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. You can hear the sound of the Fender Blues Deluxe versus the Hohner Blues Band in this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. As I mentioned at the start of this article, there have been many other models made with the name Marine Band. 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. Not to mention, the corners of the Marine Band are a bit sharp and hurt the hands when held for long periods of time. There are a couple of them I would like to mention here are they both also bore the model number 1896. The circle with the star has the words GESETLICH and GESCHUTZT in full, instead of the abbreviated forms GESETL. Help That's a tough one. VTG M. HOHNER MARINE BAND HARMONICA - NO. I've never messed with a Marine Band, but I hear they are quite small. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. 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. 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! If you're looking to emulate that old "woody" tone authentically at any cost, then look no further! 5 out of 5 stars (895) 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 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. I like Sp 20's, Deltas, and Soloist pros. Vintage M. Hohner "Marine Band" No. Chromonica 260 Reed Plate Set Key C Major. Made in Germany on a wood comb, most blues and rock artists play a Marine Band. Marine band is the worst harp I ever bought. At some point the comb material was changed from peachwood to pearwood, but I don't know how to tell the two woods apart by visual inspection. If you want to learn more check out my full Special 20 Review. 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. 34 GERMANY Working. The center of the medallion is empty on all but the oldest ones, which (before about 1937) had a six-pointed star in the medallion (though rosettes and 5-pointed stars have appeared in some of the very early ones). Only one problem: why in the world are there soooo many different Hohner harps to choose from? 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. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. It's not difficult so long as you use copper or brass which are soft. It's still sitting in a Mason Jar in my shop. Add To Cart. Pins can be made either by flat filing the pointy tip off brass upholstery brads (hold it with pliers) or by balling the end of some copper wire over a gas stove. Cookies or Best Offer. Lets get down to business. The 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 Hohnersound. I had a lot of them and you can just take them out and back without any problem several times. PATENT AUG 24TH 1897MADE IN GERMANY. Hohners main Chord is known as the Hohner 48, because it plays 48 chords. How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? The only reason I doc it one star is that I wish it had better key labels. I've discussed that subject before, and you all insisted that i have to unscrew it. Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 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. 4.5 of 5 stars (38) Reviews. 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. It is also probable that you are now considering emailing me for more information on the possible value of your harmonica. Although the covers are still lipped at the rear, the opening is noticeably wider. If you require a personal response, please use ourContact page. We accept major credit cards and PayPal. 2 Minute Hohner Pentaharp review here, if you wanna see it in action. ate 1970s), and the Super 64x version (1980s). Basic harmonica maintenance is now straightforward, the right tools easily gotten. 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. used on every other Marine Band I have seen. SPONSORED. Required fields are marked *. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? Constitution Avenue, NW Vintage Hohner Trutone Pitchpipe No. Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. 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. https://theharmonicacompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/HOHNER-Marine-Band-Deluxe-Harmonica-1.mp4. At the very center is a medallion held by two hands at right and left. 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. The covers now have a substantial lip at the rear opening and the cutouts at the end of each cover are slightly smaller. The trademark has more subtle changes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Contact But is the standard actually that good? 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. Want to up your single note game? But they are not professional quality instruments like Special 20s. For more info check out my full review of the Marine Band 1896. 1 bid. This is probably the question I get asked the most by email and the best answer I can give is that like anything else, an old harmonica is worth whatever someone is willing to pay you for it. . If it don't have little screws, don't take it apart, leave it alone. The Marine Band Classic is one of the few Hohner diatonics that is available in a full range of natural and harmonic minor tunings. I have two examples of this version. Also the Seydel 1847 models are a bit larger than the Hohner Marine Band harps. Ive literally taught thousands of people how to play the harmonica, and not one beginner who has purchased the Special 20 hasnt loved it. Hohner Golden Melody Review + Video: The Pretty Lady in Red. How should I clean my fingerboard without damaging my violin? Over time, I have absolutely fallen in love with this harmonica. How do I clean the windway on my recorder? African American History Curatorial Collective, Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments. My Vintage harmonicas are stock that i find that have had little or no use. In 1896 they created a new harmonica and named it the Marine Band. 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. 1896, W/ ORIGINAL PACKAGING. 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. I had a lot of them and you can just take them out and back without any problem several times. All parts are thoroughly cleaned & sterilised before custom work is done. 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. 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. We may update this record based on further research and review. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions. In that case don't attempt pining the centers of the ends. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! Registered Company 10370912. 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. Cookies 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. In my opinion, the Fender Blues Deluxe is a better purchase in the budget harmonica category, even though its a few bucks more. 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! By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Heres my Hohner Marine Band 1896 full review. Here is an example: Later versions of that trademark omit the star. Cheers! Rivets are hollow-tube pins. The significance of the six-pointed star has been the subject of much debate. 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 364 has 24 reeds, giving it a better note range. The current version of the Blues Harp is part of Hohner's Modular Series and was introduced in the 1990s. Well, theyre good in so far as theyre cheap! Item was in great shape from being a amp from the late 90s. In fact, in 1980 they produced their one billionth 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); 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. More on the way soon. Look at the openings inside the round holes, with the slide in the out position (i.e., not pressed in). This is the quintessential blues harmonica from the Chicago Blues Era. 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. 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. 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. The Hohner Old Standby Harmonica will get through, whether 're riding high, singing the blues, or just waiting on a train. The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. It was made in 1896, and it still has the same design. Responsiveness From hole 1 to hole 10, the Marine Band is not sluggish anywhere. [7] There are various subdivisions of the Marine Band. Newer revisited version of the classic Marine Band 1896. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? In the late 1980s, a plastic box was introduced: In the early 1990s, the design on the lid was enlarged: Also the word HANDMADE was stamped on the front of the box for a short time, to distinguish this model from the MS Marine Band being marketed at the time: Around this same time, Hohner started adding the barcode label to the bottom of the box (the ZA5 on this label dates it to around 1995, the year that the ZA5 reed alloy was introduced): The Marine Band itself went pretty much unchanged between the end of WWII and the end of the 20th century, at least as for as its visual appearance was concerned, with some very slight changes to the picture of Herr Hohner and the size of the lettering on the top cover. The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular model of harmonica for generations. 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. The best thing if you wish to get a good price for it, is to list it on somewhere like eBay with some good photographs and a clear description of it, particularly of any writing that may appear on the harmonica or its box - then cross your fingers and wait for the bidding to start. Required fields are marked *. 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. Seller 99.6% positive. Contact 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. $54.95 + $5.75 shipping. Legendary Hohner Marine Band Harp. 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). Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? 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. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online. How are they compared to other harmonicas too? Its a total classic. This is most notable with the circle in the middle of the trademark, which is now oval rather than being perfectly circular. IF THE ADD IS UP IT'S AVAILABLE. I play it in its Richter tuning and Natural Minor tuning and it is fantastics, Your email address will not be published. Best Beginner Harmonica Which Harmonica Is The Best For Beginners? If the harmonica had a plastic comb, you could simply soak the whole thing in lemon juice overnight. Screw For Cover Plates - Marine Band Crossover, Thunderbird And Octave, Auto Valve. Ronnie Shellist of Hohner harmonicas giving us an expert look at the Marine Band Series of harmonicas. It's a Hohner 260, then. If youre looking for a traditional blues harp to play Muddy, Walter (s), Sonny Terry Ted and dont customise, this is it. Sold out. 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. Chillin on a nice afternoon while sending the Marine Band sounds out the window. 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. However, the 1896 only has 20 reeds. 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. These sound great in a more chordal folk style as well. Either way, you want a pin/rivet with a head on one side, and about 1mm or 1/16th inch sticking through the other side of the harmonica. I pulled out this Marine Band 1896, and the thing bends like a champ! Pear wood comb is triple-lacquered, minimising swelling and ensuring greater volume and faster response. Is the Hohner Special 20 Any Good? IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Although the comb is the same length, the covers have changed substantially. All Hohner harmonicas had 4-digit date stamps on the reedplates from 2005 until about two years ago. Cant do so, I tried talking one off but i couldn't put it back. TheVINTAGEShopBG. How Old Is My Hohner Marine Band Harmonica. I do not want to have to be a mechanic to play a harp. A longtime favorite of many country artists, the model 34B Old Standby is always ready to express spontaneous musical soul. 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. Nevertheless, it is THE CLASSIC 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); The 270 has always had a wood comb with nailed-on reedplates. Check your inbox in the next minute or two for your first lesson. Hey good people out there. 5/5 Stars. The other instrument I should mention is the Marine Band MS. 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. 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.