anyone use custom made earplugs?

[hachi kid]

I recently looked into getting some made after hearing from Jesse F. Keeler in an interview that he used custom earplugs that have a flat frequency response. here's a pic:



they just came in today, and I have to say, if you don't know about them, GET SOME! look around town for an audiologist, and they can give you a hearing test, and get some custom ear molds made. I used a Beltone office, and it was pretty great. a little expensive...$75 per ear, but not bad considering you can't buy more hearing if you run out. but about the earplugs! I used to not use them until I played a gig in which my ears were ringing for about 3 days after, then I started (reluctantly) wearing them anytime I turned my amp up (band practice, shows), and just dealt with the high frequency roll off that starts at around 2k...hated it, but I couldn't risk being deaf in 20 years. fast forward to today when they came in: I practiced with my drummer, and with them in, it was literally like I had just turned the volume down on life. there was no frequency cut or muffling that normally comes with foam earplugs. just a solid 15dB reduction in volume. I could stand ear to my cab with my bass feeding back with the amp on 6 (100w all tube Carvin X100B), and not bat an eye. playing and going to shows are going to be SO much better!!! also, the best part is that the filters are interchangeable. you can use 9, 15, or 25dB filters that reduce the sound by just that much. here's some videos that have a little more info and lets you get an idea of how they look up close, and such. if you don't have some, GET SOME!!!! I can't stress this enough!!!


‪Musicians Earplugs‬‏ - YouTube
‪AuDNet Musicians Ear Plugs and Noise protection‬‏ - YouTube

[scotch]

Yup! I use -15db custom molds all the time.

[FutureTense]

I use a Westone custom set that I bought a year or so ago when I got with a loud rock band. I was using the throwaway kind before that, but they weren't clear enough sound-wise, so I got the molded set. I wear the -15db as well.

[Bassamatic]

This is really the best thing you can do for your ears! You can play on 10 and hear it like it is 4. AND - the custom earmolds are very comfortable since they do not press against the inside of your ear.

[Venom of God]

I use them too, -20db for me. Had them for four years now and they're still great! Would recommend them to anyone, well worth the cost.

[ggunn]

You guys must really play loud. I've got a set, too, but the 15dB reduction was too much; they made me feel disconnected from the music. I changed them to 10dB and they are great.

[Commreman]

yes - I use the 15 db custom molded plugs. They are great.

[hachi kid]

good to hear others know about this. and really loud, indeed. I'm actually thinking of going up to the 25dB filter because after a whole night of music, it can start to wear on your ear. the 15dB is good, but I'm looking at dealing with high volumes (other bands, and such) for 4/5 hours a night. these things are nothing short of a miracle, though. seriously.

[PrietoBass]

I bought Westone for my boys. $240/pair with -15dB and -25dB filters. They love them!

I wear hearing aids. I can control volume to -10dB, and I wear isolation headphones and do my monitoring through a mixer.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

I switch my filters depending on the kind of music I am playing... Jazz I use I think its -15dB and for anything else -25dB.

I used one set for literally 8 years... but finally lost a filter so just got a whole new set since I couldn't find the actual filters anymore...

Thankfully, I know an audiologist in the LA area now

Westone? Are those custom where you get foam injected into your ears and they are custom molded? I didn't know there was a brand.. guess I should look at mine, but I don't recall either of mine being that expensive...

[JKos]

What are the various brands of custom molded units available? Any options besides Westone?

Thanks,
John

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Id call up your local audiologist... or even a hearing aid store... see what they have... ask for Musicians Earplugs...

OCCASIONALLY, a medical college will offer them cheap if you go in for a hearing test... I remember students were getting them from a near by college when I was at berklee for $75!

[carlos840]

I use the -15db ones

Bought them after my first time playing with a drummer! Hat playing without them, every thing is just to aggressive without them!

(240$ is actually pretty good, i got mine from ACS and they where a bit more!)

[PrietoBass]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

Westone? Are those custom where you get foam injected into your ears and they are custom molded? I didn't know there was a brand.. guess I should look at mine, but I don't recall either of mine being that expensive...

Those are the ones. They work like nothing my boys had tried before, so for $240 I don't think they're that expensive. I checked market prices and it was fair. A lot also has to do with who is fitting them for you, and our audiologist and the practice that he is a partner of are top notch.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

I wasnt aware Westone made plugs like that until I did a google search for them. Pretty cool how they have all those different colors available!

Ill have to look at the little box on mine to see the brand... Ill snap a pic as well.. (has to remember which bass case they are in now...)

[dexter.nl]

Here in the department of Neuroscience there are two groups doing research in the auditory field. This made me really appreciate the violence we expose our ears to. Not only by playing in a band, but also all the youngsters with their iPods screaming at 90+ dB on a daily base! It makes me kind of sad, knowing these kids will have a hearing ability of a 80 year old, when they are just 40. Needless to say, I use custom molded plugs (Exinore; -15dB), they costed me ~170 EUR. And I'm trying very hard to get my bandmates get a pair of them as well!

[scotch]

Hmmm,... I got my Westone custom-fitted earmolds with the er-15 filters and a full hearing test w/ a detailed printout for less than $200 about two years ago. Any audiologist who makes hearing aids has a competitive market these days... Don't be afraid to ask for a discount!

[PolkaHero]

You guys are paying too much for hearing protection. I just got the latest Hearos High Fidelity ear plugs through MF for only $15. Good enough for me.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by PolkaHero

You guys are paying too much for hearing protection. I just got the latest Hearos High Fidelity ear plugs through MF for only $15. Good enough for me.

"Good enough for you" and "good enough for me" are two completely different things.


I use custom molds, with 9db or 15db filters (depending on the gig volume), and with the "total block" filter for lawnmowing, seriously loud shows, etc....

[Evil Undead]

I have to get some custom ear plugs. Gonna get saving