Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica Review

[@revanthkolla]

Good enough for Adam Gussow, good enough for me!

[@Tim48103]

Adam could play *actual* hockey skates and make them sound good.

[@landztranz]

Informative...and funny! Thanks.

[@whitelight2507]

I love my fleet of Marine Band 1896's, as well as my grand daddy Hohner 270 chromatics.

[@Tim48103]

Lotta people do! And they're responsive and sound great. My face just isn't tough enough!

[@anandaarju7517]

I know this is subjective but i am very interested to know what is your favorite harmonica? If there are multiple harmonica you like then please rank 1,2,3. Take care

[@Tim48103]

Expensive harps: Hohner Marine Band Deluxe. Mid-price harps: Dabell Nobel. Inexpensive harps: Easttop T008k/Conjurer Bluestorm/Kongsheng TinG.

[@anandaarju7517]

@@Tim48103 thank you so much dear for your answer

[@anandaarju7517]

@@Tim48103 One thing - I've both MB deluxe & Dabell Noble in - A & Bb key . About Easttop - I've the Easttop blues player ( green color ) which is also great . Planning to buy a t008k but I've found it only in C key . Take care buddy.

[@Tim48103]

@@anandaarju7517 they make the T008k in all 12 keys and some low keys E & F, I think). Try AliExpress!

[@anonymousr.9333]

I ordered a hohner marine band 1896 classic/chapstick bundle today lol, jk about the chapstick. On another "note" I've never played before. How long would you say until a newbie becomes semi pro?

[@Tim48103]

Lol. I've clogged a lot of harps with chapstick. As to learning curves, if you work it every day, you can get to where you're not annoying everyone in about 6 months. After that it takes a lifetime to refine your skills.

[@jj339c]

Watched this and just ordered a Marine Band in C. Should arrive day after next. Too many professionals highly recommend. Will my mouth look like this now? 😬

[@Tim48103]

lol - maybe. They sound good, they are responsive and generally well set-up (I think 'cause they're put together with nails, Hohner takes a little more care about gapping reeds on these - not many regular customers can take the silly things apart easily). That said, they feel like you're playing a wooden kitchen spoon. But again - I *used* to play 'em and thought nothing of it. So maybe I've gotten soft in my dotage. Good luck!

[@jj339c]

@@Tim48103 👍

[@ROBERTF177]

Hello. Started off with a couple of marine bands per input from the music store where I bought them. Found the response and bending superb(especially for a beginner). Then after reading a review purchased a Suzuki Harpmaster. OMG “Never thought harp playing could feel like this!” A bit softer sound and not quite the bending ease but very good and “SMOOTH”. Would you recommend straying from Suzuki and giving the Bluebird a try? Thanks. Robert

[@Tim48103]

Hi Robert - Both the Harpmaster and the Bluebird are well-made harps, but differ quite a bit in construction (tabbed covers vs full-length and recessed reeds vs "sandwich" style) and tone - the Harpmaster is a mellower harp while the bluebird is brighter or harsher in tone (closer to the MB, actually). Both are equally responsive (playability and bending) in my opinion, and both cost about the same. You really can't go too wrong with either - and which you end up liking better is totally a personal preference thing. Me, I like the harpmaster a little better because it's a slightly more comfortable harp (recessed reeds) and I like the mellow tone. The bluebird LOOKS cooler tho!

[@ROBERTF177]

I really appreciate the comfort of the Suzuki as well. I guess for now I’ll build up my arsenal of Harpmasters. Thanks so much for the help and your great posts. (including your beautiful cat)

[@alanbooker1955]

Great video Tim, wish you made more mate.

[@Tim48103]

Thanks! And summer is almost here, should have time to make a bunch of new vids (be careful of what you wish for!)

[@luisdesantis6035]

Thanks Tim, I like your harmonica reviews, keep up the good work. Ideas: 1) Easttop T008S vs T008K 2) Kongsheng Ting Harp My experience with the original MB is that I had to adjust the pressure between the harmonica and my mouth to avoid that uncomfortable feeling you are referring too. Once I made the adjustment I have enjoyed the tone and responsiveness of the MB immensely.

[@hectorhernandezd7az552]

Nice video. Do you recommend this harmonica to a beginnerr player like me? I want it to practice and perfect myself on it. Greetings!

[@Tim48103]

Hi Hector - oh, you can learn fine on one of these - they play well, are responsive, and have that old-school cool. I just don't find them very comfortable - sharp corners and all that. But, you can get used to that, or maybe it never bothers you in the first place - and THEN, these are fine harps. If you want to be safe, get a Special 20 instead.... (they're cheaper, too). Cheers!

[@rogerking8959]

Got my first today and wondered about those cover plates not being flush

[@Tim48103]

It's the way they're built.... you can get used to them at some point if you're persistent....

[@fredfonseca6034]

Question, are the Marine band classic 1896 waterproof ?? Like realistically speaking ?? Can I rinse it in the faucet for cleaning??

[@Tim48103]

Well, to the degree that we spend a lot of our time actually spitting into our harmonicas when we play, yeah, it's more or less waterproof. However, the pear wood combs on the "regular" marine band aren't sealed very well, and if you keep them truly wet for very long, they'll swell and the tines of the comb will protrude past the reed plates, making that harp even MORE uncomfortable to play (and/or useless). At any rate, unless you're blowing potato chips thru your harp, most only really need a little scraping around the holes of the comb to get 'em ready to go - in my case, I remove the chapstick from the holes periodically with a toothpick. If you must submerge your harp, make sure it doesn't stay very wet for very long - have a blow drier handy or something. Even so, I wouldn't recommend it, really.... Just brush and floss before you play, lol. Cheers!

[@fredfonseca6034]

@@Tim48103 Thank you so very much!! Good advice 👍

[@bacell7779]

is it marineband c key?

[@yunusemreislamoglu1059]

Helpfull thanks

[@Harp_and_Guitar_Moving_Forward]

Ice skates is a slight exaggeration hahaha

[@davestylehenry]

I have one from my great great grandparents though its not in great condition

[@gilleslaurin2165]

I love my suzuki promaster mr-350

[@TheSamuraiGoomba]

Yeah, I found that out pretty fast as a beginner too... Marine Band is what I got. Someone in my family had an old one lying around. Yeah, the fittings are sharp and them shits are not comfortable. I was wondering if it was me.

[@Tim48103]

Nope - they're harsh. You CAN get used to them, but why tho?

[@mitchellkornfeld6804]

I've got one 1896.While I appreciate the sound and the nostalgia,i don't like the nails.I will convert to screws in the near future.As I've become a better player,I now enjoy the Blues master and the Harp master:comfortable and durable! In terms of sound,I find the Marine band deluxe a bit bright .I do like the Rocket! I Easttop harps ,inexpensive but not a fan of the sound....Hey...Sound is very much subjective.....i enjoy your videos

[@Tim48103]

Yep... Those Suzuki's are well made and consistent. I've never been disappointed by them... Give the DaBells a try if you're experimenting in that price range, tho - another very solid brand! Cheers!

[@pacisablo]

If it hurts then I’m not buying one

[@Tim48103]

But it hurts so good, lol.

[@jacobseidman8269]

I like when you play the first one more it sounds better. Maybe the pain of playing it makes you play better hah

[@Tim48103]

paying my dues one busted lip at a time.

[@fredfonseca6034]

Ok that was funny!! Great video. I wish I watched it before I order the MB classic lol. I would had order the deluxe. I play Saxophone so I kind need my lips when using mouthpiece .....lol

[@meradu2]

Nice to c your channel friend And yes I can totally agree on the sharp edges Love the video and you’re playing Subscribed back pl 👍

[@goldenteledy2002]

I always had a bad taste in my mouth for the original Marine Band. Mainly because most of the player-base is filled with some of most stuck-up and rudest people I've ever met online. As a Golden Melody player who hates wooden combs, I get barraded all the goddamn time by these people because they hate the tuning on them and say that I should never play them and switch to a Marine Band because it has "blues tuning" compared to the Golden Melody, which should only be used for melodies according to them. Some even had told me that if I were to play my Golden Melodies in a band situation, the band will tell me to switch to a different harp entirely. And also they are also strong tone comb and embouchre purists too. They are the main reason why I will never become a Marine Band player because they think that harmonica is the dog's bollocks when it's just terrible.

[@sasaivanovic783]

Great sound harmonica but i play for years SPECIAL 20.Its anazing harp...warp deep sound!