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Can anyone recommend hearing protection for musicians?

#21
I've been using the custom molded ones for over 10 years now, and they work great. comfy fit, sound good, etc.
Just invest the money and be done with it.

I also turned the guitar cabinets around, so the speakers face the wall, but the head is still facing the player. brings it down a little bit, but not enough.
 
#22
You need custom plugs. You must have them. Anything less isn't going to cut it. The little foam ones are useless. Hearing damage has no symptoms. One day you'll just wake up and your ears won't stop ringing, or worse.

However, bear in mind that past a certain point even the best earplugs won't help you. The rest of the band needs to turn down. If the drummer is being a ****** about his volume and won't change, then one of you needs to get out of the situation. I would also suggest getting an SPL meter so you can get a rough idea of how loud you guys play.
 
#24
Also, always insist that the guitar speaker cabinet(s) are NEVER pointed directly at you!!!

Plus always insist the guitar speaker cabinets are pointed directly at the guitarist head - and I mean directly at his head (tilt the cabs, use stands, whatever it takes), and if he moves away from them, immediately STOP and make him move back!!! That should help keep the guitar volume down.
 
#25
Joe Louvar said:
Also, always insist that the guitar speaker cabinet(s) are NEVER pointed directly at you!!!

Plus always insist the guitar speaker cabinets are pointed directly at the guitarist head - and I mean directly at his head (tilt the cabs, use stands, whatever it takes), and if he moves away from them, immediately STOP and make him move back!!! That should help keep the guitar volume down.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#26
Joe Louvar said:
Also, always insist that the guitar speaker cabinet(s) are NEVER pointed directly at you!!!

Plus always insist the guitar speaker cabinets are pointed directly at the guitarist head - and I mean directly at his head (tilt the cabs, use stands, whatever it takes), and if he moves away from them, immediately STOP and make him move back!!! That should help keep the guitar volume down.
Click to expand...

+2
:)
 
#27
UPDATE: I emailed the guitarist this conversation as well as the links to some of the other threads about this subject and -tadaa- he agrees whole heartedly and it will be addressed at the next rehearsal. The drummer has agreed to look into ways to dampen his drums or just play softer. He said he plays loudly because the guitar is so loud and vice versa. So at least it appears we're all on the same page. I scheduled an appointment at the audiologist and hopefully they won't tell me I'm screwed. My ears never bothered me all that much until the last month or so, but I know the years of loud music have taken at least some toll. I've had low level tinnitus since the early 80s when my high school band used to live by the motto that "If it's too loud you're too old". Something I knew was lunacy even back then.
 
#29
Mike Sorr said:
UPDATE: I emailed the guitarist this conversation as well as the links to some of the other threads about this subject and -tadaa- he agrees whole heartedly and it will be addressed at the next rehearsal. The drummer has agreed to look into ways to dampen his drums or just play softer. He said he plays loudly because the guitar is so loud and vice versa. So at least it appears we're all on the same page. I scheduled an appointment at the audiologist and hopefully they won't tell me I'm screwed. My ears never bothered me all that much until the last month or so, but I know the years of loud music have taken at least some toll. I've had low level tinnitus since the early 80s when my high school band used to live by the motto that "If it's too loud you're too old". Something I knew was lunacy even back then.
Click to expand...

Very cool, that's great they understand and are willing to lower the volume - and down the road they'll be glad they did too.

PS: I hope your appointment with the audiologist goes okay and not to much damage was done.
 
#30
All good points above.

Question about the drum issue, especially where you have a dedicated rehearsal spot in a house or the like. Has anyone invested in an electronic drum kit for a small rehearsal space so you undoubtedly CAN control the volume of the drums? They make some really nice kits now that even have heads that feel like real drums. There's a wide range of models and price points.

I'm especially interested in this because I just completed constructing a "soundproof" rehearsal room in my basement. It's large enough for a band, but still small enough that internal volume will definitively be an issue. I've put in a back line of a small bass and tube guitar amps already and I'm now considering whether to go with a standard drum kit or an electronic kit to control the volume in the room (and to minimize sound leakage outside the room). I know, of course, that much still depends on the attitude of the drummer with regard to an electronic kit -- but my bigger concern is the long term functionality of the room and the ears of the players jamming in it.

Any thoughts or experiences with this?
 
#32
Our drummer is known as "God of Thunder," because he can play REALLY loud. But amazingly enough, he can also play REALLY soft. It's called dynamics, and ever drummer needs to have that skill. It can take time. It seems like you guys are headed down the right road. Lots of good advice on this thread. We always RAISE guitar amps, so the guitar player is in his own sweet spot. We will NOT compromise our hearing just to rock and roll. You can play with power, and SOUND loud, without BEING loud.

No club has ever complained about our volume, but we do sound like a rock and roll band. It's worth putting in the work to control that stuff.
 
#33
One of my bands does exactly this, and it's fantastic for practice. Heck, we've even recorded a lot of our demos on an electronic kit.

boristhespider9 said:
All good points above.

Question about the drum issue, especially where you have a dedicated rehearsal spot in a house or the like. Has anyone invested in an electronic drum kit for a small rehearsal space so you undoubtedly CAN control the volume of the drums? They make some really nice kits now that even have heads that feel like real drums. There's a wide range of models and price points.

I'm especially interested in this because I just completed constructing a "soundproof" rehearsal room in my basement. It's large enough for a band, but still small enough that internal volume will definitively be an issue. I've put in a back line of a small bass and tube guitar amps already and I'm now considering whether to go with a standard drum kit or an electronic kit to control the volume in the room (and to minimize sound leakage outside the room). I know, of course, that much still depends on the attitude of the drummer with regard to an electronic kit -- but my bigger concern is the long term functionality of the room and the ears of the players jamming in it.

Any thoughts or experiences with this?
Click to expand...
 
#35
I bought a custom fitted pair years ago
and a generic pair recently. Both do a great
job.

IMAG0631_zpsd3241710.jpg
 
#36
Space Pickle said:
Yeah, V-drums are a great solution for rehearsals but unfortunately some drummers HATE them, so it depends on who you're working with.
Click to expand...

You are also stuck with the cymbal models built in to the e drum brain unless you have a good midi setup with nice samples on the computer. The e-drum sets with the nice full size mesh heads and a decent brain cost way more than a decent acoustic set too.

I love the idea, but as a former drummer, the cost, feel, and sound quality don't quite get there yet.
 
#37
lakefx said:
You are also stuck with the cymbal models built in to the e drum brain unless you have a good midi setup with nice samples on the computer. The e-drum sets with the nice full size mesh heads and a decent brain cost way more than a decent acoustic set too.

I love the idea, but as a former drummer, the cost, feel, and sound quality don't quite get there yet.
Click to expand...

Plus, if the drummer can learn the songs to where he can hit every fill, and every beat, but without the heavy attack, he will become a far better drummer, and then when he opens it up, he will have a ton more control. I sometimes forget what a basher our guy can be, until we have a song build to where that's appropriate.

Controlling dynamics is what takes the band to the next level. Be loud because you WANT to, not because it's the only choice you have. It has a lot more effect on the audience when you aren't just pummeling their ears all night.
 
#39
I can get boxes of disposable ear plugs from work. They fit better than so called musicians ear plugs and are much cheaper even if you have to buy them. There is no sound difference what so ever between them and musicians ear plugs. They use it as a selling point.
 
#40
A few years back my entire band purchased Vic Firth drummer's headsets.
We would usually only wear them when we would practice for hours at a time. At gigs, we were dumb young'ins who didn't wear anything.

You can find them for about $20-30 per pair. Look up Vic Firth dB22 Isolation Headset.
That's the modern version of what we had.
 

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