Guys, I need your help with the value of my kit - Divorce looming

[royce]

Hey guys,

I'm in the process of getting divorced, and I think my wife is going to try and take my kit

I have to make out a list of what everything is worth to give to my lawyer, and I have NO IDEA what my kit is worth. PLEASE HELP!
Here is what I have:

A silver sparkle Pearl Export drum set (Snare, 2 Rack Toms, 1 Floor Tom, 1 bass drum) with the Pintech conversion to turn them into electric drums.
Roland TD-8
Smartrigger CY-12HH2 12 in. Hi-Hat Cymbals
Smartrigger CY-13CR2 13 in. Crash Cymbal
Smartrigger CY-16RC3 16 in. 3-Zone Ride/Crash Cymbal
Hart Dynamics EPEDAL II® Professional Electronic HH Stand (variable)
DW 9000 Bass Drum Pedal
2 Pearl Cymbal Stands

I'm sorry, but I have no way to take pictures at the moment. I bought this kit in 2005.

So, what do I tell my lawyer it's worth?

Thanks for any help with this. I'm heartbroken

Royce

[hairmetal-81]

Welcome to the forum, royce!

- Are you looking at used or new prices, to handle to your lawyer?

- Are we talking USD or another currency?


Sorry to hear your marriage is in trouble!
Take care!

HTH

[royce]

I'm Sorry.
Used Prices in US Dollars.

Thank you for your reply, and concern, HTH

[JoeDirt]

What kind of heartless ***** goes after a mans drumset?

As for prices, search on Ebay under sold auctions and see what that stuff is going for.

[Kenster]

Normally I'd be writing a welcome to the Forums message, asking for pics and an intro and reminding said new member to have fun. This must be a Forum first, member joins solely to get values of kit for a divorce.

I would totally play dumb....don't tell the lawyer sh&t. The mere fact you have lawyers means this is BAD. BAD BAD BAD. REALLY EFFING BAD. They suck all your money and do NOTHING. Don't say anything, don't do anything, sell the kit to a "friend", say it was only worth a couple of $100, don't mention these Forums or eBay or NADA. Have said friend keep it hidden til the divorce is final. Say you donated it to charity and get a fake receipt from Goodwill. I'd figure out a way to keep it. Tell that beeotch and her money grubbing attorney to eff off.

Lie, cheat, steal, do whatever you have to do to keep your kit. Play dumb and play it off like it ain't worth anything and that you got rid of it because your new place doesn't have the space and you can't afford it.

Just my 2 cents.

K

[hairmetal-81]

Hmmm..... I wasn't even considering things from this point-of-view...Yeah, good point, Ken!

Let's just hope 'the wife' is dumb enough to not research the price of a used TD-8 on ebay!

[allanjohn]

Lie, cheat, steal, do whatever you have to do to keep your kit.
K

Spoken like a true officer of the peace! A agree with Ken, you would want to minimise the value.

[BWaj]

Agreed Ken, big time!

You got it at a garage sale for a hundred bucks and sold it for 50 to help pay off your lawyer. Good luck and I wish you the best.

[royce]

Thanks Guys,

To JoeDirt: I tried eBay, but there weren't enough examples for me to get an idea from a broad spectrum of kits..

To hairmetal-81: This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I was hoping the price would be a little lower, but if that's what it is, what can I do?

To Kenster: I joined in December of 2005, but I just did a lot of reading/learning and never posted until now. Oh how I wish I could do what you said and just play dumb/hide the kit somehow. The problem is, she has all the receipts, and could produce them if she had to. On top of that, I had to sign an agreement not to get rid of anything, so I'm legally bound by that. This is something I have to give my lawyer, so he can get an idea of what this stuff is worth so he can bargain with her lawyer. I was just looking for the lowest used price that I could reasonably get away with. This whole thing is a nightmare, and there was NO HINT WHATSOEVER that this was coming, or I would have done something sooner to save my gear.

Royce

[hairmetal-81]

Royce,

as a more general rule of thumb for used prices, I'd say 60% of the new store price (what do you call it: MSP?)

To hairmetal-81: This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I was hoping the price would be a little lower, but if that's what it is, what can I do?

Improvise, my friend, Improvise!

You don't even have to lie here, it's already sufficient if you leave out half the information!
Nobody *has* to know that the prices quoted by a vdrums-forum member where manipulated in your favour... *hint hint*

I joined in December of 2005, but I just did a lot of reading/learning and never posted until now.

That's the spirit! Pass this on to other fresh-members - they should be educated this way!

The problem is, she has all the receipts, and could produce them if she had to.

Wait a minute! Your wife has the receipts of *your* drum-gear?
Do you have the receipts of her shoe-shopping-extravaganzas in turn?

On top of that, I had to sign an agreement not to get rid of anything, so I'm legally bound by that.

What would have happened, if you would have refused to sign it? Can you declare your signature invalid, retroactively?

[New Tricks]

Duh.........$125

[royce]

hairmetal-81, I REALLY APPRECIATE your help and uplifting spirit during this difficult time.

If you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate that additional post with the "fake divorce prices" you mentioned. It just needs to be as reasonably low as you could get it for, if you happened upon a really good deal as sometimes happens. I have been wondering myself if I HAD to sign that agreement that day. I thought my lawyer would tell me if it was my choice, but he seemed to imply it wasn't. Maybe I was mis-represented that day, and there is something I can still do about it.

A most sincere Thank You, Royce

[fulrmr(Daniel)]

Sorry to hear of this royce...but you can still save your gear. Pack it up and give it to a friend who will give it back to you later. Even produce a receipt that it sold...for whatever price you want...$1 would work. In fact...if you pay all the shipping(round trip)...I'll store it for you until you get situated.

[Jovato]

Guitar Center, or any music store, won't give you jack for a trade in value. Just get a music store to write you a formal estimate to purchase your gear. That should stand up.

[Some Day Grey]

Royce: Do you use your kit purely for recreational/hobby purposes - or do you also happen to play in a band or otherwise do any type of performing? If so, is it something from which you can show a financial or other substantive (or potential) benefit or gain now or in the near future?

The reason I ask is, depending on what state/Commonwealth you're in - and any other similar court precedent in your locale - your drums could be considered as a necessary or vital asset for your livelihood. It could prevent, restrict, or make conditional any attempt to take them from you. This would especially apply when contending that you have to generate income to pay legal costs and any financial settlement involved with the divorce (her attorney may actually like that idea). If you're in a position to do so now, can you join or start a band under the actual premise that you may need to generate income that way?

Also, if so, has your lawyer considered this angle?...