Hearing protection

[y-o-y]

I have been using some basic foam ear plugs when I play loud with the band, but I would like to upgrade. Something between cotton balls and custom molded. These Hearos Hi-Fi look interesting, but I was curious what people here use.

 

Any suggestions or recommendations?

[Mudbass]

WHAT????!

[y-o-y]

 

WHAT????!

 

 

nice.

[One Bad Monkey]

I have those Hearos; I've been using them for almost two years now. I won't play a gig now without having those in. You don't lose volume (as you can with many other ear plugs), it just takes the sizzle off the top frequencies.

[Mudbass]

I'm not kidding. During my last physical the doc hooked me up to the hearing tester thing and told me...whew, you've got some pretty significant hearing loss there.

 

After playing in countless bands and raising two loud kids I'm surprised I'm not as deaf as a fence post.

[james on bass]

I've been wearing earplugs when I play since the late 80s. I hated the ringing in my ears and headaches after gigs.

 

Used foamies for years until about 2 years ago. Now I use these...

 

db Blockers. About $120 a pair, but my work paid for them. I liked them so much with the band I bought a second pair myself. They keep moulds on file so I ordered a pair in completely clear silicone so they are not very noticable.

[Jazz Ad]

I too use a pair of custom molded ear plugs. Really worth the price.

[Emprov]

 

I have those Hearos;

 

I use these too. I keep saying that I need to invest in some custom molds but I keep delaying it. Everyone with whom I've spoken that has them says that they're worth every penny. Obviously, a few hear second that opinion.

[Apendecto]

I used custom molds for a few years (until I lost them). They worked great but if I smiled if the drummer did some awesome fill, my ear canal would change shape and I would get blasted with volume. I use Heros now and they work fine.

 

Yo.

[MacGarnicle]

I am also a proponent of custom ear plugs.

[Rippin' Robin]

Custom molded here. I need a new pair, though. They were 100 euros but you can't put a price on your hearing....

[Thunderbroom]

After last night (and countless gigs before), I'm going to get some earlplugs.

[Rob Martinez]

I used to use the ones that combine cotton and wax, but now use the cilicone (sp?) ones, they are kina white or clear. Very effective!

 

Though I do not use any ear plugs when playing in front of an audience, just for practice.

[rummy]

Whatever Home Depot makes for 99 cents a package.

[dert_stylus]

One would think this is #1 priority but....

[NeonVomit]

I always tell myself to get some. I never get round to it though.

[bassment zombie]

 

I used custom molds for a few years (until I lost them). They worked great but if I smiled if the drummer did some awesome fill, my ear canal would change shape and I would get blasted with volume. I use Heros now and they work fine. Yo.

 

I always use a pair of musician's plugs, and they're fabulous ($14.00 or so). I've been gas'ing for a pair of the molded ones (down the road), and this is the first time I've heard anyone report a problem with them like this.

 

Does anyone else with molded plugs experience a similar sort of problem like Apendecto's?

[james on bass]

 

I always use a pair of musician's plugs, and they're fabulous ($14.00 or so). I've been gas'ing for a pair of the molded ones (down the road), and this is the first time I've heard anyone report a problem with them like this. Does anyone else with molded plugs experience a similar sort of problem like Apendecto's?

 

 

I've never had a problem with mine. Breaking them in takes a few weeks, but then again was more getting used to wearing them 8+ hours straight at work.

 

I've noticed only the slightest shifting of them if I'm chewing gum or eating, but also be aware that since they are custom moulded, you either have them inserted correctly, or you don't, hence the breaking in period. I've been using them with bands for the last couple years and have never experienced an issue even when singing.

[rpsands]

I use hearos. They're solid.

 

You can also get a pair of cheap ass ones from walmart that're kinda similar but have a string between them. They are very decent, though I wouldn't rely on them as much as hearos for real protection. Half the guys I play with used no ear protection, though, so I started bullying them into getting at least the walmart specials.

 

I would suggest the formable wax earplugs if you can find those, instead of custom molded ones. Anything that a dog can swallow that costs 100 bucks is off the buy list for me. Also just really easy to lose.

 

Hearos rock and I wouldn't be all that upset if I lost them.

[Gruntollio Bass]

I've been using Hearos for nearly 12 months now and have found them to work great.

I think for the long therm though, I will invest in some custom moulds.

Hearos are a great solution in the interim.

[basste]

it's exactly what i did. Played with kind of hearos, and had the chance that my firm payed me custom molded for work. And they pretty work for music

They are very comfortable, i can use them all the day. That really worth the money.

[Deep Bass]

 

I always use a pair of musician's plugs, and they're fabulous ($14.00 or so). I've been gas'ing for a pair of the molded ones (down the road), and this is the first time I've heard anyone report a problem with them like this. Does anyone else with molded plugs experience a similar sort of problem like Apendecto's?

 

 

I had the same problem. I had molds taken, and the plugs felt fine. However the seal would break sometimes. Could be a problem with the molding process, or maybe wax in the ears; don't really know.

[Westsailor]

Take it from me... do it.

 

I wish hearing protection had been conventional wisdom back when I was playing loud as {censored} rock back in the 70's. Now I have tinitus, a 24X7 ringing in the ears which is annoying as hell (more so in the right ear as I always stood left of the drummer).

[FreestyleIntruder]

[ModmanQ6]

I had a pair of sonics back in the 80's, but they weren't very comfortable. They had a rubber shell with little filter cans in the backs. I didn't really like the frequency response either. So what sort of frequency response do you guys get with these various plugs that you are using?