Bass Player’s Official Hat Problem

[gln1955]

I have a collection of ball caps and will sometimes wear one for an outdoor gig. Anything more stylish would look silly on me.

 

[mrcbass]

Wear what you like if its appropriate for the gig. Who cares what anyone else is wearing?

I typically wear a fedora style for "nicer gigs" and a woven newsboy cap for less formal situations.

 

[Shlabotnik]

That’s hilarious to me because I have the same hat in green, black and brown. But I wear them backwards.
I was wearing my porkpie last night for a gig, but thinking maybe I should try the cadet cap forward.
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Wow... now you're opening up my world to new options I hadn't even considered!!

 

[getrhythm]

That’s a cap, not a hat.

 

[Wasnex]

I would not wear a hat like that to make a fashion statement. I might wear something similar for an outdoor gig on a sunny day.

Back in my early years, I wore a fedora, similar to this:

 

[Shlabotnik]

That’s a cap, not a hat.

Gosh, thanks for that.

 

[swink]

Gosh, thanks for t' hat.

Fixed it for you,.... couldn't resist

 

[FullumMusic]

Time for a new hat. Probably should just get a helicopter beanie or an umbrella hat.

 

[Dynomuttasaurus]

I had to mark YES because my favorite hat is a leather version of the military-inspired headwear you shared.

 

[shastaband]

 

[Lo-E]

I do know two bassists who frequently wear that exact hat.

I’ve been hat-free for the last several years but I’ve worn various hats on gigs in the past; fedoras, pork pies (my wife bought me a really nice pork pie), straw hats, ball caps, the occasional Kromer cap…. I like hats just fine.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I have a hat that I love, much like many other people who wear hats.

This hat that I love… You know who else seems to love it? Every other freaking bass player in Boston. If there’s a guy in a band wearing a hat… it’s usually the bass player and… a good portion of the time it’s this same damn hat.

So, I don’t dare wear this hat when I perform anymore because I don’t want to be labeled as one of those “bass player hat guys”. I also don’t want the other bass players in town to think that I am ripping off their style. I’m not here to incite violence. But what I’m wondering is… Has this hat completely overtaken the bass player scene in other towns as well? Is this a problem that needs to be addressed globally? Should we all be writing to our congresspersons?

I’m starting to wonder if there’s someplace where people are buying these hats and, inside the package it includes an instruction manual for playing bass… Which beckons the question… Which came first? The bass or the hat?

Not being a "Hat" I might share a personal view on the subject.

But first in answer to your question. I've not seen this particular hat, or noticed a trend that bassist in general wear hats.

Having a head of hair that has been presentable and stayed that way through a performance has reduced my need for any sort of hat, other that a ball hat when in the sun. But as I've aged into my 70's
my hair is starting to thin to the point a hat may be advisable. I'm fairly certain the style of your hat would do me no favors, nor would a fadora or cowboy style hat. So I'm on a quest too.

Thanks for your help on this. Here is a nice picture of me wearing my hat as a reward for having read to the end.

P.S. If all this post did was inspire you to buy one of these hats for yourself… Shame on you for taking advantage.

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[JohnnyPustular]

For anyone who is looking, I have a nice vintage Stetson fedora given to me by my grandpa that I would be willing to trade for a Fodera.

 

[twinjet]

Fedora? Isn't that a brand of bass?

Most caps are far too small for my huge oblong melon noggin and pop right off. I adore a Fedora, though. But I despise Pork Pies.

 

[jmlee]

My wife has informed me that if I ever wear a hat on stage she will kill me—even faster than the low dose thallium in my Diet Pepsi is doing now. She’s a physicist with a black belt in karate. I am legitimately terrified.

 

[Michedelic]

Ball caps are tired and boring.

 

[retslock]

I wear hats on stage but not a cap like yours. I wear black wide brimmed hats with interchangeable decorative bands that match my shirt usually. If you like hats but don’t want to be ‘one of them’, find a distinctive style that you like and go with that.

 

[Shlabotnik]

My wife has informed me that if I ever wear a hat on stage she will kill me—even faster than the low dose thallium in my Diet Pepsi is doing now. She’s a physicist with a black belt in karate. I am legitimately terrified.

You’re a smart man to be terrified. Not because of the black belt but mainly because she’s a physicist. You could wake up one morning with all of your particles rearranged.

 

[jmlee]

You’re a smart man to be terrified. Not because of the black belt but mainly because she’s a physicist. You could wake up one morning with all of your particles rearranged.

So right. I’m a physicist too. We also have two cats who may or may not be alive. We’re afraid to look.

 

[Stewie]

I put on a baseball cap every morning before breakfast and it stays on all day(unless removed for head scratching). I toss it behind my amp before the first note. Three of the guys in my band wear hats. I gotta be different