Austin Bazaar complements your instrument with thoughtfully selected accessories designed to support protection, learning, and ongoing care. This bundle includes a protective case and pouch to help safeguard your harmonica during storage and travel, an online manual to provide guided practice as you develop your skills, and an Austin Bazaar polishing cloth to help keep your instrument clean and well-maintained between sessions. THE ORIGINAL BLUES HARMONICA, The Marine Band 1896 is the archetypal blues harmonica. Almost unchanged since it was patented in 1896, this iconic instrument embodies the real deep blues like no other and is the benchmark against which all others are judged. Initially designed for European folk music, it quickly became a prominent voice of American blues of the early 20th century, played by all harmonica players of this era. It’s the soundtrack of broken hearts and dancing all night, of endless prairies and sweaty nightclubs. Like no other harmonica, the Marine Band 1896 is an invitation to express yourself in music, a key to unlock your creativity. When you discover this piece of living musical history, you won’t just play the blues. You’ll feel the blues.
FEATURES:
Traditional assembly with nails – Reed plates and covers are affixed with nails for the traditional look and feel
Curved covers with side vents – Curved covers with side vents for the original blues sound
Double lacquered pearwood comb – Comb sealed with 2 layers of clear lacquer to reduce swelling.
TECHNICAL DETAILS:
Reed plates (material, thickness): brass, 0.9 mm
Reed plates (surface): brass
Reeds (number, material): 20, brass
Comb (material, color): pearwood, brown
Comb (finish): double lacquered
Mouthpiece (surface): pearwood
Cover plates: stainless steel
Keys: HG, F#, F, E, Eb, D, Db, C, B(H), Bb, A, Ab, G
Type: diatonic
Tuning: Richter, Harmonica Minor and Natural Minor. Nm and hm just in F#, F, E, Eb, D, Db, C, B(H), Bb, A, Ab, G
KEY OF C TUNING: Tuned to the key of C, making it a common starting point for beginners and a versatile choice for blues, folk, and traditional playing styles
ICONIC BLUES HERITAGE: Nearly unchanged since its 1896 patent, this harmonica is widely recognized for its expressive tone and longstanding role in shaping classic blues music
TRADITIONAL DESIGN ROOTS: Originally developed for European folk music, the Marine Band design later became a defining instrument in American blues and roots genres
QUALITY REED & COMB CONSTRUCTION: Built with 20 brass reeds, 0.9 mm brass reed plates, and a double-lacquered pearwood comb for consistent response and tonal character
EVERYTHING IN ONE BOX: This bundle includes a Hohner carrying case and pouch for protection, an exclusive Austin Bazaar online beginner manual for guided learning, and a polishing cloth to help maintain your instrument
