A really tough one. I was also baffled about how to take off the harmonica cover plates, having wrongly thought they were held on by small screws and invested in a Hohner repair kit. After the Crossover, this is my 2nd favorite Hohner harmonica. It's simplistic in its design but beautiful in its achievements. Clean. I think its worth the extra money. Join 4700+ Successful Harmonica Jamz students - Play any Song and Jam with Other Musicians, Your email address will not be published. 4.2/5 Stars Total. Originally seven nails were used, but by the mid 1930s this had been increased to eight nails. The original harmonica since 1896: HOHNER - enjoy music MARINE BAND Series The Original When the Marine Band was first introduced to the American market in 1896, no one could have foreseen the lasting impact this instrument would have on the future of popular music. 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. For basic cleaning just rub the covers down with a microfiber cloth and use a toothpick to get the gunk out of the holes (hold the harp so the stuff falls out, not in). 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 low monthly subscription of $16.95 gives you full access! Id think twice before purchasing a Blues Bender. HOHNERU.S.A. 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 The size difference is not big but it is bigger. The Harmonica Company is the trading name of The Harmonica World Ltd. I spotted an old F. A. Bohm tremolo harmonica lying on one of the tables and tried to suppress my look of interest as I approached it. 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. We may update this record based on further research and review. . However, the 1896 only has 20 reeds. The original version of the Blues Harp was introduced in the late 1960s and despite the stories about the reeds somehow being different (see this pagefor more details), was essentially a Marine Band with different covers. The Hohner Marine Band 364 is a quality instrument, just like the Marine Band 1896. Figuring out the age of a harmonica is by no means easy, nor is it always relevant to the value of the instrument. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? 12.56. Tubes can be made by rolling some brass foil. The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. If you are lucky, the pin/rivet is wide enough to replace with a harmonica bolt and flat nut. You're in! Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. 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. Its design has changed quite a bit over the last century and I have attempted here to draw up a chronology of its evolution. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Also, hole numbers appear on the upper cover for the first time. They are long they will still work. In the late 1980s, a plastic box was introduced: In the early 1990s, the design on the lid was enlarged: Also the word HANDMADE was stamped on the front of the box for a short time, to distinguish this model from the MS Marine Band being marketed at the time: Around this same time, Hohner started adding the barcode label to the bottom of the box (the ZA5 on this label dates it to around 1995, the year that the ZA5 reed alloy was introduced): The Marine Band itself went pretty much unchanged between the end of WWII and the end of the 20th century, at least as for as its visual appearance was concerned, with some very slight changes to the picture of Herr Hohner and the size of the lettering on the top cover. The only reason I doc it one star is that I wish it had better key labels. Rather than a pair of tabs at each end of the cover, there is a single tab at each end the full width of the cover. The answer, of course, is for comfort! The biggest health risk is when you share a harmonica with someone within moments of it being used by the other person. Guitarist? 9 Inspiring Reasons to Do So. Fast shipping. The Hohner company has produced more than forty different models bearing the name Marine Band over the years, ranging from simple Richter diatonics with twenty reeds, to huge multiple tremolo instruments with almost almost two hundred reeds and all sizes and types in between. Get the full low down on the Hohner Special 20. Compare. Clicking on the links under each picture will open new windows with close-ups of various parts of each instrument. Up until the mid 1970s, the Marine Band was not officially distributed outside of the US, but upon being given worldwide distribution, the US address was removed from the lower label and the purchaser was advised "Ask your dealer or Hohner distributor". The instruments, held together with nails, were hard to get apart, hard to get back together. This harmonica features U.S. Patent #588920 for an improvement in mouth-harmonicas, submitted by Jacob Hohner. The reedplates are held in place with screws and the covers attached with bolts, unlike the Classic Marine Band's nailed construction. If you're into jazz, gospel, or bluegrass, I highly recommend that you consider this harp. Today it's still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first produced in 1896. I always hear that the hohner marine Band is considered the best harmonica and almost God like. The Marine Bands double-lacquered Pear wood comb is tough on the lips, especially if you play it for a long time. How can a harmonica make some different sounds? The covers now have a substantial lip at the rear opening and the cutouts at the end of each cover are slightly smaller. Marine Band Crossover Harmonica - Key of C. Marine Band Crossover Diatonic Harmonica - Key of C. 10 reviews Write your review Item ID: MarineCrossC. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. They are not pins or rivets.They are small nails. Marine band is the worst harp I ever bought. If you want to learn more check out my full Special 20 Review. 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! 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. Its responsive, its got a great bluesy tone, and its one of the easiest harmonicas on which to learn how to bend notes. $25.00 + $5.85 shipping. Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. Registered Company 10370912. or Best Offer. It felt to me like the edges of the reed plates were also adding to the discomfort. Want to up your single note game? Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. 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. 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. $270.00. The picture above shows the words PATENT APPLIED FOR on the cover, so presumably this 1906 catalog must have used an old illustration. We apologize for the interruption. https://theharmonicacompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/HOHNER-Marine-Band-Deluxe-Harmonica-1.mp4. Links, Are you a beginner or struggling to sound good on harmonica? If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. Is a PhD visitor considered as a visiting scholar? Top-Seller. Compare. C $13.89. If youre looking for a traditional blues harp to play Muddy, Walter (s), Sonny Terry Ted and dont customise, this is it. Recent versions all have a hard plastic box, green for the 270, black for the 16-holers. The 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 Hohnersound. The top is pretty plain. Low-tuned Diatonic Harmonica with Layered, Triple-laminated Bamboo Comb Construction and Conical Lower Cover Design - Key of Low G. $159.99. He saw an opportunity in John Philip Souza and his popular Banda de . The Hohner Big River has a plastic comb, so its more comfy on the lips than wooden-combed harps like the Marine Band and the Blues Harp. This is most notable with the circle in the middle of the trademark, which is now oval rather than being perfectly circular. 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. Hey! Very responsive. Key Features Cant do so, I tried talking one off but i couldn't put it back. And for dessert, heres avery cool article I found online: How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? How do I clean my harmonica without taking it apart? If it is in impeccable condition and has its original box, then it is probably worth even more. Hohners main Chord is known as the Hohner 48, because it plays 48 chords. The Pentaharp was specifically designed for guitar players, and its tuning is laid out totally differently from a regular harmonica. This was printed on a blow reed plate: 1-216-1011018/1 G Dur Hohner 27/03 L9/KA2. Anyway, I tried unscrewing it, and one of the rivets fell off, you can see that in the pictures, and therefore I cannot take the plate off, I could break it but will never be able to reassemble it. This harmonica was made by M. Hohner in Germany, undetermined date. Can someone please help me. Cover Plate Support - Super Chromonica, 12-hole Style. Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? Even some fairly common harmonicas may be considered collectible by some people. Im working my way through every key to fill my harp case. A two-part hollow tube would definitely be called a rivet, but you're unlikely to find those on harmonicas. The other instrument I should mention is the Marine Band MS. The go to harp for players such as Jerry Portnoy and Kim Wilson, although this iant publicised as the Marine Band Deluxe isnt marketed in the US. Presenting the Marine Band 1896 Classic from Hohner. (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); Heres my Hohner Marine Band 1896 full review. Youve got a harmonica very suitable to learn on. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. Over time, I have absolutely fallen in love with this harmonica. Although the comb is the same length, the covers have changed substantially. One fairly reliable way get some idea of the age of certain Hohner models is by the trademark on the cover. Between 12th and 14th Streets 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. The upper tabs now bear the key of the harp at the right and A440 at the left. The trademark has more subtle changes. Yes, they are the original harmonica that all the old blues masters played. 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. Its got a loud bright tone, its easy on the lips, very responsive, very easy to bend and its very EXPENSIVE! The box now has #1896 added to the design on the top and a label on the bottom boasting of the quality of their instruments and of their award at the 1915 San Francisco Exposition. does any one know how to tell how old a harmonica is? Your email address will not be published. The Hohner Blues Bender is not a great one. But is the standard actually that good? Hohner Golden Melody Review + Video: The Pretty Lady in Red. More significant is the introduction of a groove towards the front of each reedplate to accept the front edge of the covers. Hope this helps. This expands the pin/rivet at the ends and compresses the shell together further. 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. Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. Tech Specs Scale: Diatonic Blues Key: C Do i have to use a hammer? Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. My speculation is that the Marine Band 1896 is a relic, long ago surpassed by better thinking and better materials, and maintained in production only to please purists and romanticizers. Looking for an amazing bang-for buck harp? In my opinion, the Fender Blues Deluxe is a better purchase in the budget harmonica category, even though its a few bucks more. Ronnie Shellist of Hohner harmonicas giving us an expert look at the Marine Band Series of harmonicas. The only key label is a difficult-to-read engraving on the cover plate, virtually impossible to see in a dark club. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? To make space for this, the medals are all slightly smaller and have smaller lettering around them. The A440 is a little bigger than before and the key on the right tab of the upper cover is now stamped into the metal, rather than engraved. I just had to ask the question again, and please don't vote it up, it's kinda the same as the other one, I don't want any reputation. The 364, like many other Hohner models, has stainless steel covers and brass reed plates. The Hohner Old Standby Harmonica will get through, whether 're riding high, singing the blues, or just waiting on a train. The significance of the six-pointed star has been the subject of much debate. 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. 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. Constitution Avenue, NW Dont worry, Im here to help. Ive literally taught thousands of people how to play the harmonica, and not one beginner who has purchased the Special 20 hasnt loved it. That means its less comfy than a plastic combed harmonica like a Special 20. Those may not be available though, and rivet pins are easy enough to make anyhow. Lets get down to business. There is a commonly held belief (not completely without basis in fact) that Hohner harmonicas made before WWII are better than more recent ones. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. 1896 model in the key of C, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. I do not want to have to be a mechanic to play a harp. It has been suggested that it was a Star of David and that it was removed because of the Nazis. This attractive and robust instrument is a quality staple for beginners and a sure performer for seasoned veterans. The star vanished during the Nazi era and has never returned. Heres my take on the Hohner Marine Band, which is the #1 best-sellingharmonica model of all time. This is probably the question I get asked the most by email and the best answer I can give is that like anything else, an old harmonica is worth whatever someone is willing to pay you for it. Should you wish to replace reed plates on the Marine Band Classic, we recommend upgrading to the Andrew Zajac Marine Band Conversion Kit, which replaces the stock nails with a bolted setup, and makes the process of changing reed plates significantly easier. Every time I play one of these, Im always like, wow, I forgot how awesome Special 20s are! Ive never heard of anyone purchasing a Special 20 and being unhappy with it. 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,. Vintage. Your harmonica will survive. The circle with the star has the words GESETLICH and GESCHUTZT in full, instead of the abbreviated forms GESETL. For a clunky but functional hack, even a steel brad will work. Thats right: billion with a B. I think its safe to say that they know a thing or two about making harmonicas! 1896 Harmonica Made in Germany by M. Hohner with Box. Here is a picture from a 1905 Hohner catalog for the German market, showing the Orpheus Concert: The number 1896 also applied to a harmonica with the name Up To Date, as shown in this picture taken from a 1906 Hohner catalog for the US market: Hohner produced more than sixty different models bearing the name Up To Date, but this one clearly resembles the Marine Band, particularly with regard to its covers. 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). 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. Today its still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first produced in 1896. Special Financing - Ends Jan 1, 2024. In the last few years, I traveled through four continents while performing and teaching music, and I also run the blog GuitarSongsMasters.com - one of the world's top five most-read guitar blogs. Look in the middle of the circle - if there is a star inside it, then it is probable that it was made prior to WWII. If youre on a tight budget and you can save $20 bucks or more, I guess you could get a Big River instead of a Special 20, but if possible Id try and save up for a Special 20 or a Golden Melody. The Harmonica Company is the trading name of The Harmonica World Ltd. The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular model of harmonica for generations. This was part of Hohner Modular Series that came out in the late 1980s and whose original concept was to replace the hand made models with instruments made on a computer-controlled assembly line. Whats not to love? You can hear the sound of the Fender Blues Deluxe versus the Hohner Blues Band in this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. (1) Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica - Key of B. Straight tuned. 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. To have a look please message me. It was made in 1896, and it still has the same design. Acidity of alcohols and basicity of amines. Here is an example: Later versions of that trademark omit the star. 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. Translated: 1-216-1011018/1 is the article number. These reviews are strictly based on my own experience and opinions. 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. Our collection database is a work in progress. It took some major abuse on the travels. Cookies They are long they will still work. They were apparently hoping to cash in on the fame and name recognition of the Marine Band to boost interest in their new instrument. Tone The tone of this harmonica is supreme. Do new devs get fired if they can't solve a certain bug? The Marine Band harp is a result over 100 years of Hohner German craftsmanship. Cookies Hohner 1896 Marine Band Natural Minor Harmonica. Honestly, though, I rarely play this instrument because the others are SO much more comfy, and still sound really good. Washington, D.C. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use), International Media Interoperability Framework. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. 3 comments. Its sound is typical for blues, folk, and country, but also pop and rock. 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). What more dya want? What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? 1896 Key Of A Original HARD CASE | Musical Instruments & Gear, Vintage Musical Instruments, Vintage Wind & Woodwind | eBay! I have a couple of them and it was my first real harmonica which drew me into this world so I hold massive respect for this instrument. Registered Company 10370912. Double sided harmonica - Weltmeister Rare World War 2 Double sided - Old Harmonica - Collectible harmonica Ad vertisement by TheVINTAGEShopBG. 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. 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? The current version of the Blues Harp is part of Hohner's Modular Series and was introduced in the 1990s. Ive literally never met one person who doesnt agree. Why do many companies reject expired SSL certificates as bugs in bug bounties? The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. The Hohner Special 20 is so responsive and so easy to bend, its comfy on the lips, and its got a nice, dark bluesy tone. Just bear in mind that youll have to sacrifice the comfort that other modern alternatives can provide. For some time, the Marine Band was also available in a hard case, as well as the usual card box: Our third example dates from some time prior to WWI and displays several changes from the previous model. The archetypal blues harmonica with the traditional HOHNER tuning. Just taking a glance at it will make you feel like you travelled back in time to the early 1900s. Responsiveness From hole 1 to hole 10, the Marine Band is not sluggish anywhere. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Hohner Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica Key of F Germany T. $11.40. The case is a soft green wraparound. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic harmonica is the original blues harmonica. As I mentioned at the start of this article, there have been many other models made with the name Marine Band. Heres my Hohner Marine Band 1896 full review. The revolutionary laminated bamboo comb is completely sealed, making it water repellent and exceptionally stable. Postage is at cost. Hohner Silver Concerto Chromatic Harmonica. Vintage HOHNER Tombo PeeWee Harmonica Collection Lee Oskar Marine Band Golden Melody Old Standby Professional 2016 1. On the upper cover, the lettering is fractionally larger than on the previous examples, both for the name MARINE BAND and the Hohner signature. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! Everybody knows it. The chances are, if your harmonica just looks like a harmonica, then it probably isn't worth much at all. Another change occurred around 2000, when the nickel plated mild steel covers used for the last eighty years or so, were replaced with stainless steel covers. I've never had one and was looking on the market for one but I'm having second thoughts. 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! Even my friend Lee Oksar (who makes the equally awesome Lee Oskar harmonica) acknowledges that Hohner makes great harmonicas. Old herings super 20 were like that too, using rivets. M.Hohner Vtg The Echo Harp Germany Bell Metal Reeds Box Harmonica. The picture of the US Marine Band is now printed directly on the top of the box, rather than being a separate piece of paper pasted on. In the 1980s they were using six nails for the lower reedplate (although I have also seen a few examples that only used five nails on each reedplate). Verdict - The Hohner Marine Band 1896 is the classic harmonica played by old Blues greats like Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Litter Walter. medals, single circles around ULM and STUTTGART medals. Many brands of harmonica have little medals engraved on the covers with various dates on them. Please message me if you are going to be more than 15 minutes late or not coming. Links, Are you a beginner or struggling to sound good on harmonica? That's a tough one. Money no object? Aside from the boast of U.S.A. PATENT AUG. 24th 1897, the covers on this one seem identical to the previous model, however the combs are very slightly different, the earlier one being 4 1/16 inches long and the later one being 4 1/32 inches. How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? Her willingness to let me blow into it suggested that maybe many other lips had been on its mouthpiece that same day, so I declined, at which point she said "It's perfectly OK - I've given it a good cleaning" and she put the harp in her mouth and proceeded to blow and draw with great enthusiasm. The concept failed and is often frowned upon by professional 48 chord players. A longtime favorite of many country artists, the model 34B Old Standby is always ready to express spontaneous musical soul. Hohner has been making harmonicas for about 160 years. I guess it is possible that anything resembling a Jewish symbol would have been risky to display as part of a trademark during those times, but I am aware of no evidence that the Hohner family were Jewish, besides which they also used five and eight pointed stars in some of their designs. Highly recommended. Compare. It is a Marine Band No. Well, theyre good in so far as theyre cheap! Accessioned with original cardboard box. Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. All Hohner harmonicas had 4-digit date stamps on the reedplates from 2005 until about two years ago. I have never had someone buy a Hohner Special 20 and be disappointed with it. There were also some changes made to the covers, most notably getting rid of the gaps at the ends of the front edges of the covers that had a tendency to snag facial hair. the marine band is my active instrument and the thing is, i don't want to mess with the tuning, i don't know how to retunne, it's not like the guitar, you can't use a metronome right? The only hohner I've played is the bluesband variation. Super 64X (7584) Reed Plate Set. The cover plates are attached with nails instead of screws which could make fixing/tuning this harmonica difficult. The details might be a little too subtle to make out in the above pictures, but the designs have all been very slightly shrunk horizontally and very slightly stretched vertically.

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