Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. A440 Vintage Hohner MARINE BAND Harmonica- No. I have never had someone buy a Hohner Special 20 and be disappointed with it. 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,. 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. 1896, W/ ORIGINAL PACKAGING. . If it is in impeccable condition and has its original box, then it is probably worth even more. On the Harp-L forum, Joe Broecker explains the current code stamp on the Hohner MS series diatonic harmonica reed plates. If it don't have little screws, don't take it apart, leave it alone. There were also some changes made to the covers, most notably getting rid of the gaps at the ends of the front edges of the covers that had a tendency to snag facial hair. 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. The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BANDM. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This was printed on a blow reed plate: 1-216-1011018/1 G Dur Hohner 27/03 L9/KA2. Contact 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. 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. The labels on the inside of the lid and bottom of the box were unchanged from earlier versions. For the rest of this article, I shall confine myself to physical examples of the instrument, rather than catalog illustrations. Its undisputed. If you require a personal response, please use ourContact page. But they are not professional quality instruments like Special 20s. Note: I am not endorsed by any specific harmonica company. (My apologies for the poor condition of this particular box.). All these models have been in production for over 20 years. Better quality and sound projection make it a favorite of many bluesmen. 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. Super 64X (7584) Reed Plate Set. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Contact The six point star in the middle of the trademark is slightly larger and there are doubled circles around the WIEN and PHILAD. Lets get down to business. 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. But if youre only saving $5 or $10, Id say, just save up and get the Marine Band. 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. The box has different labels to previous versions, both inside the lid and on the bottom. The Marine Band is the standard. Privacy Together, they are capable of playing 48 chords. Vintage Hohner Trutone Pitchpipe No. And Pros love it too! Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? Seller 99.6% positive. Money no object? Mike "Fathead" Easton (Pennsylvania) Mr Easton has been in the harmonica repair business since 2000. 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. 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. The Hohner Big River has a plastic comb, so its more comfy on the lips than wooden-combed harps like the Marine Band and the Blues Harp. Cant do so, I tried talking one off but i couldn't put it back. 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. Hohner used various trademarks over the years, but a particularly common one was a circle being held by two hands. 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. (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); This time, the Marine Band Harmonica. 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 Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. https://theharmonicacompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/HOHNER-Marine-Band-Deluxe-Harmonica-1.mp4. Her willingness to let me blow into it suggested that maybe many other lips had been on its mouthpiece that same day, so I declined, at which point she said "It's perfectly OK - I've given it a good cleaning" and she put the harp in her mouth and proceeded to blow and draw with great enthusiasm. Hohner has established themselves as the go-to brand for harmonicas rightly so high quality harps, for a fair price, that play well. Wow! From Germany Japan & Occupied Japan2. 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. Just taking a glance at it will make you feel like you travelled back in time to the early 1900s. Also the words DEM VERDIENSTE (alongside the WEIN medals) have now been abbreviated to D. VERDIENSTE. It was identical to the standard Marine Band 1896, except that it was gold finished and came in a special box. Learn how your comment data is processed. Postage is at cost. Figuring out the age of a harmonica is by no means easy, nor is it always relevant to the value of the instrument. The star vanished during the Nazi era and has never returned. 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. Hohner Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica Key of F Germany T. $11.40. Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. 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. C $135.09. Vintage M-Hohner's "Old Standby" Harmonica No. However, the 1896 only has 20 reeds. Vote. Clean. The wooden comb, and the edge of the reedplate that is exposed between the coverplates and the comb, both help to make this harmonica very rough on the lips when played for long periods of time. The circle with the star has the words GESETLICH and GESCHUTZT in full, instead of the abbreviated forms GESETL. There are a couple of them I would like to mention here are they both also bore the model number 1896. 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). Id think twice before purchasing a Blues Bender. 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. Several noted users are Bob Dylan, Brian Jones, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Little Walter and Neil Young. 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. This is a diatonic harmonica that works well for beginners and is one of the best selling harmonicas that the Hohner company has to offer. Your email address will not be published. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. . How Old Is My Hohner Marine Band 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); 1 bid. The other instrument I should mention is the Marine Band MS. Also, Matthias Hohner seems to have just a little more hair on the top of his head than he had in his previous portrait! One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at Guitarist? 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. If you get it wet enough for the comb to expand (by dunking it in water) the wood may not even dry back to its original size. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions. Not to mention, the corners of the Marine Band are a bit sharp and hurt the hands when held for long periods of time. I've never had one and was looking on the market for one but I'm having second thoughts. 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! Acidity of alcohols and basicity of amines. TheVINTAGEShopBG. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! 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. The 16-hole version comes in the traditional "64" 280 version, the Super 64 (introduced approx. 18.80 postage. (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? The reed plate is 0.9 mm thick with a stainless steel cover plate. Is a PhD visitor considered as a visiting scholar? Check out the spotlight post from our host Dave Stutts. The top is pretty plain. 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. If youre looking at an outdated forum, you might see people complaining about Marine Bands not bending well out of the box. The rear of the covers still have the lipped edges, but these lips have been folded back against the inside of the covers. 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. Is the harmonica straight tuned or cross tuned? 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. I cannot provide free appraisals by email, not even rough estimates, so please don't ask. Nevertheless, it is THE CLASSIC harmonica. 1 bid. 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. However, I have since learned that this is by no means an uncommon specimen. To make space for this, the medals are all slightly smaller and have smaller lettering around them. Although the WIEN medals keep their single circle outline, there is a partial circle of dots inside this outline. They are long they will still work. Can someone please help me. Looks This harmonica is absolutely beautiful to look at. 1896 Key Of A Original HARD CASE | Musical Instruments & Gear, Vintage Musical Instruments, Vintage Wind & Woodwind | eBay! From the birth of the blues, the Marine Band 1896 has been a constant musical fixture. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. The box is only slightly changed from earlier versions. The bottom of the box and the inside of the lid are also different. Seydel Shne Bandmaster Chromatic Harmonica. I think its worth the extra money. 4.2/5 Stars Total. Full Disclosure: Not All Hohner Harmonicas Are Created Equal! Your harmonica will survive. What more dya want? Its got a loud bright tone, its easy on the lips, very responsive, very easy to bend and its very EXPENSIVE! 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. Money no object? If it's a pin, hammer the other side till it squeezes against the harmonica shell. In that case don't attempt pining the centers of the ends. 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 . 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 soft green case is 1960s. A really tough one. Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. I think its well worth the extra money. ate 1970s), and the Super 64x version (1980s). Hello Audrey, Fun project. An iconic harp with pear wood, side vents, excellent responisveness, and distinct timbre. All parts are thoroughly cleaned & sterilised before custom work is done. I do not want to have to be a mechanic to play a harp. 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. Is a collection of years plural or singular? This expands the pin/rivet at the ends and compresses the shell together further. It's not difficult so long as you use copper or brass which are soft. Do new devs get fired if they can't solve a certain bug? He saw an opportunity in John Philip Souza and his popular Banda de . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Our collection database is a work in progress. A two-part hollow tube would definitely be called a rivet, but you're unlikely to find those on harmonicas. If youre looking for a traditional blues harp to play Muddy, Walter (s), Sonny Terry Ted and dont customise, this is it. How to handle a hobby that makes income in US. However, you are in with a very good chance of inhaling someone else's dried mouth scrapings - that won't kill you, but it's not a very pleasant thought! The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. The Pentaharp was specifically designed for guitar players, and its tuning is laid out totally differently from a regular harmonica. I once attended one of the UK's biggest antiques and collectibles fairs, hunting for old harps. 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. Many brands of harmonica have little medals engraved on the covers with various dates on them. 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. Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. Hohner Silver Concerto Chromatic Harmonica. For more info check out my full review of the Marine Band 1896. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 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. It is a Marine Band No. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. 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. IF THE ADD IS UP IT'S AVAILABLE. To get the best out of our site and for it to function correct, please read, accept and understand our 'Cookies Policy'. Hohner's Marine Band 1896 is the archetypal blues harmonica. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic harmonica is the original 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. Compare Compare Now site51274741945951115698 1274115056142. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. Your email address will not be published. It also has a wood comb. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? 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. 1896 model in the key of C, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. 0 bids. Links, Are you a beginner or struggling to sound good on harmonica? Vintage. Compare. Which model is it? To have a look please message me. The only hohner I've played is the bluesband variation. 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. Required fields are marked *. This one seems to be the final incarnation of the pre-war Marine Band: It is similar to the previous one, except that the abbreviated forms GESETL. 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. Fast shipping. Next, whether it's a solid pin or hollow tube, tap it in the center with a center punch or large nail. does any one know how to tell how old a harmonica is? 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! $12.00. 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. Free shipping for many products! If you're into jazz, gospel, or bluegrass, I highly recommend that you consider this harp. 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 . Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? You can see an interesting list of famous Marine Band players right here. Even some fairly common harmonicas may be considered collectible by some people. Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 125th Jubilee edition, key of C. C $96.66 + C $21.78 shipping. My preference. Just a Q-Tip moistened with water or ispropyl alcohol. Old herings super 20 were like that too, using rivets. 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. Key Features 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. I guess if youre saving $20 getting a Blues Harp instead of a Marine Band, and youre on a tight budget, go for it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For low tunings, we recommend the Hohner Thunderbird, which has been designed from the ground up as a low tuned harmonica, but still has similar tone and feel to the classic Marine Band. VAT Number: GB287764345. Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. Screw For Cover Plates - Marine Band Crossover, Thunderbird And Octave, Auto Valve. Best Beginner Harmonica Which Harmonica Is The Best For Beginners? 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. This harmonica was made by M. Hohner in Germany, undetermined date. Chromonica 260 Reed Plate Set Key C Major. The cutouts at each of the covers are larger and more angular. It's simplistic in its design but beautiful in its achievements. 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. This harmonica has a light brown and black stained wooden comb with metal cover plates screwed to top and bottom. 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! 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. After the Crossover, this is my 2nd favorite Hohner harmonica. Show details