Pre-soiled hats... heheheh

[MrPumpernickel]

Again... I love pre washed jeans. Comfy says it all.

Comfort is one thing, aesthetics is another, they most of the times look like someone's run a belt-sander over them paying little to no attention to where jeans actually do wear during natural use. The analogy of looks still carries, for all I know those hats can be the most comfortable hats in the world, but they look artificial and fake.

 

[Pilgrim]

I'e read the thread with interest, and I especially appreciated the comments from musicians.

The issue of "relicing" guitars is one that is controversial in music circles. There are those who value the worn-in look, and others who think reliced instruments are simply phony. I happen to be one of the latter.

To me, the value an owner places on an object or device places is evident by the way it's worn. When I value an instrument, I take the best care of it that I can. Same for hats or any item I value. Why would I want to own something that looks as if it has been beaten and mistreated?

Now, over a couple of decades of use, there's no question that normal usage will result in visible wear - how much depends on the way the item is used and what it is. But the resulting wear is honest - it's the result of real use. I have no problem with that. It often shows that an item have been highly valued and used constantly.

To me, fake soiling, reclicing and pre-worn jeans are simply fakes. I find no esthetic pleasure in them. In some cases I've seen, the item is considerably devalued to me because the "wear" is equivalent to damage.

Would I buy a fake-soiled hat? No. I'm not a cowboy wanna-be poser. Nor would I buy a reliced instrument; to me, they look abused, not worn. I would much rather have a very nice, well-preserved instrument that I have worked hard to keep in that condition. (I have a 1963 Precision bass that looks better than many 5-year-old basses I've seen - and it will continue to look that way because I'm VERY careful with instruments.) I will buy pre-washed jeans, but not ones with rips, tears or damage. As far as I'm concerned, jeans like that aren't worth much...the value is diminshed.

The most important thing to me is the ethical statement inherent in the item. If it's really 50 years old and worn, than so be it; I'll make a judgement about whether I want it or not. If it's fake wear, I'm not interested. It may not matter to others, and I respect their decision; but to me, it's not honest.

 

[Joel Tunnah]

It's ok to criticize the aesthetics of a hat (or a guitar), but it's not ok to start slamming the people that buy them, and resorting to name-calling.

Try to tone down the Lounge snobbiness, please.

 

[Joel Tunnah]

Actually, what I said is wrong. The Lounge is not snobby at all. It's only a small minority of members who act snobby here, out of their own insecurity.

 

[Red Beard]

VERY good point, Joel. Everybody has an opinion, and everybody on the Lounge is capable of expressing it intelligently.
I only have one more thing to add. For all you guys with Nitro finished guitars (vintage or new), they will wear and age naturally. Poly finished guitars will not. Even the 60's guitars with Polyester finishes haven't worn properly, much less todays Polyurethane, which is stronger, applied thicker and does nothing less than completely suffocate the wood. No air can get to it for further drying with age, and you cannot wear through the polyurethane that is used today, it's just too thick for that to happen, at least within 50 years.
Prove me wrong guys, play those guitars till your fingers bleed, just please send me a picture when you actually break through that topcoat. . .

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

From my point of view

This thread started as a light hearted topic. Some seem to have a very thin skin, for whatever reason. I can only imagine what a thread on the ball caps that are being sold that are pre-frayed might cause.

Good grief, enough of the PC crap.

 

[tonyb]

Actually, what I said is wrong. The Lounge is not snobby at all. It's only a small minority of members who act snobby here, out of their own insecurity.

And just who did you have in mind? I ask because I was having similar thoughts about you. But I was reluctant to offer that observation because, well, it's kinda presumptuous to make such an analysis over such a wide divide.

 

[Joel Tunnah]

In case anyone missed the real reason this thread was started:

I've been doing forums for years. I know how to start stuff. All ya gotta do is yank the proverbial chain and let it go. There's a lil bit o' mad dog in all of us.
BRUNO

This is at least the third such thread that "akaBruno" has begun just to "yank the chain". Must be reallllllllly boring in Sioux City.

Bartenders?

 

[akaBruno]

That's not true tuna. You just got offended being from Brooklyn. I did offer an apology for that. If you went back, you'd notice that I was more self-deprecating than anything.

BTW, I prefer boring little quarter horse towns. I couldn't live in a Big City for any amount of money.

 

[Mark G]

Bruno, glad you started the thread, I thought it's been very interesting. I think I'm going to relic my avatar, or is it the relic in my avatar.

 

[Feng_Li]

I will laugh if I ever run across a distressed gun or wristwatch.

Don't most of us buy equipment to be used? And if we enjoy using it, wouldn't that be the most fun way to achieve a "distressed finish?"

By golly, if I want my boots to look beaten-up, I'm going to wear them somewhere fun!

 

[funneman]

Good Lord. Hopefully they're using only the finest soil. I'd hate to get ripped off.

bk

Now that's funny! Ha-ha.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I will laugh if I ever run across a distressed gun or wristwatch.

Ask and you shall recieve. These revolvers are made too look as if they recieved 150 years of wear, even though they were actually made last week.

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/BlkPowder/BlkPowder-OF-Opener.htm

 

[Pat_H]

Here, I've been agonizing how to get the stains out o' my old Stetson Straw Roadrunner and I find this --> http://www.millerhats.com/cowpuncher_index/index.html

I'm not worried about the stains anymore.

BRUNO

Funny how this works. My wife has been campaigning for me to quit wearing my naturally soiled old cowboy hat for years. Indeed, its condition (and crown style) became a source of derision when she learned that it is supposed to be a silverbelly. It's really sort of a weird brown now, due to all the odd stuff that's gone into it just through working use.

Maybe I should sell it as genuinely soiled.

 

[Mark G]

Pat, let's see a picture.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

This old hat looks much better in this photo than real life.

 

[Pat_H]

Pat, let's see a picture.

I'll do that, although I'm afraid that a photo won't do it justice, and will omit the full effect of the sweat, blood, branding smoke, and rabbit urine.

Yes, rabbit urine. Not a lot, but a little will do.

And yes, I was wearing it at the time.

 

[Aaron Hats]

Yes, rabbit urine. Not a lot, but a little will do.

And yes, I was wearing it at the time.

lol lol lol
What were you doing? Holding the rabbit above your head offering it as sacrifice to the hat gods?

There's got to be a great story behind that.

Aaron

 

[Pilgrim]

It's ok to criticize the aesthetics of a hat (or a guitar), but it's not ok to start slamming the people that buy them, and resorting to name-calling.

Try to tone down the Lounge snobbiness, please.

I hope that wasn't aimed at me, since I made it very clear that I stated an opinion that was explicitly personal:

"The most important thing to me is the ethical statement inherent in the item. If it's really 50 years old and worn, than so be it; I'll make a judgement about whether I want it or not. If it's fake wear, I'm not interested. It may not matter to others, and I respect their decision; but to me, it's not honest."

Turning away from guitars (because I know well that the debate will never end), I have no interest in a soiled-appearing hat for the reasons I stated earlier. However, where there's a market, someone will serve it. Anyone who has been around the West for any period of time will be able to tell the proverbial "drugstore cowboy" with a fake soiled hat from the real thing.

And if you folks doubt me, drop by Fort Collins and we'll either visit the Greeley Stampede or Cheyenne Frontier Days. Both are pretty good places to hat-watch if you're into western wear.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

Pilgrim, those are both fun places to go. When I lived in Denver, I made it a priority to go as often as I could. The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo were also a fun time each Feb.