Members docjeffrey Posted March 12, 2010 Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 I pulled out my db meter today out of curiosity to see what kind of damage I was doing to my hearing. With a Gretsch 6120 through a Fender Tweed Deluxe, sitting 5' from the amp, I wound up the volume to my favorite level. With my Nady meter, it measured exactly 100db for the loudest passages and 98 db for most of my playing. That was using a Hot Plate attenuator set for -12db. Without the Hot Plate, I'd be in hearing loss hell. According to OSHA, I can do that for 2 hours per day, however, sustained exposure may result in hearing loss (whatever "sustained" means). Cool. Rock on. And buy an attenuator or some good ear filters. Sound Levels of MusicNormal piano practice 60 -70dBFortissimo Singer, 3' 70dBChamber music, small auditorium 75 - 85dBPiano Fortissimo 84 - 103dBViolin 82 - 92dBCello 85 -111dBOboe 95-112dBFlute 92 -103dBPiccolo 90 -106dBClarinet 85 - 114dBFrench horn 90 - 106dBTrombone 85 - 114dBTympani & bass drum 106dBWalkman on 5/10 94dBSymphonic music peak 120 - 137dBAmplifier rock, 4-6' 120dBRock music peak 150dB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grantus Posted March 12, 2010 Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 What? I can't hear you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JoJo68 Posted March 12, 2010 Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 {censored}in LOUD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted March 12, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 {censored}in LOUD Yeah, with my band, we're probably peaking at 130+db where I usually stand. I've been using Hearo's lately to try and preserve my hearing for my golden years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 3leggeddog Posted March 12, 2010 Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 Ours are loud enough that we should be wearing earplugs, but usually don't. Our drummer sometimes does. I usually don't though, because the guitar tone is just too muffled through plugs. In turn, due to my certain hearing damage, our sessions are probably louder each time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hand Amputation Posted March 12, 2010 Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 Too damned loud. I am always telling everyone to turn down! We jam in a house, I don't want the cops comin' by and smellin' anything funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted March 12, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 Too damned loud. I am always telling everyone to turn down! We jam in a house, I don't want the cops comin' by and smellin' anything funny. Everything smells funny in OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members csm Posted March 12, 2010 Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 You mean home practice sessions or band rehearsals? At home I don't even plug in my solidbody for practice all the time. When I DO plug in, I use a 2w Roland MicroCube. Our band rehearsals are geared to the acoustic volume of the drums -- and our drummer is VERY FRAKKIN LOUD -- John Bonham reincarnated as a five-foot-tall woman from Noo Joisey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EricFoss Posted March 12, 2010 Members Share Posted March 12, 2010 I haven't been in a band in two years. Thus, my 'practice' sessions usually involve plugging into my three-watt Little Lanilei amp (great little tube amp, by the way) whilst watching American Idol or something. I literally have not plugged into the big boys downstairs in over a year... My practice sessions nowadays also often involve my wife telling me to "TURN THAT DOWN!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlinytheWelder Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Tonite....90dB...At least so far..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor49 Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Yeah, with my band, we're probably peaking at 130+db where I usually stand. I've been using Hearo's lately to try and preserve my hearing for my golden years. Coupled with the above, keep the ear plugs. Better yet, get a checkup and see what state the ears are in now. You may be lucky, but not forever. (despite the disclaimer, I used to be a noise and vibration consultant.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orange Jackson Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Buy some of these,http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-High-Fidelity-Earplugs-Clear/dp/B0015WJQ7A/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b Tinnitus sucks bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Barely above the "being able to do vocals w/o any PA" volume. Certainly not as loud as I sometimes jam on my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nuke_diver Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Practicing at home not so loud but I don't have a db meter handy :poke:Practicing with the band used to be louder but still not that bad..until last week when we moved into a practice facility. I put in ear plugs after about 1/2 hr and my ears were still ringing for the rest of the dayToo loud I think but that's what the band wants I might get better earplugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members golias Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 In one band, our drummer uses synth pads, so we get to rehearse at living-room stereo levels, I {censored} you not. With the other band, I wear ear plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steadfastly Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 W H A T ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Josh S Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Yeah, ours aren't' quiet er nothing... That's mostly my fault. Also, since this photo I've got another 4x12 and another Hiwatt head (a 100, natch) in there. ...And our bassist uses a tube Ampeg head and an 8x10. And our keyboard player has a couple amps and a leslie. Yeah. And the room is SO SMALL. Gahd. I would be terrified about bringing a decibel-meter in there. Just saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ieso Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 My bands always practiced at venue performance levels. We were banned from two venues in Kansas City for being too loud and unwilling to turn it down. At home, I keep it down pretty low but when I record I tend to crank the {censored} out of my amps. So, more or less, I play loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bloolight Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 For band rehearsals, we play loud enough to hear ourselves over non-mic'd drums...which is pretty damn loud in a small space. We all wear hearos, even though it tends to muffle the guitar pretty badly. On stage, where I'm not right up against the crash cymbals, I usually only keep an earplug in the ear pointed at the drums so I can hear myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members warriorpoet Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Well... We can sing over the drums, so not too loud Seriously, I can lead a band rehearsal of 1 electric piano, two acoustics, one electric, a bass and an acoustic drum set without having a mic on. Pretty sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 Oue band is not loud at all. The drummer uses Roland V-Drums. We can keep it at reasonable levels.My amp sounds just as good at low volumes as it does when turned up so that helps too. When we play shows we have a really low stage volume.The drums, bass, and keys all run direct so they are only heard in the monitors. I run my guitar in the monitors too for the other guys and have my rig just loud enough that I get a good mix with the monitor feed. We have one monitor facing the crowd so the folks at the front of the stage can hear everything.The sound guys love us and we can get a really good, clean mix out front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aliensporebomb Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 My band was known for "pegging" decibel level meters and were known for bringing the "electric walla sound". That being said, here at aliensporebomb studios it's only loud when something needs to be. The first year I did ambient solo guitar concerts it was the sound of a decently loud stereo. Last year it was louder but I had some technical problems with my looper as there was a stage light right next to it causing it to completely freak out. That freaking out at 120 decibels was something to witness, or hear rather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Furtive Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 When I used to live in what my friends called "the Fight Club house", I'd routinely turn amps up to full volume. The house was 30 feet from 8 lanes of highway... there was no limit on volume in that place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jrockbridge Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 My band practice sessions are relatively loud, but nothing too extreme. We play just loud enough to mix well with the drummer and he's not crazy loud. For my home practice sessions by myself, I have a great low volume setup to minimize my hearing loss. But, when I'm recording at home, I crank the amps up very loud until I reach the sweet spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members curseoftruth Posted March 13, 2010 Members Share Posted March 13, 2010 {censored}in LOUD I resemble that remark! Hey, that jam room looks really familiar lol And yes, those are both 100 watt Oranges. We have a guest vocalist friend working on a song with us for a show next week, singing a duet with our lead singer, and she texted earlier and said she just got her hearing back this afternoon after rehearsal last night lol We are super loud. Probably more so than needed. Oh well, you only hear, I mean live, once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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