Members db. Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm sure this is a common problem, but I'm curious what HCBF's take is on this. I'm in a five piece band: two guitards, one lead vocal/guitard, drums and bass (me). Okay, just right there you accumulate some volume, naturally, but am I asking too much for everybody to turn down their instruments to a reasonable level so that I don't have to stick plugs in my ears? BTW, the lead guitard plugs his ears, too, and complains about volume levels as well. It's difficult, as you know, to hear all the nuances and dynamics of the sound when you have your ears stuffed with plastic or foam. And I personally think that rehearsal is the best time to work on the band's sound - the dynamics, and everything that goes with it. Am I just getting old, or do I have a case? How should I handle this? I've already brought up the volume issue at least three times to no avail... These are good musicians, just LOUD! They "need the tone," which means volume. I appreciate any suggestions or anecdotes. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reverend179 Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 Well, you're right on both fronts. I wear plugs AND tell my band to turn down. If you can't hear the groove you'll never get any better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrJoshua Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 Yep. Get yourself some decent plugs that reduce the volume without screwing up the sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members y-o-y Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 earplugs always. especially when the wife is talking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jasper383 Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 Earplugs always. And tell everyone to turn down a lot. I've been the hearing nag in every band I've ever been in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members db. Posted February 21, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 Yep. Get yourself some decent plugs that reduce the volume without screwing up the sound. Where do you get those? I'm sure they cost a more than ten dollars, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BassMaster General Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'd be in the always earplugs crowd.No point in screwing up your hearing for the rest of your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members browndog021 Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I had to go to the ear doc and get fitted. $175 but the should last many years and they are saving my hearing. Drummer uses them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members db. Posted February 21, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I had to go to the ear doc and get fitted. $175 but the should last many years and they are saving my hearing. Drummer uses them too. Do your earplugs greatly affect the sound? Or do they just bring the overall volume down? That would be worth the price in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm gonna get some molded ones next time I have some spare cash. Not that I rehearse or play live much or at all but it'll be handy to have them there. I had an audition last week and they were {censored}in loud. My hearing was screwed up for several hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members browndog021 Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 Do your earplugs greatly affect the sound? Or do they just bring the overall volume down?That would be worth the price in my book. For me I notice a little more clarity for lower frequencies. They def. "lower" the volume. They did take a while to get used to. I felt like my timing was off as wierd as that may sound but I got used to it after a few rehersals. The biggest pain for me is actually talking with them in. That sounds odd to me and I always feel like I am yelling. I usually pop one out if I have something to say. Overall a great investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members iamdenialNJ Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 earplugs over here always. i use the cheapest of the cheap. and while lowering the volume everything get's really muddy especially the guitars that have loads of distortion. 175 is a bit much for me to invest in some earplugs. rather spend that money on some new pick ups and/or another head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thelurker Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 For the cost conscious - Hearos makes foam earplugs that are reasonable frequency flat. they're like $10 for a pack of 10 pairs. I find that they work pretty well. you don't get the same amount of attenuation as normal foam, but you can hear all ranges of sound (highs and lows) to make up for it. they're usually in the pharmacy section of stores like Meijers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 We practice in a cramped space, probably 10x10 where all of us actually stand. One day, I moved the guitarists stack to the back of the room (about 8 feet behind all of us), and the volume problems were magically solved. Much better mix. Then again, I also stand right next to the drums, so I still wear earplugs. I can see how it would be better to wear them even in some ideal situations. Once your hearing is {censored}ed up, it doesn't come back. No reason to take any risks. If you have to ask, you probably should try using them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I have some ER-20s that I'll wear if I have to, but I *try* to keep our rehearsal volumes down to the point of not needing them... My bands typically rehearse at the same volumes we gig at - which *usually* aren't loud enough(but pretty close to it, though) that I feel the need to use hearing protection, as we're always PA supported... I usually play in 1 guitar bands, so I suppose that helps - and my drummer uses IEMs, so that helps in keeping HIS volume down... I've gotten to know my amp's settings well enough to know at which level I have to use hearing protection before experiencing white noise afterwards - and use that as a crude indicator for plug use... If I'm experiencing white noise afterwards, then I know it was too loud to go unprotected... More than anything, I use my ER-20s when seeing other bands... Honestly, I don't see the point in playing at volume levels that dictate the use of hearing protection because of "tone" - afterall, tone sucks with hearing protection in... Besides, rehearsal is *supposed* to be about honing your band's chops - and that's pretty hard to do if you can't hear things that well... I've found that having a large enough space, and taking sound dampening measures go a LONG ways towards helping the harshness of cymbals and guitars... - georgestrings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bluescout Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I use these occasionally: http://hearos.com/earplugs/products-00211.html They are good and cut less than foam plugs but I'd still like an even smaller DB cut. I can't seem to get used to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members browndog021 Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 earplugs over here always. i use the cheapest of the cheap. and while lowering the volume everything get's really muddy especially the guitars that have loads of distortion. 175 is a bit much for me to invest in some earplugs. rather spend that money on some new pick ups and/or another head The $175 included a hearing test as well. I work construction and didn't always wear my hearing protection religiously as I do now. It was nice to find out that I have not suffered any hearing loss over the years. You won't miss the money as much as you'll miss your hearing....NO HEAR , NO PLAY BASS:) The Hearos and others are just fine also...they just tend to make things a little muddy but I am sure that could be gotten used to also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thunderbroom Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I guess I'm on the other end with this. If you need earplugs, you're playing too loudly most likely. Use smaller amps or turn down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassment zombie Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm sure this is a common problem, but I'm curious what HCBF's take is on this. I'm in a five piece band: two guitards, one lead vocal/guitard, drums and bass (me). Okay, just right there you accumulate some volume, naturally, but am I asking too much for everybody to turn down their instruments to a reasonable level so that I don't have to stick plugs in my ears? BTW, the lead guitard plugs his ears, too, and complains about volume levels as well. It's difficult, as you know, to hear all the nuances and dynamics of the sound when you have your ears stuffed with plastic or foam. And I personally think that rehearsal is the best time to work on the band's sound - the dynamics, and everything that goes with it. Am I just getting old, or do I have a case? How should I handle this? I've already brought up the volume issue at least three times to no avail... These are good musicians, just LOUD! They "need the tone," which means volume. I appreciate any suggestions or anecdotes. Cheers! The way I look at it is - you 'having a case' or not is irrelevant. You've asked or addressed the issue 3 times already, and you have not achieved your desired results. Do you think they are likely going to 'change their tune' after the 4th, 5th, 6th, et. al. times you bring it up? Is this something you want to continue to be frustrated about, and continue to experience resistance, opposition or dead-air about? Do you want to continue to be disgruntled, search for new ways to address it, perhaps creating more frustration on all sides? Or, is this something that can be mitigated for you by making the decision to wear musicians plugs? That's for you to decide. When appropriate and possible, when it comes to making my own experience better, I greatly prefer not having to rely on others to change their behaviors, but rather, simply do something on my own accord. I feel that being in control of my experience and adjustment is a great thing. Thus, 'winning' for me is being able to have a good experience, and be in control of my experience. Thus, I think musicians earplugs are THE WAY to go here. I've been wearing earplugs 100% of the time for 3 years now, and I couldn't be more pleased. Rehearsals, gigs, heck, now I even wear them when going to shows as a spectator. It's wonderful being able to hear everything clearly and not having ear fatigue (at the very least) or the dreaded 'ringing' at the end of the night. I'm able to hear all the dynamics. I'm able to relax more, enjoy shows and music more, even participate in conversations at venues much more easily. It's hard to describe just how much more enjoyable they make my experiences - from rehearsals, to being a spectator at live music venues. Wearing musician's earplugs (not the foam ones) is easily the most beneficial thing I do when it comes to live music, these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dravenzouk Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm a huge fan of these, made by Sonic: They can be had for less than $10, and are reasonably comfortable while doing a great job of protecting your ears from the nasty peaks and high decibel stuff. You can buy them all over, from music stores to gun shops to industrial safety places and more. I've had a pair for more years than I can remember and they are one of the best "investments" I ever made. That said, I don't wear earplugs at every rehearsal. It depends on the situation. I generally have three different types of "practices". The first is the type where we are working out new material, learning our parts, putting together arrangements, etc. For these we try pretty hard to keep the volume down and not get into volume wars. So most of the time in this type of practice I wear no plugs. A lot of times we actually use acoustic instruments and no PA. We actively try to keep volume very low. The second type of practice is more of a "dress rehearsal" where we work on the show itself - segues between songs, pacing, instrument switches, cues, etc. For these we wear our IEMs so the earplug side of things is already addressed. For the third, the ever present "jam session" where we turn up and just rock out for fun - yes I wear earplugs absolutely. Sometimes I'm caught without them (just dropping by a friend's place and end up jamming), and I'm always sorry for it - ringing ears suck, and I just KNOW that I lost something I won't be getting back. I also wear the Sonics at most concerts and stuff (in the audience). When I'm onstage I always have either IEMs or earplugs if using wedge monitors. At my advanced age, my hearing is still excellent so I'm really glad I've been using plugs all those years. Now if only there was some way I could have kept my eyesight from going to sh*t on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lokidecat Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm from the "rehearse how you intend to perform" school of thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm from the "rehearse how you intend to perform" school of thought. +1! If you're gonna wear them onstage, you should wear them in rehearsal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lokidecat Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 NO HEAR , NO PLAY BASS:) Bass make sound? Me thought bass just shook stuff. Og confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chlo_treacher Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 i never used to. but it's gotten to the stage where i'm realising the effect of not wearing them in every day things. such as the hubby tells me to do something and unless i'm looking in his direction i cant acutally tell if he's uttered a word. Also from starting uni when i'm playing now for 5 days a week on average it seemed like a sensible option. i cant remember the make of mine, but they were about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnyswonger Posted February 21, 2009 Members Share Posted February 21, 2009 We generally rehearse at very low volumes - low enough that we can hear the singing over the instruments. We just learning forms of tunes, and we've all been playing long enough we know what happens when you get out there and crank it up. So no, I don't wear them fpr rehearsal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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