Tuning Forks
A tuning fork outlasts almost everything else in the room, which is why departments so often end up with a mixed drawer of them and no clear record of which frequency came from which set. Replacing one usually means matching a medical tuning fork rather than choosing a new one. Our range covers 16Hz to 4096Hz across the established patterns – Hartmann, Lucae, Gradenigo and Rydel Seiffer – in aluminium alloy and stainless steel, with and without a foot, as individual forks or sets of six with a case.
Select by frequency, pattern and weighting below, or ask us which fork matches the one you are replacing.
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Sound, Vibration And What The Frequency Number Means
The most useful distinction in this category is what you select a fork for. Choose higher-frequency forks when you need an audible tone for hearing-related testing. Lower-frequency weighted forks are chosen where the vibration response is the focus. Some sit in both camps, and a department ordering by price rather than frequency often discovers the difference the hard way.
Gardiner Brown makes this explicit in their product naming: their 512Hz, 1024Hz, 2048Hz and 4096Hz forks are labelled for sound, their 128Hz for vibration, and their 256Hz for both.
Sound forks (256Hz to 4096Hz). A 512Hz fork is the one most often used for hearing-related tuning fork tests, including the Rinne and Weber tests, and it is stocked across every pattern in the range. Higher frequencies are also available where a different pitch is wanted.
Weighted vibration forks (16Hz to 128Hz). Weights lower the frequency and lengthen the vibration. The Gradenigo pattern is stocked with fixed weights at 16Hz, 32Hz, 64Hz and 128Hz, and the Rydel Seiffer is available with both fixed and detachable weights, including a 64Hz/128Hz version where removing the weights changes the frequency. These are selected for examinations where vibration response is the focus rather than hearing.
Pattern and material. Hartmann and Lucae are the two most widely stocked patterns here, alongside Gradenigo, Rydel Seiffer and forks from Riester in both aluminium and stainless steel. Aluminium alloy options are typically lighter; stainless steel options may be preferred where a heavier fork is wanted.
With or without a foot. A foot is a flat base at the end of the handle, allowing the fork to rest against a firm surface. Hartmann, Lucae and aluminium alloy forks are all stocked in both versions, so it is worth checking which your department currently uses before reordering.
Sets. Sets of six are available in Hartmann with foot and case, aluminium alloy with foot and case, and aluminium alloy without foot or case, which suits teaching departments and anyone equipping a room from nothing.
Tuning forks sit alongside the rest of our audiometry equipment, including screening audiometers for formal threshold testing, and our range of otoscopes for examination of the ear canal.
Replacing a single fork from an existing set, or ordering for a teaching department? Tell us the frequency and pattern you need, and we can match it. Request a quotation for pricing on individual forks or bulk orders.
FAQs
Which tuning fork frequency should I order?
It depends on the examination. A 512Hz fork is commonly used for Rinne and Weber hearing tests. Weighted lower-frequency forks, typically 128Hz and below, are selected where vibration response is the focus. Many departments hold both. The clinician selects the appropriate fork for each examination.
What is the difference between a fork with a foot and one without?
The foot is a flat base on the end of the handle. Forks are stocked in both versions across most patterns in this range, and the choice usually comes down to what a department already uses and how the fork is intended to be applied. If you are replacing a fork from an existing set, matching the existing version keeps the set consistent.
What do the weights on a Rydel Seiffer or Gradenigo fork do?
Adding mass to the tines lowers the frequency and lengthens the vibration. Gradenigo forks are supplied with fixed weights; Rydel Seiffer forks are available with fixed weights or with detachable weights, where removing them shifts the fork to a higher frequency. The 64Hz/128Hz Rydel Seiffer works this way.
Do tuning forks need calibrating?
Tuning forks do not have the same electronic calibration requirements as audiometers, but they should still be inspected periodically and replaced if bent, damaged or no longer performing as expected. Follow your own equipment management procedures.
Can NHS departments order tuning forks from HCE?
Yes. HCE supplies tuning forks to NHS ENT and audiology departments, GP surgeries, neurology and podiatry services, and universities and colleges teaching clinical examination. NHS purchase orders are accepted, and eligible customers can apply for a 30-day account. Visit our official NHS orders page for more information.
