Warwick bass for hire/borrow in Los Angeles?

Ben Wilkie

Ben Wilkie

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Hi everyone

I'm from Australia and my band is heading to Los Angeles on August 13 for two weeks to play some shows. At this point it's too expensive and dangerous for me to bring my own bass and amp with me. I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for where I could hire (at a reasonable cost) a Warwick bass? I have tried looking at a couple of places, but they are a bit expensive and only one seemed to stock a Warwick (place called SIR).

Or perhaps there is a kind and generous forum user who could lend me one? ;)

If anyone can help in any way, I would be so appreciative!!

Cheers
Ben
 
Hi Ben,

SIR is the main rental company for gear-for-hire. They can usually provide whatever you need...but they are not cheap as you found out. Hopefully a forum member can step up and work something out with you...best of luck with the gigs!
 
I've been thinking of starting my own gear rental for musicians place. I just don't know where to start
 
I would so offer up my LX, but the finish is so fragile, I'd lose my cool if it got scratched, which is inevitable. My 'Vette could work, but the action sucks on it and its a beast to play.

I would definitely just buy a bass from Guitar Center and return it when you're done, they have a 30 day (?) return policy so you could in the process, rent a bass for free. I did this once with a Jazz fretless, and forgot I had to pay rent, so I just returned it a week later and all was cool. I've also known promoters who would do this with a whole PA, like $10,000 worth of gear, and they never had a problem either.
 
stinky634 said:
I would so offer up my LX, but the finish is so fragile, I'd lose my cool if it got scratched, which is inevitable. My 'Vette could work, but the action sucks on it and its a beast to play.

I would definitely just buy a bass from Guitar Center and return it when you're done, they have a 30 day (?) return policy so you could in the process, rent a bass for free. I did this once with a Jazz fretless, and forgot I had to pay rent, so I just returned it a week later and all was cool. I've also known promoters who would do this with a whole PA, like $10,000 worth of gear, and they never had a problem either.
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You *could* do that but it is rather dishonest of him to do so. That policy isn't so you can gig on free equipment.....
 
boston asphalt2 said:
You *could* do that but it is rather dishonest of him to do so. That policy isn't so you can gig on free equipment.....
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I've never lied to the salesman, I striahgt told them I'm returning it because I couldn't afford it. My promoter friend who I worked with also was upfront and told them he was returning it, they didn't seem to care since they still sold it to him.

I say if its available to you then get it done. The only setback is in the off chance you damage it, then its now yours for good.

As mentioned my Corvette is available as well, you'd have to figure out how to get it from Riverside, which is about 1-1.5 hours from LA depending on traffic.
 
stinky634 said:
I've never lied to the salesman, I striahgt told them I'm returning it because I couldn't afford it. My promoter friend who I worked with also was upfront and told them he was returning it, they didn't seem to care since they still sold it to him.

I say if its available to you then get it done. The only setback is in the off chance you damage it, then its now yours for good.

As mentioned my Corvette is available as well, you'd have to figure out how to get it from Riverside, which is about 1-1.5 hours from LA depending on traffic.
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I guess to me, even if the option is "available" ( and I use that term losely), it shows a certain character to use a policy not for its intended purpose.....
 
Thanks guys for your responses! I'm going to sit tight and see what offers come my way from people generous enough to lend me a bass. I suppose if nothing appropriate comes up I will a) just bite the bullet and pay the hire fee, or b) buy a new instrument and either keep it, sell it at home, or return it. The reason I have a preference for borrowing is that a new or hire Warwick is going to cost a fair bit of money relative to how much I have spend on the trip all up - keeping costs down and all that.
 
Buy a rockbass? they are cheeper, are pretty damn good these days and if you ship it home you come home one back up bass up on the deal.
 
The Rockbass is a good idea. A lot of people for some reason think "affordable" basses are bad but seriously the Rockbass is great. In fact I've used it on 2 records and the producers where always impressed by its sound.
 
I would happily use a RockBass over there (I actually have a little bit of GAS for a RB $$ Corvette 5-string haha) although looking at street prices it would seem that it would cost me about the same to buy one as it would to hire an SSII from S.I.R. for two weeks - maybe more. But I suppose if I sold it or returned it I wouldn't loose my money like I would if I hired... ;) shh!
 
You could look around at GC's for used wicks...not just RB's, and GC sometimes puts good prices on used ones. Then u ship it home and your bass herd has a new member :P
 
Lady Warwick said:
You could look around at GC's for used wicks...not just RB's, and GC sometimes puts good prices on used ones. Then u ship it home and your bass herd has a new member :P
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Considering GC gives you next to nothing for warwicks, yeah prices are typically not terrible on used ones
 
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