Bending on a "hohner gold"
Hi David!
I recently bought a hohner Marine band, and learned how to bend, I love this instrument!
Before buying that marine band, I was playing on an old harmonica I found in my grandpa's desk drawer (see pictures). It's a 20-hole "hohner gold", the holes are larger than on the marine band and the shape of the comb is very different from what I've seen so far. I have tried bending on it multiple times, but never managed. I wonder if that would even be possible..?
What are those harmonicas for? I'd be very interested to know what model this is precisely, and when it was issued!
I hope you could help me with that :)
bmarques: Post these cool photos with your question on the "Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa" Forum section. I'd love to see what he says about this particular harmonica. (And I have no doubt he'll have a lot of cool information and perspective.) Given its design, it's either a "tremolo" harmonica, or an "octave" harmonica.You may be able to figure out which just from the sound.
You can learn about tremolo harmonica design and purpose at places such as https://www.patmissin.com/ffaq/q15.html . Tremolos have two reeds for each note, and for each note one reed is tuned a little sharp, and the other a little flat. So the combination of the two gives the note a "warbly" sound. (Thus the designation "tremolo.") The farther apart in pitch the two reeds are the "wetter" the sound, and the closer in pitch, the "drier" in sound. This type of harmonica was once the most popular in the US, and is still very popular in Asia.
An octave harmonica looks like a tremolo, i.e., two holes, top and bottom, for each note, but rather than two reeds tuned slightly apart, the reeds are tuned an octave apart. Which gives the note a really full, organ-like sound. (Sort of like the lower three sets of strings on a 12-string guitar.)
Various tremolo and octave models continue to be manufactured by all of the biggies, i.e., Hohner, Suzuki, Seydel, et al. They're a lot of fun for folk music, some classical, and some pop. And they're really good for polka. But they don't work at all for traditional or contemporary blues. And are near to impossible to bend. I own one octave that I've used for special effects while playing in a cabaret show band (and for tooting for fun while out hiking in the mountains), and tremolos in two keys that are fun for Irish music.
But blues harmonica is a completely different animal, that possibly developed because the single-reed diatonic (like the Marine Band) was - and still is - the least expensive type of harmonica generally available.
Bottom line: Keep enjoying that old harmonica! Just not for blues.
Thanks for your replies @UkuleleRob65 @David Barret!
I'll follow your advices, I'm very curious to learn more about this instrument.
You're right about the tremolo effect, it does give an amazing sound, with this "wobbly" effect.
I'll post the pictures on Winslow Yerxa's forum section tomorrow, and I'll also follow David Barret's advice and ask Harmonica Collectors International if they know more about it.
I'll keep you posted here if you want also!
Wishing you a happy new year! ;)
Hello bmarques.
That's a very cool harmonica.
Each hole has its own reed, so it does not bend like the diatonic harmonica (where a blow and draw reed share the same hole). It may be possible to bend a reed, but you would need to most likely isolate one hole, where the design I believe is to have your lips encircle four holes, paying two when you blow and the other two when you draw (having the reeds either tuned an octave apart or to the same pitch, but a couple of cents off to provide a shimmering effect). Either way, whichever way it's designed, bending is most likely not the way to go on this harmonica.
As you can guess, I don't know much at all about this design of harmonica, and I am not knowledgeable about its history. I recommend you contact Harmonica Collectors International... they may be able to help.