I stopped in Guitar Center yesterday and spent some time looking at the harmonica display. It seemed that all the harmonicas are now priced at about $40 apiece now. I guess the last time I bought harmonicas was 20 years ago, and they were between $20 and $30 at the time - so maybe $40 isn't unreasonable now.

I got my first harmonica in fifth grade in 1958, when I joined Sister John Bosco's harmonica band. It was a Hohner Marine Band harmonica, key of C, and I'm sure it cost less than five bucks. For years, I didn't know harmonicas came in any key other than C.

At the time, I thought that my Marine Band was just an ordinary harmonica, but I've learned over the years that it is a highly respected instrument. I've also learned that Hohner has many different models of harmonica; but what I don't know, is what's different among the various models. The models I've heard most about are the Marine Band, the Special 20, and the Blues Band harmonicas. It appears that Blues Band harmonicas are cheaper ($50 for a set of 7), but what other differences are there between models of harmonica?

-Joe-

An interesting tour of Hohner models: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVk9fe72-EA