Hohner Marine Band Thunderbird Harmonica, Low E

The Thunderbird is Hohner's low-tuned Marine Band, and this one is Low E, a full octave under a standard E harp. Low harps give you a huge, dark tone for slow blues and for playing under a singer rather than over them, and the tricky part has always been making the long, heavy low reeds respond quickly and not rattle against the covers. Hohner's answer here is a taller, asymmetrical bottom cover to give the draw reeds room, and reed profiles worked out specifically for low pitch.

Bamboo comb, triple lacquered with an UltraGlide coating on the mouthpiece, so swelling is not a thing. Side-vented covers opened at the back for volume.

• Low E (one octave down)
• Sealed bamboo comb
• Asymmetrical bottom cover
• Low-pitch reed profiles