Mat Devine saves a guitar in the Swiss Alps (Photo-Kill Hannah)
The last couple of years have been rough for Chicago musicians. Kill Hannah in 2008, had a fire aboard their tour bus in Switzerland and lost almost all of their gear and personal belongings. Then last November their entire bus and trailer were stolen while they slept in a hotel room in Philadelphia, PA. Kill Hannah lost over $120,000 in gear and merchandise, including one-of-a-kind vintage custom guitars and vintage custom effects.
I just wrote about Chicago band, Russian Circles today! They had an accident in their brand new tour van in Baton Rouge, LA. and lost a lot of equipment as well as their van and a rental trailer. Another Chicago band, The Branded had all of their gear damaged beyond repair due to flooding in their practice space last month. They have heartbreaking pictures up on their site of water logged vintage tube amps and rusted guitars(below).
Some simple searching on the net led me to Music Pro Insurance, which covers your gear year round anywhere in the world. I am not recommending them specifically, they just popped up first in my search. According to their site, you can get $25,000 of coverage for $275 dollars a year, less than a dollar a day. $50,000 to cover equipment is $550 a year. It's a small price to pay. Homeowners or renters insurance may also cover any loses, check with your agent to be sure and don't end up like this poor poor Les Paul.
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Comments
Insurance is one of those things you always begrudge having to pay for until you actually need it. Very good info Lee. I knew about Kill Hannah of course, but I wasn't aware of the accident today or that so much vintage music equipment suffered the same fate as a lot of my t-shirt merch. in last month's flood.
If that insurance really covers any and all events, including flood then it's a good deal, but I fear the Les Paul would have suffered the same fate either way.
I had a saxophone stolen during college and had no type of insurance at all. Years later, I've never replaced it - it was a heartbreaker. Insure such items against theft as well.
(Whoever stole that saxophone of mine - I hope you finally got your act together and quit doing such things.)
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