Ear/Hearing Protection???

Snerek · #1 03-06-2007, 08:14 AM

do you bass players wear ear plugs of some kind during practices to save your ears?

Last night at rehearsal i was really cranking out some killer bass tones and damn my ears hurt today!

i'm going to start wearing them from now on, plus you kinda hear better tones when they are in.

obviously some bands dont need them, but even my lead guitarist is loud so i need them.

lastly, i hear the drums better i think when i have plugs in.

peace & beats

FreeHenryBand.com

koentje_bassist · #2 03-06-2007, 08:37 AM

For rehearsals, I do use some ear protection. I sit next to a very hard slammer on drums, plus a small PA-system, an orange rocker 30 and a VOX AC-30. All that in a room not bigger than my bedroom at home (4 on 5 meters).
I don't like it, but my ears aren't hurting anymore the day after. Better this way.
When we perform, I don't want to. I wanna hear every little detail for perfection. It gets me grooving.

bassicinstinct · #3 03-06-2007, 08:41 AM

If you use the Search function, you will find literally thousands of posts on this very subject.

daffy · #4 03-06-2007, 03:10 PM

From someone who now hears a permanent high pitched whistle in their ears, which is sometimes so loud it disturbs my thinking...

If I had my time again, I would turn down completely during practices, and I would wear ear putty during shows. These days I play in bands that don't feel the need to crank it up during shows, and I can get away without protection most times. But I still take it with me always in case the support band is too loud.

I found that we actually heard more detail (read 'mistakes' :-) ) when the playing was softer during practice/rehearsals. I also found that if you can get your 'sound' at low volumes then it was easier to get it at gig volume, but not the other way round.

markjazzbassist · #5 03-06-2007, 03:34 PM

i always wear ear plugs when practicing with a band or more than just me. i'm contemplating wearing them live or not.

lemur821 · #6 03-06-2007, 06:01 PM

My band doesn't practice loud enough to warrant hearing protection, but I do carry earplugs with me always, as well as covering my ears when performing noisy activities such as waiting for the gas pump to beep and closing doors.

::Saint:: · #7 03-08-2007, 12:24 PM

Any suggestings on what kind of earplugs to wear? A band mate brought some cheapo things to practice and I tried to wear them but found that I just couldn't hear anything very well or pick out tones or anything like. Need ear protection that allows the tone through and just lowers the volume...

BillySid · #8 03-08-2007, 12:54 PM

If you want the absolute best with no tonal loss...these are the only way to go.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx

You have to go to an audiologist for molds and it runs about $150 for everything, but it's the best investment I made for my quality of hearing bar none.

I have also used the Hearos Hi Fidelity also, but it gets muddy and booming with those.

202dy · #9 03-08-2007, 01:05 PM

I've used the foam ear plugs by Howard Leight and others. They will attenuate up to 31dB. @ 125 Hz. They cut far more high end as much as 45dB @ 6300 Hz. Some people don't like to wear them because it is harder to hear the tone of the instruments. But you can hear pitches clearly. If I'm playing in a high volume situation I use them. My ears are more important to me than a couple of hours of cool tone.

Lonnybass · #10 03-08-2007, 01:21 PM

The Etymotics are by far the best gear investment I've made. I wear them all the time - rehearsals, gigs, concerts I'm watching you name it. It takes a little while to adapt to them, but once you do, they virtually eliminate ear fatigue and I have not once experienced a ringing sensation. And they are flat in their response - it's like turning the volume down on a loud stereo.

Lonnybass

theshadow2001 · #11 03-08-2007, 05:36 PM

I have custom made plugs. Very nice very comfortable and I always always use them. No matter what. If there's a drummer or Im in some sort of band context I will use them. For practice for live shows I'll put them in. I have a tiny bit of ringing in my ears. Hearing everything clearly is not worth it. It really isn't. The ear plugs I have are great so I hear everything clearly with them in

Snerek · #12 03-09-2007, 07:51 AM

whats wrong with wearing those regular old ear buds?

like the foam ones you twist then place in your ear?

Snerek · #13 03-09-2007, 07:55 AM

basically i dont have the money for good ones... these are obviously better than nothing right?

they are not THAT bad right?

eric atkinson · #14 03-09-2007, 08:00 AM

We currently use a headphone mix at practice.. That really helps out.. But i also have been known to use the cheapo foam plugs.

I have horrible hearing loss because of doing this so long.

Snerek · #15 03-09-2007, 08:15 AM

doing what so long?

not using ear plugs?

Tenma4 · #16 03-09-2007, 08:25 AM

My band doesn't practice that loudly, so with a well sound dampened practice room, I don't wear protection then. For shows, I generally stuff a cotton ball in each ear. I've used them for years, and like them much better than ear plugs. I can hear things better without the overwhelming crashes of my drummer and blinking every time he hits the snare. The vocals sound a bit muffled, but it's no problem to cope. I also find I am tighter.

Anyone else use cotton?

nastyn8c · #17 03-09-2007, 08:29 AM

I'm only 18 years old, a bass player, singer, and sound technician. There are so many times I wished I'd worn ear plugs when I was younger. I've done a lot of damage to my hearing in the last 4 years, and even before that with my headphones blasting. Everything I listen to is kept quieter now, but the damage is still done.

Always wear ear protection when you're in a loud environment. Even if it means buying a $15 pair of musician's earplugs at your local Sam Ash or GC, do it for yourself.

cowsgomoo · #18 03-09-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snerek

do you bass players wear ear plugs of some kind during practices to save your ears?

basically i dont have the money for good ones... these [the cheapies] are obviously better than nothing right?

they are not THAT bad right?

yes, every rehearsal, every gig... and if i'm going to see a band play I take earplugs too (and use them if they're loud)

regular cheapie earplugs (the ones that look like this)

... are fine for protecting your hearing... typically they'll attenuate by about 30db, but you might not like the way they muffle the music... personally I prefer them because I get to hear more of my bass frequencies

they're far far better than using nothing.... (or stuffing in cotton wool, which might work in cartoons, but then so does attempting to blow someone up by convincing them a stick of dynamite is actually a cigar)

my earplug tip is to lick your finger and waggle it into your earhole before you insert them... I don't think I need to go into further detail about why a little lubrication allows a deeper and more satisfactory insertion