Members phaeton Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 Not when practicing alone at home of course, but when you're playing with a drummer or otherwise jamming in a live situation, or even at loud concerts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 I tend to avoid those situations. But I would wear ear plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 No. I've never been in a playing situation where I needed them. As a member of the audience I've wished for earplugs a few times but that's another discussion. I did make my ears ring recently at home alone trying to see how loud my amp would get but that's it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 yeah ear plugs are pretty much standard for me now at any show. I had my fun killing my ears when I was younger but now it's just not worth the risk. Some mild tinnitus and the seemingly longer and longer recovery times post concerts convinced me a few years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stormin1155 Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 I always wear ear plugs at concerts. The only gigging I do is playing at church, and we play at pretty low volumes. I have pretty severe hearing loss and tinnitus. Wish I would have had sense to wear them when I was younger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 Anytime I'm around live or just loud music. Hearos blue currently or anything that provides 32+ db attenuation. It can make things sound bass heavy but by the same token I can be in the same room as DJ subs. Speech isn't a problem either. The foam filters the din and normal speech becomes audible and coherent. Not when I practice though. I like hearing as much of the actual mix as possible and I've learned to reel in the pounding . Win , win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 Whenever I'm gigging I wear earplugs, and I gig for a living. When playing louder I use passive Westone or Etymotic plugs with custom ear molds When playing under 95dba I use active Etymotic MusicPro earplugs with the long eartips. If I think the volume is going to be loud anywhere else, I bring them, and I have an old set of passives in the car at all times. I'm protecting my most important musical instrument, my ears. Insights and incites by Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 I've worn them when watching TV with my Dad, otherwise, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wankdeplank Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 Bought a set of hearos a few years back when I was jamming with a very aggressive drummer on a regular basis. Play with another guy now that shows a little restraint and haven't popped em in since. Hearing's probably not the best (I'm getting a little long in the tooth) but I don't have tinnitus, at least that I know of and hope to keep it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve2112 Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 Always at practice because drummer is loud-ish in a tight space. Standing right next to cymbals. When I go see other bands almost always. Almost everyone plays too loud or the soundman is deaf. usually when I play- depending on aforementioned factors. It also helps me sing...even with a good PA, but especially with a sketchy one- you get that head voice that helps stay in tune. No...I am not a natural or trained pro singer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Floyd Rosenbomb Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 If it is louder then a TV then it is hurting your ears. Hearing damage is cumulative, so little bits here and little bits there all add up. Your lawn mower for example. My ears always ring from years spent playing and recording in too loud of a situation. Now I always have to wear ear plugs, even at a movie, or my ears will scream bloody murder at me for a few months. Tinnitus is not good you don't want it. Wear plugs. These are pretty good for musicians -18db,http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...RQP7SN44JCRWR6 I just use the -30 db ones at lowes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Karma1 Posted December 16, 2014 Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 I wish to God that I had been wearing ear plugs about 12 years ago when I went to a concert by a Pink Floyd tribute band. Back then, ear plugs were not in people's awareness like they are now. The concert was really loud. I left with my ears ringing and its never stopped since that night. I suffered permanent hearing damage from that exposure and the Tinnitus has gotten worse over time. Its a nightmare, especially since I work in the music industry. Its really affected what I can and can't do as far as listening to music, going to concerts, playing guitar, etc. - not to mention the annoying high pitched sound in my ears 24 hours a day, 7 days a a week, which never stops. As I found out, hearing can be permanently damaged very quickly, and there is no cure. I can't recommend highly enough protecting your hearing while you can! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phaeton Posted December 16, 2014 Author Members Share Posted December 16, 2014 I've worn them when watching TV with my Dad, otherwise, no. Ha! My dad is the same way. I have and almost always worn earplugs when in loud situations. People have made fun of me, but I notice that some of my old bandmates from yore are hard of hearing these days. I too have found that wearing them actually improves the sound quality of really loud stuff. Even though it's a little muddy sounding, the alternative is "SHSHHHSHSHHSHSHSHSHHSHSHSHH" Of course, the one time I forgot them was the time I needed them the most- A friend and I saw a Metallica cover band (called Battery) at a pretty small bar near Chicago. Both guitarists had not one, but TWO Marshall stacks each and they were just ungodly loud. I really wish I would have thought to stuff my ears with paper towels, or simply leave. My ears hurt and rang for two days after that, and I can tell that I've lost some top end to my hearing :-/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FormerlyBassred Posted December 17, 2014 Members Share Posted December 17, 2014 Earplugs and filters have been around and readily available for more than the past 12 years. ignorance of their existence has been around even longer. I always wear filters. Have been wearing 'something' for years. Even as a sound guy, I'd mix the soundcheck and pop the earplugs in and get used to how that sounds so I could do the show with plugs in (unless i need to 'catch' something or do some critical listening). The filters I use are Planet waves Piccata, they don't kill the high frequencies as much as foam plugs, and the attenuation is not 29dB, but my ears don't ring after playing or mixing a show. For gigs I went to IEM's (even for crappy low-paying bar gigs) and could not recommend anything more. great way to hear what you need and not blow your brains out! I had my ears checked earlier this year and the audiologist said my hearing was 'GREAT!!' - He actually asked me if I was 'cheating' some way because for a guy who does music and sound and is 37 years old, he didn't think my hearing would be as good as it is. I still have really fine hearing. Because I wasn't afraid to be the guy wearing earplugs. Bright orange foam shooters plugs if that is the only thing around. and when I go shooting, I do foam plugs and big ol' cans. I should try the cans for a gig some time... that would be different (not headphones, just shooters protective cans) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted December 17, 2014 Members Share Posted December 17, 2014 Actually, lately I've been wearing them as a fashion accessory. When doing so, i recommend not having hair over your ears and letting them stick out a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted December 17, 2014 Members Share Posted December 17, 2014 Unlike the Hearos the Westone and Etymotic plugs have an almost flat attenuation curve, so they don't make everything sound muddy - it's just like turning the volume down. If you sing or play a wind instrument, getting them custom molded by an audiologist will keep the internal voice from drowning out the reduced volume in your ears. You can get a cheap sound level meter at Radio Shack, and if you want your ears to be safe measure the volume levels so you know what size ear plugs you need. 85db, slow response, "A" weighted is what you want to shoot for, so if the sound measures 100dba, 15db filters will put you in the safe zone. You only get one set of inner ears for your life, and when the hearing is gone, it's not coming back. Insights and incites by Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted December 18, 2014 Members Share Posted December 18, 2014 I've never played in a loud band so no I dont wear them.But I sure wished I had some at a recent DBT show.I started wearing cheap styrofoam ones mowing the yard about 10 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AlamoJoe Posted December 18, 2014 Members Share Posted December 18, 2014 Huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danhedonia Posted December 18, 2014 Members Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes, almost all the time when I am near amplification. I did not do this for quite some time, and now regret it. Even at home, when the volume goes above 9 o'clock, the Etymotics go in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members *BLEEP* Posted December 18, 2014 Members Share Posted December 18, 2014 Unlike the Hearos the Westone and Etymotic plugs have an almost flat attenuation curve, so they don't make everything sound muddy - it's just like turning the volume down... Thank you, sir. I have made a note about this, because I have never particularly cared for Hearos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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