Money no object? Vintage C.A. The answer, of course, is for comfort! I hope to be helpful to you on your harmonica journeys. After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at 5 out of 5 stars (895) Harmonica Construction and its Effects on Sound and Feel. Hohner has been making harmonicas for about 160 years. Also, Matthias Hohner seems to have just a little more hair on the top of his head than he had in his previous portrait! Compare. Do this on both sides. Its design has changed quite a bit over the last century and I have attempted here to draw up a chronology of its evolution. You can order from his website custom combs for Hohner chromatic harmonicas, ask for restoration and various repair services. One change that is easier to spot is the number of nails used to secure the lower reedplate. Presenting the Marine Band 1896 Classic from Hohner. 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. I absolutely LOVE the Golden Melody. If it's a pin, hammer the other side till it squeezes against the harmonica shell. There are a couple of them I would like to mention here are they both also bore the model number 1896. 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. 4/5 Stars. Heres my Hohner Marine Band 1896 full review. After the Crossover, this is my 2nd favorite Hohner harmonica. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. It's a 10 hole. If you're looking to emulate that old "woody" tone authentically at any cost, then look no further! It was identical to the standard Marine Band 1896, except that it was gold finished and came in a special box. 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). 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. I do not want to have to be a mechanic to play a harp. Ive never had anyone fight me when I say that the Marine Band wins in the category of TONE. Add To Cart. Bendability Both the draw bends and the blow bends on this harmonica were very easy to execute and control with precision. Whats not to love? If money isnt tight and youre the kind of person who likes the best of the best, then go for the Crossover! VAT Number: GB287764345. medals, single circles around ULM and STUTTGART medals. The awards have always been on the bottom cover. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. You can see an interesting list of famous Marine Band players right here. The size difference is not big but it is bigger. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? Registered Company 10370912. Together, they are capable of playing 48 chords. Hohner Silver Concerto Chromatic Harmonica. Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? Translated: 1-216-1011018/1 is the article number. This page tells you pretty much everything I can about the value of your old harmonica without actually seeing it. 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. If you are really wanting to learn the harmonica, I DO NOT recommend that you purchase the Pentaharp because it is SO DIFFERENT from a regular harmonica. Vintage M-Hohner's "Old Standby" Harmonica No. To top it all off, the corners are pretty pointy, so holding it for long periods of time could be uncomfortable. Join 4700+ Successful Harmonica Jamz students - Play any Song and Jam with Other Musicians, Your email address will not be published. The box has different labels to previous versions, both inside the lid and on the bottom. Vintage M. Hohner "Marine Band" No. Your email address will not be published. To have a look please message me. If it needs more than that you have to take it apart, and it's held together with nails, which is a pain. The biggest health risk is when you share a harmonica with someone within moments of it being used by the other person. HOHNER Tombo PeeWee Harmonica Lee Oskar Marine Band Golden Melody Old $240. Basic harmonica maintenance is now straightforward, the right tools easily gotten. What more dya want? C $73.09. To make space for this, the medals are all slightly smaller and have smaller lettering around them. 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. I have a couple of them and it was my first real harmonica which drew me into this world so I hold massive respect for this instrument. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: 1896 classic, Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band. If you want to learn more check out my full Special 20 Review. used on every other Marine Band I have seen. The Harmonica Company is the trading name of The Harmonica World Ltd. Hope this helps. Vintage M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Germany G Key With OG Box - Sounds Great. Comfort Comfort is the one area where the Marine Band 1896 does not fare well against the competition. 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. We apologize for the interruption. Thats right: billion with a B. I think its safe to say that they know a thing or two about making harmonicas! 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. 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. On the Harp-L forum, Joe Broecker explains the current code stamp on the Hohner MS series diatonic harmonica reed plates. 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. Yes, all of my top 5 Hohner harmonicas listed above as well as all of the MS Series, Progressive Series, and Marine Band Series in their final phase of assembly, they are still made by hand at factories in Germany. (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 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. Listed: 3 years ago Views: 227 Watchers: 1 About This Listing Jerry Murads Harmonicats 1947 Peg O My Heart was played on a Chord, with a cleverly arranged sequence of chords that produced the impression of a melody. I want a marine band, I would do a Buddah model cause i'd like to play it, not take it apart. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NEW Hohner Marine Band Classic 1896 w/ Case - Key of A - Free US Shipping at the best online prices at eBay! Hohner M1896116X Marine Band Classic Bb Harmonica Brand: Hohner Accordions 63 ratings -27% $3812 Was: $52.90 Pattern Name: Single About this item Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic in Bb Frequently bought together + + Total price: Add all three to Cart Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Screw For Cover Plates - Marine Band Crossover, Thunderbird And Octave, Auto Valve. 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. 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 . The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BAND This harmonica has a light brown and black stained wooden comb with metal cover plates screwed to top and bottom. 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. 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! 2.96K subscribers Here's a description of how to create a "Marine Band Opener" to crack open a Marine Band 1896 to work on it (customize, flatten reed plates, reed curvature, tuning,. Today it's still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first produced in 1896. 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. Better quality and sound projection make it a favorite of many bluesmen. It's a Hohner 260, then. Top-Seller. Here is an example: Later versions of that trademark omit the star. When I first wrote about this next example, I described it as being "something of an oddball". 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 364, like many other Hohner models, has stainless steel covers and brass reed plates. The instruments, held together with nails, were hard to get apart, hard to get back together. 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. Several noted users are Bob Dylan, Brian Jones, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Little Walter and Neil Young. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. 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. It's not difficult so long as you use copper or brass which are soft. Maintenance with the older harmonicas was hit and miss, with no guidance. Here's my take on the Hohner Marine Band, which is the #1 best-selling harmonica model of all time. 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. I will require that you send the instrument to me, paying for the shipping and insurance each way. $25.00 + $5.85 shipping. These reviews are strictly based on my own experience and opinions. 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. Cheers! 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. I think its well worth the extra money. The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular model of harmonica for generations. Anyway, they now seem to be making a better sound than before. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band Deluxe. That's a tough one. 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. M. Hohner Marine Band A440 1896 Classic Harmonica - Key of G Used - Good $19.95 + $5 Shipping This piece of gear has sold View similar gear from other sellers on Reverb View similar gear Watch Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again. It is very easy to tell the Marine Band MS from the Classic/Handmade version. 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. Cant do so, I tried talking one off but i couldn't put it back. ate 1970s), and the Super 64x version (1980s). The cover plates are attached with nails instead of screws which could make fixing/tuning this harmonica difficult. My name's Cooper, I'm 28 and I'm a musician based in Tel Aviv, working with other artists as a harmonica player, guitarist and pianist. $54.95 + $5.75 shipping. Preston 410 posts Jun 09, 2009 4:37 PM That's cool Mickil. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. SPONSORED. I always enjoy playing different tunings. The reedplates are held in place with screws and the covers attached with bolts, unlike the Classic Marine Band's nailed construction. All these models have been in production for over 20 years. $12.00. Hohners main Chord is known as the Hohner 48, because it plays 48 chords. IF THE ADD IS UP IT'S AVAILABLE. Its got a loud bright tone, its easy on the lips, very responsive, very easy to bend and its very EXPENSIVE! If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions. 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. The soft green case is 1960s. These do not give you any indication of the instrument's age; they are merely the dates various trade awards were given. Completely assembled with screws for easy maintenance. Those that do are mostly in the German language and take some effort to obtain. Be warned: if you email me to ask how much your old harmonica is worth, I will simply reply with a link to this page. In the US filing, they claim that Marine Band had been in continuous use since January 30th, 1896. One of the easiest harmonicas in the world for bending. 1896 Harmonica Made in Germany by M. Hohner with Box. The covers now have a substantial lip at the rear opening and the cutouts at the end of each cover are slightly smaller. Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. I once attended one of the UK's biggest antiques and collectibles fairs, hunting for old harps. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? The Hohner Marine Band 364 is a quality instrument, just like the Marine Band 1896. There are some models of Hohner harmonicas that I do NOT recommend getting. Many harmonica makers avoid G sharp, which makes these harder to find (and drives the cost up). How to clean a marine band harmonica that cannot be unscrewed? How can I find out which sectors are used by files on NTFS? The Hohner Marine Band is a number-one choice among top professionals and one of the most recognizable harmonicas all over the world. 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. $34.99. This harmonica has a rich and expressive sound that defines what most people think of when they imagine the sound . Today it is still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first introduced in 1896. 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 upper tabs now bear the key of the harp at the right and A440 at the left. I've had it 30 years now. C, A Harmonic Minor, A Natural Minor, A Flat Natural Minor, B Natural Minor, B Harmonic Minor, B Flat Harmonic Minor, C Harmonic Minor, D Harmonic Minor, D Natural Minor, F Natural Minor, F Sharp Harmonic Minor, F Sharp Natural Minor, C Natural Minor, A, A Flat, B, B Flat, B Flat Natural Minor, D, D Flat, E, E Flat, E Natural Minor, F, F Sharp, G, G Natural Minor, G Harmonic Minor, D Flat Natural Minor, E Harmonic Minor, E Flat Natural Minor, Excellent all round harmonica. Guitarist? How do you tell if your harmonica is especially collectible? It responds quickly to blows and draws alike, just as you would hope it would. Tubes can be made by rolling some brass foil. Originally seven nails were used, but by the mid 1930s this had been increased to eight nails. 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. Straight tuned. 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. Sold out. Note: I am not endorsed by any specific harmonica company. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thanks for contributing an answer to Music: Practice & Theory Stack Exchange! The rear of the covers still have the lipped edges, but these lips have been folded back against the inside of the covers. The 364 has 24 reeds, giving it a better note range. Unlike many of the other contestants on this list, this harmonica comes in a custom, vintage-design case. In 1896 they created a new harmonica and named it the Marine Band. 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). In fact, one of the main reasons that Hohner developed their Special 20 and Crossover model harmonicas was to address the comfort issue.