Author Topic: Instrument Insurance (Read 145 times)

guitarbeau · « **on:** April 07, 2007, 09:57:20 AM »

Hi everyone,

I was wondering who has had experience with instrument insurance. It is my understanding that Homeowners Insurance will not cover an instrument if its owner derives income from his or her playing.

Are there any policies that any of you have had experience with? Any suggestions would be great.

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07, 2007, 10:17:50 AM »

There have been several threads on this subject, a search should bring them up. The company that seems to come up again and again is Heritage. I've spoken to them on the phone - very friendly and helpful.
Here's a link.

BIll, tgo

guitarbeau · « **Reply #2 on:** April 07, 2007, 02:02:59 PM »

Thanks Bill.

s_wood · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2007, 06:55:02 PM »

I am a very satisfied Heritage customer, and I recommend them highly. Their musical instrument insurance basically covers everything: all manner of loss, damage and depreciation due to repairs, etc.
Call them!

georgie_boy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2007, 07:22:23 AM »

Does heritage deal with people in the UK??

jacko · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2007, 12:28:04 PM »

George.
I've insured my kit with Musicguard. I've covered around ?8500 for an annual premium of ?230 (paid monthly). That's all my gigging instruments and rig covered for every eventuality including theft from the car. It sounds alot but they'll (supposedly) replace like for like. Gives me peace of mind, especially when we play late gigs we have to set up early for then go looking for food.

Graeme

0vid · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2007, 01:16:35 PM »

I was insured witih musicguard in the early 90s. 2 days before I moved from one town to another, my flat was burgled.... it would have been someone who knew what I had... or someone who came over to look at stuff I was selling...These days if I sell something, it's all the punter ever gets to see, or I meet them in a pub. I had my gear insured up to ?5K in those days. It took a good 6 months for the paper work etc. and after their assessment of 'depreciation' .....I got something like ?3.3K.

I play a lot of places, and probably like Graeme, sometimes will set up at 3 pm for a couple of sets starting at 9 pm. I take the actual instruments away and set them up before the set. Cumbersome, but I have experienced loss of custom made instruments.

(Message edited by 0vid on April 08, 2007)

olieoliver · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2007, 05:15:38 PM »

If you don't play professionally you can take a rider on most home owners insurance. I?m with State Farm and I have all mine covered with them. The policy covers them as long as I am not playing for hire (money). I made sure they put in writing on the policy though that they are covered playing at church or charity functions.

grateful · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2007, 02:44:52 AM »

George,

I insured my Further with E&L: around ?100 and it is covered throughout Europe. It includes public liability too. Fortunately, I don't know what they're like when you make a claim! (And I hope I'll never find out.)

Mark

keith_h · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2007, 04:26:37 AM »

Mine are covered under my base homeowners policy which I carry a full replacement value rider on. I play so infrequently for pay that my company considers me a hobbyist and will cover performance losses.

This varies so much from policy to policy you need to check with your company or agent.

Keith