Lap Steel T-Shirts

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Nate Hofer
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Post by Nate Hofer »

Jim Cohen wrote:I could be interested in one that simply says:

E9/C6

No picture, don't spell out the strings, just leave it at this. Still has mystery and if folks are curious, they'll ask what it means. Then... WHAMMO! They'll be sorry they ever asked! LOL. :lol:

Might like it even better on the pocket of a polo shirt with a collar...
Jim! A great idea. Thanks!
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Matthew Carlin
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Post by Matthew Carlin »

I like the E9/C6 idea....

I think a silhouette image of just a fingerpick might be cool as well.
But then you might attract banjo players... Hummmm...
"Just tryin to make some music in the money business"
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Matt Hughes
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Post by Matt Hughes »

Nate,
Nice take on the design. I’ve seen that layout with skateboarder’s names and other musicians, but haven’t seen one I would wear.
I have a screen printing business and have made a few steel influenced t-shirts for myself, but never marketed them. After reading this thread I see marketing a single t-shirt design to the steel community is a hard thing to do.
I can print small runs of shirts if you’re interested in having the shirts screen printed.
Matt
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Randy Reeves
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Post by Randy Reeves »

the tunings are graphically interesting. the names, known to few, have little eye appeal. I am surprised you haven't thought of images. utilizing vintage pictures of the steel greats could create a well of graphic ideas...and cool t shirts.
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Bob Stone
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oahu graphic

Post by Bob Stone »

Image


One of my favorite Oahu images.

Best,

Bob
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Nate Hofer
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Launching!

Post by Nate Hofer »

Update! I'm soft-launching a line of steel guitar-related shirts, hoodies, etc, today online.

Thanks to all the good advice in this thread as well as print-on-demand technology and easy e-commerce I'm testing the waters a bit with an investment only in time and effort.

I guess it's what happens when you are a graphic and web designer by day and a steel player at night.

All feedback welcome. Constructive or negative.

More to come too:
https://www.facebook.com/steelgeek
https://www.teepublic.com/user/natehofer
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Post by Nate Hofer »

This feels salesman-y to say but: All shirts are on sale for the next 72 hours. (TeePublic's policy)
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Guy Cundell
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Post by Guy Cundell »

Well I'm on board, Nate, despite the state of the Australian 'peso'. Sorry to see the Murphey tuning didn't make it but a pragmatic decision. Realistically it might have been just you and me.
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Post by Nate Hofer »

Guy
Murph tuning shirt is coming eventually!
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Brad Bechtel
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Post by Brad Bechtel »

I like your designs, Nate, but in my opinion the Dobro Heroes shirt should say:

Oswald
Josh
Jerry
Rob (or Tut)

Good luck with these!
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Post by Nate Hofer »

Thanks, Brad. I'll look into that. Good thing it's easy to make updates.
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Chuck S. Lettes
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Post by Chuck S. Lettes »

Hi Nate,
Lots of good ideas here. How about a photo of a lap steel? Of course, I'm leaning towards this one.
Chuck

Image
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Mike Neer
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Post by Mike Neer »

Man, those are nice shirts!

The dobro heroes shirt should have the name TUT in place of ROB, imo.

Also, I wish the E9C6 logo was a wee bit smaller.

Good work, though. i'll be buying.

Wow, I just read Brad's post after I posted! great minds, Brad :D
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Post by Robert Allen »

Brad Bechtel wrote:I like your designs, Nate, but in my opinion the Dobro Heroes shirt should say:

Oswald
Josh
Jerry
Rob (or Tut)

Good luck with these!
You'd leave out Shot Jackson?
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Post by Nate Hofer »

Love it guys. Thanks. I enjoy the feedback and will get some updates turned around soon. Collaborative situation for sure.
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Post by Nate Hofer »

Chuck S. Lettes wrote:Hi Nate,
Lots of good ideas here. How about a photo of a lap steel? Of course, I'm leaning towards this one.
Chuck

Image
Mr. Lettes
I am considering illustrations down the line a bit. That Rick is incredible.
Nate
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Ulrich Sinn
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Post by Ulrich Sinn »

You'd leave out Shot Jackson?
Or a Mike (Auldridge)?
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Paul Arntson
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Post by Paul Arntson »

I like Jim's idea of "E9/C6" I'd buy one of those immediately. (Which I just did.)
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Nate Hofer
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Post by Nate Hofer »

Brad Bechtel wrote:I like your designs, Nate, but in my opinion the Dobro Heroes shirt should say:

Oswald
Josh
Jerry
Rob (or Tut)

Good luck with these!
Mike and Brad on the Dobro Heros shirt:
Revised!
https://www.teepublic.com/show/294040-d ... oaded=true

A couple thoughts occurred to me:
1. Decided to keep this one old-school focused. Feel free to disagree, but I sorta think of Mike A. as the next wave or perhaps a transitional influence to guys today like Jerry and Rob. Maybe there's "second wave" or new school shirt yet to come.
2. I put Shot at the bottom because any other way OSWALD and SHOT starts looking like a lone gunman conspiracy thing. (And I sorta think Pete Kirby should be on the top."

Anyway I'm digging where this is going.
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Don McGregor
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Post by Don McGregor »

High G
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Mark Roeder
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Post by Mark Roeder »

I like the High G idea, the inside humor is fun
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Post by Nate Hofer »

Hey I just got the shirt I ordered in the mail today. Not bad!

Request:
If anyone is willing, I'd love to post up on the FB page photos of others who have ordered Steel Geek shirts.

https://www.facebook.com/steelgeek


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