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Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs

#161
Originally posted by notabob
i got some hi-fi hearos for christmas. 12 db cut. thats all i need. i am in the loudest of places where w/out plugs i know that my ears would ring for days...because ive been there bfore w/out plugs. hearos are the stuff!! if i wear my hearos, i can hear the high registers and the low registers. if someone talks to me then i can hear them. my ears havent ringed (rung?) since christmas. $14.99 at GC.
Click to expand...

Some of the "hi-fi" hearos are actually made by ER and are exactly the ones that I sell -repackaged and more expensive

Mike
 
#162
I use ear plugs I "get" from work, they're to stop the sound of the heavy machinary. They are disposable ones though.
How about ear phones? can the do the trick if you get good ones? I hate having to stick those things in you ear, take them out, put them back in again ..... wax, wax, wax.... :hmm:
I ALLWAYS use earplugs, but wouldn't headphones do a better trick, couse they're bigger?
Does anyone have advice in that area?

In my old school we had them in our metal work class, and they seemd to really bring the sound level down.


SCODI
 
#163
the guy doing my bands recording right now has some headphones that were only like $50 and they have a 28 decible cut. its a lot dorkier to wear giant headphones at a gig that tiny little earplugs. if you get the good ones (hearos, er) you can just une a q-tip and some rubbing alchohol to clean the ear plugs and it doesnt take but 30 second to do it. $50 or $15? ill go with $15...
 
#165
actually, w/ the hearos, i can leave them in the whole time. i got to some really loud places and run merch for my brother's band. i can hear what the people are saying while i have the plugs in and while they are playing. because you can hear all of the frequencies, its just like hearing without them, but they cut everything 12 dbs. so you can still hear what you could without them just on a smaller scale.
 
#166
I too have had a loss of hearing (40% in left ear) in part, due to years of playing at excessive stage volumes. I would like to add that a pair of custom molded ear plugs can be had for around $100......a cheap price to pay. Another, more expensive option, is in-ear monitors. Although between $1200-1500 for good ones, still cheap when you think about losing THE most important instrument a musician possesses. My entire band went to in-ears over a year ago (even the drummer and guitar player!) and besides the benefit of saving our hearing, here are a few others:

- No more heavy wedges to haul around
- No more feedback (no open sound loops)
- Less stage volume, by far
- Easier to mix FOH
- No more headaches (Club owners excluded)
- Vocals are much improved and less vocal strain

If you have to remain cool and play at 140 db, enjoy it while you can, cause by the time you're my age, you'll be stone-deaf and I'll still be gigging!
-
 
#167
I just got fitted for custom earplugs this afternoon. It took them about 10 minutes for the whole consulting, fitting process. For $200 I get a set of -15db plugs and -25db plugs, a good deal. There's nothing more important than protecting yourself. (Get your mind out of the gutter :spit: )
 
#168
was going to get fitted for nice ones but after buying eckard ones that were not foam I realized i didnt need them SO i gave them to my guitarists and bought some overpriced er-20s...yea i know i should ahve ordered them through mike but i was like hell i need plugs and bought them. They have been a godsend for small DIY metal shows and every practice we have. for the price the er-20's rock.
 
#169
gflowers said:
I too have had a loss of hearing (40% in left ear) in part, due to years of playing at excessive stage volumes. I would like to add that a pair of custom molded ear plugs can be had for around $100......a cheap price to pay. Another, more expensive option, is in-ear monitors. Although between $1200-1500 for good ones, still cheap when you think about losing THE most important instrument a musician possesses. My entire band went to in-ears over a year ago (even the drummer and guitar player!) and besides the benefit of saving our hearing, here are a few others:

- No more heavy wedges to haul around
- No more feedback (no open sound loops)
- Less stage volume, by far
- Easier to mix FOH
- No more headaches (Club owners excluded)
- Vocals are much improved and less vocal strain

If you have to remain cool and play at 140 db, enjoy it while you can, cause by the time you're my age, you'll be stone-deaf and I'll still be gigging!
-
Click to expand...

The in-ear system sounds like the way to go...but I'd still need my ear plugs. Having plugs for band practice/shows is only half of it for me. I wear ear plugs when I see live bands every weekend as well. Sometimes being in the audience is louder than being on stage!
 
#175
"The best way to use ear plugs is to put them in right away. That is, right when you enter the club or right after a soundcheck (if you playing). This way it takes no "getting used to" the difference in volume with ear plugs. If you put them in halfway through a show you will no doubt be disapointed with the cut in volume because your ears have adjusted to the loudness."

Truer words have not been spoken...
 
#177
Some people have aked where can they get ear plugs other than online or music stores. I buy the foam ones from Walgreen's pharmacy. I imagine you can go to your local pharmacy and they will have a pretty good selection. They are generally less than ten dollars too. I use the foam ones all the time, and it will take you a couple of practices to get use to them. But you will enjoy a lifetime of hearing. An easy trade off. I look back on the times I did not use ear plugs and feel like a moron.
 

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