marine bands

[<Randy.Lilleston@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

For those of you who haven't heard already --

Steve Baker says in this month's AHA newsletter that Hohner has decided *NOT* to
manufacture Marine Bands, Special 20s
and Golden Melody harps on the new automated production line. Instead, they will
be assembled the same way they've always
been produced - by hand. This came after much wailing and gnashing of teeth by
Hohner enthusiasts everywhere, particuarly because the automated line reportedly
was
spitting out inferior, tinny, short-lived harps. Other
Hohner diatonics - most notably, the Pro Harp - will be
assembled on the new line. I've noticed someone on here
already complaining about the new Pro Harps, so perhaps
there are some bugs to be worked out.

This all reminds me of the pre-CBS/post-CBS argument for Fender instruments and
amps. With instruments, I can understand it, but the amps? I've seen dozens of
silverface Fender amps from the late 60s through the 70s still in use today.
They're one heckuva lot cheaper than the blackface pre-CBS ones, too. Time will
tell if there's really a
difference in the Hohner production, or if it's some sort
of mass delusion.