I am never practicing with the band again w/o earplugs...

[Let It Burn...]

I wear mine for everything: practicing, gigging, going to pubs/clubs, going to gigs etc. Occasionally wear (different) plugs for sleeping too; university can be loud at times.

 

 

this.

[Fender&EHX4ever]

I have severe hearing loss from over a decade worth of playing without earplugs around cranked Marshall half-stacks and loud drummers.

 

Hearing loss is not macho, guys

[Mind_Riot89]

this.

[big_cat]

dont use ear plugs. still havnt found a guitar amp that is too loud. hence why my next amp is either a V4 or a meatsmoke. maybe JUST maybe it will be almost to loud

 

 

how's the amp forum?

[TinySpeakers]

My grandma's hearing is totally shoot and she was never exposed to any rock/punk/metal shows or band practices with heavy hitting, cymbal smashing drummers like I have. I use ear plugs but the thought of a future where I can't enjoy them sonic pleasures makes we wanna upgrade 'em to the best I can afford.

[A150PoundGuy]

 

ten years you won't be able to hear either amp very well.

 

Probably less...

[AnderMocs]

I try to wear them when I play with people. I get what I think is tinnitus. Occasionally my ears just start ringing.

I hate my job for it. I can't wear ear plugs because I can't hear accurately (i'm a live sound engineer)

I need to get some musicians ear plugs for practice. I hate the foam ones.

[Roc Sound]

I use Etymotic Research earplugs. They have a flat response so you can hear other guitar players (and yourself) while still protecting against the cymbals and such.

[driverhasabomb]

I hate my job for it. I can't wear ear plugs because I can't hear accurately (i'm a live sound engineer)

Have you tried the custom molded ones?

When I was running live sound a lot I'd get everything set and then put in plugs for a lot of bands

[christianatl]

You two fairies don't play music loud enough to warrant earplugs.

 

 

This is pretty damn funny.

 

Also...

 

What?

[IamBurnout]

I usually wear a plg on the drummer's side.

 

My last job, the machine was so loud that we had to communicate through radios built into noise suppressing headsets.

 

You can hear it from a block away.

[fourfingered]

I've never had any problem with ringing and we play loud, however after one gig with manatees (they were louder than Sunn). I was just completely deaf for 3 days literally. I still don't wear earplugs very often but i may if we play with them again.

[driverhasabomb]

Have you guys ever tried these?

 

 

It's basically the same attenuation you'd get from a custom set minus the ear mold. (so they say, I've never had a pair)

[THAT4301]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220493921999&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

those any good?

[Foulacy]

for those that don't wear ear plugs:

won't playing guitar be super awesome when you can't hear what you're playing?!

[Clewsy]

Apparently if you're listening to music at a volume where you can't hear what people are saying to you, it's way too loud and majorly increases risk of Tinnitus. Can't see the point of playing loud in practices, when I play with a Big Band I barely turn my volume up on a 100 watt amp above 9.00, and I sit next to the drummer, but I can hear myself, and everyone else can hear me and I can hear everyone else.

[Ming Chow]

I started wearing ear protection recently. I've started jamming with a drummer and that crash cymbal makes my ears ring. I picked up a box of these cheap ones. I like the purple and yellow ones better though. I have a big set of ears, like Paul Gilbert wears, for when I'm at the range.

I like the smaller ones than the big ones that cover your whole ear.

[shadowflux]

Good idea. I have perma-ringing in my left ear from too much loud music unfortunately. It can be pretty damn annoying at times.

[THAT4301]

for those that don't wear ear plugs: won't playing guitar be super awesome when you can't hear what you're playing?!

 

 

let's see how many people will spend

[christianatl]

I've never had any problem with ringing and we play loud, however after one gig with manatees (they were louder than Sunn). I was just completely deaf for 3 days literally. I still don't wear earplugs very often but i may if we play with them again.

[goaway]

i put a db meter in front of my AC30 at a practice once. 126dB


i started wearing ear plugs

[THAT4301]

126? Jesus christ.

[cBc]

A good bud of mine was at the NAMM show, talking to the makers of a brand of the in ear monitors that also have built in mics to pick up ambient sound. This makes it feel /sound more realistic to the user , as you can mix between what's fed into your ears from the monitor mix and the "real world" ambient mic pickup. They were discussing hearing protection, and how loud the IEMs can get, & he told my friend that they are designed to hit up to 120 db!! WTF.
Then he mentioned that bands that play the large arena/ stadium gigs have a very hard time hearing themselves onstage above the crowd noise, which gets up to around 110db. holy {censored}. No wonder many rock musicians go deaf.

[THAT4301]

120dB IN EAR?

 

I thought the idea of those was that you could get away with them being quieter!

[cBc]

120dB IN EAR? I thought the idea of those was that you could get away with them being quieter!

Well, they are CAPABLE of that level, and in situations such as the example above, they need to "go there". But yeah, that sounds bat{censored} crazy - you only have one set of ears.
Both of my folks are deafened, my Mom wears hearing aids. I can't imagine that..I love hearing music too much!

There are several brands of earplugs that attenuate db levels , but still retain full frequency response. If the alternative is losing your hearing forever.....?
I say ...wear 'em.