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Double Bass Luthiers, Lex and otherwise, A Query

Ed Fuqua

Ed Fuqua

Dec 13, 1999
11,736
8,941
70
Columbia SC
www.reverbnation.com
Disclosures
Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
#1
First, nothing dire (at least that I know about) BUT -
being the first "owner" of this absolutely marvelous Kriegel bass has made me aware, in a way that my German bass did not so viscerally, that I am merely a caretaker and that it will (barring the unforeseen) have a much longer life than I will. So I am leaving it as a bequest to a nearby School of Music, to be a scholarship loan to a deserving student, graduate or undergraduate, on a performance track, preferably in jazz.

I'd also like to set up a small trust/annuity to cover upkeep (repairs, etc.) - would any or all of you be able to provide a high/low estimate for what you see as average yearly expenses for customers of your shop?

Thanks in advance!
 
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#5
Wow.....

If I thought old Ed was cool, new Ed is headed for sainthood.

A+ gesture. I wish more of humanity would follow your ways...We live close enough that I'd be open to contributing to the project.

A working, gigging bass out in the trenches...$200 annually should keep it in solid working condition. It won't need that every year, but once every 5 years a big job is reasonable. I'd bet that you could get one of the string companies to join; the folks like Adrian at Pirastro and Fan Tao at D'Addario are great to work with for sponsorship.
 
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#6
james condino said:
...new Ed is headed for sainthood.
Click to expand...

126841593_10220686805059040_610063252722282278_n-1.jpg
 
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#7
james condino said:
A working, gigging bass out in the trenches...$200 annually should keep it in solid working condition. It won't need that every year, but once every 5 years a big job is reasonable. I'd bet that you could get one of the string companies to join; the folks like Adrian at Pirastro and Fan Tao at D'Addario are great to work with for sponsorship.
Click to expand...

Thanks James! One of the suggestions I got was to also fund an insurance policy to handle any major repair issues as well as enough interest to cover a few hundred a year in upkeep. Thanks for the suggestion about the string companies.
 
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#12
Well, thanks for all the nice words, but at the point this becomes a reality, I'll be beyond caring. And, selfishly, it's a way to insure that a really nice instrument ends up not being sold for less than its worth because I'm not around. And, Gyawd forfend, to someone who stands it in a corner to collect dust except for occasional forays into open mic night.

Having cleared out personal possessions for my mother-in-law, my mom, my father-in-law, and most recently, my wife gave me a rather shockingly real view of the things one leaves behind upon death. We all have those things that are filled with so much emotion and memory, enough so that they aren't even really "things" anymore. The Japanese have a word for those quotidian objects, that through years of use and familiarity, have become somehow imbued with a spirit and personality (if you will) of their own. But to those of us at a remove from that ever so personal history, that spirit isn't present. And it's just so much detritus. One of the things that was a gift in the time that Kate and I got to spend in home hospice was the lesson I learned from her discerning what of hers had true meaning and worth and how it should be dealt with after her passing. Ask not for whom the bell tolls, but asking WHEN isn't always in the cards. So some poopie you got to take care of while you can.
 
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#15
A great choice of picture, Ed. I think I understand when you talk of the values we place on possessions. I am finishing up a long kitchen/laundry/bathroom project by returning their contents that gummed up our lives for the last seven months and wondering why the hell we kept so much stuff. At 79 I am also thinking about what next for my lovely Kramer/ deSola bass and my extensive library of music. I am still teaching and playing in local community orchestras, probably for another 5 - 6 years, and am talking about selling Sadie and finding a "cheapie" so that my family is spared the task of selling expensive gear they do not appreciate in a very small market here. The loss of your wife must be tough, especially at this time of year, and my thoughts are with you. Best wishes, DP
 
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#16
David Potts said:
A great choice of picture, Ed. I think I understand when you talk of the values we place on possessions. I am finishing up a long kitchen/laundry/bathroom project by returning their contents that gummed up our lives for the last seven months and wondering why the hell we kept so much stuff. At 79 I am also thinking about what next for my lovely Kramer/ deSola bass and my extensive library of music. I am still teaching and playing in local community orchestras, probably for another 5 - 6 years, and am talking about selling Sadie and finding a "cheapie" so that my family is spared the task of selling expensive gear they do not appreciate in a very small market here. The loss of your wife must be tough, especially at this time of year, and my thoughts are with you. Best wishes, DP
Click to expand...

I'm kind of in the same boat, with both DB and EB, and in addition to your concerns I worry about my descendants being preyed upon by scammers, con artists, and predators. (I'm looking at you, collector vendors.)
 

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