The rear of the covers still have the lipped edges, but these lips have been folded back against the inside of the covers. The reeds are all brass, and there are 20 of them. Your email address will not be published. Ready to suffer a little for your blues? Thanks for all that. Seydel Shne Bandmaster Chromatic Harmonica. The 1896 model first appeared in the year 1896, but back then it seems to have been called the Marine Orchestra. 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. and GESCH. Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. 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). One came without a box, the other came in a box identical to the next example, but as the key stamped on the box did not match the key of the harp, it was obviously not the original one. The steel covers are similar to the later pre-war versions, although they give the harp a slightly thicker profile top to bottom. Vintage C.A. Help In fact, one of the main reasons that Hohner developed their Special 20 and Crossover model harmonicas was to address the comfort issue. Learn Harmonica! Hohner's Marine Band 1896 is the archetypal blues harmonica. 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 Hohner Marine Band was introduced in 1896 and is probably the most commonly played harmonica in the world, which is why shortcuts in its manufacturing process had such profound repercussions. Is the harmonica straight tuned or cross tuned? If youre currently considering buying a Hohner Blues Harp or a Hohner Big River, heres my advice: The Hohner Blues Harp, has a wooden comb. Photo courtesy of InterstateMusic.com. Don't be afraid. I have been playing Marine Bands for years and one specific Marine Band that I have has been around the world with me twice, mostly out of its carrying case, and it survived to tell you all about it. In 1896 they created a new harmonica and named it the Marine Band. Most of what makes these so expensive is the cost of materials and making it a G sharp harmonica. An original Hohner harmonica at an affordable price! 3. Until about 1955 16-holers were straight-tuned, afer which they were cross-tuned. Unlike many of the other contestants on this list, this harmonica comes in a custom, vintage-design case. Basic harmonica maintenance is now straightforward, the right tools easily gotten. To make space for this, the medals are all slightly smaller and have smaller lettering around them. Vintage M. Hohner "Marine Band" No. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? Even some fairly common harmonicas may be considered collectible by some people. Even though many of them were quickly consigned to the garbage by parents with headaches, there are still a lot of them out there in boxes of unwanted toys, belongings of deceased relatives, junk stores and so on. 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. A two-part hollow tube would definitely be called a rivet, but you're unlikely to find those on harmonicas. Get the full low down on the Hohner Special 20. For the rest of this article, I shall confine myself to physical examples of the instrument, rather than catalog illustrations. 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. These legends were some of the most demanding and finicky musicians on the planet. Ive literally never met one person who doesnt agree. Responsiveness From hole 1 to hole 10, the Marine Band is not sluggish anywhere. Just a Q-Tip moistened with water or ispropyl alcohol. The Hohner Marine Band 364 is a quality instrument, just like the Marine Band 1896. Your email address will not be published. The 280 went from nailed-on wood (up until the early 1950s), then pinkish-borwn plastic with drift pins (1950s to about 1980), to screwed-on black (up to the present). P4 A-440 Germany Vocal Old Style with Box. As it turned out, she was willing to sell the harp at a fair price, so I bought it. Legendary Hohner Marine Band Harp. Music: Practice & Theory Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for musicians, students, and enthusiasts. That said, the Special 20 uses the Marine Band technology and we prefer the Hohner Special 20 because the plastic comb on the Special 20 doesnt swell over time. Cash preferred. I hope to be helpful to you on your harmonica journeys. This harmonica features U.S. Patent #588920 for an improvement in mouth-harmonicas, submitted by Jacob Hohner. 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. VAT Number: GB287764345. This harmonica has a rich and expressive sound that defines what most people think of when they imagine the sound . PATENT AUG 24TH 1897MADE IN GERMANY. The other instrument I should mention is the Marine Band MS. I do not want to have to be a mechanic to play a harp. The trademark has more subtle changes. The claim REG. The labels on the inside of the lid and bottom of the box were unchanged from earlier versions. rev2023.3.3.43278. The awards have always been on the bottom cover. In that case don't attempt pining the centers of the ends. Compare. How should I deal with enharmonics on the Chromatic Harmonica? Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? 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. The Harmonica Company is the trading name of The Harmonica World Ltd. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I have two examples of this version. Open quick view dialog for Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica M2009 { "inCheckoutPromo":[] } Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica M2009. The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. How can I find out which sectors are used by files on NTFS? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Hey! 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. However, I have since learned that this is by no means an uncommon specimen. Although the WIEN medals keep their single circle outline, there is a partial circle of dots inside this outline. Completely assembled with screws for easy maintenance. Today it's still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first produced in 1896. Sold out. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Better quality and sound projection make it a favorite of many bluesmen. Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. And for dessert, heres avery cool article I found online: How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? The Harmonica Company is the trading name of The Harmonica World Ltd. Ronnie Shellist of Hohner harmonicas giving us an expert look at the Marine Band Series of harmonicas. Do you have the box or case for it? How should I clean my fingerboard without damaging my violin? Cookies 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. 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. 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. But is the standard actually that good? Vintage Marine Band No. 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). Visit the IIIF page to learn more. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions. When I first wrote about this next example, I described it as being "something of an oddball". Also, Matthias Hohner seems to have just a little more hair on the top of his head than he had in his previous portrait! Vintage HOHNER Tombo PeeWee Harmonica Collection Lee Oskar Marine Band Golden Melody Old Standby Professional 2016 1. Just bear in mind that youll have to sacrifice the comfort that other modern alternatives can provide. Very responsive. Cheers! As the patent for the Marine Band cover design was granted in August 1897, the following instrument presumably dates from 1896 or early 1897 as the lower cover says PATENT APPLIED FOR: The covers on this instrument are nickel-plated brass and still have the trademark on the top and Hohner's picture on the bottom, the trademark having a small six pointed star inside the circle. Its sound is typical for blues, folk, and country, but also pop and rock. This is the quintessential blues harmonica from the Chicago Blues Era. 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! Prior to about 1937 the 270 had a six-pointed star in a medallion at the center of the bottom cover. 1896 model in the key of C, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. 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. He saw an opportunity in John Philip Souza and his popular Banda de . 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. (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); 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 a couple of them I would like to mention here are they both also bore the model number 1896. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! Privacy . Together, they are capable of playing 48 chords. The Chord Harmonica consists of two harmonicas hinged together. 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. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: 1896 classic, Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band. 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 364 has 24 reeds, giving it a better note range. How do I disassemble a slide whistle in order to clean it? How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? It will not be helpful for beginners who really want to learn how to play harmonica. It felt to me like the edges of the reed plates were also adding to the discomfort. Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Hohner harmonica, upgraded version of the Marine Band Description Product Details Comments Respect the Roots - State of the Art! Many brands of harmonica have little medals engraved on the covers with various dates on them. This time, the Marine Band Harmonica. Look at the openings inside the round holes, with the slide in the out position (i.e., not pressed in). You can order from his website custom combs for Hohner chromatic harmonicas, ask for restoration and various repair services. More significant is the introduction of a groove towards the front of each reedplate to accept the front edge of the covers. First launched in 1896, this model has been regularly played on stage by probably every famous harmonica player you can think of - from Bob Dylan to Neil Young to Adam Gussow to Howard Levy. 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. African American History Curatorial Collective, Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments. Hohner Silver Concerto Chromatic Harmonica. Initially designed for European folk music . In fact, in 1980 they produced their one billionth harmonica. But they are not professional quality instruments like Special 20s. 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. (So you can dip your toes in the water without breaking the bank.) Vintage M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Germany G Key With OG Box - Sounds Great. Anyway, they now seem to be making a better sound than before. Your email address will not be published. The bottom of the box and the inside of the lid are also different. A really tough one. 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. Looks This harmonica is absolutely beautiful to look at. 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 Note: I am not endorsed by any specific harmonica company. It was identical to the standard Marine Band 1896, except that it was gold finished and came in a special box. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band Deluxe. Co. of New York: The covers on this instrument are "upside down" compared with the current incarnation of the Marine Band, ie. Here's a folder containing all the photos that you may want to see. I've never had one and was looking on the market for one but I'm having second thoughts. 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 best thing if you wish to get a good price for it, is to list it on somewhere like eBay with some good photographs and a clear description of it, particularly of any writing that may appear on the harmonica or its box - then cross your fingers and wait for the bidding to start. Links, Are you a beginner or struggling to sound good on harmonica? Guitarist? SPONSORED. Ready to suffer a little for your blues? Heres my Hohner Marine Band 1896 full review. (The 270 has always been straight tuned.). A longtime favorite of many country artists, the model 34B Old Standby is always ready to express spontaneous musical soul. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? The brass reeds and wood comb give it that beautiful woody tone that, in my opinion, just cant be beat. Its design has changed quite a bit over the last century and I have attempted here to draw up a chronology of its evolution. It could also be interesting for someone like me who has been playing harmonica for decades, and enjoys the challenge of a new tuning to explore. Here is your shopping list from www.micromark.com. Can someone please help me. . This was because the instrument was said to have been given to Jimi Hendrix by Bob Dylan and there was a signed affidavit to this effect. Based on my decades of teaching n playing harmonica, these are the very best Hohner has to offer, in my humble opinion: If youre the sort of person who likes to have the very best of everything, and money is no object, then the Hohner Crossover is for you. The most recent version of the Marine Band case has the design on the top reduced in size once more: Here is the current (as of 2011) label on the bottom of the box: The most recent changes were made around 2011, when sealed combs were introduced. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It's simplistic in its design but beautiful in its achievements. A limit involving the quotient of two sums. 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. The only reason I doc it one star is that I wish it had better key labels. I absolutely LOVE the Golden Melody. 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. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic harmonica is the original blues harmonica. (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); Don't be afraid. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? 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. If you're looking to emulate that old "woody" tone authentically at any cost, then look no further! 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. In 2015, Sotheby's sold a rather battered Hohner Vest Pocket Harp, something that would normally struggle to fetch a few dollars on eBay, for a whopping 4,000 - about $5,425! I just had to ask it, because I received no direct answer to the other question, everyone suggested to unscrew it, but now as you see in the pictures, there's no screws. 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". 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. $54.95 + $5.75 shipping. Im working my way through every key to fill my harp case. How are they compared to other harmonicas too? I've discussed that subject before, and you all insisted that i have to unscrew it. More on the way soon. Also the comb is now shorter than any of the previous models, a fraction under 4 inches long. Marine Band Crossover Harmonica - Key of C. Marine Band Crossover Diatonic Harmonica - Key of C. 10 reviews Write your review Item ID: MarineCrossC. Add To Cart. 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. There is a commonly held belief (not completely without basis in fact) that Hohner harmonicas made before WWII are better than more recent ones. 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. ate 1970s), and the Super 64x version (1980s). Then in the mid to late 1990s, at the same time as Hohner retooled and made dramatic improvements to the tolerances between reed and reedplate, they went back to using seven nails for both reedplates and also added a production code stamped into the reedplate. this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. I have also heard it suggested the number of points on the star represented the number of sons that Matthias had. Special Financing - Ends Jan 1, 2024. Also, numbers such as 270, 365, or 34B do not indicate that the item was part of a limited edition (as I have seen suggested on various online auctions) they merely indicate the catalog number of that particular model. Although the covers are still lipped at the rear, the opening is noticeably wider. I know that probably doesn't help very much, but unlike used cars and collectible pottery, there is no "blue book" of used harmonica prices. The reed plate is 0.9 mm thick with a stainless steel cover plate. They are long they will still work. Discover the Worlds Finest Harmonica Learning Method . They are long they will still work. Sturdy zipper case allows moisture to evaporate while keeping dust out. How can a harmonica make some different sounds? 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. 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. 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. If all the top halves are open in a straight line, that's straight tuning. This page tells you pretty much everything I can about the value of your old harmonica without actually seeing it. 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. 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 were also a few changes to the box around the time of WWII. T&C After the Crossover, this is my 2nd favorite Hohner harmonica. The only key label is a difficult-to-read engraving on the cover plate, virtually impossible to see in a dark club. The revolutionary laminated bamboo comb is completely sealed, making it water repellent and exceptionally stable. Vintage Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 1896 Key Harp M40. As I always say: if you want to sound like the old blues masters, why not play the harmonica they played? Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. 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. 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. 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. Both our time is valuable. It took some major abuse on the travels. The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BAND Thats right: billion with a B. I think its safe to say that they know a thing or two about making harmonicas! Want to up your single note game? 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. 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. Thanks for contributing an answer to Music: Practice & Theory Stack Exchange! 1 bid. Compare. $12.00. Probably any small tweezers or files would do - probably a cosmetic set would have the right tools. I think its well worth the extra money. 0 bids. Privacy My preference. The biggest health risk is when you share a harmonica with someone within moments of it being used by the other person. The 270 has always had a wood comb with nailed-on reedplates. First launched in 1896, this model has been regularly played on stage by probably every famous harmonica player you can think of from Bob Dylan to Neil Young to Adam Gussow to Howard Levy. 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. 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. There are some models of Hohner harmonicas that I do NOT recommend getting. You're in! 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. Postage is at cost. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.