The covers now have a substantial lip at the rear opening and the cutouts at the end of each cover are slightly smaller. Hohner's Marine Band 1896 is the archetypal blues harmonica. Don't be afraid. For a clunky but functional hack, even a steel brad will work. The chances are, if your harmonica just looks like a harmonica, then it probably isn't worth much at all. Full Disclosure: Not All Hohner Harmonicas Are Created Equal! I have never had someone buy a Hohner Special 20 and be disappointed with it. It was made in 1896, and it still has the same design. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. M.Hohner Vtg The Echo Harp Germany Bell Metal Reeds Box Harmonica. 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. Hohner 125th Anniversary Marine Band Vs. Pre-war Vs. Stock MB - YouTube 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. Most of what makes these so expensive is the cost of materials and making it a G sharp harmonica. C $13.89. However, it is by no means safe to assume that an instrument bearing a trademark with fewer points to the star is older than one bearing a trademark with more points to the star. Show details 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. 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. One is the Centennial Edition Marine Band which, as it's name suggests, was introduced in 1996 to mark the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Marine Band harmonica. Hohner Special 20 (Set of 12) - Harmonica Review Take the [not rivets] pins out, clean, then put them back. If it needs more than that you have to take it apart, and it's held together with nails, which is a pain. the marine band is my active instrument and the thing is, i don't want to mess with the tuning, i don't know how to retunne, it's not like the guitar, you can't use a metronome right? If money isnt tight and youre the kind of person who likes the best of the best, then go for the Crossover! Many harmonica makers avoid G sharp, which makes these harder to find (and drives the cost up). Seller 99.6% positive. Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. $25.00 + $5.85 shipping. Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. This next instrument came with a booklet in its case that was dated 1905 and the design of the label inside the lid of the case was trademarked in 1907 (DRWZ 101069). Your email address will not be published. Hohner 1896 Marine Band Natural Minor Harmonica. Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic - The Harmonica Company Fast shipping. You're in! As I mentioned at the start of this article, there have been many other models made with the name Marine Band. Chromonica 260 Reed Plate Set Key C Major. Originally seven nails were used, but by the mid 1930s this had been increased to eight nails. 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. 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. For the rest of this article, I shall confine myself to physical examples of the instrument, rather than catalog illustrations. Verdict - The Hohner Special 20 was developed in the 1970's to be more comfortable and easier to play than the original Marine Band harmonica, and with the plastic comb and counter-sunk reed plate, there's no doubt that they accomplished their goal. They are not pins or rivets.They are small nails. There is a commonly held belief (not completely without basis in fact) that Hohner harmonicas made before WWII are better than more recent ones. Registered Company 10370912. How Old Is My Hohner Marine Band Harmonica - Pedeland.com Sold out. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Key of C Germany No 1896 at the best online prices at eBay! To get the best out of our site and for it to function correct, please read, accept and understand our 'Cookies Policy'. Our collection database is a work in progress. 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. Bendability Both the draw bends and the blow bends on this harmonica were very easy to execute and control with precision. The only key label is a difficult-to-read engraving on the cover plate, virtually impossible to see in a dark club. Perfecting the modern harmonica - Craftsmanship Magazine For more info check out my full review of the Marine Band 1896. Those may not be available though, and rivet pins are easy enough to make anyhow. Figuring out the age of a harmonica is by no means easy, nor is it always relevant to the value of the instrument. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? 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. From Germany Japan & Occupied Japan2. 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! Special Financing - Ends Jan 1, 2024. Hohner Marine Band 364 - Harmonica Review On very rare occasions, even something which looks to most people like any other old harmonica may be a highly sought after model and a harmonica collector might be eager to take if off your hands. Discover the Worlds Finest Harmonica Learning Method . Maintenance with the older harmonicas was hit and miss, with no guidance. Check your inbox in the next minute or two for your first lesson. 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. What more dya want? The Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. Custom Pre-War Marine Band - The Harp Dude 3. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: 1896 classic, Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band. Accessioned with original cardboard box. The labels on the inside of the lid and bottom of the box were unchanged from earlier versions. Hohner Marine Band Review: The Industry Standard - Harmonica Jamz I always enjoy playing different tunings. TheVINTAGEShopBG. It's simplistic in its design but beautiful in its achievements. Thats why its one of my top recommended harps, along with Lee Oskar, as you can see in my article Which Harmonica to Buy for Beginners. 5 out of 5 stars (895) Rather than a pair of tabs at each end of the cover, there is a single tab at each end the full width of the cover. The cutouts at each of the covers are larger and more angular. Hohner Marine - in Chicago, IL - Shoppok SKU: HMB1C After WWII this was reduced to seven nails. Where to Repair Your Chromatic Harmonica? - Harmonica Studio Rivets are hollow-tube pins. Hohner from the 19 to the late 19 also produced the Polyphonia No. At the very center is a medallion held by two hands at right and left. The upper tabs now bear the key of the harp at the right and A440 at the left. Cash preferred. 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". (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); But if youre totally obsessed with TONE at any cost, then this may be the harmonica youre looking for. 0 bids. Youve got a harmonica very suitable to learn on. The awards have always been on the bottom cover. Hohner 1896 Marine Band Harmonica : Target - Target : Expect More. Pay 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. The six point star in the middle of the trademark is slightly larger and there are doubled circles around the WIEN and PHILAD. It could even gouge out the holes, ruining the harp. (no music shop sells marine band harmonica in my county) This one is a Marine Band made by Hohner N 1896 key of C. How do you clean this one? . M. Hohner Marine Band A440 1896 Classic Harmonica - Key of G Today it is still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first introduced in 1896. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. you have to use your ear and i'm not trained enough to know the right tune for each hole, i don't know flip jers, but he seems very professional, he could retune Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. 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. 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. there is no model on the harmonica itself, but the case says it is a c260. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE M HOHNER ECHO 54/64 HARMONICA C G MADE IN GERMANY NEW OLD STOCK at the best online prices at eBay! Please message me if you are going to be more than 15 minutes late or not coming. Just to confuse matters even further, the model number 1896 was also applied to similar harmonicas with different names, aimed at different markets. 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 reedplates are held in place with screws and the covers attached with bolts, unlike the Classic Marine Band's nailed construction. 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. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? How do I clean my harmonica without taking it apart? The 364, like many other Hohner models, has stainless steel covers and brass reed plates. This harmonica has a light brown and black stained wooden comb with metal cover plates screwed to top and bottom. The cut-outs at the ends of the covers are taller, but not as wide as on the previous example. 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. If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. Unlike the 1896, the 364 is easy to take apart and adjust. A really tough one. Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 125th Jubilee edition, key of C. C $96.66 + C $21.78 shipping. Its sound is typical for blues, folk, and country, but also pop and rock. 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. 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. 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. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. Newer revisited version of the classic Marine Band 1896. It's a 10 hole. 1 bid. My preference. Vintage M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica No. 1896 with Box! | eBay if you hold the instrument with the low notes to the left, Herr Hohner's portrait is on the lower cover. 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. Its undisputed. I want a marine band, I would do a Buddah model cause i'd like to play it, not take it apart. Here's a folder containing all the photos that you may want to see. 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. 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. VAT Number: GB287764345. Likewise, there were various changes in the alloy used for the reeds and different reed profiles being used, although the lengths and widths of the reeds remained constant. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band Deluxe. Screws to replace Marine Band nails. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Joe Filisko for the loan of several of the pre-WWII examples shown above. C $135.09. A few words of advice. All Need Adjustment Cleaning Polishing & Lots of TLC3. 5/5 Stars. It was identical to the standard Marine Band 1896, except that it was gold finished and came in a special box. T&C Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. Just a Q-Tip moistened with water or ispropyl alcohol. Here is an example: Later versions of that trademark omit the star. All these models have been in production for over 20 years. 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). Got something to say? 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 number A440 stamped on certain Hohner harps indicates neither a limited edition, nor a model number - it tells you that it is tuned to standard concert pitch (see FFAQ10). Hohner has established themselves as the go-to brand for harmonicas rightly so high quality harps, for a fair price, that play well. and GESCH. Vintage M-Hohner's "Old Standby" Harmonica No. If you're into jazz, gospel, or bluegrass, I highly recommend that you consider this harp. Screws to replace Marine Band nails | Blues Harmonica $12.00. The MS covers have integral cover supports at the rear and the upper cover clearly says MARINE BAND MS: The MS Series as a whole went through various charges during the 1990s. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. Vintage. Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. Im working my way through every key to fill my harp case. 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. To see a couple of great alternatives, check out my Lee Oskar Review and/or my Hohner Golden Melody Review. More on the way soon. The 270 has always had a wood comb with nailed-on reedplates. The concept failed and is often frowned upon by professional 48 chord players. Special 20 vs. Marine Band - size matters to me - Harmonica Forum Check out the spotlight post from our host Dave Stutts. 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. This harmonica has a rich and expressive sound that defines what most people think of when they imagine the sound . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How should I deal with enharmonics on the Chromatic Harmonica?