Who gets your mandolin when you are gone?

[JonZ]

I told my wife she could give my mandolin to anyone but her next husband. She told me not to worry....

He plays the banjo.

But seriously, mine will go to my kids. What about yours?

[George R. Lane]

Maybe I'll take it with me. None of my family plays an instrument so they will be sold and the kids can go on a vacation.

[yankees1]

Each daughter gets one for their daughter to play if they become interested. Currently, they are interested in the violin.

[yankees1]

Or--------------you could mirror what Gene Autry did ( if you remember Gene, than you are old like me) and take it with you!! Gene always said he wanted to take his money with him so his wife Jackie accomplished his wish by writing out a check made out to Gene Autry for hundreds of thousands and placing it in the casket with him! Probably not cashed yet! So, you could include your favorite mandolin in the casket with you! Might even include a BC!

[Mandobart]

No one I yet know; my kids aren't interested. Perhaps they may have kids some day who are. None of my instruments are likely to become expensive(er) or collectable should I live reasonably far into the future. If they do, then it only seems right for my family to realize whatever profit may be there. Otherwise, I like the idea of some kind of donation to younger players that may not be able to afford a decent instrument.

[Markus]

My daughter will get my mandolin and guitar. Neither are very expensive heirloom instruments, but they're of good quality ... it might end up that these get kept as their dollar value isn't so huge.

Hopefully both will be full of happy memories of her childhood, she will have my blessing to sell or give them away if that's her wish - with the expressed hope that they be given away to a younger serious player.

If she wants the guitar as an adult, I'm willing to let her have it.
I'll buy her a mandolin, she has to wait for mine until I'm done with them.

[Elliot Luber]

My wife would want to bury me with it just to rid the world of one more mandolin. She's not a big fan as you can guess, but of course she'll also be buried with me one day, so if there is life after death she'll be making a big mistake!

[David Rambo]

I'm guessing my grandkids will be the ones to get my mandos. My brass instruments will go to my son.

[P.D. Kirby]

I'm taking one Mandolin and one Banjo with me when I go. The reason I'm taking the Mandolin should be obvious to most here, the reason I'm taking the Banjo is because it's sure to be a one of a kind.

[Brent Hutto]

My wife gets everything. If she and I go at the same time I could care less who gets whatever's left.

[Gregory Tidwell]

My kids will get first pick, but I tend to accumulate musical instruments of all kinds, so the bulk of them will go, probably, to a school that could use them.

[jim simpson]

I figure I'll be famous enough that a museum will be built in my honor, all of my instruments will be displayed along with flattering photos, etc. Sorry, I dropped off for a minute and had the strangest dream......

[f5loar]

My wife carries George Gruhn's private toll free number in her purse at all times. It will likely be the 2nd phone call she makes after the Funeral home.

[stratman62]

Mandolins to granddaughters, guns to grandsons, upright to granddaughter who managed to pull off its stand and onto her while still in a walker. Some tough decisions on my Dad's J-45 and my old Strat.

[Steve L]

Whoever robs my house.

[Charlieshafer]

Heck, I'll have to sell them all to put the last couple of kids through college. I'll take a picture for them.

[John Flynn]

I believe if I'm buried without my mandolin, I can't enter the spirit-land. I'll have to wander forever between the winds.

[William Smith]

My wife carries George Gruhn's private toll free number in her purse at all times. It will likely be the 2nd phone call she makes after the Funeral home.

Well George is getting up there in age but imagine his empire will continue!,,I've got my first baby girl on the way so if she takes interest shes got some goods to choose from!!!!I'f not the wife can do what she pleases,I shouldn't be to worried about it,,I'm sure quite the handfull of characters have owned my old Gibbys and such and well I'm sure more and more will own em before they themselveves are called back to earth again!!!! Thats why Play em Boys,,does no good in a case!!!!!!1

[allenhopkins]

When I decide to start getting rid of my 45-year accumulation, I'll give my kids the pick of whatever they want to take. The rest will go to a dealer, either on consignment or a straight sale, to get them back into the hands of musicians ASAP. Nothing will go into the earth where it can't continue to be played. I only hope whoever gets 'em appreciates their qualities, and can make better music than I ever did.

[JEStanek]

If my kids or grand kids are interested then they will. If not, let them be sold and played by others.
I wouldn't want them cremated with me...
Jamie

[Rob Meldrum]

No kids, no musical heirs in line. I've been thinking about staging a contest after my funeral... Best players win my various instruments. Gives me an incentive to keep acquiring... Rob

[journeybear]

I haven't made a will yet - probably should, the way things have been going with my family and friends lately - but I haven't given a lot of thought to this matter. A couple other things have been considered, though - like the fate of my record and CD collection, which was going to be divided between my brother and my best friends, is now less certain since my brother died. But the first provision of my will is for my remains to be delivered to the funeral five minutes late. I have a song by that name, due to my inclination to procrastination, and I intend to play that out to the end. I will insist on being late to my own funeral.

The instruments would be left to my kids, if I had any, or a deserving school, if I had an association with one. But for now the plan is to attain enough renown in this lifetime that my instruments will have serious collector value and be auctioned off for phenomenal prices, with the proceeds going to The Old Musicians' Home. Or the museum that houses my other artifacts. I'd rather they be played than put on display.

[f5loar]

The worst thing you can do is donate them to a museum. The CMHF in Nashville has a walk in valut the size of a doubewide trailer that is full of vintage Gibsons, Martins, Fenders of all types including Loars and Ferns that will never see light again. No room to display all they have in storage.

[Loretta Callahan]

The Grandkids. My Grandson belted out every reel and jig I've taught him ....picking them up in a 10th the time it took for me to learn them. Happy to have descendents who will definitely appreciate what Grandma is leaving.

[journeybear]

The worst thing you can do is donate them to a museum. The CMHF in Nashville has a walk in vault the size of a doubewide trailer that is full of vintage Gibsons, Martins, Fenders of all types including Loars and Ferns that will never see light again. No room to display all they have in storage.

I think what I would like is, if somehow I have failed to have been honored with a museum dedicated to me, to donate my instruments to a museum with the stipulation they be played rather than stuck in display cases. This would hold even if I do get my own museum. This way visitors would get to hear them, musicians would be employed to play them, and their purpose would be fulfilled in perpetuity, or for as long as the trust fund set up to pay for this lasts. Not that these are any great shakes, as far as mandolins go, but the point of instruments is the music that can be made from them, beyond the craftsmanship that went into building them, and people interested in my life and music should be able to experience them. They would be playing my songs too, of course.

Might as well dream big and go all out.