sponsored Specialist Bass Insurance

[Insure4Music]

We’re Insure4Music and new to the Basschat forum. Like you, we’re passionate about music and protect over 12,000 musicians across the UK with insurance. You play it, we protect it. The perfect partnership! Comment any insurance related questions you’ve got below, and we’ll get back to you.

[CamdenRob]

Well this is promising... I guess the questions are pretty much what other insurers won’t cover a bass for.

Of course what’s ‘covered’ doesn’t really count for a lot so my questions would be have you ever paid out a claim for any of the following.

A bass stolen from a back stage room whilst the owner was elsewhere in the venue?

A bass stolen from an unattended vehicle?

A bass stolen from the venue when the owner was using it “for professional use” having received a few beer tokens for the gig?

A bass stolen or damaged on public transport?

I’ll probably think of a few more than that,  but it would be good to know if you’ve ever paid out a claim for any of the above 😊

Additionally I’m assuming basses in the home would be covered for theft and damage as per a usual contents insurance policy, along with full cover when outside the home?

 

 

Edited December 3, 2019 by CamdenRob

[darkandrew]

Many of my basses and guitars were purchased from forum members here, and therefore do not come with an official receipt. I have been told by other insurers that I need an independent, official valuation to value the bass (or other instrument) in this instance for insurance purposes otherwise they would not pay out on any future claim. Do you insist on an independent valuation? If not, what proof of ownership and value do you require?

Edited December 3, 2019 by darkandrew

[Insure4Music]

On 03/12/2019 at 22:09, darkandrew said:

Many of my basses and guitars were purchased from forum members here, and therefore do not come with an official receipt. I have been told by other insurers that I need an independent, official valuation to value the bass (or other instrument) in this instance for insurance purposes otherwise they would not pay out on any future claim. Do you insist on an independent valuation? If not, what proof of ownership and value do you require?

Thanks for your question, we get that not all basses come with a receipt and in those cases we do ask for a valuation or bank / credit card statement. As long as it clearly shows date, price paid and details of the music equipment

[Insure4Music]

On 03/12/2019 at 20:16, CamdenRob said:

Well this is promising... I guess the questions are pretty much what other insurers won’t cover a bass for.

Of course what’s ‘covered’ doesn’t really count for a lot so my questions would be have you ever paid out a claim for any of the following.

A bass stolen from a back stage room whilst the owner was elsewhere in the venue?

A bass stolen from an unattended vehicle?

A bass stolen from the venue when the owner was using it “for professional use” having received a few beer tokens for the gig?

A bass stolen or damaged on public transport?

I’ll probably think of a few more than that,  but it would be good to know if you’ve ever paid out a claim for any of the above 😊

Additionally I’m assuming basses in the home would be covered for theft and damage as per a usual contents insurance policy, along with full cover when outside the home?

 

 

Thanks for your question and apologies for taking a little longer to get back to you! To answer your questions...

A bass stolen from a back stage room whilst the owner was elsewhere in the venue?
This would be covered as long as it's stored in a locked locker or similar place of storage

A bass stolen from an unattended vehicle?
This would be covered as long as it’s out of sight in a locked boot

A bass stolen from the venue when the owner was using it “for professional use” having received a few beer tokens for the gig?
Our equipment policies cover professional use, if you're using your bass at a gig you're being paid for then you'll be covered for theft, loss & accidental damage

A bass stolen or damaged on public transport?
We provide cover in and out of the home, public transport included as long as due care is taken

[Monkey Steve]

40 minutes ago, Insure4Music said:

Thanks for your question and apologies for taking a little longer to get back to you! To answer your questions...

A bass stolen from a back stage room whilst the owner was elsewhere in the venue?
This would be covered as long as it's stored in a locked locker or similar place of storage

A bass stolen from an unattended vehicle?
This would be covered as long as it’s out of sight in a locked boot

A bass stolen from the venue when the owner was using it “for professional use” having received a few beer tokens for the gig?
Our equipment policies cover professional use, if you're using your bass at a gig you're being paid for then you'll be covered for theft, loss & accidental damage

A bass stolen or damaged on public transport?
We provide cover in and out of the home, public transport included as long as due care is taken

Thanks for your replies.  I have a few comments so perhaps you can clarify

On the unattended vehicle question, you will only provide cover if the instrument is in a locked boot?  this is important because basses are quite large instruments, and I've often not been able to fit mine into the boot of a car, especially when it's in a flight case.  Will you offer any other unattended vehicle cover, or purely just for gear that is in the boot?  Would the same apply for a tour van - covered if in a locked section of the van, but not if left in the front section where people usually sit?

You say that the instrument will be covered backstage if it's left unattended as long as it's in a locked storage area.  I have never seen one of these, even at reasonably well known venues like the Underworld - typically instruments will be left in flight cases back stage.  In the absence of these type of lockers, does this mean that insured equipment will only be covered while the owner is present?

Edited December 5, 2019 by Monkey Steve

[CamdenRob]

Thanks for getting back to me.

My comments echo MS above.

Essentially I need my instruments to be insured when they are vulnerable to theft / damage. Not when they are safely locked away.

[Mickeyboro]

My 1971 Fender precision bass was bought in 1981 and I have the receipt. It is however worth ten times what I paid for it. Which figure would you pay out on?

[spencer.b]

8 hours ago, Insure4Music said:

A bass stolen from a back stage room whilst the owner was elsewhere in the venue?
This would be covered as long as it's stored in a locked locker or similar place of storage

 

I've gigged loads for the last 20 years and very rarely seen lockable storage big enough for a bass within a dressing room, if ever actually

[Insure4Music]

18 hours ago, Monkey Steve said:

Thanks for your replies.  I have a few comments so perhaps you can clarify

On the unattended vehicle question, you will only provide cover if the instrument is in a locked boot?  this is important because basses are quite large instruments, and I've often not been able to fit mine into the boot of a car, especially when it's in a flight case.  Will you offer any other unattended vehicle cover, or purely just for gear that is in the boot?  Would the same apply for a tour van - covered if in a locked section of the van, but not if left in the front section where people usually sit?

You say that the instrument will be covered backstage if it's left unattended as long as it's in a locked storage area.  I have never seen one of these, even at reasonably well known venues like the Underworld - typically instruments will be left in flight cases back stage.  In the absence of these type of lockers, does this mean that insured equipment will only be covered while the owner is present?

You're correct on the unattended vehicle question, instruments need to be in a locked compartment of a car/van that is out of sight. It's similar to leaving a phone or wallet on the passenger seat of a car or putting it in the glove box.

Apologies for any confusion on the other point, but we just require the instrument to be in a locked room. It doesn't necessarily have to be in a locker.

[Insure4Music]

12 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

My 1971 Fender precision bass was bought in 1981 and I have the receipt. It is however worth ten times what I paid for it. Which figure would you pay out on?

Thanks for your question! In these cases we'd pay out to the market value of the instrument

[Insure4Music]

10 hours ago, spencer.b said:

I've gigged loads for the last 20 years and very rarely seen lockable storage big enough for a bass within a dressing room, if ever actually

Sorry for the confusion on this one! We just require the instrument to be in a locked room - it doesn't necessarily have to be in a locker.

[CamdenRob]

1 hour ago, Insure4Music said:

Sorry for the confusion on this one! We just require the instrument to be in a locked room - it doesn't necessarily have to be in a locker.

I think the question is would a bass / amp etc be covered if it was left in an unlocked back stage room.

All multiband originals nights in London (and I imagine elsewhere) have an unsecured area (generally little more than a broom cupboard) in which bands have to leave gear whilst the other bands are on stage. Being unlocked and unmonitored this is by far the most likely place gear will be stolen from so cover for this situation is critical.

[Burns-bass]

1 hour ago, CamdenRob said:

I think the question is would a bass / amp etc be covered if it was left in an unlocked back stage room.

All multiband originals nights in London (and I imagine elsewhere) have an unsecured area (generally little more than a broom cupboard) in which bands have to leave gear whilst the other bands are on stage. Being unlocked and unmonitored this is by far the most likely place gear will be stolen from so cover for this situation is critical.

I’ve been in this position (and had to rescue my Musicman Stingray from an Australian band playing at the Borderline in London - thieving swine!).

While musicians often find they have to leave their gear in compromising positions it’s hardly fair to expect an insurance company to pay out in this instance.
 

The next time we played that venue our driver sat in the room with the gear for half an hour to ensure it was ok. 

[fleabag]

Its unreasonable to expect any insurance company to cover loss due to leaving valuables in unsecured locations.  If i left home and didnt lock my front door, and i got burgled, the insurance company would laugh at me.

They're in the business of making money, first and foremost.

 

[CamdenRob]

2 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

I’ve been in this position (and had to rescue my Musicman Stingray from an Australian band playing at the Borderline in London - thieving swine!).

While musicians often find they have to leave their gear in compromising positions it’s hardly fair to expect an insurance company to pay out in this instance.
 

The next time we played that venue our driver sat in the room with the gear for half an hour to ensure it was ok. 

Surely insurance is there to cover when your gear might get stolen? I don’t need cover for when it’s safely locked away 😕

Im not suggesting Insurance should cover me placing my Fodera outside the venue with a “please steal me” sign on it, but I will need it to be covered for situations that occur during the course of a normal gig  

[Burns-bass]

1 hour ago, CamdenRob said:

Surely insurance is there to cover when your gear might get stolen? I don’t need cover for when it’s safely locked away 😕

Im not suggesting Insurance should cover me placing my Fodera outside the venue with a “please steal me” sign on it, but I will need it to be covered for situations that occur during the course of a normal gig  

I guess the insurance company would suggest you either keep your £10k bass with you, within sight or stick it in a locked vehicle. All a bit of a hassle I guess, but better than having no bass!

 

[Insure4Music]

What's everyone's plans for Christmas? Is anyone planning on adding to their collection?

[neilp]

On 06/12/2019 at 17:33, CamdenRob said:

Surely insurance is there to cover when your gear might get stolen? I don’t need cover for when it’s safely locked away 😕

Im not suggesting Insurance should cover me placing my Fodera outside the venue with a “please steal me” sign on it, but I will need it to be covered for situations that occur during the course of a normal gig  

I think all insurance companies will say the same thing, that you need to take reasonable precautions to secure your equipment when it's unattended. It's not reasonable to expect any insurance to cover equipment that is unattended in an insecure (unlocked) location. Man up and take some responsibility. Might mean you have to stay out of the bar. If we all make enough fuss, venues might start to provide this kind of facility.

[neilp]

On 20/12/2019 at 10:29, Insure4Music said:

What's everyone's plans for Christmas? Is anyone planning on adding to their collection?

I bought myself a Christmas present (unplanned!) of a lovely 1980 Aria SB1000 fretless to go with my fretted version. I'd guess the value at £1k, more or less, which probably takes the total value of my gear to around £23k if I include the double bass and bows, amplification etc

Edited December 21, 2019 by neilp
spelling

[Insure4Music]

On 21/12/2019 at 18:33, neilp said:

I bought myself a Christmas present (unplanned!) of a lovely 1980 Aria SB1000 fretless to go with my fretted version. I'd guess the value at £1k, more or less, which probably takes the total value of my gear to around £23k if I include the double bass and bows, amplification etc

We're sure you deserve it! That's quite the collection you've got going, which one would you say is your favourite?

[Insure4Music]

We're logging off for Christmas now, we hope you all have a great one! If anyone has any more questions, feel free to post them and we'll get back to you when we're back online.

 

Lastly, we've got a special Christmas offer running at the minute. So if you're getting any new gear or want to insure anything you've already got, you can save 20% using this link www.insure4music.co.uk/basschat 

[neilp]

On 23/12/2019 at 15:13, Insure4Music said:

We're sure you deserve it! That's quite the collection you've got going, which one would you say is your favourite?

Of the bass guitars, the Wal is and always has been my dream instrument, But the double bass is special just because of it's age, patina and soul.

[Insure4Music]

If anyone's looking to get some gigs booked in for the new year then our small music venues map of the UK could help. You can filter by location to find venues close to you and there's contact details where available so you can get in touch about booking your gig.

Take a look using the link below and feel free to share it with your band or other musicians.

https://www.insure4music.co.uk/venue-index/venues

If anyone's get any feedback or knows of any venues that could be added, we're all ears - just comment below!

[bassfan]

On 06/12/2019 at 11:25, Insure4Music said:

You're correct on the unattended vehicle question, instruments need to be in a locked compartment of a car/van that is out of sight. It's similar to leaving a phone or wallet on the passenger seat of a car or putting it in the glove box.

I drive an estate car, the seats are dropped to get everything in. The windows are heavily tinted (by manufacturer) you can’t easily see in,  so if my gear was stolen I wouldn’t be covered as it’s not in a specific compartment?  I would argue that the whole vehicle then becomes a compartment if the seats are down as it’s one space. Same way the basses are covered in my house, they aren’t in locked gun cupboards they are in a room with the front and back doors locked if I go out.  
 

Would I be Covered in an estate car or only in a car with a “boot” ?