An electric guitar played twenty days a year. A keyboard bought to learn and ended up on top of the wardrobe. An amplifier that only leaves the house for band rehearsals. Musical equipment is probably the category of items that most often collects dust — and precisely for this reason it's one of the most interesting to rent out to private individuals.
On the other side there's a real, constant demand: students wanting to try an instrument before buying, musicians traveling who can't bring their gear, directors and creators looking for a keyboard for a single project, bands who need a backup amp for a gig. In this guide we look at how musical instrument rental on Lendmates works: what's worth renting, at what prices, what to check at handoff, and how to protect both the instrument and those using it.
💡 The golden rule for instruments: rent what you'd use yourself without a second thought, but keep items with strong sentimental or collector value to yourself. An entry-level or mid-range guitar is perfect to list; the rare vintage worth €4,000 is better left at home.
What's Worth Renting (and at What Price)
| Instrument | Typical value | Price/day | Est. 8 days/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acoustic guitar | €150–500 | €8–15 | €64–120 |
| Electric guitar + amp | €400–1,200 | €15–25 | €120–200 |
| Electric bass + amp | €400–1,000 | €15–22 | €120–176 |
| Keyboard / digital piano | €500–2,000 | €18–35 | €144–280 |
| Synth / workstation | €800–2,500 | €25–45 | €200–360 |
| Combo amplifier | €200–800 | €10–20 | €80–160 |
| Microphone + stand | €100–400 | €6–12 | €48–96 |
What to Check at Pickup and Return
Guitars and basses
Check that the neck is straight (no visible bowing), frets show no deep grooves, tuning pegs turn smoothly, and the output jack isn't loose. Check the strings: if they're old or oxidized, replacing them before the rental makes a difference. Always deliver the instrument in its case or gig bag.
Keyboards and synths
Test every key to exclude muted notes or keys that stick. Check the display, pitch/modulation wheels, original power adapter, and any sustain pedal. Note in the description if any accessory is missing to avoid misunderstandings at handoff.
Amplifiers
Turn it on at low volume and verify the absence of unusual hum, pot crackle or cone noise. Check the power cord, and if it's a tube amp, remind the borrower to handle it carefully as tubes are fragile and sensitive to impacts.
💚 Practical tip: prepare a 5-point instrument-specific handoff checklist and photograph it together with the borrower at pickup. Same identical check at return. It's the simplest way to immediately clarify any differences in condition and protect both parties.
Demand by Category
- Guitars and keyboards: steady demand year-round, peaks during recital and exam periods.
- Amplifiers and PA: strong demand for evening events, gigs and band rehearsals, especially on weekends.
- Microphones and recording gear: sought by creators, podcasters and home studios, growing demand.
- Wind and string instruments: smaller niche but little competition, excellent margins for those who own them.
If you want to diversify your rental portfolio beyond music, check out the guide to renting photography equipment peer-to-peer: photo and audio share the same creator audience and work well offered together.
🎯 Winning strategy: a lender with a popular instrument (guitar or keyboard), an amplifier and a support accessory (microphone or effects pedal) covers more use cases and can offer complete packages — which rent more often and at higher rates than individual items.
"I had a Yamaha keyboard I hadn't touched in two years. I listed it on Lendmates and in the first month a conservatory student rented it for a recital rehearsal. Now I have three regular clients who take it in rotation."