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To really understand why this harmonica is a true legend, you'd need to step back by a good 120 years to 1896 when Hohner was busy polishing off the very first Marine band - an instrument that would go on to help define blues and pop as we know it. The contemporary Hohner Marine Band Deluxe may have been redesigned for improved playing comfort, increased volume, and a longer-lifespan, but it still retains the legendary sound of that original Marine Band from way back when.

The Marine Band Deluxe

Hohner make it clear that the Deluxe has not been introduced to replace the original, since the Marine Band is still produced to this day; the design remaining almost entirely unchanged since 1896. Instead, the goal of the Deluxe is to offer the authentic sound of the OG Marine Band, but buttered up a little with the modern comfort of rounded edges and a more snug and natural playing feel overall. The Deluxe manages to hold onto an almost identical tonal response and colour of sound to the original by using the same materials. So, the comb and mouthpiece are still crafted from pear wood and a triple layer of lacquer still ensures a fast response, while the covers have been completely redesigned so that this instrument is able to generate more volume yet bear the same classic look. This edition has been tuned in Db-major - not the most common tuning, but no less stunning.