Colin Booth is the UK’s leading supplier of early keyboard instruments to rent. Over the last twelve years dozens of clients throughout southern England and Wales have discovered the joy of having a harpsichord, spinet, or clavichord in their home in tip-top playing order, without gambling thousands of pounds on the experiment. All instruments are fully refurbished, to minimise maintenance. Prices on the Instruments available page are for one month, with a minimum rental period of three months. Charges are deliberately kept low, to encourage the rental to continue long-term. A discount is often available for rentals of 12 months or more. The delivery charge is variable, according to distance, and is roughly at the rate of £1 per mile distance from the supplier's base in Somerset. London, for example, requires a current charge of £130 to £150. Collection at the end of the rental period is free, however, so the longer the period of rental, the less significant is the delivery charge.

Those who have taken advantage of this scheme include both keen amateurs and young professionals. Harpsichord rental allows a client to try more than one instrument: the only extra cost of changing to a different one, is an additional delivery charge.

In some cases renting an instrument has led to purchase, either of the rented instrument (this is possible in some cases), or of a new one from Colin’s workshop. In either case, special terms are available to rental clients. But others have been happy to continue renting instead, finding that the flexibility of the arrangement, plus the confidence of a full back-up service, suits them perfectly.

Please email Colin if you would like to see the full list of rental instruments. Most of them are with clients, but things can change. Those on the Instruments available list are ready for delivery, which can be arranged at only a few weeks’ notice.