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". Visit the IIIF page to learn more. 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. Sturdy zipper case allows moisture to evaporate while keeping dust out. Straight tuned. Ive never had anyone fight me when I say that the Marine Band wins in the category of TONE. The harp also has a much slimmer profile top to bottom than previous versions. 0 bids. Looks This harmonica is absolutely beautiful to look at. There are a couple of them I would like to mention here are they both also bore the model number 1896. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Hohner Golden Melody Review + Video: The Pretty Lady in Red. It's a Hohner 260, then. 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. Now I have this marine band, you have to see to believe! (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); VAT Number: GB287764345. 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. T&C African American History Curatorial Collective, Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments. Your Price $ 84.99 msrp:115.0,lowPrice:84.99. 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. The dates are not that helpful at all, except that a harp with an award dated 1937 is unlikely to have been made before 1937! Although the comb is the same length, the covers have changed substantially. After the Crossover, this is my 2nd favorite Hohner harmonica. We finally arrive at the post-WWII Marine Band: The most noticeable difference on the lower cover is the lack of the star in the trademark. A few words of advice. Dont worry, Im here to help. You can order from his website custom combs for Hohner chromatic harmonicas, ask for restoration and various repair services. How do I disassemble a slide whistle in order to clean it? Privacy document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Contact Known for its full tone, wood comb, and its patented cover plates, the Marine Band harmonica was there when harmonica blues was born. 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. Cash preferred. Do this on both sides. Marine Band Crossover Harmonica - Key of C. Marine Band Crossover Diatonic Harmonica - Key of C. 10 reviews Write your review Item ID: MarineCrossC. 3 comments. 1896 Harmonica Made in Germany by M. Hohner with Box. * 0-80 x 3/8' brass bolts #70189 round head, or #70191 for hex head (strictly a matter of taste) * 0-80 nuts if you choose not to tap threads into the bottom draw reed plate, and the four 0-80 nuts you will need to secure the cover . There are some slight differences in the engraving and the design of the hands in the trademark is considerably different and all the medals now have doubled circles around them. Very responsive. 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. Presenting the Marine Band 1896 Classic from Hohner. $ 84 .99. 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. These legends were some of the most demanding and finicky musicians on the planet. For the rest of this article, I shall confine myself to physical examples of the instrument, rather than catalog illustrations. Hello Audrey, Fun project. Well, theyre good in so far as theyre cheap! One of the easiest harmonicas in the world for bending. Pickup near South Perth in Kensington. (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); Here is an example: Later versions of that trademark omit the star. Full Disclosure: Not All Hohner Harmonicas Are Created Equal! Almost unchanged since it was patented in 1896, the instrument embodies the real deep blues like no other and is the benchmark against which all others are judged. Contact Although the covers are still lipped at the rear, the opening is noticeably wider. (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); ate 1970s), and the Super 64x version (1980s). More on the way soon. Look at the openings inside the round holes, with the slide in the out position (i.e., not pressed in). Constitution Avenue, NW Help 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 responsive, its got a great bluesy tone, and its one of the easiest harmonicas on which to learn how to bend notes. Chillin on a nice afternoon while sending the Marine Band sounds out the window. Cookies A later catalog shows an octave tuned harmonica with the same name, given the model number 1896 and claiming a patent date of August 24th, 1897 - the date of the patent claimed on the covers used on the Marine Band 1896 and several other models. An original Hohner harmonica at an affordable price! $4.99 shipping. Rivets and pins are essentially the same thing. Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. Do you have the box or case for it? P4 A-440 Germany Vocal Old Style with Box. Thats my old Marine Band you can notice the dent in the upper cover plate. . The top is pretty plain. there is no model on the harmonica itself, but the case says it is a c260. Recent versions all have a hard plastic box, green for the 270, black for the 16-holers. These sound great in a more chordal folk style as well. I've discussed that subject before, and you all insisted that i have to unscrew it. Its a total classic. All Hohner harmonicas had 4-digit date stamps on the reedplates from 2005 until about two years ago. Ive also spoken with representatives from Hohners main competitors, like Suzuki and Seydel, and they too all agree that Hohner is a great brand of harmonica. Many harmonica makers avoid G sharp, which makes these harder to find (and drives the cost up). Money no object? And Pros love it too! Over time, I have absolutely fallen in love with this harmonica. I hope to be helpful to you on your harmonica journeys. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic harmonica is the original blues harmonica. When I first wrote about this next example, I described it as being "something of an oddball". The MS covers have integral cover supports at the rear and the upper cover clearly says MARINE BAND MS: The MS Series as a whole went through various charges during the 1990s. 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. Sweetwater Savings: $ 30 .01 MSRP: $ 115 .00. 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). Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online. The brass reeds and wood comb give it that beautiful woody tone that, in my opinion, just cant be beat. We accept major credit cards and PayPal. If the openings alternate between top and bottom half of the hole, that's cross tuning. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! If youre looking at an outdated forum, you might see people complaining about Marine Bands not bending well out of the box. The cutouts at each of the covers are larger and more angular. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band Deluxe. Those that do are mostly in the German language and take some effort to obtain. 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. Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? The archetypal blues harmonica with the traditional HOHNER tuning. Learn how your comment data is processed. 4/5 Stars. Verdict The Hohner Marine Band 1896 is the classic harmonica played by old Blues greats like Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Litter Walter. The picture of Matthias Hohner is slightly simplified compared with earlier versions and the laurel around his picture is also a little different. Reed plate edges and channel openings with new Ultraglide coating are rounded off for greater playing comfort. Its got a loud bright tone, its easy on the lips, very responsive, very easy to bend and its very EXPENSIVE! rev2023.3.3.43278. That means its less comfy than a plastic combed harmonica like a Special 20. 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. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. In my opinion, the Fender Blues Deluxe is a better purchase in the budget harmonica category, even though its a few bucks more. Seydel Shne Bandmaster Chromatic Harmonica. We apologize for the interruption. Looking for an amazing bang-for buck harp? If it is in impeccable condition and has its original box, then it is probably worth even more. Matthias Hohner is a consummate entrepreneur and businessman. They are long they will still work. Tech Specs Scale: Diatonic Blues Key: C The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BAND The upper tabs now bear the key of the harp at the right and A440 at the left. $137.00. Learn Harmonica! To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. A wire brush may score the reeds or comb. Required fields are marked *. Hohner 590 Big River MS-Series . Top-Seller. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. I imagine that's an inventory number. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. In that case don't attempt pining the centers of the ends. On the upper cover, the wreath is slightly smaller and the placement different, the signature is also smaller and the patent dates are placed more to right than on the 1923 model. Is the harmonica straight tuned or cross tuned? Comfort Comfort is the one area where the Marine Band 1896 does not fare well against the competition. 1 bid. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: 1896 classic, Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band. The picture above shows the words PATENT APPLIED FOR on the cover, so presumably this 1906 catalog must have used an old illustration. 5/5 Stars. C. $19.99. The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. Our collection database is a work in progress. 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. My preference. 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). It felt to me like the edges of the reed plates were also adding to the discomfort. Ending Today at 5:24PM GMT 16h 54m. Looking for an amazing bang-for buck harp? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But if youre totally obsessed with TONE at any cost, then this may be the harmonica youre looking for. 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. Open quick view dialog for Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica M2009 { "inCheckoutPromo":[] } Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica M2009. Highly recommended. Ready to suffer a little for your blues? 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. Do new devs get fired if they can't solve a certain bug? A really tough one. In the US filing, they claim that Marine Band had been in continuous use since January 30th, 1896. I once attended one of the UK's biggest antiques and collectibles fairs, hunting for old harps. 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. Do i have to use a hammer? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. M.Hohner Vtg The Echo Harp Germany Bell Metal Reeds Box Harmonica. How are they compared to other harmonicas too? If you want to learn more check out my full Special 20 Review. 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 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. Shortly after then, the "A440" was dropped and other small changes made to the designs on the cover. Screw For Cover Plates - Marine Band Crossover, Thunderbird And Octave, Auto Valve. T&C Blues harp - not a bad harp. The Chord Harmonica consists of two harmonicas hinged together. If youre wanting to get a wooden-combed harmonica, I recommend that you just get the tried-and-true original, the Marine Band (or, if you can afford it, the Crossover which is much comfier on the lips with its triple-lacquered bamboo comb). Registered Company 10370912. It was identical to the standard Marine Band 1896, except that it was gold finished and came in a special box. Youve got a harmonica very suitable to learn on. 12.56. Just as well, my Marine Band combs would have suffered. If all the top halves are open in a straight line, that's straight tuning. Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica is the number one choice of top professionals. At the end of this video (after 9:00s) I am giving some playing examples with the Marine Band, youre welcome to check them out and also to check out the lesson if youre new to harmonica. Hohner used various trademarks over the years, but a particularly common one was a circle being held by two hands. Ready to suffer a little for your blues? Postage is at cost. The box has different labels to previous versions, both inside the lid and on the bottom. All of the above raises the inevitable question of hygiene - is it safe to play something that has been in someone else's mouth? The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. I guess if youre saving $20 getting a Blues Harp instead of a Marine Band, and youre on a tight budget, go for it. 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. (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); Check out my full Hohner Golden Melody review. Show details Thats right: billion with a B. I think its safe to say that they know a thing or two about making harmonicas! medals, single circles around ULM and STUTTGART medals.