What to do when you're dead...

[Mike Wilson]

Since I've only been playing for 6 months, I haven't really thought of it. I always said that, when I died, I want to be stuffed like Jeremy Bentham and perched in my favorite chair under glass (so I don't disintegrate). I could just have them add my favorite bass, whatever it will be at that time, to my ensemble. The rest? No clue. I like the donation idea, though.

 

[Sixgunn]

It would be cool to anonymously find some kids that show REAL potential and arrange to have my basses sent to them upon my demise. I can just imagine how some young Turk would feel if Fedex (or whoever) showed up at their door with my Q5 or 1965 P-bass or my Mayones or Warrior!!

 

[Andy_Madison]

My dad died this year, right now his wife is keeping the Yamaha baby grand piano, but if she decides to move to a small condo where it won't fit, I definitely want to have the piano. Do I have room for a real grand piano? Borderline, but I am sure not going to let that piano go to some stranger, since it meant so much to my dad.

I also have a friend whose dad passed away a few years ago, he now has the collection of about 10 fantastic/classic basses... and although he is not a super-serious bassist, he is very profoundly happy to have this legacy from his father.

My condolences to you and your friend.

My dad was a jazz drummer. He played for decades with a local Dixieland group. His drumset, a '66 Ludwig, has all the wear & patina you'd expect from gear that saw hundreds of shows. He was especially proud of his Zildjian cymbals. Interesting also was that he rarely broke sticks, so there were like 6 pairs of super old sweat-stained hickory Regal Tip 7Bs in his equipment case.
I inherited the set three years ago. A drummer friend of mine replaced the shrunken old heads with some new vintage-looking calfskin-alikes. I also replaced the bass drum pedal with a modern chain driven unit because the original's leather strap had dried out too much. Old drum hardware wasn't built as solidly as the new stuff is.
Legacy. I'm pleased that the set has been used on four different bands' "studio" recordings since my dad's passing. Drummers that have played it tend to rave about the steel snare.

I don't know what I'm going to do with all my stuff when I go. Some of that will depend on whether my five year old daughter shows aptitude and interest. She started beating on grandpa's drums lately.

 

[AudioDwebe]

I, too, have pondered this. I've come to the conclusion what's important to me may not be that important to them.

We don't know what memories they will cherish and maybe want something as a reminder to hold onto. I guess in the end, everything is just stuff - probably less valuable and less important to those left behind.

It' sort of depressing thinking these thoughts...

 

[OzzyGreg]

.

With the issue you have, that is not nearly good enough. Blood descendants will always have priority in the courts. You need a living trust, can't be challenged. Not cheap but when you have family who, for whatever reason, just can't be included, the living trust is the way to go.
ETA: sorry, just saw you're Ozzie. Check with your local lawyer. I'm sure you have a similar kind of inheritance vehicle.

Thanks arbiterusa. I will investigate living trusts, but ......

No-one in my family, except me (and now my Dad because he has the list of instructions), knows what I actually have, because I live alone since my divorce and have done for more than 10 years.
The plan is that in the event of my death my Dad will come over here, very early on, and take the stuff on my list before anyone comes in to tally it all up.
There will still be plenty of other stuff to leave for my son, including house (no mortgage), contents, car, machinery, tools, equipment. He'll still do very well out of it all!

 

[Big Hoss]

A very dear friend of mine passed recently.. his mom asked him on his death bed, "what do you want to do with your guitars".. he replied, "Steve will know and take care of it". I honestly took that as an honor. Yes, they are just 'material' things.. but they are also an extension of someones personality.. especially instruments that had sentimental meaning to that person. It got me thinking what I would want to do with mine, and I would think putting stuff in a 'living will' is the best bet. None of us want to worry about that kind of stuff 'right now', but ya just never know. Ok... enough about the sad stuff... just wanted to throw this in.

First off, I am very sorry for your loss. I have been through like I said, a few too many funerals this year. There are so many issues with probate, and family infighting over stuff, that this has convinced me to make certain that I am not going to be the cause of any of that garbage.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I hope my gear doesn't end up in my family's hands. They'll just sit on it and let it collect dust for the sake of nostalgia. If my basses aren't being played I'll be rolling in my grave.

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' in the graveyard.

 

[Bass Viking]

In my will, if there are certain next generation relatives, nieces, and nephews that have some inclination toward music, that will be offered the opportunity to get some of the gear, by doing community service / volunteer work to be proved to the executor of the estate, next off, if they don't want it, it is to go either by sale, or barter for community service, to a needy aspiring musician from within my church / community.

I want my stuff to do the most good possible. And I might be odd, but instead of giving it away, I want the recipient to have to give something, so that the gear has some value to them... Be it $$, or time and effort, doesn't matter. I just want them invested in it.

I wouldn't make my kids work for it. Both are musical but one is a drummer and the other plays lefty so if they decide to sell my stuff instead of keeping it that's fine by me. I've donated gear to the local high school music department: Peavey Fury, keyboard stand, and keyboard case and my son donated his electronic drums when he got an acoustic kit. But I wouldn't do that with my current arsenal, too high end. Can you imagine giving a Fodera to your local high school band?!!

 

[David Jayne]

Since I've only been playing for 6 months, I haven't really thought of it. I always said that, when I died, I want to be stuffed like Jeremy Bentham and perched in my favorite chair under glass (so I don't disintegrate). I could just have them add my favorite bass, whatever it will be at that time, to my ensemble. The rest? No clue. I like the donation idea, though.

I want my friends to take me out partying, Weekend at Bernie's style.

 

[aetheldrea]

I gave one order to my family: Don't spend a dime on my funeral!! I'm gone and that is it, dig a hole in the backyard and put me in, if you guys are lazy then throw the damn body somewhere, mother nature will take care of it.

If you really feel this way, joint your states cremation society. Usually pays most/all the cremation and processing cost in the state purchased, and 75-90% of those costs in other states. It's relatively inexpensive (now).

Thanks, did not know this, I will take a look My family can use the money in a better way.

Yeah, pretty sure the Medical Examiner or Hospital won't releasing your remains to someone who will take them to a weekend at Bernie's, or who will leave them lying around somewhere for some kids to find, though that might make a good Stephen King story.

 

[Danomo]

Yeah, pretty sure the Medical Examiner or Hospital won't releasing your remains to someone who will take them to a weekend at Bernie's, or who will leave them lying around somewhere for some kids to find, though that might make a good Stephen King story.

Things are changing on that front. In a home hospice situation (in many states), the hospital or ME is not involved whatsoever. Both my parents were both in the house for MANY hours between when the hospice service pronounced, and the cremation service provider picked them up.
They'll stay if you want, but they are not required to.

 

[Munjibunga]

BTW, I have it on good authority that after you're dead, you will not care what happens to your gear.

 

[anavar]

i want to be stoned to death with my affect pedals, radical Islam style.

 

[Big Hoss]

i want to be stoned to death with my affect pedals, radical Islam style.

I think 420 style would be more pleasant...

 

[El Güero]

i want to be stoned to death with my affect pedals, radical Islam style.

Cause of Death: severe head trauma from a Big Muff

 

[OzzyGreg]

With the issue you have, that is not nearly good enough. Blood descendants will always have priority in the courts. You need a living trust, can't be challenged. Not cheap but when you have family who, for whatever reason, just can't be included, the living trust is the way to go.

ETA: sorry, just saw you're Ozzie. Check with your local lawyer. I'm sure you have a similar kind of inheritance vehicle.

I'm about to go and have my Will adjusted by a lawyer right now.
I'll be asking about a Living Trust. (Thanks arbiterusa )

 

[blowinblue]

After following this thread for exactly two months it has finally dawned on me what I'm going to do with my basses, gear, and PA when I die. My wife will be donating all of it to the Talkbass member who has annoyed me the least since my joining in 2006.

M. M.

 

[Matthew Barrack]

Okay. My first homemade bass, I'll take that with me. All the rest of my stuff will go to someone else (probably my family) until someone down the line sells it...

 

[the harp unstrung]

I recently told my Bride that I know that folk die on the operating table every day...got prostate cancer surgery coming up in mid-March.
I wanted her to know where
my journal is...what I'd like to see happen next.
I've written about who should own which bass...which amp.
I want my percussion
Instruments to end up in the hands of my grand daughters and the elementary school where I used to Teach.
My body will go to Emory Univ. School Of Medicine.
I think it would be cool to have a 20-year-old someday-Dr. cutting on my corpse thinking "Woah! This is what it looks like if a fool smoked cigarettes for 35 years, and drank a thousand gallons of beer, and donated a kidney, and had prostate cancer at the end!"
Just a thought...

 

[catcauphonic]

I recently told my Bride that I know that folk die on the operating table every day...got prostate cancer surgery coming up in mid-March.
I wanted her to know where
my journal is...what I'd like to see happen next.
I've written about who should own which bass...which amp.
I want my percussion
Instruments to end up in the hands of my grand daughters and the elementary school where I used to Teach.
My body will go to Emory Univ. School Of Medicine.
I think it would be cool to have a 20-year-old someday-Dr. cutting on my corpse thinking "Woah! This is what it looks like if a fool smoked cigarettes for 35 years, and drank a thousand gallons of beer, and donated a kidney, and had prostate cancer at the end!"
Just a thought...

Odds are pretty high in your favor that you'll be playing those things soon after surgery Best wishes getting that taken care of.