Tombstone Hats: Johnson vs Chaparral, 30X vs 1000X vs 5000X, and Real Prices in Dallas
Tombstone is the palm hat our regional customers ask for by name, and the brand people drive across Dallas to find. This guide is what we tell you at the counter at Teres Western Wear: the difference between the two Tombstone shapes we carry, the Johnson and the Chaparral; what 30X, 1000X and 5000X really mean on a Tombstone (it is not what you think); how to read the box label; the sizes; and the prices on our rack on Lake June Rd.
Quick answer: we carry five Tombstone models, all natural palm with a 3 1/2" brim. Two shapes: the Johnson (tall, upright crown) and the Chaparral (lower crown, Sinaloa style). Three grades: 1000X Master Telar at $79.99 in both shapes, 30X at $189.99 in both shapes, and 5000X Master Telar at $219.99 in the Johnson. At Tombstone the X does not rank the line, so the 30X costs more than the 1000X. Sizes 6 3/4 to 7 5/8, with a 7 3/4 in the Chaparral 1000X. We do not carry the 10000X. Sold in store only, in Dallas.
Who makes Tombstone hats
Tombstone International is a hat maker from San Francisco del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico's hat-making town, and has been making hats since 1968. The brand built its name on palm cowboy hats for regional Mexican music and for everyday wear in the north of Mexico and in Texas. If you have seen a tall, clean palm hat on stage, there is a good chance it was a Tombstone Johnson.
Everything in this guide is about the Tombstone hats we have on our wall. Tombstone makes more shapes and grades than the five we stock; if you are looking for one we do not carry, we will tell you so when you call.
Johnson vs Chaparral: the two Tombstone shapes we carry
Palm hats come from the factory already in their shape, their horma. Unlike a felt hat, which we shape by hand at the counter any way you want, a palm hat is bought in the shape it will keep; as a rule we do not reshape palm. So with Tombstone, choosing the model is choosing the horma.
Johnson
A tall, upright crown with a deep center crease, a 12 cm (about 4 3/4") crown and a 9 cm (3 1/2") brim. It is the shape made famous by "El Fantasma" and the one most people picture when they say "Tombstone". It adds height and suits a round or full face. We carry the Johnson in all three grades: 1000X Master Telar, 30X and 5000X Master Telar.
Chaparral
The lower crown, closer to the Sinaloa line, with the same 3 1/2" brim. It sits better on a long or narrow face and on shorter frames, where a tall crown can look like it is wearing you. We carry the Chaparral in 1000X Master Telar and 30X.
Not sure which shape is yours? Our guide to hormas puts the Johnson and the Chaparral next to the Sinaloa, Marlboro and Open Crown felts, with the face rules for each. In the store, the mirror decides in two minutes.
30X, 1000X and 5000X: what the X means on a Tombstone
This is the part that confuses everyone, including people who have worn hats all their lives. On most brands, more X means a finer hat. At Tombstone, the X does not rank the line. "Master Telar" (1000X and 5000X) and "30X" are different weaves, not steps on one ladder. That is why on our rack the 1000X is the most accessible Tombstone and the 30X costs more than twice as much.
| Grade | Shapes we carry | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000X Master Telar | Johnson, Chaparral | The Master Telar weave with a lacquered finish. The most accessible Tombstone, and our best seller in the brand. | $79.99 |
| 30X | Johnson, Chaparral | A tighter, denser weave than the Master Telar. Heavier in the hand and smoother to the eye. | $189.99 |
| 5000X Master Telar | Johnson | The finer Master Telar weave, with a black hatband. The top Tombstone grade on our wall. | $219.99 |
Rack prices in November 2026; they can change.
The honest rule: compare Tombstone grades with your hands, not by the number. Hold the 1000X and the 30X side by side and the difference in the weave is obvious. And compare X only within Tombstone: a Tombstone 1000X and a 10X from another brand have nothing to do with each other (we explain why in felt vs straw and what the X's mean).
What about the 10000X?
People ask for it. We do not carry the Tombstone 10000X. The top grade we stock is the 5000X Master Telar Johnson at $219.99. If you want to hold the finest Tombstone on our wall, that is the one; if it has to be the 10000X, we would rather tell you now than after you drive over.
The "50" on the sweatband is not 50X
Inside many Tombstone hats you will see a "50" embroidered next to "Supreme Handwoven". That is the brand's 50th-anniversary emblem, not a quality grade; there is no Tombstone 50X. The real grade is printed on the box label and the hangtag, so if a hat looks like a bargain because of a number inside it, ask us to check the box.
How to read a Tombstone box label
Every Tombstone comes in a box with a printed label, and the label is the most reliable thing on the hat:
- ITEM and STYLE: the grade (30X, 1000X Telar, 5000X Telar) and the shape (Johnson or Chaparral).
- SIZE: in centimeters and in US sizes, for example "58CM-7 1/4".
- BRIM: the brim width, "9 CM - 3 1/2"" on everything we carry.
- OP: the production lot. It does not matter to you, but it tells us two boxes came from the same batch.
When the sweatband and the box disagree, the box wins. Customers try hats on and put them back in the wrong box, so we also check the label sewn inside the sweatband before we ring one up.
Sizes: 6 3/4 to 7 5/8, and one 7 3/4
Tombstone runs in eight sizes, 6 3/4 through 7 5/8 (54 to 61 cm), in every model we carry, and the Chaparral 1000X also comes in a 7 3/4 (62 cm). That makes Tombstone one of the few brands on our wall with real big sizes in stock.
| Label (cm) | US size | Head measurement |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | 6 3/4 | 21 1/8 in |
| 55 | 6 7/8 | 21 1/2 in |
| 56 | 7 | 21 7/8 in |
| 57 | 7 1/8 | 22 1/4 in |
| 58 | 7 1/4 | 22 5/8 in |
| 59 | 7 3/8 | 23 in |
| 60 | 7 1/2 | 23 3/8 in |
| 61 | 7 5/8 | 23 3/4 in |
| 62 | 7 3/4 | 24 1/8 in |
Palm does not give the way felt does, so do not buy a palm hat tight hoping it will stretch. If you fall between two sizes, try both on; a thin foam sizing tape takes up the slack on the bigger one, and we have it at the counter. Measure before you come in with our hat size guide.
Living with a palm hat in Dallas
- Season: palm is the sun hat. In Dallas that means March into October, and plenty of our customers wear their Tombstone year-round for work.
- Shape: it comes shaped from the factory and that is how we sell it. As a rule we do not reshape palm hats; if you want a hat we shape to your taste, that is a felt. See hat cleaning and shaping.
- Hatbands and feathers: we sell toquillas and feathers separately if you want to dress yours up.
- Water: a palm hat takes a little rain and a lot of sweat, but do not soak it; a wet palm hat can lose its shape when it dries.
Where to buy Tombstone hats in Dallas
All five models are on the wall at Teres Western Wear, 8033 Lake June Rd, Dallas, TX 75217, in Pleasant Grove. We sell in store only; nothing ships. Stock moves fast in the popular sizes, so call (214) 391-0508 to confirm the model and size, and we will hold it at the counter for you the same day. Spanish and English spoken. Browse the Tombstone hats collection online first, then come try them on next to the rest of our straw cowboy hats.
Looking for a Johnson or a Chaparral in your size? Just ask.
Call (214) 391-0508 Message us
Quick answers
Do you have Tombstone 10000X? No. We carry 1000X Master Telar, 30X and 5000X Master Telar. The 5000X Johnson at $219.99 is the top grade on our wall.
Which is better, Tombstone 30X or 1000X? They are different weaves, not better and worse. The 30X is tighter and denser and costs $189.99; the 1000X Master Telar is lighter on the wallet at $79.99 and is our best-selling Tombstone. Hold both and decide.
Why does a 30X cost more than a 1000X? Because at Tombstone the X describes the type of weave, not the tier. Master Telar and 30X are two different products.
Is the "50" inside the hat a 50X? No. It is the 50th-anniversary emblem of the brand. The grade is on the box label.
What is the difference between the Johnson and the Chaparral? The crown. The Johnson is tall and upright; the Chaparral is lower, Sinaloa style. Same palm, same 3 1/2" brim.
Can you shape a Tombstone? As a rule we do not reshape palm hats. They come shaped from the factory, and the Johnson and Chaparral are two different factory shapes; pick the one you want.
What sizes do you have? 6 3/4 through 7 5/8 in every model, plus a 7 3/4 in the Chaparral 1000X. Stock by size changes daily; call first.
Do you have Tombstone in black? The Tombstone hats we carry are all natural palm. The 5000X comes with a black hatband, not a black hat.
Do you ship Tombstone hats? No. We sell in store only at 8033 Lake June Rd, Dallas. Call and we will hold your size.
How much are Tombstone hats in Dallas? On our rack: $79.99 for the 1000X Master Telar (Johnson or Chaparral), $189.99 for the 30X (Johnson or Chaparral) and $219.99 for the 5000X Master Telar Johnson.
Teres Western Wear · 8033 Lake June Rd, Dallas, TX 75217 · Family-owned since 1986 · 4.9 stars on Google from 450+ customers. Prices and stock are as of November 2026 and change as inventory rotates.