Billboard reports that Bob Dylan will be endorsing a line of Hohner Harmonicas.
Made by Richmond, Va.-based Hohner USA, a musical instrument maker, the harmonicas are called the Bob Dylan Signature Series and feature a machine stamp of Dylan’s signature.
“He had some clear ideas on how he wanted the products to look,” said Scott Emmerman, director of marketing and sales for Hohner. “He even designed the logo, which resembles a crown.”
Dylan has long used Hohner harmonicas on stage and to record but this is the first time he has endorsed the product. In addition to the Signature Series, Hohner will be selling 25 sets of seven harmonicas and 100 individual harmonicas. Each is hand signed by Dylan and both are set to go on sale in
October.While details of the deal were not disclosed Emmerman said that Dylan would receive a royalty based on the amount of harmonicas sold. He expects to sell about 10,000 units of the Signature Series in the first year.
That’s cool, Bob should have his own line of harmonicas. One thing I find interesting about this is, Hohner has been selling harmonicas for 150 years and, until recently, they have not done this kind of “signature series” thing.
Last year Hohner put out it’s first Signature Series harmonica with Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. As for future lines of harmonicas tied to specific musicians, Emmerman said, “We’re thinking about Stevie Wonder.”
Bob Dylan, Steven Tyler, Stevie Wonder.
What strikes me odd here is this; if you look at that list, would harmonica players be the first thing that came to mind? I mean, say compared to this list.
James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Toots Thielmans, Mark Wenner, Kim Wilson.
That’s a batch of harmonica players right there.
Bob Dylan, Steven Tyler, Stevie Wonder, the harmonica is like a component of what they do, who they are. They are icons. The focus isn’t to sell these signature models to aspiring players. The message isn’t, “buy this harmonica, grow up and play like Steven Tyler”. It seems like what what Hohner is doing is selling icon accessories.
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Tags: Bob Dylan, harmonicas, Hohner, signature model
Sans Direction wrote,
I think that’s where the money is, which is ultimately what they’re about. I only kinda have a problem with that.
It’s an odd student who can start out with a signature guitar. The lowest price one I can think of is the Strummer, which is certainly not at the entry level. As for harps, beyond a half-generation that wants to be John Popper and an older generation that wants to be Elwood Blues, it’s a minor thing, isn’t it? Pun only half-intended.
I’m wondering how the signature harmonica market works. I know that the signature guitar market follows the vintage and celebrity guitar market, but I’m not sure that it works like that for harps. Much less to them, really. I forget if the cost for a Marine Band is $25 or $30.
Mostly, I’m wondering when they’ll actually be able to have a signature Prince maple Hohner Tele.
Link | August 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Pribek wrote,
There’s an odd thing going on, I think. I mean, I get your point about a student starting out with a signature model guitar. Manufacturers have been using the endorsement as a way to encourage people to play instruments for a long time. But, this is kind of different. What is the target audience here?
As far as guitars go, I know serious players that used Clapton, SRV Strats as their gigging guitars. And, really the most successful signature model is the Les Paul. But, I don’t know many guys that would go out of the way to take a Kenny Chesney on stage. It may be a great guitar but, who buys it?
These harmonicas, a beginner isn’t going probably start on a Steve Tyler but, is two-toned shoe, Panama hat guy in a blues band going to play one either? Is it a coffee table item?
Link | August 28th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Sans Direction wrote,
I’m thinking it’s a coffee table item. Panama Hat came up and has his style on Marine Bands, or Lee Oskars, and probably has his set of custom changes, titanium combs and all.
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 3:19 am
Pat Darnell and Friends wrote,
I don’t even know for sure if this is Friday, because I have been doing double shifts, and working some days…. whine whine whine…
But it seems to me there is a lot of salivating going on in the “vintage” market of instruments. My neighbor has his trusted Martin that he made his side money with for the past 50 years. It’s worth a bunch of money… and he is shocked to find that out. He still goes to town with his brother and plays a few bars once in a while. It just looks like a regular Martin used vigorously for fortune and fame, to me.
I don’t want a Vintage signed Hohner from Dylan, or Sylvester Stallone, or Steve Tyler?… Little Stevie Wonder maybe.. but it has to be all beat to hell, covered in lip grease, with pocket lint sticking to it, and in a zip lock baggie before I would call it a vintage keepster. And only if it came from Cotton, Musselwhite, or Wilson… do you get my drift… No?
It has to have the DNA, is what I’m saying. It has to be crime scene evidence… that would be vintage.
Eat up in Brazos Valley, pd-in-full
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Kenski wrote,
I just have to ask, does the Steven Tyler one come with a hanky and a vial on one end?
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Pat Darnell and Friends wrote,
I’m going with coffee table item… hanky or no… vial — hmmmm interesting hook.
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 7:46 am
J wrote,
If your “artist signature” harmonica happens to arrive with some DNA inside, you can kill those pesky critters with a good bath of hydrogen peroxide…
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Scott Emmerman wrote,
Couple of responses to your posts:
- Hohner introduced a re-make of the Prince guitar in January 2007 and it’s available now. Check it out at
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?1715
- Hohner has produced and sold two Toots Thielman Signature chromatic harmonica for many years called the Toot’s Mellow Tone and the Toots Hard Bopper. Each retails for $312
- The new Bob Dylan Signature harmonica is not being marketed as a “vintage” instrument. It features a brand new design that produces a new distinctive sound. If somebody wants the traditional Marine Band sound and feel, this harp is not for them. This harp is more responsive, it features a gold-plated reed plate and custom wood comb that sounds dark and mellow when played softly and then gets extremely bright when pushed. Check one out, They’ll be in stores around the middle of October.
Thanks for the chance to post,
Scott Emmerman
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Sans Direction wrote,
DNA is exactly the reason you can’t return harmonicas.
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Pribek wrote,
Speaking of harp DNA…I’ve probably told this one before but, that’s never stopped me.
The drummer known as “Jake”, that I played with in a host of bands; way back in the late 70s-early 80s, Jake played in a band with the then unknown Jesse Johnson. Jesse went on to play with The Time and produce Janet Jackson records and such. Anyway they had a house gig in the Quad Cities. It was a tough band and the club was located near the hotel that big time acts would stay at when in town. So, they would get a fair number of the high profile musician sit-ins.
One night UFO played a concert and later, Michael Schenker wobbled in the club and got up to scrub out a few tunes. From what I understand, he was acting just generally belligerent.
At one point, Schenker started shouting for a glass of water. The club was packed and when he didn’t immediately get his demand satisfied, he got on the mic and started yelling, “water, water, give me a fucking glass of water! Now!”
The keyboard player also played some harp and he kept a few of them in glasses of water. This is something you used to see, guys who played harp but, not so often, would sometimes keep them in water to keep the reeds moist. Jake told me that this guy rarely changed the water in those glasses and, it became kind of a joke when somebody needed a drink this guy would offer up one of those glasses full of funky water.
So, Schenker is up there causing a ruckus and this guy hands him one of the funked up glasses of harp water and Schenker grabbed it and chugged it down. Then a couple of minutes later, he got green in the gills and quietly left the stage and the club.
Years later, and this happened a few times, we would be heading down the highway in the middle of the night and Jake would suddenly break the silence with a little chuckle.
What’s so funny, man.
“Oh, nothing, I was just thinking about the night Michael Schenker drank that nasty harp water”.
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Pribek wrote,
Scott Emmerman-The article said that you guys had not previously released any signature models other than the Steven Tyler one. Actually, it says “Signature Series” so, maybe it’s a different line? I guess, to me, it implied that you had not been doing artist endorsements before.
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 11:44 am
J wrote,
“Would you like some ice with that, Mr. Schenker?”
Now that’s what I call service! Good one, Jack!
Back in my ol’ retail days (1980s), we’d have to peroxide any harmonicas that were returned due to voicing problems and put ‘em back in the display case per the boss’s orders. And if the boss waited on any harp customers, he’d always let ‘em playtest any harp they wanted to. Bet you didn’t wanna know that.
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Scott Emmerman wrote,
Traditionally Hohner had not done endorsements or “Signature” models except for the Toots Thielman and Larry Adler chromatic models that were introduced many years ago. Most of the harmonica icons of the past like Little Walter played standard Hohner Marine Band harps, custom or signature models didn’t really exist until now. Like the new Bob Dylan model, The Steven Tyler Signature model is a unique harp. It features a Meisterklasse reed plate (from one of our top of the line harps), a select, super resonant wood comb, and special black, laser engraved covers. This harp is meant to be played LOUD and can really be pushed hard. We also sell a less expensive version of this harmonica called the Steven Tyler Artist.
Hohner has created these custom harps based on the sonic preferences of 2 superstars and we’re making them available to the general public. Everyone agrees that Steven Tyler is a rock and roll icon, however some serious harp players don’t consider Steven a great harmonica player. We think Steven plays great, but nevertheless, this is one great harp. The Bob Dylan model is also quite different from anything else that we currently produce and it will appeal to a totally different type of player.
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Sans Direction wrote,
So Scott’s an official guy, I guess. That’s cool.
I’m not a big fan of Honkin’ on Bobo, or of any post-sobriety Aerosmith. I prefer them when they were hating on each other and killing themselves with drugs and alcohol, which makes me feel like scum, to be sure, but there it is. I don’t recall Tyler playing harp back then, but I could easily be wrong. It’s good to have specifics on the harp, though. At least it’s an instrument, unlike Joe Perry’s hot sauce.
To be fair, I haven’t tried it. It could well be great hot sauce.
(Only in A?)
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Pribek wrote,
Yeah Sans, real guy there. And, even though he probably hasn’t been here before he got name checked, you got admire the fact that he entered in to this den where branding, endorsements and tie-ins are responsible for the decline of Western Civilization, is a running theme.
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Pat Darnell and Friends wrote,
I’m thinking my first harmonica was an unbreakable ACE comb I carried in my back pocket starting about 6th grade; to which once a piece of paper is pressed against and blown on is at least a humble buzzing kazoo… we pulled ‘em out at the dances… it always had a pleasant scent of Vitalis and Butch Wax.
Scott, welcome to the Birds Nest….. I like Hot Sauce in E flat…. personally.
Hydrogen Peroxide, cool tip… hey Pribe’s, do you think Schenker ever ran into Russell? Huh, what’s so funny? Huh?
*[You miss Jake don' cha?] give ‘em a call… maybe he’s thinking of you right now..!!?*
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Sans Direction wrote,
I’ll have to remember that when I play around harp guys, btw.
Ew….
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
J wrote,
Scott said: “The Bob Dylan model is also quite different from anything else that we currently produce and it will appeal to a totally different type of player”.
Obviously.
That statement reminds me of this skit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riHPqOonjCg
(The Bob Dylan portion begins at 0:40 seconds and lasts to 1:20 seconds)
Link | August 29th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Pat Darnell and Friends wrote,
Scott and esteemed curmudgeons:
Do the new Signature and Artist batch come in scented or flavored? If not I think the item you can take with you from this discussion is to suggest to your company some bitter-sweet scents and flavors would be nice…
Technical types in here are also thinking in terms of little vats of free cork-grease and built-in echo chamber technology inclusive… with the faint scent of blood and hydrogen peroxide; for playing under the viaducts-of-life effects of songwriters in the blues-beatnik-genres??
It has been a sincere pleasure meeting you, Scott: Jack and crowd thanks again for the forum…
Aroma-thetically yours,
Pat Darnell and Friends
Link | August 30th, 2008 at 3:30 am