how old is my hohner marine band harmonica

Do this on both sides. After pressing the pin/rivet through, set the bottom side of the pin on an anvil (any raised piece of metal like a meat tenderizer or side of some pliers). A really tough one. 3 comments. Looks This harmonica is absolutely beautiful to look at. or Best Offer. 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. Compare. Pickup near South Perth in Kensington. For the rest of this article, I shall confine myself to physical examples of the instrument, rather than catalog illustrations. 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. The lips at the rear of the covers are still flattened, making the harp more open at the rear, but the M. HOHNER on the lower cover is slightly shorter than on the previous examples and where it used to say MADE BY and GERMANY on either side of the name, it now says MADE IN GERMANY and FABRIQU EN ALLEMAGNE. Chromonica is a term that Hohner uses for several different ones. All of the above raises the inevitable question of hygiene - is it safe to play something that has been in someone else's mouth? Ive literally taught thousands of people how to play the harmonica, and not one beginner who has purchased the Special 20 hasnt loved it. 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 archetypal blues harmonica with the traditional HOHNER tuning. (So you can dip your toes in the water without breaking the bank.) The cut-outs at the ends of the covers are taller, but not as wide as on the previous example. Probably any small tweezers or files would do - probably a cosmetic set would have the right tools. 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). 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. there is no model on the harmonica itself, but the case says it is a c260. Today it is still manufactured in much the same way as when it was first introduced in 1896. VTG M. HOHNER MARINE BAND HARMONICA - NO. Those may not be available though, and rivet pins are easy enough to make anyhow. Hohner from the 19 to the late 19 also produced the Polyphonia No. Show details 1 bid. The dates are not that helpful at all, except that a harp with an award dated 1937 is unlikely to have been made before 1937! A two-part hollow tube would definitely be called a rivet, but you're unlikely to find those on harmonicas. 1 bid. A couple of days later I got around taking it apart to clean it. Don't be afraid. 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. 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. Compare. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Both our time is valuable. You can see an interesting list of famous Marine Band players right here. The 12-hole version is the Super Chromonica, or 270. SPONSORED. Privacy 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. Shortly after then, the "A440" was dropped and other small changes made to the designs on the cover. Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. Cookies Whats not to love? The circle with the star has the words GESETLICH and GESCHUTZT in full, instead of the abbreviated forms GESETL. The Hohner Blues Bender is not a great one. It's not difficult so long as you use copper or brass which are soft. 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. My speculation is that the Marine Band 1896 is a relic, long ago surpassed by better thinking and better materials, and maintained in production only to please purists and romanticizers. If the harmonica had a plastic comb, you could simply soak the whole thing in lemon juice overnight. Your Price $ 84.99 msrp:115.0,lowPrice:84.99. However, if your old harmonica is shaped like a zeppelin, an automobile, a fish, a boomerang or a rooster, or if it features art deco style paintwork, or has bells, pipes or horns attached to it, then you might possibly be holding something of value. The Harmonica Company is the trading name of The Harmonica World Ltd. Honestly, though, I rarely play this instrument because the others are SO much more comfy, and still sound really good. But if youre totally obsessed with TONE at any cost, then this may be the harmonica youre looking for. These reviews are strictly based on my own experience and opinions. 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. Vintage Hohner Trutone Pitchpipe No. If money isnt tight and youre the kind of person who likes the best of the best, then go for the Crossover! Please message me if you are going to be more than 15 minutes late or not coming. It was identical to the standard Marine Band 1896, except that it was gold finished and came in a special box. or Best Offer. The current version of the Blues Harp is part of Hohner's Modular Series and was introduced in the 1990s. The claim REG. I pulled out this Marine Band 1896, and the thing bends like a champ! Your email address will not be published. I've had it 30 years now. Very responsive. Washington, D.C. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use), International Media Interoperability Framework. 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 Vote. 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. and GESCH. The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BAND 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. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. (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 harmonica is engraved: MARINE BANDM. But even worse, the Hohner Hot Metal and Hohner Old Standby are what I consider to be terrible harmonicas, and I recommend running in the other direction from them! 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! Ronnie Shellist of Hohner harmonicas giving us an expert look at the Marine Band Series of harmonicas. During the cleaning process, I removed three or four dried out cocoons of who-knows-what sort of insect that had decided a harmonica would be the perfect place to incubate its offspring. Next, whether it's a solid pin or hollow tube, tap it in the center with a center punch or large nail. Cheers! For rivets, use a center punch to guarantee centering a drill, and drill off the end which has the least material until you can pull it through from the other side by using a narrower screw inside, pulled with pliers. It was made in 1896, and it still has the same design. A440 Vintage Hohner MARINE BAND Harmonica- No. 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. Take the [not rivets] pins out, clean, then put them back. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Do new devs get fired if they can't solve a certain bug? In 1896 they created a new harmonica and named it the Marine Band. and GESCH. Over time, I have absolutely fallen in love with this harmonica. All these models have been in production for over 20 years. Is a collection of years plural or singular? As I mentioned at the start of this article, there have been many other models made with the name Marine Band. (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); 1896, W/ ORIGINAL PACKAGING. or Best Offer. Vintage M-Hohner's "Old Standby" Harmonica No. It's simplistic in its design but beautiful in its achievements. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. This harmonica was made by M. Hohner in Germany, undetermined date. 18.80 postage. The answer, of course, is for comfort! C, A, A Flat, B, B Flat, D, D Flat, E, E Flat, F, G. The most popular models are either single-sided or double-sided Echo harps, but the single-sided ones can be combined into quadruple or sextuple corncob setups, with a different key on each row. The purists irrationally cleave to the notion that the sound of the Marine Band 1896 is the sound that was, for better or worse, the sound of the old time legends. T&C $4.99 shipping. More significant is the introduction of a groove towards the front of each reedplate to accept the front edge of the covers. 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. (My apologies for the poor condition of this particular box.). 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. How do I clean the windway on my recorder? Vintage Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 1896 Key Harp M40. 1 - Its a standard, 10 hole, diatonic, in C. 2 - 30 for a top-quality, German made musical instrument 3 - Wood is one of my favorite materials, and of course, the marine band is made of wood (well part of it) 4 - Hand-built, i love special things that aren't made by machine, it gives an extra sense, an extra connection to the person who built it Anyway, they now seem to be making a better sound than before. The Hohner Marine Band is a number-one choice among top professionals and one of the most recognizable harmonicas all over the world. Check out my free beginners kick-start course. Old herings super 20 were like that too, using rivets. The picture of the US Marine Band is now printed directly on the top of the box, rather than being a separate piece of paper pasted on. If a law is new but its interpretation is vague, can the courts directly ask the drafters the intent and official interpretation of their law? This time, the Marine Band Harmonica. For a clunky but functional hack, even a steel brad will work. Hohner registered the name Up To Date as DRWZ 16213 later that same year (application made March 38th, granted May 5th) and trademarked the number 1896 with the USPTO in 1902 (Trade-Mark 38,458, filed May 16th, granted June 17th). 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). 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 brass reeds and wood comb give it that beautiful woody tone that, in my opinion, just cant be beat. The 1896 model first appeared in the year 1896, but back then it seems to have been called the Marine Orchestra. 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. The trademark has more subtle changes. Item was in great shape from being a amp from the late 90s. The Chord Harmonica consists of two harmonicas hinged together. Figuring out the age of a harmonica is by no means easy, nor is it always relevant to the value of the instrument. Contact Made in Germany on a wood comb, most blues and rock artists play a Marine Band. If it don't have little screws, don't take it apart, leave it alone. 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. Discover the Worlds Finest Harmonica Learning Method . I think its worth the extra money. 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. Why does classical music sound out of tune on a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Harmonica? The soft green case is 1960s. Do i have to use a hammer? This was printed on a blow reed plate: 1-216-1011018/1 G Dur Hohner 27/03 L9/KA2. Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Hohner harmonica, upgraded version of the Marine Band Description Product Details Comments Respect the Roots - State of the Art! Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! 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. All Need Adjustment Cleaning Polishing & Lots of TLC3. Marine band is the worst harp I ever bought. More on the way soon. How are they compared to other harmonicas too? Every time I play one of these, Im always like, wow, I forgot how awesome Special 20s are! Ive never heard of anyone purchasing a Special 20 and being unhappy with it. If you think you've found a valuable old treasure in the attic, it's likely that you are going to be disappointed. Sturdy zipper case allows moisture to evaporate while keeping dust out. Verdict - The Hohner Marine Band 1896 is the classic harmonica played by old Blues greats like Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Litter Walter. 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? 34 GERMANY Working. The top is pretty plain. Photo courtesy of InterstateMusic.com. The chord harmonica is used to provide chordal and rhythmic backing in an ensemble, much as rhythm guitar might do. Ive never had anyone fight me when I say that the Marine Band wins in the category of TONE. Similarly, I recommend avoiding the Hohner Trumpet Call and the Hohner Weekender. If youre looking to emulate that old woody tone authentically at any cost, then look no further! Ending Today at 17:11 EST 12h 5m. This next one probably dates from the late 1920s: The only significant difference between this one and the previous model, is that cuffs in the trademark have lost their jagged ends. This harmonica has a light brown and black stained wooden comb with metal cover plates screwed to top and bottom. However, I have since learned that this is by no means an uncommon specimen. The 364, like many other Hohner models, has stainless steel covers and brass reed plates. Everybody knows it. After the Crossover, this is my 2nd favorite Hohner harmonica. To make space for this, the medals are all slightly smaller and have smaller lettering around them. $54.95 + $5.75 shipping. Here's my take on the Hohner Marine Band, which is the #1 best-selling harmonica model of all time. To get the best out of our site and for it to function correct, please read, accept and understand our 'Cookies Policy'. I have so far been unable to locate any similar legal protection for the name Marine Orchestra. I guess if youre saving $20 getting a Blues Harp instead of a Marine Band, and youre on a tight budget, go for it. I have two examples of this version. Seller 99.6% positive. Listed: 3 years ago Views: 227 Watchers: 1 About This Listing 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. If it's a pin, hammer the other side till it squeezes against the harmonica shell. If youre into jazz, gospel, or bluegrass, I highly recommend that you consider this harp. I had a lot of them and you can just take them out and back without any problem several times. 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. Privacy 1896 Harmonica Made in Germany by M. Hohner with Box. In my opinion, the Fender Blues Deluxe is a better purchase in the budget harmonica category, even though its a few bucks more. 9 Inspiring Reasons to Do So. 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 covers still have the lips at the rear opening, but they are no longer flatted against the inside of the covers, which makes the harp much less open at the back. The box has different labels to previous versions, both inside the lid and on the bottom. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Many brands of harmonica have little medals engraved on the covers with various dates on them. Pear wood comb is triple-lacquered, minimising swelling and ensuring greater volume and faster response. Hohner used various trademarks over the years, but a particularly common one was a circle being held by two hands. Here is an example: Later versions of that trademark omit the star. . Post a comment below. Double sided harmonica - Weltmeister Rare World War 2 Double sided - Old Harmonica - Collectible harmonica Ad vertisement by TheVINTAGEShopBG. A few words of advice. [7] There are various subdivisions of the Marine Band. 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 . I hope to be helpful to you on your harmonica journeys. How Has the Hohner Marine Band Changed Over the Years? 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 Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. Hey! 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. Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 125th Jubilee edition, key of C. C $96.66 + C $21.78 shipping. Durability/Fixability the double-lacquered Pear wood comb could over time become susceptible to swelling, cracking, or splintering. Join 4700+ Successful Harmonica Jamz students - Play any Song and Jam with Other Musicians, Your email address will not be published. Lets get down to business. 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. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. There were also a few changes to the box around the time of WWII. The instruments, held together with nails, were hard to get apart, hard to get back together. 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. Hohner Hot Metal Harmonica $ 17.99 Select options; Hohner Marine Band 364/24 Soloist Harmonica $ 79.00 Add to cart Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? Hohners main Chord is known as the Hohner 48, because it plays 48 chords. More on the way soon. For basic cleaning just rub the covers down with a microfiber cloth and use a toothpick to get the gunk out of the holes (hold the harp so the stuff falls out, not in). does any one know how to tell how old a harmonica is? Hohner 590 Big River MS-Series . Why are Suriname, Belize, and Guinea-Bissau classified as "Small Island Developing States"? 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. Enter your email address and hit Grab It to get started. The go to harp for players such as Jerry Portnoy and Kim Wilson, although this iant publicised as the Marine Band Deluxe isnt marketed in the US. 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. . Full Disclosure: Not All Hohner Harmonicas Are Created Equal! 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. 4.5 of 5 stars (38) Reviews. Yes, they are the original harmonica that all the old blues masters played. 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. Seydel Shne Bandmaster Chromatic Harmonica. $ 84 .99. There may be more subtle changes in construction that could further date a harmonica (such as the rounded rivet heads on prewar 64s) but that stuff is beyond my expertise. Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. 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.

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