Hohner Marine Band 1896

The Marine Band 1896 is the origin of the blues harmonica. This iconic instrument epitomises the blues like no other and is the benchmark for diatonic harmonicas - which is why it is still built almost exactly as it was when it was patented in 1896. Although it was originally intended for European folk music, the sound of the Marine Band 1896 quickly became a defining feature of American blues in the 20th century. Almost all the blues greats of the era played it, making it the voice of broken hearts and dancing nights, the endless prairie and stuffy nightclubs. Like no other harmonica, the Marine Band 1896 manages to set feelings to music and stimulate creativity. Anyone who discovers this piece of living music history is not just playing the blues. You feel the blues.