Depending on the audiologist, geographic locations, and so on, anywhere between ~ $170-$200 USD.
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For people asking if foam earplugs (that of course muffle the music beyond belief) will provide similar protection to custom ones, the answer is "yes, as long as the noise-reduction rating is reasonably high, and 'reasonably high' depends on how loud your band plays." If you are really into researching this issue, for a few bucks you can get a dB-meter: It will tell you how loud things are getting. But please get customs, b/c you are bound to tear those foam el-cheapos out of your ears soon enough out of sheer disgust with the low-fi experience you are hating. People don't think that they'll do that, but you'll surprised how many, especially after getting high on the music, some woman/man/whatever. Those custom lil' guys cost ~ $170-200 USD. They last a very long time, as long as you keep them clean (the brochure will tell you how; it's very easy). And they are worth your entire bass collection but--what a deal--they cost about as much as a Rondo w/shipping. DO IT!
Ok, this is a really stupid question, I know. But I'm the paranoid type.
Is it possible to damage your ear (physically) by using or misusing an earplug? I mean, inserting them too far or improperly; I find with the Hearos that they sometimes 'pop' loose and I have to push them back in.
Is it possible to damage your ear (physically) by using or misusing an earplug? I mean, inserting them too far or improperly; I find with the Hearos that they sometimes 'pop' loose and I have to push them back in.
You need to really push hard and deep to cause problems, but don't force in ear plugs if they don't naturally slip into the ear canal.
Another thing worth mentioning is that it's best to insert the earplugs in good time before going up on stage, I usually put them in one hour earlier. This is for many reasons, if you put them in just in the last minute you are not yet used to the different hearing experience. Also, worth protecting the ears in case the club is noisy, anyway.
And don't take them out/in/out/in all the time -- just keep them in place, after a while it's very natural to even talk to others while keeping the ear plugs in place. --Kent
PS: One more thing... If you have dirty ears and you push in earplugs time after time, you will get more and more ear wax pushed into the canal. Hence it's good to clean the ears as well as the ear plugs from time to time.
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Another thing worth mentioning is that it's best to insert the earplugs in good time before going up on stage, I usually put them in one hour earlier. This is for many reasons, if you put them in just in the last minute you are not yet used to the different hearing experience. Also, worth protecting the ears in case the club is noisy, anyway.
And don't take them out/in/out/in all the time -- just keep them in place, after a while it's very natural to even talk to others while keeping the ear plugs in place. --Kent
PS: One more thing... If you have dirty ears and you push in earplugs time after time, you will get more and more ear wax pushed into the canal. Hence it's good to clean the ears as well as the ear plugs from time to time.
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ksdandvik is 100% right. While different ears manufacture cerumen (ear-"wax") @ different rates, in normal, open-ear life, the stuff flakes OUT of your ear canal in the majority of cases. Frequent necessary use of ear-plugs will impact the wax and over time, it will become "audible." So do yourself a favour, and unlike most people (especially men), get yourself a primary-care physician and go in for routine check-ups. S/he will tell you how often "routine" should be in your case. Paranoid or not, don't get on the doc's bad side (it shouldn't be that way in a perfect world, but you're just dealing with a human being) by showing up every day, unless you have daily mini-emergencies that don't qualify for the ER.
Anyways, if your doc somehow forgets, just pleasantly request that s/he check your ears (with an otoscope--painless unless you've got an infection) for wax impaction. You'll usually know ahead of time, b/c things will sound muffled, more or less depending on the degree of impaction. If you've got a "wax-plug" in there, the doc has a nice kit to make your ear/s as clean as a whistle.
DO NOT try cleaning your ears with cotton swabs. Yeah, yeah, everybody knows that, but almost everybody does it anyhow. The last thing you want is a punctured ear-drum. Leave it to the pros; that's what they're there for.
Anyways, if your doc somehow forgets, just pleasantly request that s/he check your ears (with an otoscope--painless unless you've got an infection) for wax impaction. You'll usually know ahead of time, b/c things will sound muffled, more or less depending on the degree of impaction. If you've got a "wax-plug" in there, the doc has a nice kit to make your ear/s as clean as a whistle.
DO NOT try cleaning your ears with cotton swabs. Yeah, yeah, everybody knows that, but almost everybody does it anyhow. The last thing you want is a punctured ear-drum. Leave it to the pros; that's what they're there for.
I like the etymotics but because of my ear shape, they stick out and are more noticeable than on most people.
I decided to try these Alpines tho they are more expensive, I think they work fine and are smaller and fit better. I use the heaviest filter and still hear a good balanced sound. I think I actually hear better because all the harsh upper mids are cut back.
Anyone else try them?
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I decided to try these Alpines tho they are more expensive, I think they work fine and are smaller and fit better. I use the heaviest filter and still hear a good balanced sound. I think I actually hear better because all the harsh upper mids are cut back.
Anyone else try them?
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A word about my experiences with custom and foam plugs:
I have owned a pair of the custom-made 25db plugs. I didn't feel safe wearing them because they didn't cut enough bass or treble. Yes, they give a more "natural" response, but if you are in a very loud club environment for long periods of time, you can probably stand to do better than 25db. The 29db foam plugs are the only thing I feel safe wearing in that environment. They roll off a lot of bass and a lot of treble, and that feels a lot more comfortable in that environment. For just jamming with my buddies at a moderate rock band volume with no auxiliary amplification, the custom plugs were wonderful.
I have owned a pair of the custom-made 25db plugs. I didn't feel safe wearing them because they didn't cut enough bass or treble. Yes, they give a more "natural" response, but if you are in a very loud club environment for long periods of time, you can probably stand to do better than 25db. The 29db foam plugs are the only thing I feel safe wearing in that environment. They roll off a lot of bass and a lot of treble, and that feels a lot more comfortable in that environment. For just jamming with my buddies at a moderate rock band volume with no auxiliary amplification, the custom plugs were wonderful.
lucky we don't play that loud but i recently bought these really good ear plugs which are made for musicians.
works like a blast.
forgot there name but, dammit
works like a blast.
forgot there name but, dammit
To start with, got to the nearest Guitar Center and pick up a set of $15 Hearos, ASAP, and then read the thread about all kinds of other solutions, most of them more expensive. But you need to start protecting your ears like yesterday. --Kent
Custom made plugs are fitted to your ear canal, and since most peoples ear canal has a slight bend in it you need to (sort of) screw them in. I've never had a problem with mine falling out and it's basically impossible to push them in too far as well. Actually getting them out seems to be the problem sometimes.
Wow. I had no idea it could do THAT much damage! My ears were ringing after a rock concert.......but I can't imagine what it'd be like EVERY single night!! Thanks for the advice!!
I got my hearing checked and got fitted for my custom plugs today. Thankfully my hearing checked out fine, though the test seemed more suited for determining if people need hearing aids. The Audiologist that my HMO provides wasn't very informed about musician's plugs but I feel like my impressions were taken well and I approve of the vendor (westone). All in all, I'd recommend learning about this stuff for yourself because there is no guanantee that your Audiologist will be an expert in this topic.
I am glad that you found my L-O-N-G post "very informative," though I also hope that you will find information (or gear?
) that is far more than just "somewhat comforting." But "somewhat" is something, @ least.Man, nasty things happen to good people and that fact--known to us all (but repeating it helps)--in no way diminishes from the pain. The good news? There's lots of "good news" out there, but it's not a one-size-fits all deal. Many posters have given great advice in Re what helps them in coping with hearing-loss or tinnitus. Everyone finds a different path to greater peace.
Bottom line :scowl:
People are able to adapt and even thrive in spite of and often because of seemingly insurmountable woes. Pre-tinnitus, I was one cocky kid, my friend! My tinnitus cut me down quite a few ego notches back when it took up permanent residence in my auditory cortex. For a while, the notches were too many and I was downright depressed. Gradually, though, I clawed myself up to the right height and that's where I hang out these days. Basically, tinnitus forced me in various ways to care a whole lot more about other people. I became more attuned to things that were troubling others (I admit, it helped me not think about what was troubling me) and do more for others and less for myself. No, it didn't turn me into a recluse or some Holy man. It just made me more human.I write a great deal due to my line of work (and wannabe writer syndrome), but fear not.... I'm done with this posting, after saying this with 100% conviction: Although I am not Heaven Forbid "prescribing" tinnitus and other beasties, I know now that, in the balance, it turned out to be my best friend. Yes! And of course I am obsessive about my hearing-protection now!
Bass On
Just came across this and I wanna once again stress the importance of this. I have had tinnitus in my right ear since I was 16 (i'm now 22) when I came out of a club I had got into underage as I knew the band who was playing and my ears were SCREAMING at me. Seems to have settled down but I think thats just me getting used to it.
I have to suggestions that I think are suitable here:-
1) Bio-ears - re-moldable, re-usable, ani-bacterial silicone plugs. difference with these is they dont actually go into your ear canal itself, you stretch them over your ear and the silicone sticks to your skin to "seal" it over the ear. Brilliant and only £5 a set (3 pairs) which last around a month each, depending on yr gig/rehearsal schedule. Find them here:-
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2) Ear defenders - Yea, you look like a bit of an idiot (especially me in my luminous high vis ones!) but a friend of mine who is a mechanic at an airport got me a pair and they work wonders too, although the pressure on the sides of yr head after wearing them for a 4 hour rehearsal can put you off.
Sorry if this is bringing up an old thread, but like many of you who have posted on here, I feel really strongly about this especially since I did myself permanent damage at such a young age.
And, once again, turning down helps......
I have to suggestions that I think are suitable here:-
1) Bio-ears - re-moldable, re-usable, ani-bacterial silicone plugs. difference with these is they dont actually go into your ear canal itself, you stretch them over your ear and the silicone sticks to your skin to "seal" it over the ear. Brilliant and only £5 a set (3 pairs) which last around a month each, depending on yr gig/rehearsal schedule. Find them here:-
Invalid Link Removed
2) Ear defenders - Yea, you look like a bit of an idiot (especially me in my luminous high vis ones!) but a friend of mine who is a mechanic at an airport got me a pair and they work wonders too, although the pressure on the sides of yr head after wearing them for a 4 hour rehearsal can put you off.
Sorry if this is bringing up an old thread, but like many of you who have posted on here, I feel really strongly about this especially since I did myself permanent damage at such a young age.
And, once again, turning down helps......
Dig this: This thread will never grow old. People will continue to suffer from years of YM/WIS (Young-Man/Woman Invincibility Syndrome), I'm afraid, in every generation. Thus, this thread is eternal. Sad but true. So let's keep it useful. Just know that 99% of your peers are burying their ears in the sand just like me & mine did (~90% of my peers, now clinically deaf, still bury their ears, although they no longer need sand-plugs in order not to hear). Awareness might've increased, but the epidemic levels of YM/WIS have not decreased one iota. You're 1% of the bass masses.
Everybody reveres the inventors of the electric guitar/s and bass/es, but what they forget is that, very probably unknowingly, these musical innovators unleashed an epidemic of early-onset hearing problems on generations of young people. What I can tell you for certain is that the music stores and chains, that continue to refuse to emphasise the hearing risks and how to reduce them (and most of 'em are of that ilk) are responsible for the results of their greed. But has a class-action suit ever been brought against any of the mega Wal-Music chains? Uh, no.
Would I ever give up my electric basses? Never! But I'd pay quite a bit to give the "Founding Fathers" and especially the modern axe-pushers (who DO know better) my tinnitus.
Later Y'all.
