Harmonica isn't all that easy to play well. You have to have strong lungs and hand, lip and tongue dexterity. With all this to worry about, the last thing you want to fail is your harp. There are quite a few manufacturers making cheap harps that can't hold a note or leak air all over the place.
I bought a Lee Oskar Major Diatonic Harmonica because of the company's reputation for quality. I bought a model in the key of C because it's the key most commonly used in Blues, Country and Rock.
I pick up my Lee Oskar harmonica every now and then and manage to master simple tunes like Clementine with some vibrato and note bending. If my playing isn't quite up to snuff yet, at least I can't blame it on my harp. I'll keep working away until I get it right. The sound is just too cool and the instrument too portable not to put in the time.
Lee Oskar makes quality harmonicas at an affordable price. As with any instrument, you need to invest in a model that's capable of sounding notes clearly and in the correct pitch. My Lee Oskar sounds great, even in my novice hands.
