I think I'm one the younger guys here at 34, but I've specified whats to become of my drums in my will. As it stands now my lifelong friend, a guitar player, will get them. He gave me my first vintage drum, a 20" Slingerland bass drum, which originally belonged to his grandfather. Now that I have a daughter of my own I may update the will and let her decide to keep or sell off some as she chooses.
James
Seeing how things have gone in my own family. You need to clarify who gets what in your will. My parents just left it al 50/50 to my sister and I. My parents both started suffering from AZ and they never made any kind of trust or something to protect their assets. I finally convinced my Father to at least make a living trust with our lake property and put it in my sister and my name.
I had it set up and told my sister to make sure it was taken care of. A year later I discovered she had it put in just her name. So I was double crossed by my own sister. My Mother died last summer and my Fathers is in a nursing home and his life savings are being sucked dry because he was not smart enough to take steps to protect it for his children and my sis is squandering a lot of it as she went to court using my parents money and was made guardian. So now lawyers want 10000.00 up from to make sure I get my part. It sucks because my folks were ignorant and would not listen to me when I begged them for years to put everything in writing and to protect the assets. So if you think you can trust a family member to do what is correct or what you want. Do not. Put it specifically in a will. Unfortunately I have learned you can't really trust anyone. I am leaving my stuff to my musician son's and what they don't want to my musician stepdaughter in Ecuador.
Seeing how things have gone in my own family. You need to clarify who gets what in your will. My parents just left it al 50/50 to my sister and I. My parents both started suffering from AZ and they never made any kind of trust or something to protect their assets. I finally convinced my Father to at least make a living trust with our lake property and put it in my sister and my name. I had it set up and told my sister to make sure it was taken care of. A year later I discovered she had it put in just her name. So I was double crossed by my own sister. My Mother died last summer and my Fathers is in a nursing home and his life savings are being sucked dry because he was not smart enough to take steps to protect it for his children and my sis is squandering a lot of it as she went to court using my parents money and was made guardian. So now lawyers want 10000.00 up from to make sure I get my part. It sucks because my folks were ignorant and would not listen to me when I begged them for years to put everything in writing and to protect the assets. So if you think you can trust a family member to do what is correct or what you want. Do not. Put it specifically in a will. Unfortunately I have learned you can't really trust anyone. I am leaving my stuff to my musician son's and what they don't want to my musician stepdaughter in Ecuador.
Im sorry to hear this story, feel bad for you. We did a will a few years ago because of stories like yours. Again, sorry to hear it.
My wife and children. As I get older I will rinse my collection down to the very best I have which either they or they're children will enjoy, or will be able to easily quantify and release with ease. It's weird to think that potentially they could be subscribing to this site in 40 odd years time to inquire to the value of my gear!! It's possible!
Ready rinse down that Ludwig downbeat kit yet? I'll take it. Rinse away!! Walking
I've discussed it with my wife. She knows who to call to sell/ consign my gear to get the most money out it. Of course if my boys want any of the gear, they are welcome to it as well but at this point only one of my two boys is interested in drums and music.
The plan is to halt the acquisition mode when I turn 65, and start selling my gear (that'll be in slightly over 8 years.) If anything happens to me before then, or before allf my stuff is gone, my wife has a list of who to contact regarding helping with sales, and there are a few people named who will have first crack at specific items (Bun E, you're on the list for that 1965 Oyster Blue kit!)
Even if there's not a market for 'vintage' drums, the cymbals alone will help with retirement!
Bermuda
Someone said get a will, and a trust. Yep, that's best. If you croak suddenly, you'll have a problem selling things off... most folks don't want to buy stuff from dead folks... that's just kinda creepy.
My wife and daughters have instructions on who and where to take stuff to convert it back to cash. I rather like the idea of seeing stuff converted to a new set of tires or a new hot water heater.
This is really a useful yet creepy post. I think about this from time to time. My wife and I joke about it. She says she'd keep my favorite snare around and maybe a djembe but everything else will get sold.
A local drummer/studio musician passed away last year and I got an email with a list of his gear, he died unexpectedly, and his widow really needed the cash so everyone chipped in and bought something, even though much of it was extremely overpriced. I picked up a set of 10" special recording hats, for too much money but it was for a good cause. And they remind me of him. So that's good. His vintage stuff was way out of my range.
So if you're a working drummer don't just leave your spouse with your gear. Make sure you're insured!!! We also did a memorial fundraiser.
I've been following this thread & it's really got me thinking. I just turned 44,but hey you never know when your time hath come. It makes me realize the importance of transmitting drumming to my 2 & 1/2 yr old daughter. I don't have a 10,000 s/ft house full of drums (nudge, nudge, wink,wink), but what I can offer her is a drummers vocabulary. She's young now, so I don't push her, but I can get her to do double strokes as a game. She has a kids RB kit set up beside papas' & likes to play while I am playing. When I look over I can see her watching intently and imitating. Makes me so proud!
On the subject of wills: My dad offered us different things as his living will. In my case, a few years ago I needed a better kit for an album I was recording and he offered me a DW as an inheritance. He said he'd rather see me enjoying
these in his lifetime. Bless his heart!
I'm sorry to hear of the trouble some of you have had with immediate family and sorry to hear that some of your kids didn't catch the BUG. Hopefully I'll be around long enough to stockpile lots more cool gear for my little girl..and hopefully she'll decide to keep playing! Anyways, good health to you all, VDF!
