So you're DEAD... Bugger. But now what ?!

[J.F. Custom]

So what's he on about or perhaps just on ?? Well, lets face it - we're all going to cark it sooner or later...

Have you given much thought to what happens thereafter? Sorry no, I don't mean coming back as a multi-headed cow in a genetic experiment gone wrong , or any other fanciful belief - just in the literal sense of your workshop.

Two things raised this topic for me recently - The birth of my daughter at one extreme and the death of a grandparent at the other, within days of each other. I was considering this latter and its effects on others as I walked around my workshop, when it struck me - my partner would be up shit creek with all of my stuff should anything happen. Seriously.

For a start, she has no interest in, or knowledge about anything in there. I know, I'm trying to get her to see someone about that issue. A serious shortcoming of hers obviously. I'm not overly concerned about my household effects, but what if suddenly she had an entire luthiery workshop to somehow redistribute? Machinery and generic hand tools I guess are one thing and can probably be sorted through ebay or auction with some effort. But what about all the jigs or specialised tools? Most importantly - what about the wood ?!

I know I'd personally be turning in the grave, or is that the compost heap (?), if all the specially selected timber, collected over many years, went to a hobby pen turner. (No offense intended turners of handheld writing implements.) But personally, I know each and every piece of timber I have and can name the species and generally when I got it - how old it is etc. However, they are not labelled - perhaps that would be a good start. A knowledgable outsider may have quite a difficult time assessing what some of the material is; a casual observer would have no hope and see it merely as "wood". Firewood perhaps, or maybe even as good as "cabinet timber".

So what to do? I am concerned two fold - firstly, I'd like my partner to get a realistic value for everything and not be taken advantage of, intentionally or unintentionally. Hopefully those funds would then assist her and my children for some time. Secondly, I'd much prefer the stuff to go to, or at least be offered to, other luthiers who know the value of this stuff and would put it to the use it was intended!

Has anyone else considered this or have arrangements with other builders that you know? In a way, this is what many people and Allied Lutherie collectively did upon the tragic loss of Taku Sakashta. I'm not so famous and don't see the luthier world at large jumping to assist my small family. Interested in your thoughts or plans if you have any.

I wonder if there is merit in establishing some sort of private list or similar, even through the forum (?), for those who have considerable workshop setups? Perhaps then partners could be told to contact a specific person who could get the word out to the right people and maybe some assistance ?? Just thinking aloud here...

Oh and don't get your hopes up - I don't intend to be "going" anywhere for a good 60 years yet, so you can keep your drooling thoughts and mitts off my wood stash!

Jeremy.

[charangohabsburg]

Antonio de Torres' last will was that when he would pass away his finished guitars would be sold at "a right price". He had better hung a price tag on those guitars instead, and his widow most likely would have been able to sell them for what they were worth (although not at the price these guitars are traded nowadays ).

So I think, price-tagging your wood stash and tool pool right now might make disappear one preoccupation, which means a lack of worry which certainly will strengthen your immune system in a way that you will enjoy luthiery for even more time than one normally expects to live.

[kiwigeo]

I like to think of the ANZLF as a little more than just a forum......if it came to the crunch and one of our members passed away and his/her partner was having difficulty in disposing of guitar making assets the ANZLF would step in and assist.

[Kamusur]

I like to think of the ANZLF as a little more than just a forum......if it came to the crunch and one of our members passed away and his/her partner was having difficulty in disposing of guitar making assets the ANZLF would step in and assist.

+1

Steve

[Bob Connor]

I totally agree Martin.

[Allen]

It's certainly crossed my mind Jeremy. And I've thought about going through the stash and at least labelling the wood. I shudder to think how many $$$ are tied up in it. Then the workshop....Oh my, what a job that would be to clear out.

I've told my wife to contact my mates if or more accurately, when the time comes as it eventually will. I can only trust that they would all do the right thing.

[ozziebluesman]

Interesting post Jeremy as you have touched a spot with most of us who have been building guitars for a number of year. I have my stash labeled and priced but it is rough and only I would get it right on all set species and cost. The stash is a very personal and important collection that takes years to collect together and I would hate to have to think what it would be like trying to build a guitar my way not having my Marples three quarter inch paring chisel. I have taken pictures of all my sets too but again it is only a rough inventory.

So my thoughts are label all the stash with species, time bought, cost and who it was purchased from. Take pictures and keep a record on the computer.

If anything happened to me I have four forum members who live close to me who are very good friends and they all know my wife Kerry so I know they would do the right thing for me as I would do for them. One thing I have noticed the majority of forum members are the 50 to 60 year old bracket and coming from the same era we have similar life values. Nothing against you younger members either I am just jealous I didn't start this building guitar caper thirty years ago.

Cheers

Alan

[Taffy Evans]

Very interesting thread and an issue I have often thought of. I suppose the first thing I should do is to make my wife aware of the forum and how to access it, and the contact of the only other builder/friend I really know.

Allan, well I did start building/repairing over thirty years ago and I have a shit load of gear as you may remember: machines, special handmade tools, timber, jigs, power tools and last but not least knowledge and understanding of all these things. So I too have wondered what happens when..... Grand kids are all keen to get into the workshop when they are young [three of mine have built instruments] but as they get older their interests change, for some reason.

My steps towards [WHEN] is to list all the power tools [a bit out of date at the moment] photograph all the jigs and aids with a slide show of their use, and to name and date the jigs and aids where possible. My many benches are sort of dedicated to a task so the tools for that task would be easily identified. For instance the general repair bench, the fretting bench, orchestral instrument repair bench. Then the building benches with all their associated tools. The machine shop and spray room are self explanatory.

Have a good day, be happy, and be careful crossing the road.

[Bruce McC]

Thank you for your post Jeremy. One that we all need to think about but
put into the too hard basket or it can wait till tomorrow.

[lauburu]

It's an interesting and delicate topic and one we'll all have to face sooner or later. In my case as retirement approaches it will be sooner though I hope to make quite a lot of sawdust between now and then.
One of the many problems is that the family of the once-luthier don't want to have to deal with stuff that reminds them of the departed. It's a constant and sorrowful reminder that they want to make disappear. I experienced this when a mate of mine (part carpenter, part packrat) died leaving a garage/workshop full of tools, jigs, timber, memorabilia....... His wife and daughters had no interest in any of his tools and would have allowed the lot to go to an auction house for a couple of grand. A mate and I stepped in priced everything, set up ads on Trademe and organised a garage sale. A significant undertaking. We did 2 garage sales, raised a sizable chunk of loot, and then found his wife had sold the remainder to a dealer for a couple of hundred dollars. A bit disappointing but she just wanted to be rid of it. She needed to sell the house, get organised and get on with her life.
I think the responsibility for an appropriate disposal of tools, wood, books and instruments (made and collected) must lie with each of us. If mates inside or outside the ANZLF are available to help, all the better, but we need to have that organised rather than rely on luck or the grapevine. I think it's unlikely that any of my kids will want to build stringed or unstringed instruments - they're far too sensible to become involved in such an all-consuming pastime. However, they'd be happy to see the collections of a lifetime go to someone(s) who would use them appropriately. I'll be leaving a list of suggestions.
Miguel

[Paul B]

Years ago I told my ex missus to get in contact with you blokes (and Ladies, Lil) if anything happened to me, I knew you fellas would see her right. Some of my stuff, well, I wasn't exactly honest with her about what some of my stuff cost or was worth. I just figured you fellas would do the righty, we've all mostly known each other for years.

Had an old fella up the street, who was going into a retirement home, and was trying to find good homes for his gear, gave me a metal working lathe and stick welder, just cause he wanted it to go to someone who would not only use it, but would love it.

[J.F. Custom]

*snip* My steps towards [WHEN] is to list all the power tools [a bit out of date at the moment] photograph all the jigs and aids with a slide show of their use, and to name and date the jigs and aids where possible. *snip*

I reckon that'd make for quite a book there Taffy!

Thanks for the replies all and glad it has provoked some thought for others. I know I'd certainly help out where and when I could, without doubt. Good to know many feel the same way in our 'local' community - without any need to formally 'arrange' anything or make lists of contacts etc. As mentioned above, it is worth in my case as well, suggesting that this forum would be a good place to start in any need for help should it be required.

Personally, I think I'll at least label my timber. Besides the topic itself, while my memory is good now - it might not always be that way! Some timber is just really difficult to identify, even for seasoned experts, so labels make sense. I don't think I have the sort of jigs that require a manual - I have not been that clever. As to pricing... well if I'd thought of it, I'd never have bothered scrubbing those tags off in the first place. Never mind.

OK, so hug your loved ones and back to regular programming now.

Jeremy.

[P Bill]

I'm much closer to the end than the beginning. I've told my wife to research and ebay everything.

I'm 65 and just started the pension and plan on doing this work till I drop. My inspiration is Sam Malouf, the chair maker.
I remember a photo of him at 80, on the bandsaw, guard fully up, making a 3D cut on an arm.

[Clancy]

If I made a list of the dollar value of every workshop item & piece of tonewood..... and my wife saw it.... I think she'd send me to the grave.