Unboxing "A" Marine Band 1896 in 2023 - Easy Harmonica Blues

2023 - Happy New Year!
I decided to try out one of the "oldest" harmonicas. The audio clears up after a few minutes, I'm not sure what the interference was from!
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[@jamestramontano8491]

It just so happens the last harmonica that i recently purchased was a Marine Band "A"..my favorite harp of ALL time!

[@MonsoonMal]

Nice, it's a really good harmonica.

[@oneill180]

Got an 'A' MB Deluxe at Christmas. Love the sound, probably my best harp, not necessarily my fave. Love the fact that the wood is lacquered But what a difference going from my 20 as far as ease goes esp, if you say the Deluxe is easier on the lips. Them ol timers were tough s.o.b's

[@MonsoonMal]

Great timing. I'm thinking of doing an update on this video. My aim was to play the MB everyday. I'm 2 months in and I've found that after about 10min I want to stop playing, so I swap to a MBD to keep practicing. The MB hasn't hurt my lips but it's just so much rougher than the MBD or a plastic comb that I just don't want to play it! And it makes me think about the old guys too. Because it's not that it's THAT rough, just that so much smoother is easily available.

[@oneill180]

@@MonsoonMal In that case I'm glad I went with the deluxe. I'm getting more used to it but I still do most of my practice on the 20 since it's in C anyway and use the MBD to try different licks and rhythms for now. Thanks for the update here!

[@strayferal]

Nice vid! I have 2 questions: 1) Most people say the old Marine Band is real hard on the lips. So question is which is better - Marine Band 1896 or the Deluxe? And Question 2) From your experience, which harmonica brand-model is the easiest to bend on? I am a newbie I have only Special 20 key of C, this is what everybody recommended to start with. My goal is - blues. I know all the big names played the old Marine Band, but I find it hard to bend on my Special 20. Thanks!

[@MonsoonMal]

1 - I prefer the Marine Band Deluxe, I have more than 20 and they are my favorit harp for gigs, It's a lot smoother on the lips and the screws make it easy to disassemble to replace reeds. 2) These days almost any "decent" harmonica bends well. You want a comb that doesn't leak and the action on the reeds set up correctly - almost always a special 20 will be great harp. Bending is the trickiest part of harmonica, but you CAN do it, just takes time.

[@b-rj1171]

I have a Seydel 1847. And it is keep pulling hair out of my stache. Does this one gives you any problems?

[@MonsoonMal]

It's actually pretty good! I do tend to get "stuck" in almost every harp lol Lee Oskar, Special 20. Manji and Marine Band Deluxe less often. Rocket's are very smooth but a different style comb.

[@davidday6736]

Although it sounds funny, the mustache issue is one of many many reasons I play the special 20s

[@b-rj1171]

I also play my Special 20’s the most. 😂

[@alizeram9811]

I bought Marine band classic. The letter C was on the box, what is mean? and I have no idea how to learn how to play 😅

[@MonsoonMal]

That is the best one to get started with. Most lessons use a "C" harmonica. The letter is the "key" that the harmonica is in. Try this one with your C harp kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmLdgKSpbbyhe7M Have fun