That is crazy and scares the crap out of me. I'm not in a band, but I listen to headphones at high volume. Tons of noise drives me to the point of nausea.
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ear plugs are definately a great idea. one time i was just foolin around on some instruments with a couple of friends and my ears didnt stop ringing for a week.
I've worn earplugs for years. For the last 7-8 years I have had the custom fit ones from an audiologist. However, they do not seem to block out much noise right now (they're 25's to boot). It feels as if they don't quite fit right. Can your ear canal change shape? Do I need to get refitted, which I presume means going through the entire process again? Since they don't seem to be working real well right now, I started using the higher quality foam ones again. But with these, when I try to sing backup (Idon't sing lead), I find it extremely difficult to do so. Singing with the custom molded ones is no problem. BTW, I've been playing a long time now and it's gotten to the point that the drummer by himself can leave me with a clogged ear feeling in just a minute or so. Granted, our drummer plays hard, but I believe that this is also the cumulative effect of loud music for forty+ years - and I didn't wear earplugs when I was young and immortal - but I know better now.
Cotton swabs are okay for the outer ear. It's when you try to clean the inner ear that you will run into risks. If you're putting the swab in farther than a finger can reach then you're too far. Stick to what can be seen from the outside. This will keep unsightly wax build up clear.
For the inner ear you can get liquid cleaners that are designed for inner ear cleaning. They basically break down the wax which can then be rinsed out with water.
The ear is pretty good at keeping itself clean so there's no need to be aggressive about cleaning the inner ear.
And although it's probably mentioned in some posts in the large amount of posts, I would like to emphasize protecting your ears outside of even musical settings such as noisy work environments. The noise itself doesn't have to seem loud to begin with, but overtime damage will accrue as mentioned. I have one friend who worked at a water treatment plant for a number of years. While the sound there isn't unbearable or uncomfortable it still is damaging, and hearing it 8 hours a day every work day doesn't help.
If you have been using the same pair/s of custom plugs for the past 7-8 yrs, the problem might be easy to rectify. See, the mold deteriorates over time in various ways, which can result in anything from slight shrinkage to loss of plasticity (Do they seem more rigid?). Also, the filter is subject to the ravages of time, attenuating less effectively as a result.
My recommendation is that you take the plugs to a good audiologist (one who won't sell you new ones even if yours are still great) so that s/he could evaluate whether they still attentuate (on the average) ~ 25dB & aren't heading downhill. Take advantage of the visit to have your hearing tested for sensitivity (audiogram, speech recognition, etc.) & the presence or hopefully absence of hyperacusis (hyper-sensitivity to sound, which can stem from many sources).
Yeah, I can relate to the Young Man Immortality Complex. Most of us can. I had it in my teens and twenties, but nothing like the onset of bilateral tinnitus (with, amazingly, no hearing loss) to cure that testosterone-fueled cognitive-behavioural condition. Actually, I know plenty of musicians who develop tinnitus as well as substantial hearing loss but remain in a state of denial that anything's wrong. Sad. What? What did you say?
Good luck. Seriously, have those plugs and your hearing checked ASAP: Now that we're all grown up, we find knowledge to be rather nice, eh?
Tonight was a pretty big show for us (album release, etc)...
We played an intro on mp3 throught the Pa and then came up durng that intro...
So, normally I go on stage chilling, just set everuthing yp, put cables in, plug in earplugs etc;
Now tonight I was rushing to get everything done befor e the intro would end, so when the guitarplauer started his first chords, I thought 'holy **** his guitar is way to loud!', then the drummer crashes in hitting everything he's got.
I then realise as pain shoots through my left ear...I forhot my earplugs!!!
I was like a bomb going off, I can't understand how people can wach us without going home with bleading ears...
So I didn't play the first 8 bars of the song, because I was puttig in my earplugs!
And yes everybody bought me free beers all night long hence the lousy english/typing.
We played an intro on mp3 throught the Pa and then came up durng that intro...
So, normally I go on stage chilling, just set everuthing yp, put cables in, plug in earplugs etc;
Now tonight I was rushing to get everything done befor e the intro would end, so when the guitarplauer started his first chords, I thought 'holy **** his guitar is way to loud!', then the drummer crashes in hitting everything he's got.
I then realise as pain shoots through my left ear...I forhot my earplugs!!!
I was like a bomb going off, I can't understand how people can wach us without going home with bleading ears...
So I didn't play the first 8 bars of the song, because I was puttig in my earplugs!
And yes everybody bought me free beers all night long hence the lousy english/typing.
Does anyone here have any experience with any of the various brands of earplugs? Any specific sets to look into or avoid?
First post by the way
First post by the way
Does anyone here have any experience with any of the various brands of earplugs? Any specific sets to look into or avoid?
First post by the way
Etymotic, custom ones best but the ER*20s (sold as Hearoes over at Guitar Center) are good, too.
http://www.etymotic.com/
Avoid the non-linear, classical earplugs, as you will hear a muffled sound.
Does anyone here have any experience with any of the various brands of earplugs? Any specific sets to look into or avoid?
First post by the way
The xmas trees are a great bang for the buck
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But if you get custom molded ones you can probably get lots better, but as usual, more pricey.
D.Don
Custom fit plugs are expensive but offer you a lot of options in terms of fidelity and being able to choose the amount of reduction via different inserts.
Those in the "jar o' orange ear plugs" at Walgreen's, however, are cheap and offer enough protection to be sufficient in most band environments. Considering the rate at which I lose ear plugs, I will with with Walgreen's!
Those in the "jar o' orange ear plugs" at Walgreen's, however, are cheap and offer enough protection to be sufficient in most band environments. Considering the rate at which I lose ear plugs, I will with with Walgreen's!
I got inear customized ones because I wanted a noise reduction that still allowed communication with others.
They were pretty expensive but the noisefilter can be replaced. Besides I wanted pretty small ones so they seemed to be ok.
They're pretty useful when u go by plane and lil' screaming kids r surrounding u. I'd say the investment alrdy paid
They were pretty expensive but the noisefilter can be replaced. Besides I wanted pretty small ones so they seemed to be ok.
They're pretty useful when u go by plane and lil' screaming kids r surrounding u. I'd say the investment alrdy paid
I got inear customized ones because I wanted a noise reduction that still allowed communication with others.
They were pretty expensive but the noisefilter can be replaced. Besides I wanted pretty small ones so they seemed to be ok.
They're pretty useful when u go by plane and lil' screaming kids r surrounding u. I'd say the investment alrdy paid
I like what I read there, what did it cost ya?
D.Don
"EP3 Sonic Defenders® and EP4 Sonic Defenders® Plus protect your hearing, without interfering with your ability to hear routine sounds and conversation. Safe sound levels are allowed to pass through while potentially harmful noises (above 80dB) are reduced via a proprietary design that incorporates the patented Hocks Noise Braker filter. When even more hearing protection is requiredwithout the need to hear routine sounds or conversationsSound Defenders' attached stoppers can be inserted. The right/left color-coded Sonic Defenders are made from a soft, hypoallergenic polymer and ergonomically shaped, with a multi-flanged stem, providing a comfortable all-day fit. And their low-profile design means they can be worn while wearing a helmet or mask or while using a phone or headset.
EP3 Sonic Defenders® are double-flanged for a proper fit for most people.
EP4 Sonic Defenders® Plus are triple-flanged for those with larger ear canals."
That sounds pretty interesting.
I've been using a pair of Hearos "hi-fi" plugs for the last three years or so, and they are FANTASTIC for the money (I think they were $20, but I got them for free). They kill enough of the volume that practicing is not painful, but you can still hear everything that is going on with the guitars and vocals.
Not bad!
Next time my economy is on a top, I'll sure have a look at that, very convenient to have when travelling, and to save the ears when going to concerts etc.
D.Don
Next time my economy is on a top, I'll sure have a look at that, very convenient to have when travelling, and to save the ears when going to concerts etc.
D.Don
With tax - 9 clams US out the door. A good investment IMHO. The mediums (EP3) fit me well and I am no fly-weight.
