StephenG
I supposed this is aimed at slightly older members on the dark side of 40.. where we enter the risk profile of maybe not coming home from a stressful day at the office..
whilst we all may appreciate the guitars and amps that we all own, does your better half, who may have to clear out your gear once you check out from this world, does she know the worth of what you have??
sadly, for various reason I have had to face the truth of my own immortality, but whilst walking past a Cash Crusaders this weekend, the wife points in the window at a Sanchez or some other such crappy Crusaders house brand, and she says" Oh Look its just like one of your guitars..!"
i then had to spend the rest of the day explaining why my fender strat with various upgrades is worth infinitely more than the R700 guitar in Cash Crusaders window.
which got me thinking on this topic and what to do. I was thinking I would get little laminated cards made for all my gear, explaining what it is, if any upgrades have been done to it, and its expected worth at the time.
that way, when she has to sort all my stuff out, she will have an idea on what to let stuff go for.
it also makes for a good exercise for insurance cover, you may jusy be surprised how the guitar you bought a few years ago could be worth a bit more with all the upgrades etc.
aubs1
Well, I would qualify here as well ....... age-wise ....... ?
My wife does have a good idea of what my stuff is worth, because she paid for a lot of it. I mean she does the transfers, or gives the "GO/NO GO". I don't, or we'd be bankrupt in no time...... ?
Seriously, yes, she made me draw up a list of all my stuff, and she is smart enough to know that if anything should happen to me, how she will go about checking on various sites, shops, etc what it would be worth then. However, hopefully Eli and Kmi will be old enough when I finally "kick the bucket", and will inherit my gear in any case. But yeah, she has a very good idea what it's worth ...........
Actually StephenG, I think this is a very good question ........ moral: " "Don't lie to her, or think your wife is stupid. Your children will miss out on the loot!!!"
prince
I am also a qualifier, quite easily too. ?
As Aubs says draw up a list of your gear but then include your user name and password for Guitar Forum together with the instruction that she post the list of gear in the "For Sale" section on behalf of her dearly departed. That way all the good stuff will "stay in the family" as it were.
What doesn't sell, members could advise of what prices to expect.
Gearhead
What do I care what she does with my gear after I die ???
Jacquesg4j
MY OH MY... I don't even think it is just your wife that should know but rather your next-of-keen? At least my loved ones know the price I paid for my equipment... Plus, beat this... I still have all the invoices of all the guitar related gear I've bought NEW since I've started playing... And all the boxes... ?
For some of you :? AUBS *cough* ? You will need a filing cabinet for all those invoices!
Highway-Chile
Great thread friend.
Funny, but this has been really bothering me lately also.
The problem for me is.....ahem......cough......I have a fair amount ? of kit that has just sort of miraculously appeared over the years. ? ?
I think the idea of some sort of documentation is an excellent idea, along with photo's and serial numbers.....which actually might bale you out if you ever have a fire or serious theft.
I was thinking about keeping a bank safety deposit box for such documents along with all my bank info, PIN numbers etc, website login info and info on my firearms also. Same for my computers and all the software in them and account info at places like Avid etc so if a person purchases the computer lock stock and barrel they can transfer ownership of the software perhaps.
It is really screwed to think about it, especially as regards getting older.......but I also have had friends who left the planet very young.......so this is a great idea for any age.
Document your stuff and have some sort of a way to leave a trail that beneficiaries can access.
Where do you hide it though............ ? ? :-[
Great thread.
Bob-Dubery
It's a good idea to have all your affairs in order (as much as possible) to make things easy for those who live on after you. Not just your instruments but bank accounts, insurance policies, papers for all valuable assets etc.
One thing you could do is to write a letter or memo itemising your instruments and giving serial numbers and other information that a dealer might find useful. If you suspect they're going to be worth something one day then make that clear - although you probably won't be able to give an accurate valuation. Even give some pointers as to where they could dispose of the instruments and get a fair value.
Keep this up to date and have it stored with your will. It won't be treated as part of the will but it will help to make things easier for those who inherit from you. You might even want to stipulate within your will who gets the instruments or which instrument goes where (a guy I know who has a lot of guitars has stipulated in his will that a certain Martin will go to a specific, named good friend).
Making these kinds of preparations is a loving thing to do.
flatfourfan
Lucky there are no cash crusaders guitars that look like mine. My mother in law said that she had a guitar that looked like my white one.........my white one is a warlock, so I doubt it. She has a strat cheapie by the way.......lol.
I've had an evaluation done on all my guitars and gear recently for insurance purposes. But like aubrey, she knows the value, because most fo the time she does the transfers.
Squonk
My wife might not know but my kids sure do...
My son Callum has insisted that I change my will to make sure he acquires my Peavey T-60 when I pass on.
Good point to get everything in order, I have only just had a will drawn up for the first time in December 2010, and there can be huge problems for your family if there isn't one. Really worth the effort.
Bob-Dubery
Squonk wrote
My wife might not know but my kids sure do...
My son Callum has insisted that I change my will to make sure he acquires my Peavey T-60 when I pass on.
Good point to get everything in order, I have only just had a will drawn up for the first time in December 2010, and there can be huge problems for your family if there isn't one. Really worth the effort.
Also make sure the beneficiary names on your insurance policies, work retirement or provident (if you have one) and so on are correct. That means that if the worst happens the people administering those polices or your will don't have to try to figure out or prove who you wanted to receive the funds.
IceCreamMan
No my wife does not know .... and no i aint telling her.....
cant hear her moaning when i am dead let her be "surprised " then .... ?
StephenG
X-rated Bob wrote
Squonk wrote
My wife might not know but my kids sure do...
My son Callum has insisted that I change my will to make sure he acquires my Peavey T-60 when I pass on.
Good point to get everything in order, I have only just had a will drawn up for the first time in December 2010, and there can be huge problems for your family if there isn't one. Really worth the effort.
Also make sure the beneficiary names on your insurance policies, work retirement or provident (if you have one) and so on are correct. That means that if the worst happens the people administering those polices or your will don't have to try to figure out or prove who you wanted to receive the funds.
you may have to speak to that miserable cow who sits near the door in HR at least 3 times before she changes your beneficiaries on your pension... but you will be able to sleep a lot easier when she does.
