Hohner Marine Band - Classic, eb-nat.-Moll minor

General

This Hohner Marine Band Classic is tuned in E-flat minor. Hohner has expanded the Marine Band series to include twelve harmonicas with true minor tuning. This comes into its own when playing along with musical styles such as blues, jazz, rock, pop, country and soul in minor. A harmonica in E-flat minor can be used as a cross harp with music in A-flat minor or as a straight harp with music in E-flat minor.

The Marine Band harmonica

This model of harmonica has been available since 1896. Yes, you read it correctly. About a hundred and twenty years ago, the Marine Band was introduced and this became an instant success. The instrument was accessible to everyone: it is relatively simple to play and cost only a few cents. By the 1920s, the Marine Band was a staple of the blues. This was mainly the case in America, where by now the instrument made by German company Hohner was also wildly popular, especially around the Mississippi. Now you can find the instrument, or any of the other models, in almost every style of music, from jazz to R&B, from country and folk to rock.

The magic formula

What exactly is the secret of this so simple-looking instrument? Perhaps that is just it, it is an instrument that anyone can play and consists of just a few parts, namely: the comb (with the mouthpiece), the tuning plate, the reeds (also called reeds) and the cover plates. Hohner experimented with materials and found the magic formula in the nineteenth century. The comb of this harmonica is made of pear (pearwood). This provides a warm, full sound. Since a wooden comb tends to shrink or swell over time, this comb is well lacquered to prevent moisture from having a chance. The reeds and tuning plate are brass and the cover plates are made of stainless steel with an attractive print of Hohner and Marine Band. The cover plates are shaped with the idea of creating a fine grip, but above all of producing a beautiful sound. Hohner didn't compromise on anything and with this instrument that, after more than a century, is still used every day by many (professional) musicians.