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how did musicians play live without hearing protection??
- Thread starter bon viesta
- Start date
You have to buy high end stuff. That’s what I did : custom molded with 10db filter. I hear everything, by softer and very comfortable. But this has a price : 275 $ Canadian. I tried cheaper ones (50$) but all I heard was mud and I couldn’t stop removing them every 5 minutes because of lack of comfort.
Yeah, nthing that a lot of those people *do* have hearing loss, whether they like to talk about it or not.
Also, there are genetic and other factors, so a few people will get lucky despite a lot of exposure to loud noise. (And vice versa, some people will develop hearing loss regardless.)
Still definitely a good idea to protect your ears as best you can!
Also, there are genetic and other factors, so a few people will get lucky despite a lot of exposure to loud noise. (And vice versa, some people will develop hearing loss regardless.)
Still definitely a good idea to protect your ears as best you can!
Oh I’m sure there’s a real science to it. Obviously a big difference with high end compared to one use stuff you get free at work.
As I mentioned in another thread. The only true protection I know of comes in the form of muffs. The entire ear needs to be covered. You can block the canal all you want but the ear is made up of small delicate bones that need cushioning from vibrating together or at all. I’m absolutely sure your custom plugs are a huge improvement in protection over standard ones though. We still need to “hear”.
Drummers that abuse cymbals are even harder on your ears than amplifiers. Weird, isn't it? Use good plugs; it's the only solution.
How did the old school car guys paint molten lead on the skin of cars barehanded and barefaced with a cigarette in their mouth?
How did Marie Curie handle radium?
How did Marie Curie handle radium?
Marie Curie died of radiation poisoning. My father was a glazier. He died of lung disease. Respirable crystalline silica doesn’t degrade in the lungs.
They blew their ears out. Alex Van Halen is nearly deaf. I remember a lot of concerts in the 70's that were physically painful.to be at, the band was so loud. Im sure I have at least some hearing damage. The worst one I remember was Carlos Santana, mind-bendingly loud. Half the audience walked out. It was like somebody poking your eardrum with an icepick. Inexcusable.
After playing in power-pop originals (and one cover band) for many years after moving away from the loud hard rock bands of my youth I thought I'd be okay.
Enter hard rock (almost metal) band with punk-roots guitar player, and loudest drummer ever.
He set up a china cymbal on my side. That was a few years ago, and the ringing is still constant.
Enter hard rock (almost metal) band with punk-roots guitar player, and loudest drummer ever.
He set up a china cymbal on my side. That was a few years ago, and the ringing is still constant.
I suppose it depends on how close the quarters are. Guys in my (limited) experience never had a problem with it.
Custom molded means that it fits your ears. Here are my plugs with the 10db filter and my IEM, both custom molded. With the plugs, I hear everything, really, but 10db softer. I can easily hear my bandmates talking between songs when we rehearse. I also hear the high frequencies without any problem, only softer. Nothing to do with construction-type earplugs or muffs. The IEM cut 25db, so I have to rely on the soundman during a gig. We sometimes use a cheat mic to capture our conversations between songs when playing live.
Actually, we do... Maybe you don't know enough old guys.
I started playing in 1967, played hard rock for years with two SVT's and have been playing pretty consistently since then part of it full time, my high end is not real good, drops off pretty steep at about 10K but then again not many people my age have good high end, I wouldn't change a thing. I will say though that I did avoid any painful situations, loud cymbals or snares etc. like the plague. I did play in one band in which the drummer hit SO HARD I wore an ear plug on that side when ever I played with him in a small room but other than that I've never worn anything and play with guys my age and none of us every did wear any ear protection and I don't know any player my age who has significant hearing loss or tinnitus.
I will also say I have mostly been a club player although I did play some big stages in my time. I'm not against it but in my day you wore ear plugs which only knocked out the high end, if I were to ever go on the road with a loud band today which is highly doubtful I would maybe look into some modern ear protection.
I don't, I'm 68. Used those things in my avatar for years and still do when I can. I know plenty of old guys with no hearing problems. Huh?
I don't, I'm 68. Used those things in my avatar for years and still do when I can. I know plenty of old guys with no hearing problems. Huh?
As a player and FOH / Monitor guy for decades, I always plugged or wore shields when not working, a move from my day gig, and it really paid off.
These goldarn young whippersnappers are all soft I tell ya! In my day we used 4 SVT's on each side on 10 and we carried them in ourselves and used 15 lb Fenders!! $#$%#$#$%%E#@#@#!!!!!!!
I wore nothing and it really paid off.
