Hohner Marine Band Crossover A

94

Harmonica

  • From the "Marine Band Crossover" series
  • Key: A
  • Richter System
  • 20 Reeds
  • Multi-layer bonded bamboo comb
  • Completely sealed
  • Cover surface made of stainless steel with side vents
  • 0.90 mm brass reed plates
Available since October 2009
Item number 236318
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Tuning A
Comb Wood
Number Of Reeds 20
215 AED 54,62 €
Plus 277 AED shipping
The price in AED is a guideline price only
Since we ship from Germany, additional costs through taxes and customs may be incurred
In stock
In stock

This product is in stock and can be shipped immediately.

Standard Delivery Times
1

94 Customer ratings

4.7 / 5

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36 Reviews

V
Marine Band Crossover
Valrho 26.06.2020
The Marine Band Crossover is a modified version of the Marine Band Deluxe. Other than the graphics on the covers and the type of bolts on the cover, there are two major differences:

1. The Crossover has a bamboo comb instead of a pearwood comb. The bamboo is lighter in weight, has a slightly smoother feel, and has a different color/appearance. I cannot say with any certainty if it is more or less airtight – they seem about the same to me, regarding airtightness. Contrary to popular myth, the comb material does not influence the sound. You could swap the combs between a Deluxe and a Crossover and you would hear zero difference in the sound. All in all, I like the bamboo comb, and the harp feels lighter. I guess using bamboo is also better for the environment.

2. The temperament, or “fine-tuning” is different. The Deluxe is set to 19-Limit Just Intonation, while the Crossover is set to Compromise Tuning. The main differences are in the reeds of 2-blow, 3-draw, 5-draw, 5-blow, 7-draw, and 8-blow: these six reeds are slightly (about 5 to 10 cents) flatter in the Deluxe, whereas in the Crossover they are nearly Equal Temperament. (The 5-draw reed has the biggest difference). What this means in practice, is that the Deluxe sounds slightly warmer and more bluesy/flat, with slightly richer chords. The Crossover has a slightly brighter sound, and the chords sound a little less bluesy. The difference is very subtle, and not everyone can hear it. However, if you are playing in a band with other instruments, the Crossover can sound more “in tune” with the band. Whereas the Deluxe can sometimes sound just a tiny bit flat compared with the other instruments (particularly when you hit that 5-draw note). The difference is extremely subtle. But sometimes I can notice it, especially when playing together with horns.

Otherwise, the Crossover is a very high-quality instrument and a joy to play. It projects loudly, with a rich and expressive tone. Having brass reeds, its lifespan is similar to most other Hohner harmonicas (in my experience, they start to drift out of tune after a year or two of intensive use). Also, I find that the bamboo comb tends to accumulate greenish stains from the brass more easily than pearwood. This can be easily removed using extra-fine sandpaper.

I prefer the Compromise Tuning of the Crossover and I prefer the bamboo comb. However, the price difference between the Deluxe and Crossover is hard to justify. The Crossover seems a bit over-priced for what it is. Go ahead and buy one… you’ll probably love it!
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Serious harmonica
mvladivostok 11.04.2019
The Marine Band Crossover is only lightly related to the original Marine Band. This is a seriously well built instrument. It's super light, and depending on your preference, that might be a good or a bad thing (I like a bit of weight on my harmonicas, for better control). Feels really solid though, and sounds great! It can also be loud, although I find Hohner Rockets to be louder; the Crossover can also give you some sweet bluesy sound though, which the Rocket misses somewhat.

Really nice instrument.
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k
Great sound and responsiveness
kbvw 13.07.2021
I'm still quite new to harmonica: previously bought a Golden Melody, and now this Crossover. The difference is huge: the Crossover feels much more responsive than the Golden Melody and I also like the tuning more. (I thought I wanted equal temperament, but apparently I don't.)

Pros:
- Very responsive
- Great sound
- Great build quality
- Bamboo comb looks nice
- Included zipper case is ideal

Cons:
- None for me (at upper beginner level)
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D
Hohner crossover
David8780 05.09.2015
Great instrument from a great company. Lovely tone and easy to bend notes
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