zbd1960 Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 (edited) [quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1465842656' post='3071516'] To make things worse, you can bet your insurance has a clause meaning they don't payout if the theft is from an unattended vehicle. I looked into it and its difficult to get cover. [/quote] I have specialist instrument insurance with Allianz and I am covered for all my instruments for unattended vehicle. I don't yet gig on bass, but I do a lot of stuff with both cello and tenor sax. Ideally, I would keep them with me, but the cello in particular is a bulky object (cello case is about the same length as a bass hard case, but wider and much deeper) and if you're going for a meal or something after a concert, it can be a bigger risk trying to keep it with you and avoiding it getting knocked etc (they are significantly more fragile than basses) than putting it in the car and trying to keep it covered. Edited June 13, 2016 by zbd1960 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 We all take separate vehicles. During load in and load out we have several eyes on all vehicles and doors locked between trips. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1465852176' post='3071647'] In what circumstances would it be unavoidable? Band members or friends can take turns to stay with a vehicle, or help to carry instruments. [/quote] My Band, we all help each other tear down,however we don't allow friends to help for obvious reasons. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) [quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1465852853' post='3071661'] I'm thinking particularly of instruments to which people have an emotional attachment, or for which they have a particular fondness. Irreplaceable items which an insurance pay out just wouldn't make up for. [/quote] Not emotionally but financial closeness to my; Gibson Gold Top Bass, Gibson ES-335 Bass, 1991 Gibson Thunderbird German made Hofner Club Bass. Most if you know I'm primarily in the bar band business. I can't even bring those basses to the places we play. Blue Edited June 14, 2016 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joey1234 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Probably a daft question but can you not get them chipped or mark them somewhere out of sight like people do with expensive push bikes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydog Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 I don't think anyone would steal our Hammond........police would search a 20 yard radius from the scene of the crime for it, and A&E for two idiots with herniated vertibrae. LD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 I'd never leave an instrument in the car - I have a double gig bag, and they come with me wherever. If I can get it all out of sight (and 99% of the time I can) I'll leave the rig in the car, but the only things I'd leave overnight would be cabs...the padded rucksack with cables and amp comes with me...another advantage of Class D... :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 my contents insurance covers stuff left in the car as standard. I wouldn't normally leave a bass in there, but if I've got a gig in the evening and a business meeting on the way, I'll probably not take it in with me, just try and hide it as best I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 I always take my bass(es) out of the van, but the rest I'm less concerned about. It's a panel van (an old Vito) so what's in the back is invisible, and even if someone broke in I wonder how many scallies would know that McGregor PA cabs are not worth nicking whereas Barefaced cabs are valuable. In fact, pretty much all of my band gear would be unrecognised by anyone who wasn't involved with the music biz. Here on Basschat most people have some clue that a Powersoft Digam amp is worth a bob or two, but yer average man in the street? I doubt it. Having said that, nothing expensive (as opposed to valuable) is ever left in the van more than overnight after a late gig. I just can't be arsed to have to replace stuff that works for me and that I like using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) One of the reasons I bought the car I did is that it has heavily tinted rear passenger and tailgate windows. Most of my gear is black or in dark cases so when inside it is very difficult for the casual viewer to see anything of note inside. I have 2 silver alu camera cases for leads etc but they both conveniently fit into a hidden boot space and are covered with boards that the heavier 'dark' items go on top of. I don't usually stay O/N after a gig. Edited June 14, 2016 by KevB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1465872132' post='3071735'] Not emotionally but financial closeness to my; Gibson Gold Top Bass, Gibson ES-335 Bass, 1991 Gibson Thunderbird German made Hofner Club Bass. Most if you know I'm primarily in the bar bsnd business. I can't even bring those basses to the places we play. Blue [/quote] have you tried the Epiphone Jack casady and they do they in a gold top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 My view is you should look at where the value is in your equipment. This will normally be the basses so I don't leave these in vehicles. But one of the advantages of using old trace Elliot amps and speakers is they are worth nowt. So I leave speakers and maybe amps in vehicles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthaside Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) This thread has caused me look up the price of separate insurance for my instruments unattended in the car . I'm guilty of leaving a fully loaded car in the overflow carpark at work for the whole day before rehearsal. this is unfortunately shared with a station :-S and outside the pub when we have a cheeky half post rehearsal. Nothing is ever on ever View i have a saloon and a bass plus amp fit securely in the boot, ( no access from the passenger compartment ) Insurance for two basses @ around 700 each plus my mark-bass eemed a very reasonable 3.60 a month , or 39 for the year .... Seemed pretty reasonable to me. This was Allianz Instrument Insurance . Edited June 14, 2016 by synthaside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriswareham Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Thanks for the details of the Allianz insurance - seems well worth it. I always take bass and head into the hotel or B&B when touring, and consider my cabs as either too heavy to steal or at worst expendable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Check out New Moon Insurance, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) Post-gig, I load my stuff into my car heavy stuff first - both cabs into rear compartment, then bass amp and monitor onto back seat followed by wire bag, multi-bass stand, mic stand and effects bag. Basses are kept well back on stage til i am going and they go in the car last when I am ready to go. The car is locked between trips. When I get home, the basses come indoors straight away. The rest can stay in the car overnight, as I wouldn't like to try to get past my padlocked gates. Effing big spikes on top. I know that thefts happen to people and it's not always easy to secure a vehicle overnight, or always down to carelessness, but sometimes it is. When I read about someone's acoustic going from the back seat of their car in a city centre. I's just not funny, but hardly unexpected. There but for the grace, etc etc. Edited June 14, 2016 by 12stringbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Insure4Music look good, just sorted a policy with them. includes items left unattended in vehicles, though mine are only that way in-between each load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='joey1234' timestamp='1465892387' post='3071816'] Probably a daft question but can you not get them chipped or mark them somewhere out of sight like people do with expensive push bikes? [/quote] Something as simple as a piece of paper with your postcode and phone number tucked under the scratchplate can help. I've had someone phone me up before now to verify that a bass wasn't stolen - I had part-exed it at a shop and forgot all about the "security feature" I added Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4stringslow Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 In over 35 years of driving I've never had a car broken into. I'm careful to always leave anything inside out of sight but even so, if there were hordes of wandering thieves breaking into cars on the off-chance then I'd expect to have been 'done' at least once in all that time. Perhaps I've just been lucky or don't frequent dodgy areas but that's my experience. I did once have a broken rear window in an estate car and when the Autoglass chappie came out to fix it he was full of sympathy and asked if anything was stolen, but I had to explain that the window had been broken from the [u]inside[/u] when a less than careful cornering manoeuvre caused a PA cab to tip over against the rear window! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1465922337' post='3072149'] I did once have a broken rear window in an estate car and when the Autoglass chappie came out to fix it he was full of sympathy and asked if anything was stolen, but I had to explain that the window had been broken from the [u]inside[/u] when a less than careful cornering manoeuvre caused a PA cab to tip over against the rear window! [/quote] Back in the early 1970s I had an Austin Mini Countryman ... ... and one day when the rear door was pushed shut, my bass in its case pushed one of the rear windows out completely, which I then caught before it hit the floor. Fortunately it pushed back into place without any problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) [quote name='joey1234' timestamp='1465892387' post='3071816'] Probably a daft question but can you not get them chipped or mark them somewhere out of sight like people do with expensive push bikes? [/quote] My main concern is not necessarily theft. I would be more concerned about someone knocking one of those basses off the stand. Some of you guys have seen the drunk that oblivious to the band and falls backwards into the band. Blue Edited June 14, 2016 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='gareth' timestamp='1465899295' post='3071899'] have you tried the Epiphone Jack casady and they do they in a gold top? [/quote] I know they're a great bass and I wouldn't be as concerned about something happening to a Casady. The Casady is not as much of a financial investment as my Gibson Gold Top bass. It's something to consider. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 I never leave my bass in my car. Once bitten, twice shy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1465922337' post='3072149'] In over 35 years of driving I've never had a car broken into. I'm careful to always leave anything inside out of sight but even so, if there were hordes of wandering thieves breaking into cars on the off-chance then I'd expect to have been 'done' at least once in all that time. Perhaps I've just been lucky or don't frequent dodgy areas but that's my experience. [/quote] Criminals tend to go thieving in 'nice' areas. Because that's where the good stuff is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 On the (very) rare occasion that I have amps in my car overnight, the load cover is over them and I reverse back (gently) into a stone wall. I'm still relieved to find it all intact the next day.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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