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Insurance for basses?

#2
Depends on the type of insurance. Since I don't play out and I don't make any money as a musician, I have my gear insured with renters insurance. I'll switch it to home owners as soon as I get my own house. Mine doesn't protect against anything that doesn't happen at my place, though.
 
#4
spade2you said:
Depends on the type of insurance. Since I don't play out and I don't make any money as a musician, I have my gear insured with renters insurance. I'll switch it to home owners as soon as I get my own house. Mine doesn't protect against anything that doesn't happen at my place, though.
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Yep, kinda tough to get too. They gave me kind of a hassle about it when I tried to get some for my stuff (as now my assortment is more "boutique" than anything!), so I donno.

As far as when you're out and about, not much experience, but a good idea if you can get it feasibly!
 
#6
I recently went through this excercise with my insurance company.

There are many different options but what I ended up doing was raising my home content insurance roughly the value of my gear. I don't play many gigs and when I do my gear is never out of my sight so this was the best option for me and is also the cheapest.

The retailer I buy most of my gear from keeps track of everything I buy (date, price, serial #, etc.) which makes things easier If I ever have to prove that I actually bought what I was making a claim for.
 
#8
Baird6869 said:
I recently went through this excercise with my insurance company.

There are many different options but what I ended up doing was raising my home content insurance roughly the value of my gear. I don't play many gigs and when I do my gear is never out of my sight so this was the best option for me and is also the cheapest.

The retailer I buy most of my gear from keeps track of everything I buy (date, price, serial #, etc.) which makes things easier If I ever have to prove that I actually bought what I was making a claim for.
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You bring up some good points...

Keep adequate records! Copies at home, copies from the retailer are great too,but put the original stuff in a sfae deposit box at the bank.

Also video tape your stuff, the serial numbers and the like. Do this every time you make a change to your gear. keep the original tape in the safe deposit box and maybe a copy at home.

The worst tragedy in losing any or all your gear is what the insurance company will do to you when you try to get compensation. It is also a fair bet, if you cost them a lot of money by having the audacity to make a claim, rest assured they will either drop you or raise your rates through the roof for 5 years.

Also, be absolutely clear that you want the kind of coverage where if the bass was purchased for 800 bucks but it was currently worth 1,800, they would cover the 1,800 if it is lost. No depreciation and not merely the purchase price.
 
#9
I have been using Clarion for several years...fortunately I have not needed to file a claim so I cannot speak to that part of their business..but I occasionally call in with questions and they are very professional.
I had to provide appraisals for instruments I own that I purchased many years ago and have since gone up in value.

You can figure approximately $100 for every 10 thousand dollars of insurance you purchase.
They offer extensive instrument coverage any where in the world...
 
#10
spade2you said:
Depends on the type of insurance. Since I don't play out and I don't make any money as a musician, I have my gear insured with renters insurance. I'll switch it to home owners as soon as I get my own house. Mine doesn't protect against anything that doesn't happen at my place, though.
Click to expand...

I've got about the same thing, except mine covers my gear at other places too. At least it's supposed to. I can't help but think that at soon as i would try to report a claim, they would back out....
 
#13
I recently got a quote from State Farm who I've been insured with for 30 years and have my Homeowners, Auto, and Personal Liability policies from. They have a Personal Articles Policy. I do derive part of my income from playing and can get $15,000 worth of coverage for $128.00 per year with no deductible. Covers everything everywhere and even covers damage done by me. No appraisal required on single items less than $5000.00.
 
#14
I was investigating polices introduced to AFM Locals by Clarion and found a limitation to their plan. They told me it didn't cover items left in your vehicle in front of your house or while in your driveway. I'm sure this is an important issue that all should look for when searching for the right insurance company. There are a lot of symphonic musicians who use Clarion since they would not leave their instruments that range in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands in value. For those that the above issue is not a problem I do know that there can be a savings using Clarion.

Wally
 
#15
i insure via citizens homeowners and that extends anywhere (unless you playing paying gigs frequently)

everything on my policy over $1000.00 is itemized individually, anything over $5k is what you have to worry about
they dont even look into claims under 5K usually.
reciept or picture will do.
over 5K you need documentation apprasial or opriginal reciept.

good luck to you!
 

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