Headphones instead of in ears.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

So it's OK to look dorky at church?

The standards are different when if the band isn't the center of attention.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by Mike M.

Offhand I'm going to get a pair next weekend to use at church. In the meantime I'm wondering if anybody else uses headphones instead of in ears and what are you using.

I use headphones exclusively in my practice room so I don't wake the kids. I have a pair of ATH-M50s which are great.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X) uses headphones on stage for the same reasons. He can't stand the feel/ can't get a good seal with in ears, so he wears big cans on stage.

Do what works for you.

Paul GIlbert was the first guy who sprang to mind when I said they look dorky:





The shirts he's wearing don't help, either

[Chromer]

Pfft, that second shirt is awesome, I want one!

[Schizoid75]

Paul's situation is slightly more complicated. From his own Premierguitar.com column:

"In case you haven’t heard (all puns intended), I have significant hearing loss and the constant accompanying ring of tinnitus. First of all, don’t worry, I’m not going to spend this whole column whining or complaining about it. My goal here is to give you practical ideas on how to keep your ears in good condition and also how to deal with any hearing loss you may already have."

And . . .

"At this point, I should mention the headphones that I’ve been wearing onstage for the last few years. What is going on there? Why don’t I wear custom-molded in-ear monitors like everyone else does? All right, here is my explanation. The purpose of my headphones is the same as the more common ear molds: to block out the stage volume while giving me a controlled mix and volume from the monitor desk. I’ve tried the ear molds and I just prefer the headphones. I can easily take them off if I need to talk to someone in the room, listen to the audience, or get away from an accidental volume blast. And the speakers are simply a lot bigger in the headphones, so there is more headroom and better quality sound. It also gives me a good excuse to have messed-up hair, which is pretty much all my hair will do anyway."

Read more: http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazin...#ixzz2LHw3oSws

[Mike M.]

Hey, if it works (^^^) then why not? Besides, whenever I've seen someone wearing headphones onstage I never gave it a thought. Why would I? I play at church, I KNOW why I'm there and if someone thought it odd that I was wearing headphones......I don't care because it sounded great and helped me to play better for Him.

[carvinbassplyr]

Originally Posted by seamonkey

Find some epoxy foam like this
http://www.earfuze.com/
The stuff can be found around much cheaper than this.
You can convert any decent earbuds to have good seal.

Have you successfully used these? These would be better than the hard expensive custom molds because they would forgiving/wouldn't have to be redone due to ear size/shape fluctuation. How hard is the molding process?

[Wadge]

If headphones work for you, more power to you cause you can get a great pair for a lot cheaper than good IEMs. If you do go the IEM route, I would strongly recommend you go to a good audiologist to get your molds done right.

I got mine from 1964 ears and I've been very happy with them thus far.

[bigsnaketex]

I have ridiculously tiny ear canals and can't wear anything but a custom fit in-ear rig. It sucks but it's life.

Be prepared to spend $400!!!

The alternative is getting a personal monitor and for me, that works just fine as well.

[seamonkey]

Originally Posted by carvinbassplyr

Have you successfully used these? These would be better than the hard expensive custom molds because they would forgiving/wouldn't have to be redone due to ear size/shape fluctuation. How hard is the molding process?

Yes - but not that brand. You can get the same stuff at gun shops.

I've seen where some people mold their ear first, then use an exacto to cut for the ear buds. (when it out of your ear ) I will probably try that in the future.

[carvinbassplyr]

Originally Posted by seamonkey

Yes - but not that brand. You can get the same stuff at gun shops.

I've seen where some people mold their ear first, then use an exacto to cut for the ear buds. (when it out of your ear ) I will probably try that in the future.

I'm really intrigued by these. I'm having an ear specialist friend check these out to make sure I don't run a risk of damaging my ears my doing it myself.

[bass4worship]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

So it's OK to look dorky at church?

Yes that where us dorky bass player play. :-)

[eddododo]

I use big'ol mickeymouse-looking headphones

A lot of what I play is either jazz, hip-hop influenced, or "musicians' music" so headphones aren't exactly out-of place (except older jazz gigs obviously, but those don't need IEM's either )


But if anybody wants to pick on me for looking dorky... I guess they can have that, I am a huge nerd. and they can go look super-cool on their crappy powerchord gig

[Primakurtz]

The band Mission of Burma made big headphones rock & roll cool-approved, forever.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by eddododo

I use big'ol mickeymouse-looking headphones

A lot of what I play is either jazz, hip-hop influenced, or "musicians' music" so headphones aren't exactly out-of place (except older jazz gigs obviously, but those don't need IEM's either )


But if anybody wants to pick on me for looking dorky... I guess they can have that, I am a huge nerd. and they can go look super-cool on their crappy powerchord gig

If they are open headphones, be careful of getting them too close to your vocal mic.

[meRTKendrew]

Try opening your mouth wide as you insert the ear buds, it straightens your ear out and helps me get a good seal.


-RTK

[Jhengsman]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

So it's OK to look dorky at church?

For some maybe even preferable. In many church band discussions one side gives their fear that there is too much "show" and ideally a band, if they use a band at all for internal theological reasons, would be unseen in an orchestra pit or choir loft unseen by the congregation. And for them using something seen as uncool, what unnamed sidemen use may be preferable to the band as a unit where all are stars. .

Meanwhile on the other side at peak performance there are the lights and the best stage show in town. Then there is the middle ground without the floor space to segregate a band yet without a stage show to rival Earth, Wind and Fire. Some want uniforms, others are come as you are.

[placeboe]

MB Quart QP805HS cans! Awesome flat response, closed headphones. Although, I can't seem to find them for sale anywhere anymore.

The pair I have are great for live performances.