In an event comparable to the birth of the giant Ymir and the icy cow Audhumla out of the collision of the warm air of Muspelheim and the cold ice of Niflheim, 151-year-old instrument manufacturer Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG has teamed up with the man known as Bob Dylan to create a signature series of free reed aerophones.

The Hohner Bob Dylan Signature Series Harmonicas (a.k.a., the Elston Gunn Signature Series, Blind Boy Grunt Signature Series, Lucky Wilbury / Boo Wilbury Signature Series, Elmer Johnson Signature Series, Sergei Petrov Signature Series, Jack Frost Signature Series, Jack Fate Signature Series, Willow Scarlet Signature Series, Robert Milkwood Thomas Signature Series, Shabtai Zisel ben Avraham Signature Series, etc.) will be featured in two new sets, the first of which will feature a complete set of seven Marine Band harmonicas in the natural keys of C, G, D, F, A, B, and E, which have been played and hand-signed by Bob Dylan. Yes, Dylan himself played these harmonicas; playing them yourself will be only one step away from Frenching the man who wrote "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." It's accompanying letter of authenticity affirms that that set is one of only twenty-five sets worldwide.

The second "set" -- well. it's not really a set, but rather a single Marine Band harmonica in the key of C, hand-signed by Bob Dylan (this one was in Joan Baez's mouth, we assume). It will also come in a handsome box, and feature a similar letter of authenticity. There will be twenty-five of these "sets" available worldwide.

Prior to sale, the Bob Dylan Signature Series Harmonicas will be toured at select Sam Ash retail stores in Hollywood and Manhattan. This ain't no Never Ending Tour, however; the sale of the harmonicas will take place on October 29th on the retailer's website.

So what's different about these harmonicas, other than them bearing the signature, eye-logo and spittle-residue of Rolling Stone's second greatest artist of all time? According to Scott Emmerman, Director of Marketing and Sales for Hohner, Inc.:

“This new harmonica has an enhanced sonic versatility and produces both uncharacteristically warm tones while also achieving a brilliance or ‘brightness’ that allows musicians to more freely express themselves. It was not easy to achieve the standard that Bob Dylan represents. Among other things, we gold-plated the reed plate in order to achieve the specific sonic requirements.”