But they are not professional quality instruments like Special 20s. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic harmonica is the original blues harmonica. Full Disclosure: Not All Hohner Harmonicas Are Created Equal! He saw an opportunity in John Philip Souza and his popular Banda de . 3. Here we have a second Hohner product. Just taking a glance at it will make you feel like you travelled back in time to the early 1900s. Just as well, my Marine Band combs would have suffered. Although the WIEN medals keep their single circle outline, there is a partial circle of dots inside this outline. However, I have since learned that this is by no means an uncommon specimen. 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. 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. Verdict The Hohner Marine Band 1896 is the classic harmonica played by old Blues greats like Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Litter Walter. 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. Best Beginner Harmonica Which Harmonica Is The Best For Beginners? However, if your old harmonica is shaped like a zeppelin, an automobile, a fish, a boomerang or a rooster, or if it features art deco style paintwork, or has bells, pipes or horns attached to it, then you might possibly be holding something of value. All of the above raises the inevitable question of hygiene - is it safe to play something that has been in someone else's mouth? More on the way soon. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Presenting the Marine Band 1896 Classic from Hohner. Also the comb is now shorter than any of the previous models, a fraction under 4 inches long. It's like trying to cook eggs without breaking them. . An original Hohner harmonica at an affordable price! (no music shop sells marine band harmonica in my county) This one is a Marine Band made by Hohner N 1896 key of C. How do you clean this one? As I always say: if you want to sound like the old blues masters, why not play the harmonica they played? 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. 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. The covers now have a substantial lip at the rear opening and the cutouts at the end of each cover are slightly smaller. One of the easiest harmonicas in the world for bending. It will not be helpful for beginners who really want to learn how to play harmonica. You're in! Responsiveness From hole 1 to hole 10, the Marine Band is not sluggish anywhere. However, it is impossible to make an fair estimate of the value of an instrument without seeing it. It is probable that you found this page with a search engine, as you sit at your computer with an old harmonica in your lap, curious as to how much it is worth. The labels on the inside of the lid and bottom of the box were unchanged from earlier versions. 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. 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. Check out my full Hohner Golden Melody review. 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. [7] There are various subdivisions of the Marine Band. This page tells you pretty much everything I can about the value of your old harmonica without actually seeing it. How Old Is My Hohner Marine Band Harmonica. 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. How do I disassemble a slide whistle in order to clean it? BluesHarmonica.com. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? Heres my take on the Hohner Marine Band, which is the #1 best-sellingharmonica model of all time. Here's a folder containing all the photos that you may want to see. 18.80 postage. Hope this helps. There is a commonly held belief (not completely without basis in fact) that Hohner harmonicas made before WWII are better than more recent ones. I have seen instruments that could be reliably dated to the late 1800s that had the six point star in the trademark and I have seen instruments that were definitely made after World War I that had only five points to the star. They are long they will still work. Vintage Hohner Trutone Pitchpipe No. After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at Learn Harmonica! By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: 1896 classic, Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band. When I first wrote about this next example, I described it as being "something of an oddball". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Money no object? Marine band is the worst harp I ever bought. I always enjoy playing different tunings. Money no object? The Hohner Old Standby Harmonica will get through, whether 're riding high, singing the blues, or just waiting on a train. The wood comb sandwiched by the visible edges of the brass reed plates, topped with the stainless steel cover plates is a winning combination. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. After pressing the pin/rivet through, set the bottom side of the pin on an anvil (any raised piece of metal like a meat tenderizer or side of some pliers). Clicking on the links under each picture will open new windows with close-ups of various parts of each instrument. This is the quintessential blues harmonica from the Chicago Blues Era. 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. 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! The reeds are all brass, and there are 20 of them. 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. Tone The tone of this harmonica is supreme. The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. In fact, in 1980 they produced their one billionth harmonica. Just a Q-Tip moistened with water or ispropyl alcohol. TheVINTAGEShopBG. Sold out. Guitarist? Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? 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 Nevertheless, it is THE CLASSIC harmonica. 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. They are long they will still work. The Hohner Marine Band 364 is a quality instrument, just like the Marine Band 1896. 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. Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? The 12-hole version is the Super Chromonica, or 270. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Special Financing - Ends Jan 1, 2024. 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. Thanks for all that. Screw For Cover Plates - Marine Band Crossover, Thunderbird And Octave, Auto Valve. Tomorrow I'll try to get some pictures taken And posted. 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. Lets get down to business. Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. Highly recommended. Do this on both sides. One change that is easier to spot is the number of nails used to secure the lower reedplate. There are a couple of them I would like to mention here are they both also bore the model number 1896. Got something to say? 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). 1896 Key Of A Original HARD CASE | Musical Instruments & Gear, Vintage Musical Instruments, Vintage Wind & Woodwind | eBay! The Marine Bands double-lacquered Pear wood comb is tough on the lips, especially if you play it for a long time. It's like trying to cook eggs without breaking them. Hohner reed plates decoded. Also the Seydel 1847 models are a bit larger than the Hohner Marine Band harps. Add To Cart. Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. It was made in 1896, and it still has the same design. Legendary Hohner Marine Band Harp. My grandfather gave me a Hohner Chromonica back in the 80's and I would like to get an idea of how long he had it before he gave it to me. 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. This harmonica was made by M. Hohner in Germany, undetermined date. Straight tuned. I want a marine band, I would do a Buddah model cause i'd like to play it, not take it apart. As it turned out, she was willing to sell the harp at a fair price, so I bought it. Ending Today at 17:11 EST 12h 5m. But if youre totally obsessed with TONE at any cost, then this may be the harmonica youre looking for. One fairly reliable way get some idea of the age of certain Hohner models is by the trademark on the cover. Many brands of harmonica have little medals engraved on the covers with various dates on them. Durability/Fixability the double-lacquered Pear wood comb could over time become susceptible to swelling, cracking, or splintering. The six point star in the middle of the trademark is slightly larger and there are doubled circles around the WIEN and PHILAD. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Initially designed for European folk music . Just leave plenty of length so you can twist the other end like a fern frond using needle-nose pliers, then possibly hammer the swirl perpendicular against the harmonica shell. The current version of the Blues Harp is part of Hohner's Modular Series and was introduced in the 1990s. Open quick view dialog for Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica M2009 { "inCheckoutPromo":[] } Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica M2009. For low tunings, we recommend the Hohner Thunderbird, which has been designed from the ground up as a low tuned harmonica, but still has similar tone and feel to the classic Marine Band. Hohner Hot Metal Harmonica $ 17.99 Select options; Hohner Marine Band 364/24 Soloist Harmonica $ 79.00 Add to cart To get the best out of our site and for it to function correct, please read, accept and understand our 'Cookies Policy'. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. 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. The bottom of the box and the inside of the lid are also different. Very responsive. Free shipping for many products! Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band Deluxe. These legends were some of the most demanding and finicky musicians on the planet. C $135.09. From the birth of the blues, the Marine Band 1896 has been a constant musical fixture. The price is about 35-40$ which is the most common price range for good harmonicas for everybody from straight up first-time harmonica players to professionals that record with it and play live. 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). The rear of the covers still have the lipped edges, but these lips have been folded back against the inside of the covers. The hands and the star are just slightly different from the previous version and the WIEN and PHILAD. 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. Now I have this marine band, you have to see to believe! Maintenance with the older harmonicas was hit and miss, with no guidance. Hohner has been making harmonicas for about 160 years. Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. If money isnt tight and youre the kind of person who likes the best of the best, then go for the Crossover! Also the words DEM VERDIENSTE (alongside the WEIN medals) have now been abbreviated to D. VERDIENSTE. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions. 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. Our collection database is a work in progress. (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); The Marine Band Classic is one of the few Hohner diatonics that is available in a full range of natural and harmonic minor tunings. For rivets, use a center punch to guarantee centering a drill, and drill off the end which has the least material until you can pull it through from the other side by using a narrower screw inside, pulled with pliers. 4.5 of 5 stars (38) Reviews. M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica, Germany harmonica, Marine Band No 1896 harmonica, vintage harmonica, m. hohner germany, marine band harmoni .