When i think about the price of harmonicas, I think about the cost of a performing set. i carry a performing set of 13 (12 standard keys and high G) and I use them all regularly (except for B which i use very infrequently).
Maybe it's because I don't OB and i play multiple positions, but I think of my entire set as my instrument.
If a tune gets called, i select which key harp I'm going to play in which position. Equinox will put me in 4th. St. Thomas will put me in 1st. I Shot The Sheriff or Little Wing will put me in 5th. So What will put me in 3d, but I need to use 2 harps. Got My Mojo Working, will put me in 2d. etc.
So, i consider my "instrument" to be my entire SET of harps. If one is playing primarily blues and only using 2 or 3 positions, maybe a performing set will consist of 7 or 8 harps. BUT a serous diatonic player needs to cary multiple instruments in a range of keys. 13 Suzuki Hammonds @ $45 or so a piece adds up to more than the cost of many other moderately priced instruments.
So, I guess it depends how you look at it and whether you can realistically consider a single harp to be your instrument.
JP _______________________________________________ Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l