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Is there a thread, or does anyone know of an organization to donate guitars to that gets them in the hands of jazz guitar players? I would like to have my guitars used by people who would appreciate them after I am gone. I don't know anyone who knows anything about guitars anymore and they would have difficulty selling them. Only one is collectible, a 2015 Trenier Jazz Special. The others are a 1951 Epiphone Zephyr Regent and an early '70's L5C converted to an electric. Amplifiers also.
Last edited by zephyrregent; 08-17-2025 at 12:38 PM.
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08-17-2025 12:23 PM
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You could give them to people here. I mean, I’ll take and of those guitars and play them. Especially an old Epiphone.
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The best way I can think of is to get someone to consign them for you or to consign them yourself. Probably less work than personally selling them on Reverb, and if the goal was to give them away in the first place then no worries about excessive consignment fees or keeping the sale price high. Surely anyone would love a free L5 but real players who actually need new guitars are probably also willing to pay something close to their actual market value.
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If you give those guitars to someone,what's most likely to happen is they will just turn around and sell those guitars anyway.It's happened twice to me trying to do a good thing.Since you are giving them away,i'm assuming you don't need the cash.Better idea is just to sell them yourself and give the money to a school's music program or some charity of your choice.
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Maybe hold a contest consisting of an essay on why the contestant would like to have one of the guitars, along with a recorded sample of them playing jazz?
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I'm not gone yet!
I am still here playing them. It just occurred to me that I would like to see the guitars go somewhere they would get played and appreciated, not some greedy store or Badwill.
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This is obviously a very personal and sensitive issue, but if I were doing this, I would consider writing something into my will to the effect that the instruments were to be donated to a suitable charitable organisation, or perhaps to a music school, or that they were to be consigned for sale with a reputable dealer with x percentage of the sale value to go to a designated charity. Or give them away as you see fit at a suitable point in your lifetime? It’s difficult clearly, and these are just my thoughts, which may or may not be appropriate.
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Many schools have jazz programs (big bands etc.) Libraries are also a good place.
Originally Posted by zephyrregent
I'm not gone yet! I am still here playing them. It just occurred to me that I would like to see the guitars go somewhere they would get played and appreciated, not some greedy store or Badwill.
S
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I'll p.m. you my address for the Trenier, it'll have a good home and I promise not to sell it and pay it forward someday
thank you....
p.s., how'd I do?
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Unfortunately one can never be sure where one's guitars will end up but if they are jazz guitars they'll probably be either played by a jazz guitarist or end up in a collector's glass cabinet.
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One could leave their guitars to a jazz music school with instructions to gift them to young jazz guitarists who are in need. It could be a scholarship in your name.
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Find a kid who's playing jazz guitar and just leave them to them.
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Hello. I am a 16 year old boy who likes jazz. Do you know Wes Montgomery? He's straight FIRE, yo! Anyway, I'll PM my address and stuff. Bet!
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Does anyone know the name of a specific organization? I thought there might be a jazz guitar related one. I don't know anyone who plays guitar to pass them on to. It's not an issue. It doesn't matter after I am gone. Just a thought.
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Here?:
https://healdsburgjazz.org/legacy-giving/
or here:
Ways to Give | Berklee
From there you can leave "in trust " according to your expressed Will: for use for a full year by the winner of a competition etc... That way you ensure the guitar goes to a talented player and never gets sold for ex....
S
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Depending on where you're located, there may be a local chapter near you...
Help Veterans Heal Through Music with Guitars for Vets
Maybe not jazz specific, but a really good place to give entry level and ' player ' instruments.....
And mho, pare down your herd sooner rather than later.....And make sure you don't have someone in the family, who doesn't have someone in the family, who could use one.
Hope that helps !!
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I donated one guitar to a local music school and another to my son's high school. Neither was valuable. They were just functional instruments that were put to use by students. I think for the OP's situation it makes more sense to sell them and donate the money to a jazz-oriented cause, or maybe direct the estate to do that in will. I don't know if the latter is feasible, though. The Trenier and the L5 are worth enough that it's Probably worth a conversation with an estate/trust attorney about that.
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While I do not know of a charity that you could donate your guitars to, there are two music stores in your area that you might consider consigning them: Originally Posted by zephyrregent
The Starving Musician and Sylvan Music
About Us : The Starving Musician - SANTA CRUZ, We Help You Play
Sylvan Music is a premier stringed instrument shop located in Santa Cruz, California
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Just don't stick your widow with the task of dealing with them. Get it done well before you think you have to. Consignment is easy. Gryphon charges a lot but have a good reputation. And if someone is paying market, you know the instruments will be put to purpose.
And yea.. charities want cash.
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Many school instruments get thrown through the goalposts when the home team scores. Originally Posted by SOLR
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Do you currently teach at a school? Originally Posted by Sam Sherry
If so, maybe you've had a different experience.
I've taught at a couple. 10 or so in my career. NYC, Los Angeles, Seattle area. I make friends with all of the music teachers at the schools I teach--my credentials are Special Education and English.
Horns tend to get thrown around. Drums too. Sometimes strings.
Guitars though... the kids that play guitar in those jazz bands treat them like GOLD. They are also some of the coolest musicians in the band, yeah that's right!
The OP needs to do what he needs to do. I just wanted to speak up and defend those young jazz guitarists in the making.
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maybe find a school and ask them to give them to a student that is really putting in the work?
I told my wife I would rather see my guitars go to someone that would appreciate them rather than one of the children that have no interest in music or guitars.
I love music guitars and all the gear I have spent a life time collection and I would rather one that could and would use the stuff get a head start.
but it probably wont work out that way.
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Thanks, but I've been burned by both selling instruments in difficult financial times. I wouldn't give either of them anything. Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
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This right here Originally Posted by Stringswinger
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Music schools is a good idea. That’s a really thoughtful idea. Guitars can mean so much to someone who might not be able to afford one otherwise. Passing them on keeps the music alive. I’ve been running my small online shop on shopify, and I’ve even thought about setting up a little section for used instruments to donate proceeds.
Last edited by benhatchins; 09-21-2025 at 01:55 PM.
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