Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica in the Key of E Harmonic Minor

Patented in 1896 and built with the same nail-assembled construction ever since, this harmonica has been the benchmark blues harp for over a century. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 in E harmonic minor brings the classic design that shaped early American blues to a specialised tuning that opens up eastern European folk, klezmer, and minor-key blues phrasing. Reed plates and covers are fixed with traditional nails rather than screws, maintaining the authentic feel and tonal response that made this the instrument of choice for generations of harp players. The pearwood comb receives a double lacquer seal to resist moisture and swelling without sacrificing the warm resonance of the wood.

Twenty brass reeds are mounted on 0.9mm brass reed plates with an uncoated brass surface that develops character as it ages. The curved covers feature side vents that contribute to the classic Marine Band tone–different from modern recessed or capped designs. E harmonic minor tuning raises the second, fifth, and occasionally eighth scale degrees compared to natural minor, creating the augmented second interval characteristic of traditional Jewish, Arabic, and Romani music. This makes it particularly effective for klezmer, certain flamenco styles, and blues players looking to expand beyond standard diatonic voicings. The included snapcase provides practical protection in a compact plastic housing.

Features

• E harmonic minor tuning for eastern European folk and minor blues
• Traditional nail assembly fixes reed plates and covers to comb
• Pearwood comb sealed with two layers of clear lacquer finish
• Twenty brass reeds on 0.9mm brass reed plates with brass surface
• Curved covers with side vents for authentic Marine Band tone
• Unchanged design since 1896 patent maintains historic playing response
• Augmented second interval enables klezmer and Romani musical phrasing
• Includes durable snapcase for storage and transport protection