Photography by H. Kahlke © 2009
A couple of days ago I finally started a project that was long overdue. I began to inventory my gear, and put it into an Excel spreadsheet.
OK sure, I can hear some people snickering already. BTW, shut up Pete. 😉 But you know what? I bet you have way more gear than you can remember off the top of your head. Say someone broke into your apartment or house. Or say, God forbid, that your place burned down. Would you be able to provide an accurate inventory to your insurance company?
If you’re like most people, the answer is most likely “No”. We buy a lot of small bits here and there, that we don’t even think about any more.
Sure, while most of us likely know how many horns we have—and if we’re smart about it, have their serial numbers recorded—but how many of us know the number of reeds we have on average, or the number of stands, or books, or mouthpieces, or ligatures, or, or… You get the idea.
With thoughts like this tumbling through my grey matter, I walked into my local Staples store on Friday, and bought a 8 GB, USB flash drive. Yesterday afternoon I copied 6 GB of photos of my horns onto the drive. Once my Excel sheet is finished, I’ll add that as well. Then I’ll put the flash drive into the safety deposit box at my bank for safe keeping. I hope I never need it, but if I do, I’ll have all the information in 1 place.
To give you an idea of what I’ve included in my Excel chart, here is a sample for one of my horns. The serial number has been removed below for security purposes only. In the real document, it is obviously recorded.
| Type | Manufacturer | Country Of Origin | Stencil Name | Model | Serial # | Circa | Finish | Condition | Bassic Sax Pix URL |
| Bass | Buescher | USA | N/A | True Tone | XXXXX | 1922 | Silver plated with gold wash bell | Fully restored, with custom case & top of line stand. Minor adjustments needed. | Buescher Bass |
There are a number of things I could have added, like the price I paid, but that would be rather meaningless. Many of these horns I’ve owned for a lot of years. Appraised value could be another category, if you’ve gone to the trouble and expense of having your horns appraised.
What do you think? Any obvious oversights?
I haven’t recorded my mouthpieces, stands, and replacement cases yet, or my rather extensive collection of books. It’s funny actually, the newer ones with play-along CDs actually cost less than the ones from years ago when I studied classical. Needless to say the Marcel Mule books did not have play-along CDs. 😛
In any event, I hope that this gets you thinking about your gear. You have more money tied up in it than you might think. Those little bits bought here and there over the years really add up. It is worth making a list, and keeping it in a safe place.
Oh, and it’s important to make sure to update that list occasionally as well. If you’re like me, at least annually would seem to be in order. 😈
The only reason my sax stuff is so well organized is because I bought my first digital Camera and started working on this idea about a year before I bought my first Sax after a 30+ year hiatus. I started with the first one and have managed to keep it mostly current(Heaven help me if something should happen to my workshop or the radio shack.) 😯 :devil1:
PS digital copies are cheap the really important stuff I save a copy to a dvd or a cd if it will fit and mail it to a friend or family member you trust for safe keeping in case a really bad disaster happens (Like the fires in Bastrop last summer About 10 miles up the road from me)
What’s in your “radio shack”?
Around here, the most likely disaster is an earthquake. Apparently we’re due for another “big one”, and that could come anytime from now to 200 years from now. 😯
A very good Idea.
I have a file for each Instrument I own that includes photos scanned images of the original purchase receipt and receipts for any work done to the horn and any other documentation that applies to that Sax. Since mouthpieces may move from horn to horn I have a separate file for each with any info I have for it. One suggestion Buy 2 thumb drives (they are cheap) one goes to the lock box like you planned the other you should keep near the computer for additions or changes in your equipment next time you go to the lock box swap them if you have any significant changes.I have been working on extending this to any thing I have that is valuable or would be difficult to replace. 😆 just my :2cents:
Oh my friend… You are way too organized… 😉 I just got around to writing down the serial numbers… 😆
Yes, the 2 flash drive thingy became pretty clear to me partway through the process… Which I still don’t have finished BTW…
As far as extending this to anything that would be difficult to replace, that’s something that I know I have to do… But… Like everything else, is something I haven’t gotten around to. I’m just lucky I started the process with my horns & musical gear.
Speaking only for myself: I have too much stuff!!!!!! :groan: