Its responsive, its got a great bluesy tone, and its one of the easiest harmonicas on which to learn how to bend notes. 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. Today it is still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first introduced in 1896. Im putting these 2 Hohner harmonicas under the same heading because my response to these questions is similar. Just to confuse matters even further, the model number 1896 was also applied to similar harmonicas with different names, aimed at different markets. Most of what makes these so expensive is the cost of materials and making it a G sharp harmonica. Ive never had anyone fight me when I say that the Marine Band wins in the category of TONE. Don't be afraid. I think its well worth the extra money. However, the one that concerns us here is their model number 1896, Hohner's best-selling diatonic and probably the most well-known harmonica in the world. Straight tuned. Until about 1955 16-holers were straight-tuned, afer which they were cross-tuned. In fact, in 1980 they produced their one billionth harmonica. It is a Marine Band No. This one is probably from some time in the mid-1920s: The harmonica is slightly smaller than the preceding specimens, measuring 4" x 1", with the mild steel covers 2/3" deep at the front, and 3/4" at rear. Those that do are mostly in the German language and take some effort to obtain. After WWII this was reduced to seven nails. Is the harmonica straight tuned or cross tuned? It's a Hohner 260, then. Compare. . I guess if youre saving $20 getting a Blues Harp instead of a Marine Band, and youre on a tight budget, go for it. Vintage M-Hohner's "Old Standby" Harmonica No. Super 64X (7584) Reed Plate Set. Full Disclosure: Not All Hohner Harmonicas Are Created Equal! 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). The Pentaharp was specifically designed for guitar players, and its tuning is laid out totally differently from a regular harmonica. The only hohner I've played is the bluesband variation. There may be more subtle changes in construction that could further date a harmonica (such as the rounded rivet heads on prewar 64s) but that stuff is beyond my expertise. 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. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers). Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. Our collection database is a work in progress. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This time, the Marine Band Harmonica. It could even gouge out the holes, ruining the harp. Required fields are marked *. Learn Harmonica! Here are answers to questions that I get about Hohner harmonicas time and time again: Everybody agrees that Hohner is an excellent brand of harmonica. 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. Listed: 3 years ago Views: 227 Watchers: 1 About This Listing Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? . Vintage HOHNER Tombo PeeWee Harmonica Collection Lee Oskar Marine Band Golden Melody Old Standby Professional 2016 1. M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica, Germany harmonica, Marine Band No 1896 harmonica, vintage harmonica, m. hohner germany, marine band harmoni . (My apologies for the poor condition of this particular box.). The current version of the Blues Harp is part of Hohner's Modular Series and was introduced in the 1990s. C $73.09. How are they compared to other harmonicas too? Unlike many of the other contestants on this list, this harmonica comes in a custom, vintage-design case. The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular model of harmonica for generations. 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. The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BAND How to clean a marine band harmonica that cannot be unscrewed? The only key label is a difficult-to-read engraving on the cover plate, virtually impossible to see in a dark club. Tubes can be made by rolling some brass foil. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. $137.00. The chord harmonica is used to provide chordal and rhythmic backing in an ensemble, much as rhythm guitar might do. Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica $ 105.00 - $ 110.00 Select options; Hohner Marine Band Thunderbird $ 180.00 - $ 192.00 Select options; Related products. 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. Links, Are you a beginner or struggling to sound good on harmonica? What more dya want? Item was in great shape from being a amp from the late 90s. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? It is a Marine Band No. Maintenance with the older harmonicas was hit and miss, with no guidance. Chillin on a nice afternoon while sending the Marine Band sounds out the window. These sound great in a more chordal folk style as well. However, the Pentaharp could be great for a guitarist who wants to be able to play bluesy riffs without having to spend months learning how to bend notes on a harmonica. Contact Hohner Blues Harp Harmonica Review + Video: Bold & Powerful, Hohner Pro Harp Review: the Black & Gold Brother of the Fantastic Blues Harp, Harmonicas: 13 Super-Fun Facts You Never Knew About Them, Join 4700+ Successful Harmonica Jamz students - Play any Song and Jam with Other Musicians. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! How do you tell if your harmonica is especially collectible? Those may not be available though, and rivet pins are easy enough to make anyhow. Here we have a second Hohner product. For the rest of this article, I shall confine myself to physical examples of the instrument, rather than catalog illustrations. Originally seven nails were used, but by the mid 1930s this had been increased to eight nails. Responsiveness From hole 1 to hole 10, the Marine Band is not sluggish anywhere. During the mid-1960s through some time in the 1970s, they had soft wraparound plastic pouches, green for the 270 and brown for the 280. There are relatively few books written about the history of the harmonica and even fewer of them go into much detail about the various models. For more, you can check out my full review of the Hohner Blues Band. Don't be afraid. Very responsive. Hohner Hot Metal Harmonica $ 17.99 Select options; Hohner Marine Band 364/24 Soloist Harmonica $ 79.00 Add to cart As it turned out, she was willing to sell the harp at a fair price, so I bought it. However, it is by no means safe to assume that an instrument bearing a trademark with fewer points to the star is older than one bearing a trademark with more points to the star. 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). Im working my way through every key to fill my harp case. How do I clean my harmonica without taking it apart? Privacy Confused? if you hold the instrument with the low notes to the left, Herr Hohner's portrait is on the lower cover. Similarly, I recommend avoiding the Hohner Trumpet Call and the Hohner Weekender. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. Get the full low down on the Hohner Special 20. Thats why its one of my top recommended harps, along with Lee Oskar, as you can see in my article Which Harmonica to Buy for Beginners. It's like trying to cook eggs without breaking them. Harmonicas were made literally by the thousand and even sometimes by the million (Hohner, just one of the many companies to have manufactured them, produced their one billionth harmonica more than a quarter century ago). Footnote: I should add that this is very much a work in progress and I would love to hear from anyone that has any examples of variations that I have not covered above, particularly if you have any reliable means of dating them accurately. 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. Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. That means its less comfy than a plastic combed harmonica like a Special 20. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Hey! How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? I have never seen any actual physical examples of this stage in its evolution, but here is a picture from an 1896 catalog of the William Tonk and Bro. Ready to suffer a little for your blues? These do not give you any indication of the instrument's age; they are merely the dates various trade awards were given. To top it all off, the corners are pretty pointy, so holding it for long periods of time could be uncomfortable. Its got a loud bright tone, its easy on the lips, very responsive, very easy to bend and its very EXPENSIVE! It felt to me like the edges of the reed plates were also adding to the discomfort. You can see an interesting list of famous Marine Band players right here. Apparently I didn't do such a good job, as the dealer instantly pounced upon me and thrust the harp towards me with the words "You can play it if you like." 4/5 Stars. Known for its full tone, wood comb, and its patented cover plates, the Marine Band harmonica was there when harmonica blues was born. You can hear the sound of the Fender Blues Deluxe versus the Hohner Blues Band in this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. Ive literally taught thousands of people how to play the harmonica, and not one beginner who has purchased the Special 20 hasnt loved it. If youre into jazz, gospel, or bluegrass, I highly recommend that you consider this harp. Even my friend Lee Oksar (who makes the equally awesome Lee Oskar harmonica) acknowledges that Hohner makes great harmonicas. 20K subscribers HOHNER Marine Band When Jacob HOHNER registered his new harmonica design at the US Patent Office on January 30th, 1896, he did not understand the impact it was to have on. Ready to suffer a little for your blues? The six point star in the middle of the trademark is slightly larger and there are doubled circles around the WIEN and PHILAD. I once attended one of the UK's biggest antiques and collectibles fairs, hunting for old harps. To get the best out of our site and for it to function correct, please read, accept and understand our 'Cookies Policy'. Ill never tire of saying it: if you wanna sound like the old blues masters, play the instrument that they played: the Hohner Marine Band! Can someone please help me. 2.96K subscribers Here's a description of how to create a "Marine Band Opener" to crack open a Marine Band 1896 to work on it (customize, flatten reed plates, reed curvature, tuning,. These have a clear finish, rather than the traditional yellow/orange paint on the front and black paint on the ends and rear of the comb. Its uniquely authentic sound has defined the role of the harmonica in the blues tradition and made it the benchmark by which all others are judged. The reeds are all brass, and there are 20 of them. From the birth of the blues, the Marine Band 1896 has been a constant musical fixture. This harmonica has a light brown and black stained wooden comb with metal cover plates screwed to top and bottom. African American History Curatorial Collective, Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments. The star vanished during the Nazi era and has never returned. The 12-hole version is the Super Chromonica, or 270. It was made in 1896, and it still has the same design. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online. If you are really wanting to learn the harmonica, I DO NOT recommend that you purchase the Pentaharp because it is SO DIFFERENT from a regular harmonica. The reedplates are held in place with screws and the covers attached with bolts, unlike the Classic Marine Band's nailed construction. or Best Offer. The first production runs turned out some rather unresponsive harps with short lived reeds, but these problems were address with longer scale reeds, improved tolerances and a better reed alloy. But is the standard actually that good? Is a PhD visitor considered as a visiting scholar? 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 there is no model on the harmonica itself, but the case says it is a c260. 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. 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. During the mid-1960s through some time in the 1970s, they had soft wraparound plastic pouches, green for the 270 and brown for the 280. Hey good people out there. Hohner Silver Concerto Chromatic Harmonica. Your email address will not be published. Whats not to love? 1896 Harmonica Made in Germany by M. Hohner with Box. 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. Heres my Hohner Marine Band 1896 full review. I had a lot of them and you can just take them out and back without any problem several times. Youve got a harmonica very suitable to learn on. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? If you already own a Hohner Blues Harp or a Hohner Big River harmonica, and youre wondering if its a good harmonica to learn on: fear not, youre in great shape. It's simplistic in its design but beautiful in its achievements. or Best Offer. The concept failed and is often frowned upon by professional 48 chord players. Hohner used various trademarks over the years, but a particularly common one was a circle being held by two hands. More on the way soon. Cookies Low-tuned Diatonic Harmonica with Layered, Triple-laminated Bamboo Comb Construction and Conical Lower Cover Design - Key of Low G. $159.99. Heres my take on the Hohner Marine Band, which is the #1 best-sellingharmonica model of all time. 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. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Old herings super 20 were like that too, using rivets. They were apparently hoping to cash in on the fame and name recognition of the Marine Band to boost interest in their new instrument. 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 . The instruments, held together with nails, were hard to get apart, hard to get back together. How is Jesus " " (Luke 1:32 NAS28) different from a prophet (, Luke 1:76 NAS28)? 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 270 has always been straight tuned.). The size difference is not big but it is bigger. Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 125th Jubilee edition, key of C. C $96.66 + C $21.78 shipping. They are not pins or rivets.They are small nails. Cant do so, I tried talking one off but i couldn't put it back. 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. More importantly, they are no longer made of brass, but of what appears to be some sort of nickel alloy, possibly what is known as German Silver. The lips at the rear of the covers are still flattened, making the harp more open at the rear, but the M. HOHNER on the lower cover is slightly shorter than on the previous examples and where it used to say MADE BY and GERMANY on either side of the name, it now says MADE IN GERMANY and FABRIQU EN ALLEMAGNE. Compared to the Special 20 (which has what's called an enclosed construction), this Hohner Marine Band harmonica has side vents that give it a "brighter, more vibrant sound," says Barrett,. In 1896 they created a new harmonica and named it the Marine Band. A longtime favorite of many country artists, the model 34B Old Standby is always ready to express spontaneous musical soul. Ive had several beginners who were struggling while playing these, and then theyinvested a bit more into a Special 20, a Lee Oskar, or a Golden Melody and they came back ecstatic at how much easier it was to play.