What ear protection are you using?

[Speedbird]

20+ years in the Army as a Mortarman I've lost ~20% of some frequencies, but could have been a LOT worse. Forgive me if this is repetitive. BLUF:
- Use ear pro consistently. Hearing loss is cumulative
- The cheaper super squishy ones are my choice, they are comfortable and cheap, toss them regularly. Loose a pair? so what
- Fancier, harder, fitted ones were never comfortable for me, plus I was conscious of loosing them etc.

 

[BuhoNevado5]

While I am a devoted user of Earasers, i can understand that they are not for everyone. However, they are convenient to carry around in one of their aluminum egg-shaped cases and i make sure to have a pair on my keychain and in my backpacks or in each bass case.

During a year-long tour with Strand of Oaks, the organization Musicares had a booth at the Boston Calling Festival and were making custom ear molds, for free, for every performer that wanted them. They sent me a pair of custom ear plugs made from that mold. I rarely wear them, as they are not as convenient to carry around, like the Earasers, but they work extremely well…maybe too well. I would highly recommend reaching out to them to see if they still do this, as having a pair of earplugs made to fit your ears…for free…is totally worth the effort, and those molds can be used if you chose to have custom drivers made from Westone or others.

Someone else here mentioned Westone IEM’s and i will second them…I bought a pair of the AM Pro X30, which still allow enough of the ambience in, so you can hear the music and your band mates, but minimize the levels and damage. I would run those into a Sony or Sennheiser setup.

For years i never wore hearing protection, but when i think of what life would be like without my hearing, i can’t imagine being foolish enough to risk losing it. Any protection is better than none at all, even if it is slightly uncomfortable for the brief period you are wearing them.

 

[klattman]

I use custom-mold earplugs made by Sensaphonics. My left ear canal has unevenness, and off-the-shelf plastic earplugs don't fit well.

Same here. A perfect seal and good filter is worth it as it turns down the volume without completely screwing up the relative frequencies you hear.

 

[ryco]

volume knob.

 

[factorplayer]

volume knob.

Oh does your drummer have one?

 

[ryco]

I guess loud drums don't bother my ears much.

 

[JazznFunk]

volume knob.

Drummers don't have them, and guitarists don't know what to do with them. And if you have hyperacusis, or certain very sensitive frequency points in your hearing like I do, even 'quiet' cymbals and guitars can feel like a knife stabbing your eardrum without attenuation.

 

[andare]

I guess loud drums don't bother my ears much.

Not now. Then one day it'll be too late. Do you want to live with tinnitus? With constant noise in your ears that doesn't let you fall asleep and enjoy listening to music?

Please buy ear protection immediately and wear it every time you rehearse, gig and attend concerts, especially in small rooms.

 

[brianrost]

I went to an audiologist and got fitted plugs about 35 years ago.

My emergency backups are Etymotic Audio ER-20. I keep a pair in every gig bag and one in my car. They don’t sound quite as good as the fitted plus, but they are a lot cheaper.

 

[Kevin Doyle]

Anyone ever tried the Etymotic active ones ?