I have also heard it suggested the number of points on the star represented the number of sons that Matthias had. 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. Mike "Fathead" Easton (Pennsylvania) Mr Easton has been in the harmonica repair business since 2000. Wow! I have two Marine Band harps in G and C,40 years old or more.I took one apart to clean, and it has never been reassembled. The cover plates are attached with nails instead of screws which could make fixing/tuning this harmonica difficult. Those may not be available though, and rivet pins are easy enough to make anyhow. 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. How do I clean the windway on my recorder? 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). For the rest of this article, I shall confine myself to physical examples of the instrument, rather than catalog illustrations. VAT Number: GB287764345. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers). The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BAND Low-tuned Diatonic Harmonica with Layered, Triple-laminated Bamboo Comb Construction and Conical Lower Cover Design - Key of Low G. $159.99. Legendary Hohner Marine Band Harp. 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 All parts are thoroughly cleaned & sterilised before custom work is done. 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. At the very center is a medallion held by two hands at right and left. The Marine Band is the standard. Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. $12.00. 5/5 Stars. Is a PhD visitor considered as a visiting scholar? If it don't have little screws, don't take it apart, leave it alone. Entdecke "Mundharmonika M-Hohner's 34B ""Old Standby" in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! But if youre totally obsessed with TONE at any cost, then this may be the harmonica youre looking for. 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. 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. 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 reed plate is 0.9 mm thick with a stainless steel cover plate. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Contact 5 out of 5 stars (895) For more info check out my full review of the Marine Band 1896. Privacy Fast shipping. Maintenance with the older harmonicas was hit and miss, with no guidance. These reviews are strictly based on my own experience and opinions. Unlike many of the other contestants on this list, this harmonica comes in a custom, vintage-design case. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If youre looking to emulate that old woody tone authentically at any cost, then look no further! Shortly after then, the "A440" was dropped and other small changes made to the designs on the cover. Many brands of harmonica have little medals engraved on the covers with various dates on them. On the upper cover, the lettering is fractionally larger than on the previous examples, both for the name MARINE BAND and the Hohner signature. Top-Seller. But if youre only saving $5 or $10, Id say, just save up and get the Marine Band. Clean. 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 Harmonica Company is the trading name of The Harmonica World Ltd. It responds quickly to blows and draws alike, just as you would hope it would. Vintage C.A. Verdict The Hohner Marine Band 1896 is the classic harmonica played by old Blues greats like Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Litter Walter. 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. SKU: HMB1C M.Hohner Vtg The Echo Harp Germany Bell Metal Reeds Box Harmonica. The harp also has a much slimmer profile top to bottom than previous versions. 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. Ive never had anyone fight me when I say that the Marine Band wins in the category of TONE. The Hohner Marine Band is a number-one choice among top professionals and one of the most recognizable harmonicas all over the world. Everybody knows it. Played by iconic figures such as Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, and Bob Dylan, it remains the top choice for the top professional, as well as aspiring musicians around the globe. 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. Comfort Comfort is the one area where the Marine Band 1896 does not fare well against the competition. Well, theyre good in so far as theyre cheap! Contact If it needs more than that you have to take it apart, and it's held together with nails, which is a pain. 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 reed plates decoded. . 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. Even my friend Lee Oksar (who makes the equally awesome Lee Oskar harmonica) acknowledges that Hohner makes great harmonicas. Which model is it? Check out the spotlight post from our host Dave Stutts. Learn Harmonica! It's simplistic in its design but beautiful in its achievements. After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at VTG M. HOHNER MARINE BAND HARMONICA - NO. If you are lucky, the pin/rivet is wide enough to replace with a harmonica bolt and flat nut. 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. 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. 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. The revolutionary laminated bamboo comb is completely sealed, making it water repellent and exceptionally stable. C. $19.99. The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. 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 1896 model first appeared in the year 1896, but back then it seems to have been called the Marine Orchestra. (I go into some detail about the changes of the Hohner Marine Band model on this page.) Heres my Hohner Marine Band 1896 full review. The top is pretty plain. You can order from his website custom combs for Hohner chromatic harmonicas, ask for restoration and various repair services. Get the full low down on the Hohner Special 20. Your email address will not be published. Responsiveness From hole 1 to hole 10, the Marine Band is not sluggish anywhere. It took some major abuse on the travels. The Marine Band Classic is one of the few Hohner diatonics that is available in a full range of natural and harmonic minor tunings. It felt to me like the edges of the reed plates were also adding to the discomfort. The Hohner Golden Melody is a bit larger than the Hohner Special 20. 34 GERMANY Working. Free shipping for many products! 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. If the harmonica had a plastic comb, you could simply soak the whole thing in lemon juice overnight. Prior to about 1937 the 270 had a six-pointed star in a medallion at the center of the bottom cover. or Best Offer. Check out my full Hohner Golden Melody review. 12.56. The 364, like many other Hohner models, has stainless steel covers and brass reed plates. The bottom of the box and the inside of the lid are also different. VAT Number: GB287764345. According to a friend who has played marine band for many years, all that he's owned have screws, so this could be a rare model.The rivets could be drilled out and others put in after, but it may be worth checking its value first. 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. 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. does any one know how to tell how old a harmonica is? Compare. This attractive and robust instrument is a quality staple for beginners and a sure performer for seasoned veterans. 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. 4.5 of 5 stars (38) Reviews. 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. Matthias Hohner is a consummate entrepreneur and businessman. Item was in great shape from being a amp from the late 90s. I had a lot of them and you can just take them out and back without any problem several times. Sponsored. 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. From Germany Japan & Occupied Japan2. How do you tell if your harmonica is especially collectible? (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); Recent versions all have a hard plastic box, green for the 270, black for the 16-holers. 5 out of 5 stars (1,424) Sale Price $33.50 $ 33.50 $ 37.22 Original Price $37.22 (10% off) Add to Favorites Hohner Marine Band 364/24 G Harmonica, Vintage Instruments Collectible Musical . All these models have been in production for over 20 years. Accessioned with original cardboard box. I hope to be helpful to you on your harmonica journeys. Together, they are capable of playing 48 chords. And Pros love it too! 3. Ending Today at 17:11 EST 12h 5m. it won't stick to its place. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. Of course, the tradeoff is comfort, but for tone, the Marine Band 1896 easily gets 5/5 Stars. Translated: 1-216-1011018/1 is the article number. Don't be afraid. Hohner Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica Key of F Germany T. $11.40. Newer revisited version of the classic Marine Band 1896. 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. Honestly, though, I rarely play this instrument because the others are SO much more comfy, and still sound really good. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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 its especially good for playing single notes in tune. Hohner Hot Metal Harmonica $ 17.99 Select options; Hohner Marine Band 364/24 Soloist Harmonica $ 79.00 Add to cart Money no object? Both our time is valuable. 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. Here's a folder containing all the photos that you may want to see. Why does classical music sound out of tune on a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Harmonica? Washington, D.C. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use), International Media Interoperability Framework. 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. My preference. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. The reedplates are held in place with screws and the covers attached with bolts, unlike the Classic Marine Band's nailed construction. Made in Germany on a wood comb, most blues and rock artists play a Marine Band. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? Tone The tone of this harmonica is supreme. 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. 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. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? 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! 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. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Key Features If you don't take the cover, you can't clean it properly. Screw For Cover Plates - Marine Band Crossover, Thunderbird And Octave, Auto Valve. Also, Matthias Hohner seems to have just a little more hair on the top of his head than he had in his previous portrait! Hohner from the 19 to the late 19 also produced the Polyphonia No. 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. 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. Compared to the Special 20 (which has what's called an enclosed construction), this Hohner Marine Band harmonica has side vents that give it a "brighter, more vibrant sound," says Barrett,. Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. Dont worry, Im here to help. Acidity of alcohols and basicity of amines. 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! are back again and the lines between them are vertical rather than horizontal, making it identical to the postwar MB except for the presence of the star. As I always say: if you want to sound like the old blues masters, why not play the harmonica they played? Check out my free beginners kick-start course. 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. Cheers! 1881 Harmonica, Key Of G, Made In Germany. 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. I think its well worth the extra money. 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. Best Beginner Harmonica Which Harmonica Is The Best For Beginners? The Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? 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. I will require that you send the instrument to me, paying for the shipping and insurance each way. 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. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic harmonica is the original blues harmonica. Do you have the box or case for it? It is a Marine Band No. Looking for an amazing bang-for buck harp? 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. Ready to suffer a little for your blues? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The cutouts at each of the covers are larger and more angular. Clicking on the links under each picture will open new windows with close-ups of various parts of each instrument. Links, Are you a beginner or struggling to sound good on harmonica? To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. 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. 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. African American History Curatorial Collective, Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments. 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). It is also probable that you are now considering emailing me for more information on the possible value of your harmonica.