A timely reminder, for sure Gary.

Two out-of-state friends of mine died in May, one suddenly, one not-so suddenly. They were firearms collectors and neither had an inventory nor a plan for disposing of their collections. Both widows want the stuff out of the house and are relying on friends to sort everything out and get a fair price. A huge job(s).

Drums are easier to sell than firearms (from a legal standpoint), but we should all have an inventory, an estimated worth, and a recommendation for how to dispose of our collections. It won't matter to us, of course - we'll be gone....But "due diligence" - now - on our part will make it much easier on our widow/family.

To be honest, I cringe when I think of all the "treasures" that I have that my wife will have to deal with, if I "go" first. She'll certainly use my name in vain! :-)

I need to get on it; we all need to get on it. Make an inventory, make a plan.

Regards, mb

Gary your doing the right thing. We all need to consider this.

A few years ago, I started an inventory by creating a Word document listing each drum, drum set, or hardware purchase chronologically starting with my first drum set I purchased around 1985.

I listed the date and price paid or close approximation if I didn’t remember exactly.

I have not dealt with current values however. I guess leaving instructions to search recent sales on eBay, reverb etc. before setting a sale price would work.

Fortunately for me, my middle son caught the drum bug so I’m guessing it would fall on him to handle. Heck he uses half of my drums and cymbals anyway.

As a programmer, numerous times I’ve toyed with the idea of creating an inventory database with a web interface to enter and edit the information. Maybe someday.

I think these things are a great start, but…

…even with an inventory and a price list, relatives don’t want to deal with our collections. As painful as it may be, sell your collection now so they won’t be burdened. Trust me, our collections are an anchor around their necks. No matter what we catalog, instruct or say is a fair price, they’ll dump the items at just about any price to be done with it. They couldn’t care less about our mantra’s of, it’s all about the hunt, it’s the holy grail, it’s rare and only one of two are known to exist, negotiating is fun…

Pick a day to start divesting, follow YOUR mantras and get them the most cash you can for YOUR “junk”. It’ll hurt and you will miss looking at your prized possessions in that empty room, but THEY will thank you.

SAZ

I’ve given my wife/kids the instruction to let my friend, who owns a popular drum shop in the area, go through my drums, cymbals, and percussion instruments and sell them on consignment in his shop.

That's what I'd like to do except for the fact that the guy who owns the shop is just a few years younger than me and just as likely to croak as me. Also, he'd sell the store in a heartbeat for the right offer. So, he might not be around as the shop owner when the time comes to divest of the drum gear. I need to find a plan B.

All is true from everyone’s post

It’s sad that we have to worry about it

time is not on our side “no it is not”

So everyone is leaning towards keeping everything and making their heirs deal with it?

i want to depart this world with one--maybe two--drum sets and cymbals and hardware to complete a stage set-up for each of the drum sets. My two children should have autonomy to either keep a drum set or sell it. The rest of my drum gear--stands, pedals, cymbals, and what nots--can be disposed of as they see fit. My hunch is that they will sell it off. Notice that I have not mentioned my wife. I think that she would not wish to participate in this exercise.