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Double Bass Renting bassed
- Thread starter HunterBrodt
- Start date
HunterBrodt said:
I rented mine last month for $100 for a ten day period, but only after I was able to verify both the player and the show as legitimately professional. I have also declined rentals for excessive travel. My preference is to deliver the bass, enjoy the show, and return with the bass; however in this instance it was a high profile show running a couple nights after a few days of rehearsal.
No, it was $100, because that's what I paid in Toronto a few years ago (3-day rental), and the defining factor was that it would normally rent for $100/month. So that was the benchmark I choose to use. And giving up my DB for 10 days was tough, but as it turns out most of my work these days is EB so I able to manage. I also rented out my DB amp as an extra, and saw a $40 show in the bargain, and now have access to his equipment next time I'm down east. It wasn't really about the money.
Thanks, but what was the "no" about? $100 for ten days is $10/day. Maybe you mean that it wasn't a daily rate that was your basis. In any case, that seems very kind of you. It was a bargain for the person renting but you got goodwill.
I have a 5 figure bass... Ten dollars a day doesn't seem like a good deal to me at all. That doesn't even pay for my gas to deliver it.
- Aug 25, 2007
- 835
- 6
- Disclosures
- I manufacture for several companies including but not limited to: Bridge City Sound, Catalinbread, more.
HunterBrodt said:
$100 is the price to rent. For 3 hours, 3 days, or 3 weeks. The $10/day is a statistical interpretation of an empherical fact. I am willing to assist traveling pros with their need for an instrument in an area which generally offers Kays and very little else. I heard my bass played acoustically in a brand new state of the art facility sitting 2/3 back, then later amped with my PJB. The money? I gave it to my separated wife. My bass? Sounded killer.
Thanks for clarifying. The way you think about your rate is exactly what I figured. Again, your approach is quite gracious. Personally, given that I don't play any form of EB, have only one DB, and live in an area where several options for rentals are available, my DB is simply not for rent. I'm happy to let another player have at it in a venue where I'm present. I admit to being highly protective of my "child."
15 years ago a friend's brother brought his backup bass to my house try to sell it to me. He had recently spent an ungodly amount on a new bass, and three was too many for him. The one he wanted to sell was the bottom of his heap.
There was some miscommunication about what I was looking to buy because we never spoke directly, only through my friend. When he arrived at my house and unpacked the bass, I immediately realized it was way out of my budget and I told him as much. He paid about 6K for it. Regardless, he left it at my house and I played it at home for a year and a half. I never took it out of the house for fear I'd damage it. He was hoping I'd eventually buy it, but I could never pull that kind of coin together. I was looking for something much more pedestrian. After a year and a half he took it back because someone wanted to buy it from him. He told me he viewed the whole arrangement as trade for my storage fees. Fine by me.
Years later I bought a Czech plywood bass. To this day I cannot get over the trust and generosity he extended to me. I don't think I'd be comfortable renting my bass or even storing it at someone else's place. But the memory of this whole arrangement makes me question why I feel this way. Just thought I'd chime in on the whole discussion, not that it contributes in any way to the original question.
There was some miscommunication about what I was looking to buy because we never spoke directly, only through my friend. When he arrived at my house and unpacked the bass, I immediately realized it was way out of my budget and I told him as much. He paid about 6K for it. Regardless, he left it at my house and I played it at home for a year and a half. I never took it out of the house for fear I'd damage it. He was hoping I'd eventually buy it, but I could never pull that kind of coin together. I was looking for something much more pedestrian. After a year and a half he took it back because someone wanted to buy it from him. He told me he viewed the whole arrangement as trade for my storage fees. Fine by me.
Years later I bought a Czech plywood bass. To this day I cannot get over the trust and generosity he extended to me. I don't think I'd be comfortable renting my bass or even storing it at someone else's place. But the memory of this whole arrangement makes me question why I feel this way. Just thought I'd chime in on the whole discussion, not that it contributes in any way to the original question.
I rented out one of my carved basses two times, to traveling pros in concert situations, but after the second rental decided I could do without the stress and worry and haven't rented it since.
To answer the OP's question, I charged $150-$175 per day depending on where I had to deliver/pickup, which was around 2 hours of my time plus gas. I rented a Kay from David Gage in NYC 15 years ago and paid $125 for the night.
To answer the OP's question, I charged $150-$175 per day depending on where I had to deliver/pickup, which was around 2 hours of my time plus gas. I rented a Kay from David Gage in NYC 15 years ago and paid $125 for the night.
A nice story and I sure do understand the sentiment. Still, the guy had a collection of basses. I really think it's a whole different story when you're talking about renting out your one and only DB when that's your main axe.
If I had two or three basses, then it would be a whole different story and I hope I would be as gracious as were the folks in the stories posted here.
