Discreet but GOOD hearing protection?

[White Funk]

Hidey ho my bass buddies! Well I DID get accepted into my new church praise team - WOO HOO! I'm currently quite out-classed by the other guys but I'm on a mission to LEARN and PRACTICE! Anywho.....the music is quite loud and currently, all the sound for then entire sanctuary comes from speakers right behind the musicians (I know, I know....). Being follicly impaired I have no way to cover my ears so I can't use my favorite earplugs - the orange silicone ones from Home Depot. I did find flesh tone foam earplugs online but they don't quite fit me right being on the thin side. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions on the quietest yet most discreet hearing protection. I already have hearing loss and tinnitus so I DON'T want to make it worse!

 

[socialleper]

The Eargasm plugs I use are very discrete and do a better job of attenuation evenly than foam plugs. When I put them in I need to be careful to put the little tab for removing them where I can get them.
I want to find something that is more accurate, but without pro fitted plugs, I don't know if that is possible.

 

[White Funk]

The Eargasm plugs I use are very discrete and do a better job of attenuation evenly than foam plugs. When I put them in I need to be careful to put the little tab for removing them where I can get them.
I want to find something that is more accurate, but without pro fitted plugs, I don't know if that is possible.

OK thanks I'll check them out but I hope I don't start getting porn advertisements! Hahahaha

 

[White Funk]

Wow, the eargasms have over 2,600 reviews on Amazon and mostly very positive - ordering now......

 

[socialleper]

I want to try these:
https://www.amazon.com/Earasers-Mus...746235&sr=8-3&keywords=earasers+earplugs&th=1

 

[RickyT]

Go to a proper audio clinic (where they make hearing aids) and get proper musicians earplugs. They cut the db without muffling the sound and take the harshness from things being too loud

Mine are flesh coloured and barely noticeable. They're worth every cent.

 

[lz4005]

Why can't you use the orange earplugs?

 

[White Funk]

Why can't you use the orange earplugs?

Simply to not draw attention to them. I'll be sitting in front of the congregation with the other musicians and I just thought it would look tacky.

 

[saabfender]

Simply to not draw attention to them. I'll be sitting in front of the congregation with the other musicians and I just thought it would look tacky.

I’ve worn gun muffs and regular closed-back headphones to attenuate environmental rock and roll noise. I couldn’t give half a dozen Our Fathers nor a handful of Hail Marys if someone sees me play with protection on. Stuff’s loud.

 

[White Funk]

I’ve worn gun muffs and regular closed-back headphones to attenuate environmental rock and roll noise. I couldn’t give half a dozen Our Fathers nor a handful of Hail Marys if someone sees play with protection on. Stuff’s loud.

Hahaha, yup I agree, but if I do have a choice, I'll take discreet.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I use Etymotics, about $12. Cuts the volume without muffling. Don't worry about being seen. Every time you see musicians on TV, they have in ears. The plugs will look similar to that, and no one cares.

 

[White Funk]

Anyway, thank you Socailleper for the suggestions, you have been very helpful. Other than that, I can see this thread going downhill, so I'll be moving on......

 

[tradernick]

Don't let the trolls get you down. When you say you're follicly impaired, you mean that you used to have (way) more hair than you do now, right?

I use custom fit plugs but in a pinch I have used these, which are way too expensive but are actually quite 'tuneable' in that you can slightly shift them in and out and get an optimal amount of -db attenuation. Surely there are cheaper versions of the same thing out there.

Not very discreet, these ones, but again I'm sure you can find the same type of thing (beeswax and cotton and lanolin) in a flesh tone.

Bottom line - if you're gigging with any regularity, invest in custom fit.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Standing right in front of speakers calls for more than a off shelf plug if you ask me. I wouldn't be shy to ask the congregation to pay for customs for everyone.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Radiant also makes DIY custom ear plugs that fit in the ear. I've actually used this to makes custom molds for my IEMs with decent results.

 

[jallenbass]

Ear Peace is another good one.

 

[SAlcott]

No one's going to save your hearing for you. Get pro fitted ear protection or pay the price later with tinnitus and hearing loss.

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[tradernick]

Get pro fitted ear protection or pay the price later with tinnitus and hearing loss.

Absolutely +1.

My tinnitus is terrible. Loud high pitched whine in my ears 24/7. For the rest of my life. I sleep with a white noise machine.

When I gig with younger guys who aren’t using protection, I actually play the dad card and tell them to start using it, and I tell them exactly what I’m currently experiencing.

Please use hearing protection.

 

[hbabels]

The best I’ve used are Westone custom molded. They’re $200 plus the dr appointment for molds around $50-$100.

Westone TRU Customs Silicone Earplugs - Custom Fit


The fit amazing , very discrete and reduce SPL along same curve as your hearing so they don’t cause that muffled sound the foam ones do. It sounds virtually identical to not having them in just turned down.

Worth the $$ as you can’t get your hearing back at that (or any) price.

On the cheaper end of things
EarPeace HD - Musicians Ear Plugs

These are decent for the $ & I keep a set as my backups. That said I highly prefer the custom Westone

 

[Ewo]

I use ACS Pro 15s or 17s. They're unobtrusive, and very comfortable. You can get different levels of attenuation with the inserts, which can be swapped out. I've used the 15s and 17s, and the mix you hear through them is true to what's in the house.

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Custom-made plugs are more expensive than off-the-shelf, yep. The advantage is that they fit better.