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Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs

#41
I just wanna thank you all for this great thread.
But one thing must be pointed out : make your band mates read this thread !
I've just emailed some URLs to my guitarist and drummer.
The drummer is already aware of that sort of things but the guitarist dude is ... a guitarist dude so he can't really understand everything ;) ...
Every rehearsal we have to tell him to turn it down.
 
#43
If they are moulded to your ear they will not fall out... simple...

The foam ones are a waste of time. you lose all sence of volume. If you need to get a vocal cue from your singer then your screwed....the list goes on.....

I have just ordered a pair of 25dB custom made plugs.

I need them more for the fact that i am also a pro DJ (thats how a 17 year old can afford 2 grands worth of kit :p ) In one club i DJ in the sound system is facing me!!! I need customs because i need to be able to hear my headphones, what i am saying on the mic...and of course the numbers i obtain from vairous members of the female race :P

Moreale of the story....Plugs for life, hearing for life.... (hey do you think i could get away with testing them in a chemistry lecture??)
 
#44
I'm planning on having some custom-made ear plugs. I realized that I already have a very very minor case of tinnitis. I can hear at late at night. I always thought that was just the way how people are.

I have a friend who got some custom plugs that have removeable filters. The ear plugs cost $120 and the filters cost about $60. So you can get one set of plugs and mix-n-match the filters (-10, -15, -25 db).

Cool stuff. Expensive though...but worth it, I think.
 
#45
Granny,

Did you see this one?
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45644&highlight=earplugs

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45644&highlight=earplugs Has the kinds you've described and the kind I reviewed in the penultimate post of the thread I liked to above. I've stood 20 paces from the stage through a Motorhead & Morbid Angel show with those and didn't suffer the least bit of hearing fatigue or ringing. And you can hear everything clearly. Maybe the best money I ever spent.
 
#47
Great topic! I own not one but TWO pairs of ER-20s, you know the "musicians hi-fi earplug" they sell in music stores for $15 - the best gear aquisition I have made so far.

I play in very loud bands, and in my cover band we rehearse in small concrete space with a loud drummer. My other guitarist(in his mid-30s) is always talking about how his ears hurt and he can't hear anything because "the space sucks". I've told him to get earplugs, now he has a pair but doesen't use em because "they suck" too. :confused:

I probably should look into custom fitted plugs next. I love plugs - earplugs that is! ;)
 
#48
Hearing Protection
Just wondering what others use for hearing protection when necessary? I have been useing Sonic II's which are much better than the foam thingy's but still muffle the sound substantially. I am hoping to find a better alternative?





Almost Always
My past experience I used them always. I used to work with a really extra loud guitarist. He would not turn down. Now that he is gone I haven't had to use them at practice, but might when we play out, and last nights practice got a little loud and I was getting ready to put them in. If you are wondering whether you should or not, The reason my old guitarist had to play so loud was due to hearing damage from from "playing so loud"!!!! I use Sonic IIs. You can find them at most music stores. They are much better than the foam things. I have heard you can get custom "professional" ones that cost hundreds of dollars but work like hearing aids or something. USE THEM !!!! if you even think you might be damaging your hearing.
 
#49
Originally posted by bizzaro
I have heard you can get custom "professional" ones that cost hundreds of dollars but work like hearing aids or something.
Click to expand...

Custom plugs are extremely seldom 'poor' if you buy them from a good doctor.

Incase anyone is wondering what causes the differences with different plugs, I'll try to explain what I have understood: The differences between foam plugs, hi-fi plugs and custom plugs are caused by different damping response(curve). The cheap foam ones tend to dampen the high frequences more than lows, and sound can be mushy.

Now, the hi-fi plugs dampen the frequences on more flatter curve, eg. almost even. Why they sound odd is because ear tunnel has natural dampening on certain frequences, around 4Khz if I recall correctly.

Custom plugs sound the best because they are made realizing this fact and have similar dampening curve than natural ear, only that the level is much lesser.
 
#50
Man, I think I read every single earplug thread on Talkbass. Funny, I've received a couple of compliments for wearing earplugs during my auditions - but they always came from other guitarists who weren't wearing them! Don't they care about their health?


Anyways, went to my doctor who will recommend me to an ear specialist. I may shop around when it comes time to buy the actual custom plugs but I want to get my ears checked out first by a professional.


Everytime I come away from an audition without ringing, I feel good. Real good.
 
#51
Originally posted by rabid_granny
I'm planning on having some custom-made ear plugs. I realized that I already have a very very minor case of tinnitis. I can hear at late at night. I always thought that was just the way how people are.

I have a friend who got some custom plugs that have removeable filters. The ear plugs cost $120 and the filters cost about $60. So you can get one set of plugs and mix-n-match the filters (-10, -15, -25 db).

Cool stuff. Expensive though...but worth it, I think.
Click to expand...

I have these. It's weird, they squirt foam into your ear and it hardens after a few minutes. I have the -15db, I want the next stronger. They are very comfortable, much more so than foam earplugs. Much less expensive than hearing aids.
 
#52
I love my ER-15's. They just make everything sound nicer, they take the edge off the extreme transients from the snare and cymbals, very slightly reduce the extreme high end, and make the whole mix so much quieter. If you can afford $1000 for a bass & amp, then surely you can afford $100 so you can still hear it in 20 years time. (Or alternatively be able to enjoy life without a piercing whistle following you around everywhere).

If you don't have earplugs, please at least think about getting some. I dread to think what damage has been done to my bandmates from a Mackie M1400i on the limit into two Acme Low-B2's, and all because the drummer can't play a normal (i.e. quieter) volumes.

Alex
 
#53
Originally posted by bizzaro
Hearing Protection
Just wondering what others use for hearing protection when necessary? I have been useing Sonic II's which are much better than the foam thingy's but still muffle the sound substantially. I am hoping to find a better alternative?
Click to expand...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is a better alternative.

Mike
 
#54
I second Pacman's assertion that you hear the bass better with ear plugs. I find they take out any boominess in the room so I hear the tone better. Especially important for fretless playing. I got the real deal, the individually moulded plugs some time ago, and they do not get in the way of playing or singing.

I have so far gotten away with the occasional high-pitched tone in one of my ears, but so far it has gone away after a minute or two. It's probably not even connected with music, just a cold or something. I hope. I'm scared to death of getting a bad case of tinnitus, I'm really sorry for those who have to live with that.

It's so easy to protect yourself. Just say "whatever" to those who think it's un-cool, but do use ear protection if you play loud (i.e. any time there's a drummer in the band...).
 
#55
Mike,
Are you familiar with Sonic II's? They are not the foamy's, But look similar to what yor are offering in that it is an ear plug with a mechanical device inside to reduce the harmful frequencies. And about the same price. Do you consider yours superior to Sonic II's?

Link Removed

Go to the bottom of the page for The Sonics.

And a little more info on them: Invalid Link Removed
 
#56
I had Sonic II's like 20 years ago. Ted Nugent used to be their spokesman. I cannot really remember how effective they are. The website that you mention states
The Sonic Sound Filters provide about 6dB of attenuation below 1kHz, and then ramp up to about 24dB at 8kHz.
Click to expand...
The ER-20's have a virtually flat response. I think that a flat response will more mimic your ears natural hearing than something like the Sonic II's

The EP's that I sell are made by etymotic research. ER's founder Meade Killian is the guy who invented the custom made filters. The same technology that is used in the custom filters are used in the ready fit ones that I sell. You might see brand names attached to the custom filters - (Westone) is the big one. All Westone does is make the earmold. They then just fit the ER filters into the mold. ER is really the tech leader in the field. They are also instrumental in the development of compression for hearing aids and other cool stuff.

Bizzaro, I would say to most people buy mine or invest in both and see which is better, it's a small investment into saving your hearing. But I notice that you are a Vermonter. A state rife with frugality (some might call them cheapskates), but as a former Vermont resident myself, I KNOW that one only really needs 2 pair of underwear to survive.

Mike

ps. as a resident of New York now, I own lots of underwear, not to mention socks
 
#57
As a design engineer for a hearing aid manufacturer I would just like to say SPEND THE MONEY ON PROTECTING YOUR HEARING. The most expensive hearing aid on the planet does NOT even come close to matching the quality of your own ears. (I've tested £3000 instruments with all the gadgets and fancy digital doodahs and they're NOT and NEVER will be as good as the real thing.)

Go to an Audiologist get your hearing checked and if you are going to use earplugs over any length of time, get a set of ER's. I've had a set for a few years now and like a few others I find I can actually hear the drums and bass BETTER with them in.

What's the point of spending thousands of Pounds/Euros/Dollars on your bass gear if you end up not being able to hear and appreciate it.

As for being cool, if anyone laughs at you, tell them to sod off and we'll see who's laughing in a few years time.

And now a quote from one of the tame Audiologists from the office next door.:D

"I'm fed up talking to musicians with 'ringing' in there ears. Tinnitus can't be 'fixed' it can only be prevented. Having said that, all you cool dude musos are keeping me in a job so keep up the good work suckers."
Mike Osbourne MSc, BAAS.

He's a nice guy really, he just hasn't had enough coffee yet...:D
 
#58
Mike thanks for your prompt response. I have always used protection and will definatley give the ER 20's a try. Like you said us Vermonters are frugal (cheap). Got no need to be spending on things I already got,....... as it were!! Thanks for your insight.

Got to be off to work...................where did I put that other pair of underwear;)
 
#59
Well, I have just bought a second round of ER-20s from Mike Dimin(thanks for the help Mike!) for myself and the rest of the band.

We had been trying the foam ones, but for music they suck. However ,as a biker too, I always wear foam earplugs when I'm out on the bike. Wind noise round your lid at 60mph can hit 105dB!!! On the bike frequency response isn't my main issue, so I use 3M disposable foam ones (I've just bought new tapered ones, can't remember the make - got the Best Buy in 'Ride' magazine)


When we started using the ER-20s we found a huge difference in sound clarity. Everything became clearer - and no ringing! One thing we all noticed was a squeak we hadn't heard before - turns out it was time for the studio owner to lube the bass pedal!!!!


I reckon I'll go for customer fit plugs sometime this year - sadly over here they are about £140 ($200) - so finding the 'disposable' income might take a few months. However, I think to preserve your hearing, it'd be a bargain at double that!
 
#60
Quote from Johnny BoomBoom
One thing we all noticed was a squeak we hadn't heard before - turns out it was time for the studio owner to lube the bass pedal!!!!
Click to expand...
:D Reminds me of that VW advert here in the UK

Deafness and tinnitus run in my family, so I always play with either pro-plugs (the vented clear plastic ones - originally designed for surfers). These are great in that they mainly cut the higher frequencies. However I now do more singing, so I've just been using tissues lately as I can hear myself better, and I never seem to suffer with any more than the usual mild tinnitus I have anyway. Think I'll check out those ER-20s now!

You have my every sympathy Jason. In the UK there is a society that can give further info and help - it can be very isolating.

Red wine will almost always give me raging tinnitus - but it's different from my usual tinnitus in that it's usually a very loud more pure note, and it goes away again thankfully!
 

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