John B Stetson Hat Essential To Bluegrass Sound

[Elliot Luber]

And, it's cheaper than minoxidil.

[MikeEdgerton]

Not by much

[allenhopkins]

One of the lawyers in town has for many years, worn what I believe is a Bordelino (?). Should have looked that up.

Borsalino. Wide-brimmed hat, for some reason popular with members of the bar.

[farmerjones]

While we're at it, where can you get one of those Junior Brown/Jimmy Martin "taco" style hats?

Yes, the sound does hang under the brim of a hat. That's why i like Ascot caps ala Compton.
Fiddles too are deafening under a sombrero.

[earthsave]

I am quite a fan of Mr Bill Monroe. Today I discovered that even his hat had a musical point. I purchased a Stetson, No.4 brim shantung panama, and obviously my first act on bringing it home was to play my mandolin while wearing it. I sounded fantastic! I removed the hat and, meh, same old same old.

Perhaps this is common knowledge among the old hands, but I had no idea. The point seems to be, the sound reflects beautifully off the brim of the hat and straight into your ears, so helping you recreate the authentic Bill Monroe sound (or any other sound you want come to that). I suspect it must also be of help when on stage - I'm eager to test that.

Frankly, I think it's 50 bucks better spent than on a tonegard or other gizmo, since it also improves your own appearance, and it keeps the sun off.

If you think the hat works, then try wrapping yourself in polyester and growing some long sideburns. The polyester appears to absorb any unwanted highend noise while making you sweat like the dickens, which cools you off so you dont overheat from the hot picking that will ensue. The sideburns work like a noise filter, softening things like pick click and banjos. Add all three together and throw in a Gibson F style and you've got a dangerous combination, that has known to cause spontaneous combustion of those not quite ready for it.

[OldSausage]

If you think the hat works, then try wrapping yourself in polyester and growing some long sideburns. The polyester appears to absorb any unwanted highend noise while making you sweat like the dickens, which cools you off so you dont overheat from the hot picking that will ensue. The sideburns work like a noise filter, softening things like pick click and banjos. Add all three together and throw in a Gibson F style and you've got a dangerous combination, that has known to cause spontaneous combustion of those not quite ready for it.

That's quite a theory. I think I'll stick with the hat, though.

[David M.]

I'm partial to high crowns and wide brims.

Sweet looking hat, MikeEdgerton. I have a TALL head and need a high crown. What hat is this one you're wearing?

[MikeEdgerton]

You have a PM.

[CES]

I love hats and wear them often, but growing up riding horses few things irritate me more than the "dime store cowboy" look...I've got a couple Resistols, a couple Stetsons (one felt and one straw), a few buckets, and too many baseball caps (according to my wife, anyway )

Unfortunately, none of them make me play any better

[grassrootphilosopher]

Borsalino. Wide-brimmed hat, for some reason popular with members of the bar.

Borsalino was and is quite popular and quite expensive. Al Capone, Pancho Villa and others were quite fond of them. They made all kind of styles, le chapeau Cowboy also. The brand is italian, it is italian made and the quality is high, like italian fashion.

[raulb]

". . . and when I die,
Please bury me
In my John B. Stetson hat . . ."

Not a Bluegrass song, but it fits (pun intended).

[kirksdad]

Barney 59. Yep you're right. In fact I think the whole album "the Mountain" was intended as a tribute to Bill Monroe.........

[GVD]

While we're at it, where can you get one of those Junior Brown/Jimmy Martin "taco" style hats?

I believe the surgeon general declared them hazardous to eyesight many years ago and all manufacturing ceased at that point.

[barney 59]

Are cowboy boots a requirement with that hat? Obviously Birkenstocks are out of the question! The problem with the boots is if you get into them then the other boot types know if your faking it if your wearing some cheaped out Acmes or something --you have to go all in with Tony Lamas at a minimal. Snakeskin and intials (anybodys) and your gold! I've found you have to be careful about what you wear to a westernwear store. You can get by though if your wearing jeans, workboots and a properly sun bleached "Cat" or a "DeKalb" corncob -with- wings baseball cap ,a tee shirt will work if it says something like "Molly Hatchet" Branson, Missouri or the name of the nearest Indian casino on it.
I always loved seeing the occasional "hippie" musician back in the seventies that would be allowed to share the stage with the Bluegrass Boys and had to try and stuff their head into "the hat" especially if their hair was a little fro-ish.
The polyester thing works if you counter act dehydration with at least an equal amount of Pabst Blue Ribbon. It also qualifies you to work in a used car dealership or maybe a propane accessories store if you replace the cowboy boots with white loafers (buckles prefered)-- the boots being to intimidating for a sales situation.
The Australian "Akubra" (sp) makes a good Stetson replacement by the way.

[MikeEdgerton]

I'm in trouble, I've been on stage in a cowboy hat and Birkenstocks.

[journeybear]

... I've found you have to be careful about what you wear to a westernwear store ...

There are those great scenes in "No Country For Old Men" where our hero buys a pair of fine footwear, then later shows up all beat up and wearing nothing but a bathrobe and those boots. The clerk asks him how those boots are working out, as if nothing else is going on. Great stuff.

[David M.]

There are those great scenes in "No Country For Old Men" where our hero buys a pair of fine footwear, then later shows up all beat up and wearing nothing but a bathrobe and those boots. The clerk asks him how those boots are working out, as if nothing else is going on. Great stuff.

DUDE, I'm watching that now! well, not RIGHT now, but we DVR'd it a couple of days ago and are about 1/2 through it. Good stuff.

[allenhopkins]

If you think the hat works, then try wrapping yourself in polyester and growing some long sideburns. The polyester appears to absorb any unwanted highend noise while making you sweat like the dickens, which cools you off so you dont overheat from the hot picking that will ensue. The sideburns work like a noise filter, softening things like pick click and banjos. Add all three together and throw in a Gibson F style and you've got a dangerous combination, that has known to cause spontaneous combustion of those not quite ready for it.

And you then can attract a blonde mistress who plays the bass fiddle.

[mandolirius]

I'm in trouble, I've been on stage in a cowboy hat and Birkenstocks.

Expect a visit from the Fashion Police. I have no idea what you can say to defend yourself. Please tell me you weren't wearing shorts and socks at the same time.

[Mike Bunting]

Expect a visit from the Fashion Police. I have no idea what you can say to defend yourself. Please tell me you weren't wearing shorts and socks at the same time.

As they say, OMG, I'm covering my eyes!

[JeffD]

I want the hat Robert Duval wears in that great movie Tender Mercies. Boy does he wear it well.

[MikeEdgerton]

Expect a visit from the Fashion Police. I have no idea what you can say to defend yourself. Please tell me you weren't wearing shorts and socks at the same time.

Nah, I was goin' commando.

[man dough nollij]

Expect a visit from the Fashion Police. I have no idea what you can say to defend yourself. Please tell me you weren't wearing shorts and socks at the same time.

No, that would be Ted E. It must be a moderator thing. I hear Scott has a yellow plaid polyester leisure suit.

[GVD]

I'm prefer a straw fedora in the summer time.

[jim simpson]

Me, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing one ...oops!