My worst case scenario

[FourNotFive]

Thank you for suggesting that folks make donations to Red Cross.
Twenty years ago my girlfriend's apartment caught fire in the middle of the night. She ran next door and called me and I was there in less than 15 minutes.
Red Cross was already there and sorting out temporary housing, giving them grocery vouchers and some household essentials.
Most people are aware of their assistance in large tragedies, but unaware of their smaller daily actions that mean everything to those who have just lost so much.

 

[goodkingzog]

Just an awful thing that's happened, so sorry to hear of this. At least people are safe and no one is hurt.

 

[BassHappy]

I poked around in the studio a bit this morning. One bass (my one commercial bass a Carvin LB75) was missing, I thought maybe it had completely burned up. It was hanging by the headstock. I found it under a pile of rubble, the headstock is burned off it.

I'm coming to terms with things psychologically, today we found a long term rental, which is great, it will get us out of this crappy hotel, forward progress feels good.

I'll post up more pictures once the insurance finishes their inventory, probably in a couple months.

And thanks for all the supportive messages and posts, I've never really been on the receiving end of something like this, it really does help!

My heart and thoughts go out to you and your family. Hoping for the best possible outcome. Good to hear you have your health - thankfully - most everything else can be rebuilt.

Best of luck with all....

 

[paparoof]

Oh man. So, so sorry.

 

[Jisch]

A lot of people are asking about a "gofundme". I have insurance, so it's really not necessary, as I said before please just donate to the Red Cross or your local fire department. I know I said it before, but with the length of this thread I thought I beared repeating.

And again, you guys rock!

 

[reverendrally]

Jisch, I think you'll find insurance will still leave you a little short. If peops want to give you some cash let them.

 

[GeneralElectric]

I lost my house in hurricane Sandy and a bunch of my gear with it including my prized, irreplaceable 1972 Jazz Bass. It may not look like it now, but you'll be back on your feet and playing a bunch of new stuff before you know it.

Same story with me although I didn't really lose instruments. I lost a lot of my personal possessions and wasn't able to get back to my home in Staten Island for almost a month. I moved to Queens because I could walk the 12 mile round trip to work every day.

 

[redboy1975]

I feel for you , I really do ! I currently have 11 feet of water in my house due to a flood in Sorrento louisiana . Just be happy your alive .

 

[Jisch]

Jisch, I think you'll find insurance will still leave you a little short. If peops want to give you some cash let them.

This may end up being true. We shall see, we hired a Public Adjuster who deals with the insurance (and really manages the whole thing) he has promised to get me a fair shake on the basses. The first walk through with the insurance is tomorrow. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

[getrhythm]

Condolences, man. I went through the same thing last October (see avatar). My whole house. Still not back in the house yet. Basses, amps, guitar, piano...not to mention the art and old photos, all gone. Luckily no loss of life. Hang in. You'll make it out the other side.

 

[Jisch]

BTW we just "landed" in the long term rental house and got wifi up and running, so I finally have a few minutes without madness and a good wifi connection. Check out this pic - this is the path the lightning took to get to our house. This is around 50' long (I think). There were clumps of turf on top of the garage roof (it's a 2 story garage), some powerful stuff! There are three of these tracks in the yard in front of our house, it's almost impossible to figure out what happened, where it hit first etc.

Once the inspection is done I hope I can pull some instruments out of the studio and get a good look at what's what.

 

[tlc1976]

Definitely some powerful stuff! One of the people I know whose house got burned down by lightning, it came in through the power line which entered at the garage. Blew a 2 ft hole in the wall.

 

[Jisch]

I _think_ this is the bolt that started the fire in my studio. My studio is about 5' to the right and 2' below where this path hits the foundation. It's weird to me that it would get into the house without a conductor to follow, but with that much power, I suppose there's not much that could stop it.

 

[Jisch]

Condolences, man. I went through the same thing last October (see avatar). My whole house. Still not back in the house yet. Basses, amps, guitar, piano...not to mention the art and old photos, all gone. Luckily no loss of life. Hang in. You'll make it out the other side.

Wow, I'm definitely still processing things, but the more time goes on the more I'm realizing that how lucky that I'm in the situation I'm in. I can't imagine if my wife, kids or dog were injured or worse. If that were the case I surely wouldn't be worried about a stupid bass.

 

[yoshi]

Oh dear, sorry to hear this. The image of your scorched bass really hits home. I'll give my axes and modest workshop a hug tonight.

Looking forward to seeing you start over though - be sure to document the workshop refurb!

 

[Jisch]

The insurance has agreed to employ a musical instrument expert to assess my instruments. I'm not sure how he does that with how burnt they are, but I have PLENTY of pictures. I look forward to talking with this guy. I also got clearance to buy a replacement for the Carvin LB75, I ordered one today. I've got a practice amp on the way to replace my small Behringer. I'll wait on the full stack until I get back in my house.

 

[Fat Freddy]

The insurance has agreed to employ a musical instrument expert to assess my instruments. I'm not sure how he does that with how burnt they are, but I have PLENTY of pictures. I look forward to talking with this guy. I also got clearance to buy a replacement for the Carvin LB75, I ordered one today. I've got a practice amp on the way to replace my small Behringer. I'll wait on the full stack until I get back in my house.

Keep your chin up man

 

[desertrider71]

replacement for the Carvin LB75, I ordered one today

Yes ! Excellent news. Please post an NBD thread (or add photos to this thread) when your replacement Carvin arrives.

Hold your wife, hug your kids, pet the dog.....and PLAY MUSIC. You'll feel better. Happy for you, mate!

 

[SLivinghouse]

Wow! I always hate to see musical instruments destroyed. And since you built some of them I'm sure it's devastating.

A few years ago I read a book called "Buddhist Boot Camp" and a couple things come to mind. One of the principles is to never get attached to material things or let your happiness be dependent on them. And two, take account daily of what you are happy you have. So no one was killed, and you still have the skill and imagination that led you to build the basses that were destroyed - and now you have a great excuse to build some more.

Then again, it's not my basses that are charred so I don't know how good of a Buddhist I'd be at that point.

Good luck!
Steve

 

[Jisch]

I always try to find something to learn or something good in every situation. @SLivinghouse - thanks for those thoughts, really conceptualizes things very well. I am not sure I'll ever get to the point where I'm not attached to things, but I definitely see the wisdom in not having your happiness dependent on things. It's interesting to work my way through this. I'm excited for the new bass, but I'm happy without it!