This time, the Marine Band Harmonica. The purists irrationally cleave to the notion that the sound of the Marine Band 1896 is the sound that was, for better or worse, the sound of the old time legends. For more info check out my full review of the Marine Band 1896. I had a lot of them and you can just take them out and back without any problem several times. Low-tuned Diatonic Harmonica with Layered, Triple-laminated Bamboo Comb Construction and Conical Lower Cover Design - Key of Low G. $159.99. 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. TheVINTAGEShopBG. The picture above shows the words PATENT APPLIED FOR on the cover, so presumably this 1906 catalog must have used an old illustration. 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). 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. 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. Just as well, my Marine Band combs would have suffered. The chord harmonica is used to provide chordal and rhythmic backing in an ensemble, much as rhythm guitar might do. Washington, D.C. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use), International Media Interoperability Framework. It is also probable that you are now considering emailing me for more information on the possible value of your harmonica. Seller 99.6% positive. 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. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? These legends were some of the most demanding and finicky musicians on the planet. if you hold the instrument with the low notes to the left, Herr Hohner's portrait is on the lower cover. Registered Company 10370912. But they are not professional quality instruments like Special 20s. Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? But is the standard actually that good? If youre into jazz, gospel, or bluegrass, I highly recommend that you consider this harp. 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. Cheers! The archetypal blues harmonica with the traditional HOHNER tuning. When I first wrote about this next example, I described it as being "something of an oddball". * 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 . Add To Cart. 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. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. P4 A-440 Germany Vocal Old Style with Box. Co. of New York: The covers on this instrument are "upside down" compared with the current incarnation of the Marine Band, ie. Privacy I've never had one and was looking on the market for one but I'm having second thoughts. Double sided harmonica - Weltmeister Rare World War 2 Double sided - Old Harmonica - Collectible harmonica Ad vertisement by TheVINTAGEShopBG. Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. All of the above raises the inevitable question of hygiene - is it safe to play something that has been in someone else's mouth? 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. The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. Made in Germany on a wood comb, most blues and rock artists play a Marine Band. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic harmonica is the original blues harmonica. Fast shipping. If youre looking at an outdated forum, you might see people complaining about Marine Bands not bending well out of the box. Similarly, I recommend avoiding the Hohner Trumpet Call and the Hohner Weekender. 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. We apologize for the interruption. 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. During the cleaning process, I removed three or four dried out cocoons of who-knows-what sort of insect that had decided a harmonica would be the perfect place to incubate its offspring. Well, theyre good in so far as theyre cheap! You can hear the sound of the Fender Blues Deluxe versus the Hohner Blues Band in this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. The cover plates are attached with nails instead of screws which could make fixing/tuning this harmonica difficult. The box is only slightly changed from earlier versions. 3. Here is an example: Later versions of that trademark omit the star. Those that do are mostly in the German language and take some effort to obtain. Want to up your single note game? (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 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. Honestly, though, I rarely play this instrument because the others are SO much more comfy, and still sound really good. $270.00. Today it's still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first produced in 1896. 0 bids. That's a tough one. 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! But if youre only saving $5 or $10, Id say, just save up and get the Marine Band. If it's a pin, hammer the other side till it squeezes against the harmonica shell. A two-part hollow tube would definitely be called a rivet, but you're unlikely to find those on harmonicas. 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. Got something to say? If the openings alternate between top and bottom half of the hole, that's cross tuning. One of the first celebrity-approved production instruments, the Hohner Marine Band 1896 harmonica may be the longest-running serial production instrument model in history. Vintage M-Hohner's "Old Standby" Harmonica No. Confused? VTG M. HOHNER MARINE BAND HARMONICA - NO. If youre looking to emulate that old woody tone authentically at any cost, then look no further! After WWII this was reduced to seven nails. The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BAND Id think twice before purchasing a Blues Bender. Accessioned with original cardboard box. 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. Screw For Cover Plates - Marine Band Crossover, Thunderbird And Octave, Auto Valve. Here is your shopping list from www.micromark.com. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. 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. 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. 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. 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. SPONSORED. 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. Check out my full Hohner Golden Melody review. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. HOHNER Tombo PeeWee Harmonica Lee Oskar Marine Band Golden Melody Old $240. You're in! The cutouts at each of the covers are larger and more angular. 1896 model in the key of C, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. 2 Minute Hohner Pentaharp review here, if you wanna see it in action. The only hohner I've played is the bluesband variation. 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. 4.5 of 5 stars (38) Reviews. Only one problem: why in the world are there soooo many different Hohner harps to choose from? Thats right: billion with a B. I think its safe to say that they know a thing or two about making harmonicas! (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); Whilst old guitars are often considered to be "vintage", old harmonicas are generally considered to be merely something that has been in someone else's mouth. In fact, one of the main reasons that Hohner developed their Special 20 and Crossover model harmonicas was to address the comfort issue. The rear of the covers still have the lipped edges, but these lips have been folded back against the inside of the covers. Or $4/month for 48 months. At the very center is a medallion held by two hands at right and left. (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); A440 Vintage Hohner MARINE BAND Harmonica- No. Hohner from the 19 to the late 19 also produced the Polyphonia No. It has a bunch of awards on the bottom. Reed plate edges and channel openings with new Ultraglide coating are rounded off for greater playing comfort. 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. 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. Once the harp has had the chance to dry out thoroughly, there is relatively little danger of any communicable diseases being passed on. The Hohner Marine Band Crossover is part of the Marine Band series, top-of-the-line professional quality instrument for the discerning player in modern blues, rock, jazz, soul or funk. Want to up your single note game? 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. 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. The labels on the inside of the lid and bottom of the box were unchanged from earlier versions. The brass reeds and wood comb give it that beautiful woody tone that, in my opinion, just cant be beat. 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. Sponsored. For example, a brand new Hohner Marine Band that rolled off the production line last week will still feature medals with the dates 1871, 1873, 1876 and 1881. How should I clean my fingerboard without damaging my violin? Mike "Fathead" Easton (Pennsylvania) Mr Easton has been in the harmonica repair business since 2000. It also has a wood comb. This harmonica has a rich and expressive sound that defines what most people think of when they imagine the sound . Sold out. Super 64X (7584) Reed Plate Set. 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. 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." HOHNERU.S.A. I've discussed that subject before, and you all insisted that i have to unscrew it. 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. Is the Hohner Special 20 Any Good? Recent versions all have a hard plastic box, green for the 270, black for the 16-holers. The six point star in the middle of the trademark is slightly larger and there are doubled circles around the WIEN and PHILAD. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? 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. or Best Offer. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. After the Crossover, this is my 2nd favorite Hohner harmonica. 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. I once attended one of the UK's biggest antiques and collectibles fairs, hunting for old harps. Entdecke "Mundharmonika M-Hohner's 34B ""Old Standby" in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Im putting these 2 Hohner harmonicas under the same heading because my response to these questions is similar. 3 comments. I always enjoy playing different tunings. In the US filing, they claim that Marine Band had been in continuous use since January 30th, 1896. African American History Curatorial Collective, Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments. Its design has changed quite a bit over the last century and I have attempted here to draw up a chronology of its evolution. 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. That means its less comfy than a plastic combed harmonica like a Special 20. How to clean a marine band harmonica that cannot be unscrewed? Whats not to love? Guitarist? 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. 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 have so far been unable to locate any similar legal protection for the name Marine Orchestra. 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. Please message me if you are going to be more than 15 minutes late or not coming. Prior to about 1937 the 270 had a six-pointed star in a medallion at the center of the bottom cover. Also the words DEM VERDIENSTE (alongside the WEIN medals) have now been abbreviated to D. VERDIENSTE. Known for its full tone, wood comb, and its patented cover plates, the Marine Band harmonica was there when harmonica blues was born. If youre looking for a traditional blues harp to play Muddy, Walter (s), Sonny Terry Ted and dont customise, this is it. Better quality and sound projection make it a favorite of many bluesmen. Cookies Responsiveness From hole 1 to hole 10, the Marine Band is not sluggish anywhere. . Hohner has been making harmonicas for about 160 years. It will not be helpful for beginners who really want to learn how to play harmonica. It's still sitting in a Mason Jar in my shop. Chillin on a nice afternoon while sending the Marine Band sounds out the window. 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. This is the quintessential blues harmonica from the Chicago Blues Era. 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. 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. Straight tuned. Privacy You can order from his website custom combs for Hohner chromatic harmonicas, ask for restoration and various repair services. 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. 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. Vintage Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 1896 Key Harp M40. A Hohner catalog from 1902 shows the 1896 model with the name Marine Band and the familiar picture of Matthias Hohner on the cover, also with the words PATENT APPLIED FOR, even though the accompanying caption clearly states Patented August 24th 1897: For what it is worth, the name Marine Band was registered with the German Trademark Office as DRWZ 14708 in 1896 (the application was made January 30th and granted March 13th) and with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as Trade-Mark 28,228 (application filed March 21st and granted May 5th). Why do many companies reject expired SSL certificates as bugs in bug bounties? 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. Of course, the tradeoff is comfort, but for tone, the Marine Band 1896 easily gets 5/5 Stars. The answer, of course, is for comfort! 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. Hohner Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica Key of F Germany T. $11.40. As it turned out, she was willing to sell the harp at a fair price, so I bought it. 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. You can see an interesting list of famous Marine Band players right here. Hohner used various trademarks over the years, but a particularly common one was a circle being held by two hands. The top is pretty plain. M Hohner Marine Band Harmonica no 1896 Key Of C With Original Case (2) 2 product ratings - M Hohner Marine Band Harmonica no 1896 Key . Registered Company 10370912. 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. Ive literally taught thousands of people how to play the harmonica, and not one beginner who has purchased the Special 20 hasnt loved it. This harmonica features U.S. Patent #588920 for an improvement in mouth-harmonicas, submitted by Jacob Hohner. 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. 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). In 1896 they created a new harmonica and named it the Marine Band. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Check out my free beginners kick-start course. 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. 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. It is a Marine Band No. there is no model on the harmonica itself, but the case says it is a c260. Tech Specs Scale: Diatonic Blues Key: C Music: Practice & Theory Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for musicians, students, and enthusiasts. Hohners main Chord is known as the Hohner 48, because it plays 48 chords. Can someone please help me. Contact $137.00. Not to mention, the corners of the Marine Band are a bit sharp and hurt the hands when held for long periods of time. (1) Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica - Key of B. The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. Get the full low down on the Hohner Special 20. Hohner Golden Melody Review + Video: The Pretty Lady in Red. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. The 364, like many other Hohner models, has stainless steel covers and brass reed plates. The Chord Harmonica consists of two harmonicas hinged together. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: 1896 classic, Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band. More on the way soon. Several noted users are Bob Dylan, Brian Jones, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Little Walter and Neil Young. I play it in its Richter tuning and Natural Minor tuning and it is fantastics, Your email address will not be published. Clean. Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. Even my friend Lee Oksar (who makes the equally awesome Lee Oskar harmonica) acknowledges that Hohner makes great harmonicas. Durability/Fixability the double-lacquered Pear wood comb could over time become susceptible to swelling, cracking, or splintering. Today its still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first produced in 1896. 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. For the rest of this article, I shall confine myself to physical examples of the instrument, rather than catalog illustrations. It was made in 1896, and it still has the same design. M.Hohner Vtg The Echo Harp Germany Bell Metal Reeds Box Harmonica. The box has different labels to previous versions, both inside the lid and on the bottom. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. Ive literally never met one person who doesnt agree. Very responsive. The reed plate is 0.9 mm thick with a stainless steel cover plate. What more dya want? Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. These do not give you any indication of the instrument's age; they are merely the dates various trade awards were given. If it don't have little screws, don't take it apart, leave it alone. Even some fairly common harmonicas may be considered collectible by some people. The instruments, held together with nails, were hard to get apart, hard to get back together. Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. I cannot provide free appraisals by email, not even rough estimates, so please don't ask. Hohner's Marine Band 1896 is the archetypal blues harmonica. Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Is William G Baker Still Alive, Articles H