Just Curious how many wore a Derby?

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 1 Aug 2018 7:28 am

Just wondering how many steel players wore a Derby or still wear one?

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 1 Aug 2018 7:35 am

I've been waiting to purchase mine until after I cop the solo on this tune note-for-note on a C6 6-string lap steel. I know it's on there somewhere, but to date it has proven to be sooo elusive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbZHIoaapmE

Joe Krumel · Post by **Joe Krumel** » 1 Aug 2018 8:33 am

That solo always makes me smile.

Jeffrey McFadden · Post by **Jeffrey McFadden** » 2 Aug 2018 6:26 am

I used to wear a derby, before I ever knew who Buddy Emmons was or what he did. I've still got one. I never put it on anymore.
Nowadays I wear a porkpie hat or a skinny brim fedora.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 2 Aug 2018 8:33 am

A derby hat is like the PhD for steel players. Iâ€™m still very much in my beanie cap grade school era.

Maybe that solo on the song written by that other more famous derby hat sportinâ€™ guy is possible to do on 6 string lap steel, but the guy who could have done it is no longer with us.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 2 Aug 2018 9:28 am

I wear a beanie also but mine has a propeller ðŸ˜Ž

Skip Ellis · Post by **Skip Ellis** » 2 Aug 2018 12:11 pm

As far as I'm concerned, the derby was BE's trademark and I would NEVER consider wearing one due to the respect I have for him.

As an aside, I've wondered for a few years why musicians started wearing funny looking hats. I can see wearing a John B. Stetson or it's kin in a country bar while paying in a country band - did it myself during the 'Urban Cowboy' scare of the late 70's(?). But the purpose of these little narrow brim 'porky pie' and flat golf/newsboy caps just escapes me. Maybe I'm just not 'with it' these days.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 2 Aug 2018 12:22 pm

If I did, it would be because I'm a member of Sons of the Desert, the worldwide Laurel & Hardy organization. (I think much of their legacy also informs my experience with steel guitar.) Having the same initials as Buddy is an impossible standard to live up to in the first place; I don't need to be a sartorial impostor.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 2 Aug 2018 12:54 pm

Absolutely HATED cowboy hats. They would cover my face and all the morons that would harass me because they couldn't see my face (which I thought was a good thing), made it not worth it to wear one. I have settled on this.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 2 Aug 2018 1:57 pm

Now THAT'S a hat!!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 2 Aug 2018 1:58 pm

Skip Ellis wrote:As far as I'm concerned, the derby was BE's trademark and I would NEVER consider wearing one due to the respect I have for him.

Amen to that.

Skip Ellis wrote:As an aside, I've wondered for a few years why musicians started wearing funny looking hats. I can see wearing a John B. Stetson or it's kin in a country bar while paying in a country band - did it myself during the 'Urban Cowboy' scare of the late 70's(?). But the purpose of these little narrow brim 'porky pie' and flat golf/newsboy caps just escapes me. Maybe I'm just not 'with it' these days.

Well, in my case, my wife says I have to wear a hat when I play or the lights shine off the top of my balding head. Most of my gigs aren't "country" enough for a cowboy hat so I gotta pick something... If'n ya think it's funny-lookin', well, you're prolly right.

Jeffrey McFadden · Post by **Jeffrey McFadden** » 2 Aug 2018 2:20 pm

Skip Ellis wrote:As far as I'm concerned, the derby was BE's trademark and I would NEVER consider wearing one due to the respect I have for him.

As an aside, I've wondered for a few years why musicians started wearing funny looking hats. I can see wearing a John B. Stetson or it's kin in a country bar while paying in a country band - did it myself during the 'Urban Cowboy' scare of the late 70's(?). But the purpose of these little narrow brim 'porky pie' and flat golf/newsboy caps just escapes me. Maybe I'm just not 'with it' these days.

I wear hats because I like them.

Steve Green · Post by **Steve Green** » 3 Aug 2018 2:36 am

I wear lots of different hats when I play.

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Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 3 Aug 2018 8:42 am

Whereâ€™s your steel playerâ€™s hat, Steve?

Bobby Nelson · Post by **Bobby Nelson** » 3 Aug 2018 11:58 am

I wear a cowboy hat (sombrero) to work in. The Spanish/Mexicans really knew what they were doing when the came up with it. It's good for rain, sun and any other discomfort you may find in a hard days work. I have to wear a ball cap in my truck or I will be fight the backrest on my seat, and the doorway getting in and out. Believe me, the cowboy hat is your best friend in the sun - and, they look cool too! If I wear a hat with my steel, it will be cowboy.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 3 Aug 2018 12:01 pm

Sometime, when I wear mine, it's out of respect for "the man".

Ken Boi · Post by **Ken Boi** » 3 Aug 2018 12:53 pm

Steve Green wrote:I wear lots of different hats when I play.

Steve,

You play lots of different guitars when you play.

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 3 Aug 2018 2:54 pm

Never wore a derby but came within an inch of accidently sitting on The Big E's about 35 yrs. ago during a TV taping. That woulda' been really embarrassing!! Mr. Emmons laughed 'til he nearly cried when he heard about the near miss a bit later. Oh... he wasn't wearing it. He had set it on a pac-a-seat.

Chris "Tiny" O.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Just Curious how many wore a Derby?

Just Curious how many wore a Derby?

buddys C6 solo