 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: knappyman
Date: 2010-02-16 04:56
Hey all,
I live in San Francisco and am currently a grad student. I'll be done in May though, and I want to insure my clarinets (both are R-13s) now before I start getting some more gigs. Any suggestions on which company to go with? My primary concerns are earthquake coverage, theft, and possibly damage due to car accidents (I ride my bike a lot, and am afraid of getting hit by a car while carrying my instrument). Thanks in advance for the help!
`Jeremy
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-02-16 05:18
Clarion: http://www.clarionins.com. They'll insure them against just about anything that could happen to them, including clumsiness, minus the standard acts of war, etc. verbiage. Insurance starts at $250/year for up to $5000 of value (you set the value, within limits); I don't know how it scales from there, or how it applies to multiple instruments.
I insured my R13 with them so I could safely ship it up to Backun a couple of years back for an overhaul (and a visit to choose a barrel and bell). Erika at Backun recommended them.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2010-02-16 05:44
I second davetrow's recommendation. I have my selmer bass insured for $10,500 and some change for $270 a year. It covers anything within reason it seems, with the actual exclusives of my insurance being 1) civil war and 2) a nuclear bomb falling on it. In either case...I am not sure I will be very worried about my bass.
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2010-02-16 13:23
I have used Clarion and actually had to make a claim for a stolen instrument.
They were quick, clear and precise in their help and instructions to have the claim go through. Other than the loss of the instrument, it was quite painless.
Tom Piercy
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-16 15:20
If you get hit by a car while riding your bike you have more to worry about than your clarinet. The cheapest way to insure an instrument for general insurance, as apposed to just shipping it, is through your home owners, or rental insurance policy as a rider (no pun intended). If you don't have renters insurance on your apartment you should. Call around for the best rates. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-02-16 16:08
Many homeowner and renter policies specifically exclude musical instruments, and will not issue a rider (e.g. Farmers, which we have). But if you can find one that will insure your R13s, that might be the way to go.
However, I suspect that their exclusions (the circumstances that they won't cover) would be more onerous than those of Clarion, who specializes in the insurance needs of pro musicians.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-02-16 16:10
There have been numerous threads on this topic, which you'll find using the Search function, expanding the search to the Klarinet board, the Clarinet site and the Keepers.
My summary (which may be somewhat out of date) is as follows:
There are two kinds of coverage: "named-risk" and "all-risk." Named-risk policies cover only what's explicitly named in the policy, and it's your obligation to prove that a particular claim is covered. All-risk covers everything except what's explicitly excluded, and it's the insurance company's obligation to prove that an exclusion applies to your loss. Obviously, all-risk is better, but it's also more expensive.
Many policies do not cover travel outside the US. Always check this.
Many policies cover only "blue book" (used) value. You should get "retail" or "replacement" value coverage if you can afford it.
Adding instruments under homeowner's insurance is usually more expensive than instrument insurance, and it usually covers only blue book value. Also, it doesn't cover breakage due to wear or dropping, a car running over instrument, etc.
Also, homeowner/renter insurance usually only covers instruments in your home or your own car. If you're in a mall and the instrument is next to you on a bench, and then swiped by someone, it's not covered. Ditto for losses from a rehearsal space or a concert hall. Finally, homeowner/renter policies and riders to other policies seldom cover professional use, which they define as any payment at all, even if it’s only money for gas.
Homeowner policies may require that musical instruments be put on a “valuable items” rider, which requires you to list all instruments, keep the values up to date and pay an extra premium.
Sterling and Sterling in New York State has good coverage, but it may operate only in New York. You get special rates through the Musicians Union. http://www.sterlingrisk.com/
MusicPro is a national company insuring instruments. http://www.musicproinsurance.com/
Clarion policies do NOT cover cracking. They write only for US citizens, and for any policy you must inquire whether it covers travel outside the US.
Merz-Huber offers instrument insurance through affinity groups. For example, you can join the American String Teachers Association ($74.00), as a woodwind member, and still save over Clarion's rates, plus you get their journal with lessons and tips from eminent teachers. They also insure through the Music Teachers National Association. Note that they won’t write a policy outside the US. You'll need to ask whether they’ll cover for travel outside.
State Farm Personal Articles policies covers instruments – be sure to keep value updated and insist on replacement value coverage.
Insurers often won't tell you about these things unless you ask. Go in with a list of questions.
Ken Shaw
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