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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Dating Special 20s, Golden Melodys
Dating Special 20s, Golden Melodys
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ROBERT TEMPLE II
98 posts
Jan 30, 2020
5:25 PM
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I am trying to find a source that could tell me how to decypher/date the Special 20's and Golden Melody's boxes by their color and/or the pricetag and/or Hohner's attached label on the box bottoms. Thanks in advance for your help.
Last Edited by ROBERT TEMPLE II on Jan 30, 2020 5:26 PM
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SuperBee
6457 posts
Jan 31, 2020
5:25 AM
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I don’t know a source.
For Sp20 I think 1974-198?(6 at least) is the tan soft pvc case
198? - 1992 (a guess based on when I think MS harps were introduced) was tan hard case
1992 - present, grey hard case.
There was a period when Sp20 was an MS harp. That may not have happened in US but in Australia it was so until at least 1996. The MS Sp20 was in a grey case
More clues probably in the reeds, especially the corners of the free ends. These were not square at one time in the 80s I believe but others can pin it down more precisely.
Also there is a clue in construction method. The earliest Sp20 and GM were held together with drift pins. I don’t know when that changed
Since early 2015, both models have been rebadged as ‘progressive’. Sp20 used to be badged ‘marine band’
Also the very early ‘progressive’ examples use 2M reedplate screws whereas later examples are 1.6M
I’m sorry I can’t be more specific, but others here will have memories.
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ROBERT TEMPLE II
99 posts
Jan 31, 2020
6:35 AM
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Thanks, SuperBee. I am refurbishing 30+ SP20s. All are nut & bolt, no pins, save for the two Golden Melodys. The batch came with two SP20s in maroon pvc boxes, same plastic box as the others, but maroon, a new one on me. The majority of the boxes are grey-colored, and none are "Progressive" models. Your reply helped narrow down the batch's dates, thanks so much. I'm thinking there must be a way to accurately read the labels on the box' bottoms, too.
Last Edited by ROBERT TEMPLE II on Jan 31, 2020 6:37 AM
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barbequebob
3635 posts
Jan 31, 2020
8:25 AM
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I can positively confirm that the MS versions of the Marine Band and the Special 20 were NEVER issued in the USA at all. I was one of the players who demo'ed the prototype for both and they were immediately unloved by a 95% majority of those who played it.
The Special 20's were originally badged with the Marine Band name in small engraving because Hohner was planning to permanently replace the MB with the Sp20 but got a huge backlash from pro players and so that was immediately shelved.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Last Edited by barbequebob on Jan 31, 2020 8:27 AM
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