How many people have prepared an inventory of their gear.

[Ken Byng]

I bet not many of us have prepared an inventory of our gear, complete with serial numbers, description, and second hand value. Even more, made this available in a will or left for our other halves or parents. The price of our equipment can mount up, and certainly there are not many of our close relatives or next of kin who know the true value of our gear.

There are some real sharks out there who are keen to make a fast buck when a musician turns their toes up. none of us know when our time is due, so it makes sense to make arrangements with loved ones for the disposal of our gear. I have left instructions for my wife with a full detailed and valued list of my instruments and recording gear, along with a list of people who she should and shouldn't trust. Hopefully, if my missus outlives me she will contact people from my trusted list and they will do the right thing. It's not nice to think of our mortality, but it is sensible to make the arrangements in good time.

[Ted Nesbitt]

Food for thought Ken. I bet you got a lot of guys thinking .....

[coolsteel]

I totally agree with Ken I completed this task 2 years ago and would recommend doing so regardless of your age.

[JeffM]

Yes, it would be terrible if our wives sold our stuff for what we told them it cost

O course, the value of music stuff can vary a lot over time so I've arranged with a couple of my trusted guitar playing buddies that they will sell my stuff for her and I'll do the same for them depending on who goes first.

[Ken Byng]

I took this from Jeff Surratt's page on Facebook.

"Okay, I've said this before. If you know a widow who has lost her steel guitar playing husband, and she needs to sell his instruments. Please do your best to help her get the most possible money you can, and don't let her get ripped-off! I take NO money, when selling for these ladies. I have guys calling here, telling what a great deal they got, in these situations, and it angers me. Do the right thing, might be your wife some day. Thank you!!"

Like Jeff, I would hate that the bulk of considerable investment that any of us make into the world of musical instruments ends up with any profit going to a third party instead of to our loved ones. The market for steel guitars is a relatively small one.

[Uncle Roy]

You ain't going anywhere in the near future Mr Byng so there is no hurry

[Ken Byng]

That's the whole point Roy - none of us know. My younger brother died a couple of years ago, and he would never have guessed that he would go first. Morbid it might be, but the point is I don't want anyone ripping off my missus if I go before she does.

[elparkirio]

I've got all my gear insured with serial numbers and values. Anybody who is gigging regularly and not got their rig insured is playing a dangerous game. If anyone's interested, the best people to do it through are Allianz. They're reasonable and they pay out quick when the s**t hits the fan