Musician Ear Molds (FEELING da groove)

Snerek · #1 01-04-2009, 10:36 AM

So with the holiday season just winding down, I had a bunch of shows that we played and I did some experimenting with wearing ear plugs. I want to share my thoughts with all of you and see if you have input.

So we had 2 shows in 2 days, similar venue - medium sized music club with standard club PA, good sound and both venues.

So the 1st night, I didn't wear any ear plugs (when i say ear plugs I mean Musicians Molds - the custom ones you get from your audiologist). The show was kick ass, people dancing and grooving all night, and I really FELT the music. That night i couldnt sleep thought because my head was ringing! sooo.

The next night, I wanted to try and wear my ear plugs. Once again, the gig went great, dancing the whole nine. BUT I had a very hard time getting into the music as much because i had a hard time 'feeling the music'.

Does anyone else have these same experiences? I obviously need to protect my hearing, but maybe it just takes getting use to wearing the molds? I'd love to hear you input.

Peace

darren orr · #2 01-04-2009, 01:22 PM

The earplugs you have, are they the ones with the interchangeable filters?
I have the ones with 15 db and 25db filters.
I find using the 15db filters does cut out alot of the ringing after a gig.
As to getting in the groove, I use the earplugs all the time. at practice, at gigs. You do get use to them, just make sure you set your tone before you put them in, then just trust the front of house.

I find i have to wear them all the time because of my damn guitarists. And i have a drummer with heavy cymbals that likes hitting hard.

Snerek · #3 01-04-2009, 03:08 PM

yes they are the interchangeable filers - called, musicians molds i believe.

i do wear them at practice and 95percent of the shows. i've only had them for about 5months

Snerek · #4 01-04-2009, 03:22 PM

MOTHER TRUCKER!!!

as i'm typing that post, i had my ear molds in cause i was practicing and the little plastic tap you use to pull the plug out broke! it pulled out of the ear mold and and had to get my roommate to pull it out with tweezers!

NOT COOL! my audiologist better fix it or give me a new one!

onlyclave · #5 01-04-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snerek

MOTHER TRUCKER!!!

as i'm typing that post, i had my ear molds in cause i was practicing and the little plastic tap you use to pull the plug out broke! it pulled out of the ear mold and and had to get my roommate to pull it out with tweezers!

NOT COOL! my audiologist better fix it or give me a new one!

Do yourself a favor and just cut the other one off. You look like a tool with those plastic things sticking out from the side of your head anyway. I cut mine off within 5 minutes of walking out of the audiologists office. They've been that way for over 10 years.

Snerek · #6 01-04-2009, 08:02 PM

how do you get them in and or of your ear?!

i have long hair so they are not shown anyways. people just think i'm deaf dumb and wasted when talked to them cause they dont realize i have ear molds in.

looking forward to hearing your response. peace

bassist4dalord · #7 01-04-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snerek

looking forward to hearing your response.

Pun intended? Haha good luck!

bassmodder · #8 01-04-2009, 08:16 PM

I use the hearos that you can get from musicians friend and most other music stores. Long story short, I wear them ALL the time. Makes my instrument sound louder than it really is and cuts down on ambient noise.

Most importantly saves my ears. Well worth any sacrifice in tone. I also wear them at shows. Best 15 bucks I spent on gear.

onlyclave · #9 01-04-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snerek

how do you get them in and or of your ear?!

i have long hair so they are not shown anyways. people just think i'm deaf dumb and wasted when talked to them cause they dont realize i have ear molds in.

looking forward to hearing your response. peace

I kind of roll them downward and then up and out. Brand new molds are kind of sticky so that's why they are hard to get in and out of your ear. Give them a couple of weeks to build up a little oil and they'll go in and out easier.

Snerek · #10 01-05-2009, 08:40 AM

no, i mean how do you get them out if you cut off the plastic piece that is used to pull them out.

onlyclave · #11 01-05-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snerek

no, i mean how do you get them out if you cut off the plastic piece that is used to pull them out.

I'm assuming your earmolds are like these:
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx

Which are the same as what I have. What I do is kind of hook my thumb under the bottom edge of whatever part of the plug I can feel and roll it up- and outward. The same direction and shape as my ear canal. If that doesn't work for you try pull on the top of your ear lobe up and back at the same time. It will help straighten out that opening enough to pop them out.

Those little plastic strings are held in with superglue. If it's really a problem just glue it back in. I don't think the audiologist is going to make you a new mold just because the handle popped out.

Like I said, the strings came off of my plugs so many years ago I forgot that they were there originally. It has never been a problem.

guitfiddle0409 · #12 01-05-2009, 09:56 AM

I wear them almost all the time at gigs and rehearsals. Tinnitus and hearing loss (I have some in the upper mid area which is typical among musicians) are not good things to perpetuate!

Skywalker83 · #13 01-05-2009, 10:13 AM

I ordered a set of Elacin ER20's the other day. Im 25 , got really bad hearing loss and tinitus in my right ear. I figure it's best to do something now before it gets worse.

Vynns · #14 01-05-2009, 10:36 AM

I've had the same experience. Though I can't be bothered right now to find any articles on it, I faintly recall reading somewhere that, when the music is louder, we actually do "feel" the music better or "get into the groove" better or whatchamacallit. For me it was "More louder = more awesome". It seems this is attibutable to volume.

I have no idea how the article supported this notion, but it would make sense to pose that when a very loud sound reaches our ear, adrenaline gets distributed, sorta fight-or-flight reflex, yaknow? So that may be the reason we find loud **** awesome (provided an inherent level of awesomeness of course. My 4 yr-old cousin's SCREAMING LOUD toys for example, are brainscrapingly inrritating at best).

This of course, is all just me blowing it out my ass. As I said, I have no idea how the original article supported the notion, but it does seem to be something scientific-y.

Ah, science. Helping smart kids getting beat up since 1643.

Snerek · #15 01-05-2009, 12:49 PM

yea my molds like like this.

http://www.toddh.net/music/ear/

If its just super glue, maybe i could fix them

lomo · #16 01-07-2009, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmodder

I use the hearos that you can get from musicians friend and most other music stores. Long story short, I wear them ALL the time. Makes my instrument sound louder than it really is and cuts down on ambient noise.

Most importantly saves my ears. Well worth any sacrifice in tone. I also wear them at shows. Best 15 bucks I spent on gear.

Me too.