instrument security at gigs

[KingPrawn]

I was reading an article about a rise in instrument theft at high profile gigs. Admittedly most is laptops etc, however they had a couple of players discussing how bass/guitars have been stolen at gigs. Got me thinking if any of the manufactures out there could design a stand with some type of locking system or alarm. I bought myself one of these.

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=alarmio+personal+cable+lock&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=9682998752&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=638552&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13276778141128699395&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_3gqvp6rw0l_e"]http://www.amazon.co...sl_3gqvp6rw0l_e[/url]

Its very good. Very easy to use. i do not play gigs with security and i could not afford to loose my bass. i haven't even got insurance. Any other advice to help prevent theft.

Edited May 26, 2013 by KingPrawn

[uncle psychosis]

If you can't afford to lose your bass then get insurance.

If you really, really, really can't afford the few quid a month that insurance costs then never, ever, let your bass out of your sight.

[BigRedX]

Read the small print for any insurance that you buy very carefully.

The last time I looked at specialist instrument insurance, by the time I'd gone through all the exclusions it seemed as though the only time my gear was actually covered against theft was while I was actually playing it!

[steve-soar]

You need really good crew,(willing to gaffer tape any scrote to a fire escape and wallop their kneecaps with a foot long Mag light)when they catch them.

[louisthebass]

It's best to always have at least one band member in sight of all the gear while you're at the venue. When it comes to loading in / out of a van, make sure there's always someone with the gear or alternatively lock your vehicle if there's a danger of anything being left unattended, even if it's out of plain view.

Best to get your gear insured just in case the unthinkable happens...

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1369599571' post='2090782']
You need really good crew,(willing to gaffer tape any scrote to a fire escape and wallop their kneecaps with a foot long Mag light)when they catch them.
[/quote]

*At the tribunal*

Guard - "His knees? No, he fell when I grabbed him. ... What? Did I bash his knees in with my torch? No, of course not... who would do a thing like that?"

[3below]

[quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1369600062' post='2090787']
It's best to always have at least one band member in sight of all the gear while you're at the venue. When it comes to loading in / out of a van, make sure there's always someone with the gear or alternatively lock your vehicle if there's a danger of anything being left unattended, even if it's out of plain view.

Best to get your gear insured just in case the unthinkable happens...
[/quote]


100% spot on, and check small print on insurance. These days I use cheap basses for gigs, does not matter if stolen or damaged. Bass amp/cab is somewhat more upmarket but can be replaced. My 'best' basses much harder to find again.

[Lozz196]

I make sure my gear is always within sight at gigs. Way I see it, if there`s no opportunity for it to be stolen, it`s less likely to be. Forget all the hard-man stuff, people who nick guitars etc do it cos the gear is left unattended. Simply by being around it prevents this from happening.

[The Dark Lord]

I'm thinking of patenting a bass security device based on this:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyuKEK7wmsw[/media]

[steve-soar]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1369600365' post='2090796']
*At the tribunal*

Guard - "His knees? No, he fell when I grabbed him. ... What? Did I bash his knees in with my torch? No, of course not... who would do a thing like that?"


[/quote]

[AngelLaHash]

Could put in a key switch, so you have to turn the key other wire you won't get any sound, but easy to by pass.
Other ways barbie pick guitar, no one will nick that.
Make it look alarmed with flashing led, like fake burglar alarms do

[essexbasscat]

I've known two scumbags to start a fight in one part of a pub to draw attention to them. Meanwhile, their 3rd scumbag team member goes to the stage to grab a guitar while everyone's watching the fight

Stay with your gear if you think there's the slightest chance anything will go missing. Deputise the job to somone else at your peril.

[Jack]

I managed to get decent insurance through Endsleigh, £60 for over £4k of gear, attended or otherwise. As ever, best practice is to never let anything out of your sight. Also, screw lightweight gear, nobody is going to twoc an 8x10".

[RhysP]

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1369651770' post='2091180']
I managed to get decent insurance through Endsleigh.....
[/quote]
Have you ever tried claiming anything through Endsleigh?
They are the worst of the worst.

[tayste_2000]

I did an amp claim through Musicguard recently and they were great no issues in paying what so ever and this was gear that was in a location it wasn't insured in.

Re basses, just never let them out of your sight, either leave them on stage and keep an eye on the stage or finish set and pop em in a gigbag and leave gigbag on back.

[Jack]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1369666553' post='2091367']
Have you ever tried claiming anything through Endsleigh?
They are the worst of the worst.
[/quote]

I haven't. How do you mean?

[Grangur]

I just got a quote from Allianz. £1000 of cover inc, £800 for the bass and £200 for the amp, including cover when in and unattended vehicle. This came to under £2.70/month - £29/year.

[url="http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/find-the-right-policy/power-play.asp"]http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/find-the-right-policy/power-play.asp[/url]

You can also get liability insurance too for, what seems to me to be good rates. I'd be interested to hear what others think of them?

[Grangur]

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1369670143' post='2091400']
I haven't. How do you mean?
[/quote] Mrs G has used Endsleigh in the past to.... they don't pay out. or they argue until you die of boredom waiting.

[skankdelvar]

As propounded above, one should always have someone at both ends of the load-out - someone by the van, someone with the gear inside the venue.

The problems start when you're in a three-piece. Either one person carries everything out [i]or[/i] there's a complicated little waltz where A goes out to B from C then B goes [i]back[/i] to C who goes out to A and then your head explodes and you forget your extension board.

[RhysP]

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1369670143' post='2091400']
I haven't. How do you mean?
[/quote]
I mean that in the event of you having to make a claim you won't get any money out of them.
I used to use them for house insurance, and I know quite a few people who ended up ditching them all because they never ever paid out.

[joeystrange]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1369671549' post='2091417']
I just got a quote from Allianz. £1000 of cover inc, £800 for the bass and £200 for the amp, including cover when in and unattended vehicle. This came to under £2.70/month - £29/year.

[url="http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/find-the-right-policy/power-play.asp"]http://www.allianzmu.../power-play.asp[/url]

You can also get liability insurance too for, what seems to me to be good rates. I'd be interested to hear what others think of them?
[/quote]

Thanks for the link. I just had a look at it and it seems pretty decent. I might well go for it.

[Telebass]

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1369671929' post='2091423']
As propounded above, one should always have someone at both ends of the load-out - someone by the van, someone with the gear inside the venue.

The problems start when you're in a three-piece. Either one person carries everything out [i]or[/i] there's a complicated little waltz where A goes out to B from C then B goes [i]back[/i] to C who goes out to A and then your head explodes and you forget your extension board.
[/quote]
This, says bass player in a 3-piece...

[Fat Rich]

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1369671929' post='2091423']
As propounded above, one should always have someone at both ends of the load-out - someone by the van, someone with the gear inside the venue.

The problems start when you're in a three-piece. Either one person carries everything out [i]or[/i] there's a complicated little waltz where A goes out to B from C then B goes [i]back[/i] to C who goes out to A and then your head explodes and you forget your extension board.
[/quote]

Exactly, bass player stands in the cold and rain by the car, guitarist / vocalist stands on the stage developing their ego. Drummer collects a couple of items from the car, trots into the venue, somehow gets lost between the door and the stage and isn't seen again until 30 seconds before the gig is supposed to start, and seems genuinely surprised that everyone else seems a bit tense.

[Truckstop]

Yeah endsleigh are the worst.

I used them for contents insurance when I first moved from home into a bedsit-type deal. Got all my stuff nicked out of my room and they wouldn't pay out because although my room was secured, the burglars got in through a housemates window and literally smashed my door in.

They said that my room wasnt secured properly even though I had two locks on the door and an alarmed window with all sorts of burglar prevention measures attached to it. Ridiculous!

I got the payout 4 years later.

When it comes to protecting your gear when you're gigging, it's a case of just keeping an eye on everything as best you can. I never leave any bags or cases in my car while I'm gigging and I always try to leave my instrument somewhere difficult to get to; such as behind the drumkit or my rig.

Truckstoo

[chaypup]

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1369737166' post='2092055']
Yeah endsleigh are the worst.

I used them for contents insurance when I first moved from home into a bedsit-type deal. Got all my stuff nicked out of my room and they wouldn't pay out because although my room was secured, the burglars got in through a housemates window and literally smashed my door in.

They said that my room wasnt secured properly even though I had two locks on the door and an alarmed window with all sorts of burglar prevention measures attached to it. Ridiculous!

I got the payout 4 years later.

When it comes to protecting your gear when you're gigging, it's a case of just keeping an eye on everything as best you can. I never leave any bags or cases in my car while I'm gigging and I always try to leave my instrument somewhere difficult to get to; such as behind the drumkit or my rig.

Truckstoo
[/quote] While you weren't looking someone stole your 'p' and replaced it with a cheap and nasty 'o'. You gotta keep an eye on EVERYTHING!