section 4 by 8 mm, standard range 96 to 1050 Hz, with a 4 cm handle or a padded one of 5.4 cm.
The 924440 RA tuning fork sits on a resonance box of spruce measuring 18.2 by 9.5 by 5.5 cm, with a mounting block of beech, and comes with a striker. Spruce is also the top-plate wood of string instruments, chosen for its efficient sound radiation. For orchestras tuning to 443 Hz we carry the model 921 fork for a1 at 443 Hz as the WIT-921443.
Frequently asked questions
How much more string tension does 442 instead of 440 Hz mean?
Around 0.9 per cent. On a violin with Dominant 135 and 21.2 kg of total tension that is about 0.2 kg.
Can you hear the difference between 440 and 442 Hz?
Yes, the step amounts to around 8 cents, and a trained ear resolves 0.5 to 1 cent in overtone-rich tones such as the violin's under good conditions.
Do Wittner tuning forks come in frequencies other than 440 Hz?
Yes, Wittner makes the model 921 to order in any frequency between 128 and 880 Hz, such as 415 Hz or 441 to 445 Hz. The model 924 covers 96 to 1050 Hz.
Which tuning fork suits an orchestra tuning to 443 Hz?
The WIT-921443, a model 921 fork for a1 at 443 Hz. Wittner makes the model 921 to order in any frequency from 441 to 445 Hz.
