Hearing Protection?

[Beej]

I always wear them, at least partway. Hearing is a useful thing. I have a deaf son, so had a renewed appreciation a while back.

 

[socialleper]

Almost always. Whether I am playing or in the audience. I am using Eargasim plug now. I like the design of Earasers, but the fit just doesn't work for my ears.

 

[TomB]

Doesn’t music sound extremely dull when you wear earplugs? Or are there earplugs that can attenuate all frequencies equally?

That’s the major advantage of the filters that fit Westone etc custom molds - they do exactly that. ER-20’s aren’t bad either if you don’t mind how they look. They actually “clean-up” the white noise on loud stages, making instruments more distinct, especially the bass. With any solution you’ll need to adjust to the way your voice sounds in your head.

 

[McG]

Doesn’t music sound extremely dull when you wear earplugs? Or are there earplugs that can attenuate all frequencies equally?

High quality attenuating ear plugs lower all frequency levels evenly (or close to it). Basic foam plugs, although better than nothing, mostly filter mids and highs and "dull" the music.

 

[Williethump]

Here's my invention idea.
Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headphones produce a precise counter sound wave to cancel outside noise.
For tinnitus victims, drop a mic down my ear and record the hellish hums. Then manufacturer the exact opposite sound and pipe that in.
I still have no hearing in those freqs but at least it would be blessedly quiet for once since 1969 in my cacophony world.
I give this idea to the world. Get back to me, bioaudioprosthesis-inventors, I'll be your 1st customer.

 

[redwood]

I bought the molded Westones about 5 years ago. I wear either those or IEM. Takes a little getting used to, but well worth it. I can drive home from a gig now and hear myself or the radio. I also find the plugs actually improve the sound at concerts. They cut all the extraneous noise bouncing around.
My wife is experiencing extreme, and fairly sudden hearing loss. I see her daily struggle and I'm doing everything I can to avoid it for myself.

 

[Mark_70]

Yes...15 dB filters in Weston custom ear molds...a must for loud gigs/rehearsals. I don't use them for acoustic gigs, usually only electric gigs. They have a very flat frequency response, and I can still hear it all...25 dB filters is too much for me. I did the molds through an audiologist and had my hearing checked too...I am 58 and I still have hearing in the normal range after over 40 years of playing and hunting, but nearing the edge of the normal range, and its only a matter of time before I develop a hearing deficit. The last pair cost me $275 over the summer, but worth every penny. I also keep generic ear plugs in my car just in case. You need to have them redone every 5 years or so for a tight fit. I also wear them if there is an opening act so my hearing doesn't get tired before I have to play. I've never had an issue getting use to them...on my third pair in about 15 years. I also wear hearing protection for concerts, mowing, chain sawing, etc...

I occasionally get poopie for wearing them on a gig. I ignore the ignorance and keep them in. Preserving my hearing is more important...

^
all of this..
I'm a bit less lucky.. In my late 40's and some annoying but bearable tinnitus. I will not play a gig without the Weston molded plugs, except acoustic. Don't really care at this point if people look weird at me.
Also take them with me when I go to concerts - and put them in when things get loud. Again - don't care for the looks. Just won't risk the tinnitus getting worse than it already is. Even put them in when mowing the lawn and riding motorcycles.

You only have one set of ears..

Regards
Mark

 

[oldNewbie]

Here's my invention idea.

For tinnitus victims, drop a mic down my ear and record the hellish hums. Then manufacturer the exact opposite sound and pipe that in.

Except rarely, doesn't work like that. The noise we hear is generated in the brain, using its amazing fill-in-the-blanks feature (not a bug). Some people's ears generate noise but that's not likely you. Sorry. Hearing aids help reduce the ringing by boosting the notched frequencies, and the brain stops trying to synthesize a signal.

 

[Bassamatic]

Always for the last 15 years, more important now that our drummer is a hard hitter. I use Hearos, or EAR, or the latest are Mugig I found on line quite inexpensive and work quite well. Pretty flat response and about 15 dB attenuation.

 

[ofguilt]

I wear them all the time practices or playing live and Going to shows. Heck I use them at sporting events sometimes too, mowing the lawn, doing projects at the house etc.

Thankfully I started using them early on, but not religiously until about 15years ago. I grew up going to punk and hardcore shows and playing in hardcore bands. I did plenty of damage in my youth I’m sure. The loudest show by far was seeing Ministry in a club venue on the ‘in case you didn’t feel like showing up’ tour, just after they mind is a terrible thing to taste’ came out. Uncle Al likes it LOUD. All of us from highschool who went had ringing ears for a week.

 

[SactoBass]

Yes. Gigs and practices.

But there's more: I ALWAYS bring them to concerts nowadays, because most audiences get blasted with a level of loudness that should not be legal.

^^^THIS!!!

Practices, gigs, and concerts. Always!

 

[Rfan]

Got custom set when I was about 40. One was awesome, one was not, even after multiple mold impressions. I had some hearing loss already at that point. A little over 2 years ago I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, rendered me deaf in one ear. I have about 30 % of what would be considered normal hearing remaining, and
that is with my BICROS hearing aids. Very sensitive to volume now. Live, amplified music in most instances is intolerable. I may give the P&W band a t church a try. Will use isolation headphones. Hopefully it will be tolerable. Even though it has been a while I enjoy playing with others and would like to do it again.

 

[2112]

ALWAYS wear ear protection. -35 dB foam earplugs at rehearsal, IEM's at gigs.

We're pursuing a hobby or vocation that is enjoyed by our abilities to hear, depends on our abilities to hear, and that could (quite easily) damage our abilities to hear. I think you'd have to be a real piece of samsonite to not protect your ears. But hey that's just me.

 

[Ric5]

Hey guys and gals, a long time member here but just started posting. A question for all of you. Do you wear ear protection? I bring this up because the drummer I play with has to wear headphones(the ones you would wear in construction) because of a perforated ear drum which wont heal. I have plugs that I bought and were molded for my ear canal from a hearing aid retailer. There was a choice of -5. -15, and -25 db. I have been wearing them for almost 20 years. They did take a long time to get used too. However, when ever I have removed them when playing the volume was almost unbearable.

Our singer uses a wad of Kleenex and the guitar player does have the same kind of protection but rarely uses them. I think my hearing is still pretty good for my age and encourage others to wear some kind of protection.

I don't wear hearing protection …

Instead I demand that the band does not play too loud otherwise I quit ...

I have pissed a lot of people off … but I still have about 95% of my hearing … I lost a little off of the high end ...

But I do wear hearing protection when I go shooting

One band I was in used in ear monitors and that can protect your hearing if you use them right

I have stopped playing and used both hands to cover my ears when a band gets too loud … this saves my ears and sends a message to the volume offenders

 

[kevindahl]

Yes it does and it takes a long time to get use too, for me anyways. The biggest plus, other than saving your hearing, is you can hear your vocals better.

 

[Samatza]

Yes, yes, yes! I use IEM at a sane volume, it’s easy to go deaf with those too.
Seriously, our hearing is irreplaceable, once it’s gone it’s game over.
Mine has deteriorated a little with age but it’s still pretty good. Ear plugs are good, if IEM is not available I’ll use them but I put them in half an hour before count off, that way my ears adjust to the level change.
Please all, protect your hearing, it’s your most valuable asset.

 

[jbybj]

When our drummer switched to electronic drums, ear plugs became non-essential. Our guitarist are sane, it was always the cymbals that caused the pain.
Always have protection on hand as an audience member though.

 

[marko138]

I've worn hearing protection since I was young. Every band practice, every gig and every concert I attend every time. It just sounds better anyway.

 

[Beersurgeon]

I use protection all the time except gigs. Band practice is IEMs and I had to fight for this. My guitarist is deaf and by switching to IEMs and a digital mixer, he can hear himself for practice.

For concerts, I have to wear earplugs. It's way to loud for me.

 

[marqueemoon]

Yes. I use the Radians ones you mold yourself. They’re about $10 on ebay. Mine are pink.

I have a little hearing loss in my right ear and occasionally get tinnitus-like symptoms, though rare.

At this point I’ll happily sacrifice a little fidelity when playing live to preserve what’s left. Sure I could get fancier plugs, but I’d probably just lose them.