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Noise reducing earplugs: protection from the volume war?

#65
I use DUBS they filter the sound or something. I find that I can actually hear the individuals better with them in, it's not just jumbled sound like before. I originally bought them when I worked for Sam ash. The busy days where a challenge for me. Because of the large amount of people noodling I had trouble hearing what people were saying to me. After the DUBS I could hear someone talking next to me while the guy playing too loud across the room was muffled. They truly were a game changer.
 
#66
I didn't need them in the last band I was in, but my current band is loud rock. I have been using the off the shelf Westones with 15db reduction. I like them much better than the foam "block everything" plugs, but still have been experiencing ringing after gigs and rehearsals, so I went on Monday to get fitter for custom Westones. $220 with one set of filters, including the fitting. A lot of scratch, but I want to retain my hearing.
 
#68
Crater said:
I'm on the verge of quitting the band I'm in. I play guitar in this band, I'm a second banana/sideman. We're all 50+ years old, and the band is definitely a 'hobby band' - so no money will be left on the table if I choose to leave. And my bandmates are super nice people, no problems there either.

But there IS a volume war. Guitarist #1 has a known, diagnosed hearing loss. Drummer plays LOUD. The 'singer' (we're supposedly a punk band) screams and yells in the mic, and the PA is set to be loud enough but just short of feeding back. I'm sick of having my ears rings for hours after practice, and I've been noticing the beginnings of tinnitus lately.

Anyone have experience using "Hearos" or another brand of noise-reducing earplugs? I'm anticipating a loss of clarity, especially the ability to hear my own playing clearly, but I think I can adapt since I'm primarily the rhythm guitarist.
Click to expand...

Another vote for Earasers. I'm the only one with sensitive ears in my band (or the only one who cares about long term hearing). Not only do I always have them in my bag, I've also discussed the issue with the band multiple times and although I haven't completely won them over, we are less loud than we use to be. When we creep up I call them out and ask them to turn down. THey are fine with that so it works. We've also started practicing through headphones (we don't have an IEM system) and running the vocals through the headphones has brought our overall volume down a lot. But yes, if you like the band then try good earplugs. The cheap ones suck. Earasers have worked for me.
 
#71
Crater said:
Anyone have experience using ... brand of noise-reducing earplugs?
Click to expand...

When I first started rehearsing/gigging I went to an audiologist and had ear plugs molded to fit my ears. They have 3 settings (full plug, filter or open) and I am happy to report I have no hearing loss at all. Meanwhile, my band mates are always complaining of constant "ringing". I should add that all of them prefer much higher volume settings than I do. Hearing loss is no joke and once it's gone, you can't get it back. Those plugs were $180 well spent.
 
#72
I've been using hearos lately, they're nice for practice and shows so far. Our drummer and guitar are super loud so its pretty much a must have for me to play with these guys. Any time I'm going anywhere with amplified music they come with me, the decibel chart someone posted earlier is pretty spot on for where hearing damage starts to happen.

My mother lost her hearing from lots of loud rock and blues shows and not using hearing protection. She'd go out to them 2-4x a week and the damage adds up over time.
I also work with a lot of machinists who lost their hearing from loud air tools, grinders, saws, mills, etc.

Take care of your ears!!!
 
#74
Crater said:
I'm on the verge of quitting the band I'm in. I play guitar in this band, I'm a second banana/sideman. We're all 50+ years old, and the band is definitely a 'hobby band' - so no money will be left on the table if I choose to leave. And my bandmates are super nice people, no problems there either.

But there IS a volume war. Guitarist #1 has a known, diagnosed hearing loss. Drummer plays LOUD. The 'singer' (we're supposedly a punk band) screams and yells in the mic, and the PA is set to be loud enough but just short of feeding back. I'm sick of having my ears rings for hours after practice, and I've been noticing the beginnings of tinnitus lately.

Anyone have experience using "Hearos" or another brand of noise-reducing earplugs? I'm anticipating a loss of clarity, especially the ability to hear my own playing clearly, but I think I can adapt since I'm primarily the rhythm guitarist.
Click to expand...
Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs live sound forum is all over it.
 

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