I've used Etymotic Musicians' Plugs ( Invalid Link Removed) for over 20 years. They are relatively expensive, requiring a visit to an audiologist to make custom fitted molds. They do a good job of attenuating the volume and maintaining the frequency distribution, although the psychological effect is of a somewhat "deadening" of the sound; most noticeable when you take them out and hear what the music "really" sounds like. For the most part, I can still hear well enough to keep my intonation as accurate as without them. Most of the time problems arise when the dynamic level of the music drops drastically and the drummer switches to brushes, and the ears have a hard time re-adjusting quickly enough. On the positive side, the earplugs also attenuate the mid-range bump that piezo pick-ups are known for, so your bass actually sounds somewhat better if you are using a piezo.
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Double Bass Hearing protection for DB players
- Thread starter Chris Fitzgerald
- Start date
Lolz. I was going to talk about diet and Tinnitus, but I thought I would get run out of town! Thank you for mentioning that. Vitamins do help.
I use some rubber "Christmas tree" shaped ones I got at the drugstore and carry them on a pouch on my keychain so they are always with me because I just can't tolerate high volume anymore. They do color and muffle the sound some, but I've just gotten used to it over time.
Etymotics are in no way linear in the bass, atleast at medium to soft volumes. It is pretty obvious in a bass section, they are a nightmare to play in tune with. As the only player in an amplified situation, they would bother me less.
I have 3 pairs - in the car, in my cable bag, & in my main gig bag.
Medical Alcohol swabs clean & disinfect them really well and are dirt cheap.
Timely thread, just this week I was looking into ear plugs.
I have the general fit "musician ear plugs" that sell for $14-$20, plus a generic version of that I got for $2. Different companies make basically the same product, made of silicon with the 'pine tree shaped flanges'. They are fine, for rock type volumes. I also use them to attend other people's shows and at parties. Two are not comfortable enough for me to wear for more than 30-45 minutes without taking them out and re-inserting them. The other pair I can wear for over an hour, but I still feel them. These generic fit ones can itch the sensitive skin inside the ear. I don't use them for my jazz quartet gigs as we keep our volume low.
I'm going to visit an audiologist next week to get moulds made for custom plugs. Why not? It's not expensive in the long run and is protecting the great asset of my hearing. I've read and heard that they are far more comfortable to wear, in addition to offering better acoustic fidelity.
One thing I notice is that practicing double bass arco in a regular size bed/office room is quite loud, and after 45 minutes can be tiring on the ears. I think the 9db filters on custom fit ear plugs is a great thing to have for DB (arco), cello, violin, viola, acoustic piano, and other such players who need to make acoustic sound wth deliberate attention to timbre, over many hours in a small room. Acoustic instruments can be loud.
5 years from now, I'm sure I won't miss the money saved in not buying custom ear plugs, but I will appreciate and use the custom fit plugs for those times I need it. The audiologists you visit will likely have many options to demonstrate for you. Most custom musician plugs have the mould for each ear, and then replaceable filters, with the choices being -9db, -15db, and -25db. You might get most use from the -9db filter if you most often do fine with no ear plugs. I will likely choose the -15db filter. There are some plugs where the filters are not removable, but are perhaps half the price of the other kinds. If you plan on choosing one filter and sticking with it, those types of plugs could be a better option.
I'm not so convinced about the -25db filters for custom moulds, for non-drummers. If the group has to lower volume by that much, chances are the sound is poor anyways and the 'acoustic flavouring' produced by generic fit silicon plugs will be of little importance, so I'll just use generics when needed. But the physical comfort issue is still relevant, and so those -25db filters might still be desirable for repeat loud-band players. ;-)
I also keep some generic foam plugs in every gig bag, and every coat inside pocket, just in case.
I have the general fit "musician ear plugs" that sell for $14-$20, plus a generic version of that I got for $2. Different companies make basically the same product, made of silicon with the 'pine tree shaped flanges'. They are fine, for rock type volumes. I also use them to attend other people's shows and at parties. Two are not comfortable enough for me to wear for more than 30-45 minutes without taking them out and re-inserting them. The other pair I can wear for over an hour, but I still feel them. These generic fit ones can itch the sensitive skin inside the ear. I don't use them for my jazz quartet gigs as we keep our volume low.
I'm going to visit an audiologist next week to get moulds made for custom plugs. Why not? It's not expensive in the long run and is protecting the great asset of my hearing. I've read and heard that they are far more comfortable to wear, in addition to offering better acoustic fidelity.
One thing I notice is that practicing double bass arco in a regular size bed/office room is quite loud, and after 45 minutes can be tiring on the ears. I think the 9db filters on custom fit ear plugs is a great thing to have for DB (arco), cello, violin, viola, acoustic piano, and other such players who need to make acoustic sound wth deliberate attention to timbre, over many hours in a small room. Acoustic instruments can be loud.
5 years from now, I'm sure I won't miss the money saved in not buying custom ear plugs, but I will appreciate and use the custom fit plugs for those times I need it. The audiologists you visit will likely have many options to demonstrate for you. Most custom musician plugs have the mould for each ear, and then replaceable filters, with the choices being -9db, -15db, and -25db. You might get most use from the -9db filter if you most often do fine with no ear plugs. I will likely choose the -15db filter. There are some plugs where the filters are not removable, but are perhaps half the price of the other kinds. If you plan on choosing one filter and sticking with it, those types of plugs could be a better option.
I'm not so convinced about the -25db filters for custom moulds, for non-drummers. If the group has to lower volume by that much, chances are the sound is poor anyways and the 'acoustic flavouring' produced by generic fit silicon plugs will be of little importance, so I'll just use generics when needed. But the physical comfort issue is still relevant, and so those -25db filters might still be desirable for repeat loud-band players. ;-)
I also keep some generic foam plugs in every gig bag, and every coat inside pocket, just in case.
Away from home now but the Westones look interesting. How hard is it to find an audiologist to do the fitting?
Doing a quick search in the Yellow Pages for "Audiologist", "Louisville, KY" yielded 67 results.
Invalid Link Removed
The hard part is selecting one. ;-)
-Close to you. -Helpful staff. -Products/Pricing.
Edit: Some audiologists might focus only on hearing aids, and not on ear plugs. They'll be upfront about that.
I think I just went on Westones site for an Audiotoligist that carried them, I live in a semi rural area of Metro Detroit and I found a place within a 20 min drive. I don’t recall having to wait for an appointment really, called and said I was available this day and they fit me in. Took 20 minutes or so for them to do a mold, then about a week later they came in. They send the molds to Westone, go back for to pick them up and made sure they fit, a little trim here and there, then good to go. Process took about a week and a half
I think I was the first customer at the place I went to to that was looking to get musician molds. Same process as getting fitted for a hearing aid I guess
Like a few other folks mentioned, I have the Westone ear plugs. I saw an audiologist and had them custom made. Some of the best money I've ever spent. I have filters for everything from playing a loud improv gig to going to see a Slayer concert. I use them all the time. The key is to put them in before you play. I found that most frequencies remain. Great earplugs. Do it!
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I've got tinnitus and have been using etymotic plugs for years. You'll have to ask folks listening to me, but I think I play as well in tune with as without. I actually think I play better in situations where there's crowd noise. Somehow lowering the overall volume helps me focus on the music better. My wife works in the field, and there's much evidence that we musicians are affected more than civilians cause we "open" the natural damping mechanisms that protect our ears in order hear deeply. Sort of like if an artist forced open their iris to allow more light in, instead of closing it to protect the eye. I would encourage musicians of all types, even if you play chamber music, to use protection at least sometimes. You don't want my tinnitus, believe me.
I am likely going to end up getting fitted for some fitted plugs with variable filter levels. Both the Westones and the Sensaphonics seem like similar products with all of the feature sets I am looking for. Will do some research on these and make a good informed long term decision. Thanks to the peanut gallery for the input!
In the meantime, is there a good set of cheaper universal fit plugs with interchangeable filters that I can work with and keep in my bag for the next time I start to get that "ugly gig surprise" feeling? I especially like the thought of of the -9db filters with the chance to up it to -15 if things get really ugly. I think that if those don't do the trick, I should probably just pack up and leave the gig and not worry who might be offended.
In the meantime, is there a good set of cheaper universal fit plugs with interchangeable filters that I can work with and keep in my bag for the next time I start to get that "ugly gig surprise" feeling? I especially like the thought of of the -9db filters with the chance to up it to -15 if things get really ugly. I think that if those don't do the trick, I should probably just pack up and leave the gig and not worry who might be offended.
I got the musicians ear plugs the whestones, and it was the best gear purchase I ever made. I got the 15 dbs. I found, if I put them in before I play, its very easy to get used to them. If you start playing then put them in, it's more difficult. They are flat response so it doesn't seem so drastic.
Molded ones from an audiologist. I have had them for so long I can't remember where I got them. I think I just called an audiologist. It wasn't hard to get. Its worth it. I do have some flat response over the counter things but they don't work so well and not as comfortable. I really enjoy them.
The ER-20s are a great choice for occasional use. I keep a set in every gig bag (as backups to my fitted plugs) plus one in my car glove box in case of emergencies. You lose a bit of the high end but otherwise they sound close to my fitted plugs, which coincidentally are also made by Etymotic Research.
I got fitted plugs after I developed a weak case of tinnitus. I went to an audiologist to get a fitting. I paid about $125 20 years ago, I assume they are pricier now. The fitting appointments were free under my health insurance. The plugs I have do have the interchangeable "filters", I use 15dB filters but also purchased 25 dB filters which give only half the apparent volume. I tried them once in the office at work and I felt like I was deaf!
I use either the ER-20s or the fitted plugs routinely when I go out to shows. Once you get used to wearing them, you'll start feeling that almost all amplified concerts are too loud. Sometimes I try listening to the first song without the plugs if it looks like it will be quiet enough, but most of the time a few choruses in I'm wearing them. Once in a while I need them at movie theaters!
On gigs, unless the drummer is really keeping his levels down I have to wear the plugs.
I got fitted plugs after I developed a weak case of tinnitus. I went to an audiologist to get a fitting. I paid about $125 20 years ago, I assume they are pricier now. The fitting appointments were free under my health insurance. The plugs I have do have the interchangeable "filters", I use 15dB filters but also purchased 25 dB filters which give only half the apparent volume. I tried them once in the office at work and I felt like I was deaf!
I use either the ER-20s or the fitted plugs routinely when I go out to shows. Once you get used to wearing them, you'll start feeling that almost all amplified concerts are too loud. Sometimes I try listening to the first song without the plugs if it looks like it will be quiet enough, but most of the time a few choruses in I'm wearing them. Once in a while I need them at movie theaters!
On gigs, unless the drummer is really keeping his levels down I have to wear the plugs.
I've had have the molded earplugs for many years but the last 2 years i've been using the Alpine plugs (got them from musiciansfriend). They're super soft and have interchangable filters. i usually always have different filters in with the strong one towards the drummer. I got the ones with 3 different filters. They really changed things for me as I found the molded ones a bit uncomfortable over long gigs
Alpine.
https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-Heari...d=1520867315&sr=8-3&keywords=alpine+ear+plugs
Discrete aluminum case.
I literally never leave the house without them.
When I'm not playing music, I'm doing live sound; my ears and my fingers are my livelihood.
At home, around power tools and lawn mowers and such, I'll usually use a combination of Hearos and over-the-ear muffs, but the Alpines have a flat response that doesn't muffle the highs.
For me, the 'medium' (silver) filters have been enough, but there is also a set of 'High' filters in the package.
I usually replace them once a year...
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