The Golden Melody is the most comfortable of all the Hohner line, has the darkest tone, and is the only harmonica tuned to Equal Temperament instead of Just Intonation, which means it's especially good for playing single notes in tune. As I mentioned at the start of this article, there have been many other models made with the name Marine Band. If the openings alternate between top and bottom half of the hole, that's cross tuning. The other instrument I should mention is the Marine Band MS. Id think twice before purchasing a Blues Bender. Required fields are marked *. P4 A-440 Germany Vocal Old Style with Box. Hohner MS Replacement Reed Plates - Harp Surgery I like Sp 20's, Deltas, and Soloist pros. Durability/Fixability the double-lacquered Pear wood comb could over time become susceptible to swelling, cracking, or splintering. They are 23 inches long, and each chord takes up 4 holes. 3 comments. In fact, in 1980 they produced their one billionth harmonica. Hohner Special 20 (Set of 12) - Harmonica Review C. $19.99. Compare. Why does classical music sound out of tune on a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Harmonica? The Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. and GESCH. I want a marine band, I would do a Buddah model cause i'd like to play it, not take it apart. Compare Compare Now site51274741945951115698 1274115056142. Registered Company 10370912. The wooden comb, and the edge of the reedplate that is exposed between the coverplates and the comb, both help to make this harmonica very rough on the lips when played for long periods of time. The biggest health risk is when you share a harmonica with someone within moments of it being used by the other person. During the cleaning process, I removed three or four dried out cocoons of who-knows-what sort of insect that had decided a harmonica would be the perfect place to incubate its offspring. Marine Band 1896 Questions | Blues Harmonica It has a bunch of awards on the bottom. More significant is the introduction of a groove towards the front of each reedplate to accept the front edge of the covers. Special 20 vs. Marine Band - size matters to me - Harmonica Forum Honestly, though, I rarely play this instrument because the others are SO much more comfy, and still sound really good. You can hear the sound of the Fender Blues Deluxe versus the Hohner Blues Band in this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. This one seems to be the final incarnation of the pre-war Marine Band: It is similar to the previous one, except that the abbreviated forms GESETL. Here's my take on the Hohner Marine Band, which is the #1 best-selling harmonica model of all time. Super 64X (7584) Reed Plate Set. Do you have the box or case for it? The steel covers are similar to the later pre-war versions, although they give the harp a slightly thicker profile top to bottom. Figuring out the age of a harmonica is by no means easy, nor is it always relevant to the value of the instrument. This next one probably dates from the late 1920s: The only significant difference between this one and the previous model, is that cuffs in the trademark have lost their jagged ends. Here we have a second Hohner product. It's a 10 hole. How do I disassemble a slide whistle in order to clean it? 5 out of 5 stars (1,424) Sale Price $33.50 $ 33.50 $ 37.22 Original Price $37.22 (10% off) Add to Favorites Hohner Marine Band 364/24 G Harmonica, Vintage Instruments Collectible Musical . Basic harmonica maintenance is now straightforward, the right tools easily gotten. Either way, you want a pin/rivet with a head on one side, and about 1mm or 1/16th inch sticking through the other side of the harmonica. Not to mention, the corners of the Marine Band are a bit sharp and hurt the hands when held for long periods of time. Its got a louder, brighter projection than the Hohner Blues Band, its more responsive, especially on draw holes -2 and -3, and its MUCH easier to bend notes on. Any way to know how old your harmonica is? | Blues Harmonica Even some fairly common harmonicas may be considered collectible by some people. However, despite all these improvements, the Marine Band MS lasted for less than a decade, compared with twelve decades (and counting) of the hand made version. Our next example is from the early 1930s: The covers are similar to the previous one, but for the trademark now has a larger star once more, much shorter cuffs and all the medals back to having doubled circles again. Hohner reed plates decoded. Also the words DEM VERDIENSTE (alongside the WEIN medals) have now been abbreviated to D. VERDIENSTE. Its undisputed. Known for its full tone, wood comb, and its patented cover plates, the Marine Band harmonica was there when harmonica blues was born. Vintage. How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? Harmonica Construction and its Effects on Sound and Feel, Original cover design from 1896 ensures the classic blues sound, Greatly reduced swelling behaviour through double-coated pear wood comb. 3. 2009 - 2022 David Barrett and the Harmonica Masterclass Co. for Bluesharmonica.com. How to clean a marine band harmonica that cannot be unscrewed? Ending Today at 17:11 EST 12h 5m. Looking for an amazing bang-for buck harp? Presenting the Marine Band 1896 Classic from Hohner. Also, Matthias Hohner seems to have just a little more hair on the top of his head than he had in his previous portrait! In the US filing, they claim that Marine Band had been in continuous use since January 30th, 1896. Ive literally taught thousands of people how to play the harmonica, and not one beginner who has purchased the Special 20 hasnt loved it. Most of what makes these so expensive is the cost of materials and making it a G sharp harmonica. The soft green case is 1960s. My draw notes seemed to have got stuck, so I cleaned them with witch hazel (maybe surgical spirit would do, or lemon juice, but we have run out of lemons) and lifted each gently with the Honner tools to ensure they were moving freely up and down in the reed plate. There are many other small variations in the Hohner trademark that may help give a rough approximation of the manufacturing date, but they are a little beyond the scope of this article. Legendary Hohner Marine Band Harp. The reeds are all brass, and there are 20 of them. The hands and the star are just slightly different from the previous version and the WIEN and PHILAD. Its sound is typical for blues, folk, and country, but also pop and rock. If you think you've found a valuable old treasure in the attic, it's likely that you are going to be disappointed. . How should I deal with enharmonics on the Chromatic Harmonica? Accessioned with original cardboard box. Vintage M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Key of C Germany No 1896 Clicking on the links under each picture will open new windows with close-ups of various parts of each instrument. Item was in great shape from being a amp from the late 90s. This harmonica has a rich and expressive sound that defines what most people think of when they imagine the sound . I cannot provide free appraisals by email, not even rough estimates, so please don't ask. Hohner 125th Anniversary Marine Band Vs. Pre-war Vs. Stock MB - Quick overview and comparison P Leasum 1.63K subscribers Subscribe 2.3K views 1 year ago In this video, Paul does a quick once. If it don't have little screws, don't take it apart, leave it alone. (1) Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica - Key of B. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Features at a Glance: Classic blues sound Key of C (diatonic) Number one choice of top professionals Full tone and wood comb Reeds: 20 Reedplates: Brass Comb: Pearwood Pick up a Hohner Marine Band harmonica and embrace the tradition of blues and rock history! There are some models of Hohner harmonicas that I do NOT recommend getting. If the harmonica has been lying around in someone's attic for a few years, you also have a chance of inhaling some other tasty delicacies. Yes, they are the original harmonica that all the old blues masters played. There was such an outcry from players when they heard that their beloved Marine Band was to be replaced, that Hohner changed their minds and the Marine Band MS was only marketed in Europe and was discontinued completely around 1997/98. Yes, all of my top 5 Hohner harmonicas listed above as well as all of the MS Series, Progressive Series, and Marine Band Series in their final phase of assembly, they are still made by hand at factories in Germany. It only takes a minute to sign up. It felt to me like the edges of the reed plates were also adding to the discomfort. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! "Mundharmonika M-Hohner's 34B ""Old Standby" | eBay One is the Centennial Edition Marine Band which, as it's name suggests, was introduced in 1996 to mark the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Marine Band harmonica. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This next instrument came with a booklet in its case that was dated 1905 and the design of the label inside the lid of the case was trademarked in 1907 (DRWZ 101069). Things changed even more by the time of our next example, which dates from around 1923: The covers on this one are made from nickel plated mild steel and now Herr Hohner appears on the upper cover and the trademark on the lower cover. there's no screws on this one, it has rivets, where you have a machine pressing down on the plate and securing it in its place. Hey good people out there. The medals on the lower cover now have single circles, the star is smaller than on the previous version, with the hands and cuffs also slightly different in style. Verdict - The Hohner Special 20 was developed in the 1970's to be more comfortable and easier to play than the original Marine Band harmonica, and with the plastic comb and counter-sunk reed plate, there's no doubt that they accomplished their goal. Wow! Although the comb is the same length, the covers have changed substantially. In that case don't attempt pining the centers of the ends. Marine Band Crossover Harmonica - Key of C. Marine Band Crossover Diatonic Harmonica - Key of C. 10 reviews Write your review Item ID: MarineCrossC. Hohner Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica Key of F Germany T. $11.40. Hohner Marine Band 364 - Harmonica Review (I go into some detail about the changes of the Hohner Marine Band model on this page.) Old herings super 20 were like that too, using rivets. Today its still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first produced in 1896. They are long they will still work. Unlike many of the other contestants on this list, this harmonica comes in a custom, vintage-design case. Hohner Marine Band, Yay or Nay? : r/harmonica - reddit The Best Harmonicas For Every Genre - American Songwriter This harmonica is probably from the 30's & includes original box Features: Key of C. Harp Dude Handmade fully stabilised Australian Spalted Burl hardwood comb According to a friend who has played marine band for many years, all that he's owned have screws, so this could be a rare model.The rivets could be drilled out and others put in after, but it may be worth checking its value first. Between 12th and 14th Streets Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: 1896 classic, Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band. If you require a personal response, please use ourContact page. Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. you have to use your ear and i'm not trained enough to know the right tune for each hole, i don't know flip jers, but he seems very professional, he could retune Whats not to love? 2 Minute Hohner Pentaharp review here, if you wanna see it in action. or Best Offer. Help My Vintage harmonicas are stock that i find that have had little or no use. A limit involving the quotient of two sums. Vintage M. Hohner "Marine Band" No. The Hohner Marine Band Crossover is part of the Marine Band series, top-of-the-line professional quality instrument for the discerning player in modern blues, rock, jazz, soul or funk. Sponsored. These legends were some of the most demanding and finicky musicians on the planet. Those may not be available though, and rivet pins are easy enough to make anyhow. Is the Hohner Special 20 Any Good? Its responsive, its got a great bluesy tone, and its one of the easiest harmonicas on which to learn how to bend notes. Sturdy zipper case allows moisture to evaporate while keeping dust out. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you have a very good condition old Hohner Marine Band, or 64 Chromonica, then there could be a player prepared to pay a reasonable price for it. The revolutionary laminated bamboo comb is completely sealed, making it water repellent and exceptionally stable. Recent versions all have a hard plastic box, green for the 270, black for the 16-holers. MARINE BAND Series - HOHNER I always enjoy playing different tunings. $ 84 .99. Hope this helps. There were several notable changes with the next specimen, probably from the mid to late 1930s: The most obvious change is with regards to the covers. The trademark has more subtle changes. Do this on both sides. A few words of advice. He saw an opportunity in John Philip Souza and his popular Banda de . Nevertheless, it is THE CLASSIC harmonica. In fact, some harmonica collectors are so eager that I a few years ago watched a couple of them bid more than $40 dollars (plus shipping) for a harp they could have bought brand new from their local music store for a mere $4.95! The purists irrationally cleave to the notion that the sound of the Marine Band 1896 is the sound that was, for better or worse, the sound of the old time legends. Not the case today. Seller 99.6% positive. One of the first celebrity-approved production instruments, the Hohner Marine Band 1896 harmonica may be the longest-running serial production instrument model in history. I don't want to reopen a closed question and it is unethical to unaccept the accepted answer, it was a good one but now i need different answers, new situation. Custom Pre-War Marine Band - The Harp Dude $25.00 + $5.85 shipping. The Hohner Pentaharp isnt actually one of my favorite Hohner harmonicas, but it is one of their newest offerings, so I thought it would be cool to check it out and tell you about it. Unlike the 1896, the 364 is easy to take apart and adjust. The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular model of harmonica for generations. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Key of C Germany No 1896 at the best online prices at eBay! Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. All in all, the Marine Band is a fantastic choice as a first harmonica and also for anyone who still doesnt have one in his collection. Completely assembled with screws for easy maintenance. Just bear in mind that youll have to sacrifice the comfort that other modern alternatives can provide. It is also probable that you are now considering emailing me for more information on the possible value of your harmonica. Likewise, there were various changes in the alloy used for the reeds and different reed profiles being used, although the lengths and widths of the reeds remained constant. Shortly after then, the "A440" was dropped and other small changes made to the designs on the cover. Straight tuned. Hohner's Marine Band 1896 is the archetypal blues harmonica. Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Harmonica - Wilson Music: Harmonica Our collection database is a work in progress. If you can afford it, Id recommend springing for it. Harmonica - cleaning tips? - Everything Else (Music related) Forum The front left channel and rear right weren't playing sound, power supply was working and output transistors were working, just had to clean the gain pots and all 4 channels work. Perfecting the modern harmonica - Craftsmanship Magazine Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For pins, file off the head on the side with least material and drive it through with a punch, over some table surface with a hole underneath the pin (or a 2x4 with a hole drilled in it, or even a socket). I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Joe Filisko for the loan of several of the pre-WWII examples shown above. How do I clean the windway on my recorder? Today it is still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first introduced in 1896. To get the best out of our site and for it to function correct, please read, accept and understand our 'Cookies Policy'. Help Where to Repair Your Chromatic Harmonica? - Harmonica Studio The center of the medallion is empty on all but the oldest ones, which (before about 1937) had a six-pointed star in the medallion (though rosettes and 5-pointed stars have appeared in some of the very early ones). are back again and the lines between them are vertical rather than horizontal, making it identical to the postwar MB except for the presence of the star. It's not difficult so long as you use copper or brass which are soft. If youre wanting to get a great plastic comb harmonica, Id recommend that you just get one of the tried-and-true originals the Special 20 or the Golden Melody. [7] There are various subdivisions of the Marine Band. As I always say: if you want to sound like the old blues masters, why not play the harmonica they played? Some time in the mid to late 1920s the design of the box also changed, with a picture of the US Marine Band being pasted to the top of the box. Fast shipping. If you do it carefully the small pins will come out intact and you can push them back firmly into the same holes after you have cleaned up and adjusted the reed plates. Vintage Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 1896 Key Harp M40. Looking for an amazing bang-for buck harp? It has been suggested that it was a Star of David and that it was removed because of the Nazis. The chord harmonica is used to provide chordal and rhythmic backing in an ensemble, much as rhythm guitar might do. How Old Is My Hohner Marine Band Harmonica - Pedeland.com C, A Harmonic Minor, A Natural Minor, A Flat Natural Minor, B Natural Minor, B Harmonic Minor, B Flat Harmonic Minor, C Harmonic Minor, D Harmonic Minor, D Natural Minor, F Natural Minor, F Sharp Harmonic Minor, F Sharp Natural Minor, C Natural Minor, A, A Flat, B, B Flat, B Flat Natural Minor, D, D Flat, E, E Flat, E Natural Minor, F, F Sharp, G, G Natural Minor, G Harmonic Minor, D Flat Natural Minor, E Harmonic Minor, E Flat Natural Minor, Excellent all round harmonica. Although the WIEN medals keep their single circle outline, there is a partial circle of dots inside this outline. If you're into jazz, gospel, or bluegrass, I highly recommend that you consider this harp. Check your inbox in the next minute or two for your first lesson. Note: I am not endorsed by any specific harmonica company. Hohner Marine Band 1896 Diatonic Harmonica - C $54.99 Brand New 14-Day Return Policy Hohner Golden Melody Progressive Harmonica - Key of C $49.99 Brand New Blessing Harmonica (X2) 1970s $11.55 Brand New 14-Day Return Policy Hohner Big River Stock Comb Stamped F $8 Brand New Free Shipping Hohner Big River Stock Comb Stamped Db $8 Brand New That's a tough one. My name's Cooper, I'm 28 and I'm a musician based in Tel Aviv, working with other artists as a harmonica player, guitarist and pianist. That means its less comfy than a plastic combed harmonica like a Special 20. Check out my free beginners kick-start course. It will not be helpful for beginners who really want to learn how to play harmonica. $4.99 shipping. C, A, A Flat, B, B Flat, D, D Flat, E, E Flat, F, G. The most popular models are either single-sided or double-sided Echo harps, but the single-sided ones can be combined into quadruple or sextuple corncob setups, with a different key on each row. $54.95 + $5.75 shipping. The circle with the star has the words GESETLICH and GESCHUTZT in full, instead of the abbreviated forms GESETL. There were also a few changes to the box around the time of WWII. Originally seven nails were used, but by the mid 1930s this had been increased to eight nails. Hohner Marine Band (Key of C) - Harmonica.com 1896 model in the key of C, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. Earlier 270s had a red cardboard box with fancy texturing, while the 280 had a hard red box (1950s) and earlier had a round-top wooden box with fake texture finish and yelow lining. The size difference is not big but it is bigger. At some point the comb material was changed from peachwood to pearwood, but I don't know how to tell the two woods apart by visual inspection. The number A440 stamped on certain Hohner harps indicates neither a limited edition, nor a model number - it tells you that it is tuned to standard concert pitch (see FFAQ10). Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. And Pros love it too! Its design has changed quite a bit over the last century and I have attempted here to draw up a chronology of its evolution. Its uniquely authentic sound has defined the role of the harmonica in the blues and folk genres and made it the benchmark by which all others are judged. Add To Cart. Money no object? Just to confuse matters even further, the model number 1896 was also applied to similar harmonicas with different names, aimed at different markets. C $73.09. If a law is new but its interpretation is vague, can the courts directly ask the drafters the intent and official interpretation of their law? Add To Cart. Special Financing - Ends Jan 1, 2024. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band Deluxe. It's still sitting in a Mason Jar in my shop. The bottom of the box and the inside of the lid are also different. The Hohner Marine Band 364 is a quality instrument, just like the Marine Band 1896. 1896 Harmonica Made in Germany by M. Hohner with Box. NEW Hohner Marine Band Classic 1896 w/ Case - Key of A - Free US 1 bid. To make space for this, the medals are all slightly smaller and have smaller lettering around them. The Hohner Marine Band Deluxe brings the incomparable sound of the Marine Band 1896 into the 21st century with a variety of improvements which optimise handling and ensure greater volume and faster response, while retaining the rich and powerful Hohner sound. The Pentaharp was specifically designed for guitar players, and its tuning is laid out totally differently from a regular harmonica. Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Harmonica - The Harmonica Company Also the comb is now shorter than any of the previous models, a fraction under 4 inches long. 1 - Its a standard, 10 hole, diatonic, in C. 2 - 30 for a top-quality, German made musical instrument 3 - Wood is one of my favorite materials, and of course, the marine band is made of wood (well part of it) 4 - Hand-built, i love special things that aren't made by machine, it gives an extra sense, an extra connection to the person who built it (function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script"), tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load", loader, false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload", loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window, document); Hohner M1896116X Marine Band Classic Bb Harmonica Brand: Hohner Accordions 63 ratings -27% $3812 Was: $52.90 Pattern Name: Single About this item Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic in Bb Frequently bought together + + Total price: Add all three to Cart Some of these items ship sooner than the others. I think its worth the extra money. This expands the pin/rivet at the ends and compresses the shell together further. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Learn how your comment data is processed. Dont worry, Im here to help. Hohner Marine Band Review: The Industry Standard - Harmonica Jamz Cash preferred. used on every other Marine Band I have seen. I guess if youre saving $20 getting a Blues Harp instead of a Marine Band, and youre on a tight budget, go for it. I will require that you send the instrument to me, paying for the shipping and insurance each way. Vintage M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica No. 1896 with Box! | eBay As this is a professional service, there will of course be a fee for it - and I should warn you that in the vast majority of cases, the cost of such an valuation will almost certainly be more than the instrument is worth. Thats my old Marine Band you can notice the dent in the upper cover plate. If you get it wet enough for the comb to expand (by dunking it in water) the wood may not even dry back to its original size. But they are not professional quality instruments like Special 20s. Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. If it needs more than that you have to take it apart, and it's held together with nails, which is a pain. Vintage Marine Band No. After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at I always hear that the hohner marine Band is considered the best harmonica and almost God like. But is the standard actually that good? Screws to replace Marine Band nails | Blues Harmonica This harmonica has a light brown and black stained wooden comb with metal cover plates screwed to top and bottom. Hohner 125th Anniversary Marine Band Vs. Pre-war Vs. Stock MB - YouTube However, I found you could use a small flat-bladed screw driver (the one that came with the Hohner kit was OK) to gently ease off each cover plate in turn by levering them slowly away from the wooden centre of the harmonica. I've never messed with a Marine Band, but I hear they are quite small. The U.S.A. PATENT AUG. 24th 1897 and MADE IN GERMANY claims are no longer present on the upper cover and the lettering of the name MARINE BAND is substantially larger. Vintage M Hohner Echo 54/64 Harmonica C G Made in Germany New Old Stock