Ear Plugs - Do you protect your ears ?

[Hawk]

If you like music, and you want to hear music for the rest of your life, protect your ears.

I went to hear the Hurricanes last night. (Great job guys!). Joe and I both put in our ear plugs when the band started playing. I often carry foam plugs with me but I was telling Joe about ETY plugs. They have a relatively balanced EQ, instead of the muffled sound of foam plugs.

Here is a link to the ETY ear plugs. $12.00 a pair. The ETY company also makes a variety of headphones and musicians ear plugs. The musicians ear plugs are custom molded to you ear and inserts control the level of db reduction.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

Well worth the small investment to save your hearing.

[VENTGtr]

On and off through the years I've tried to get used to wearing earplugs and just
never could.

The last year or so, even with us not being that loud in the backline, there have
been nights where my head will just start pounding. One night in particular, I
actually felt nauseous from the head pounding. I have a slight constant ringing
all the time as it is (Wasn't always "quieter" back there) and want to prevent it
from getting worse.

A bit ago I got a couple of pair similar to these and do like them. Don't wear them
all the time when playing (Sometimes just forget as we get going) but REALLY need
to remedy that.

Good advice Hawk.

[CMOR]

Always, always, always.

Actually Randy turned me onto the Etymotic plugs over a year ago. They're not bad, def. worth the money. I used to use these ones I found at Wally-mart a few years back, Earplanes, which were pretty decent. They cut the overall volume by maybe 33db while keeping full tonal quality. But as all good things, once I caught onto them, they discontinued the line, now only selling ones that barely do anything.

I've been wearing plugs since I was 15 or 16. I actually feel funny if I play without some in. I even run sound with them. WAIT! Read on before blasting that statement. I soundcheck without and do the first couple of songs without. Then pop them in, equate the two sounds, and pull them out every so often to make sure nothing subtle is happening.

I like to think it all helps. I can usually hear pretty quiet sounds still, so I guess that's good.

Steve

[DirtySanchez]

The side effects are working on a sponsorship. That way we can hand them out to all show-goers.

[moxham123]

Back in the early 80s our drummer and I had to wear earplugs because the guitar players we had on each side of the stage played so loud, even when we were miced, that we could not take it. Unfortunately, the one guitar player started to wear earplugs and kept turning up louder because he could not hear himself and the other guitar player kept turning up after he had too many drinks. That was the only band I needed earplugs and have never used them since.

[Merge]

Back in the early 80s our drummer and I had to wear earplugs because the guitar players we had on each side of the stage played so loud, even when we were miced, that we could not take it. Unfortunately, the one guitar player started to wear earplugs and kept turning up louder because he could not hear himself and the other guitar player kept turning up after he had too many drinks. That was the only band I needed earplugs and have never used them since.

I've seen guys do that, put earplugs in and then crank the amp up to hear it. We use IEM's, and they can be dangerous also. My old lead singer used to put his beltpack on 10, and now he has tinitius. I can't put my pack up past 4-4.5. I don't know how he did it. I've started wearing earplugs at shows that I go to, just because most guys down here tend to mix in too much high end (Data Sound is the only one that doesn't do that). It's like they're trying to peel a carrot with all the high end they're running.

[Flaw]

cigarette filters work better then ear plugs.

[bassist_25]

I've started wearing earplugs at shows that I go to, just because most guys down here tend to mix in too much high end (Data Sound is the only one that doesn't do that). It's like they're trying to peel a carrot with all the high end they're running.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of those engineers are missing higher frequencies from being in the business so long. A lot of times, people stop hearing those higher frequencies, so they end up EQing in a lot of it. It usually sounds bad to people with good hearing.

[Flaw]

drumanddestroy has these 6" things that strick out of his ears when hes behind the drums!

[Merge]

I've started wearing earplugs at shows that I go to, just because most guys down here tend to mix in too much high end (Data Sound is the only one that doesn't do that). It's like they're trying to peel a carrot with all the high end they're running.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of those engineers are missing higher frequencies from being in the business so long. A lot of times, people stop hearing those higher frequencies, so they end up EQing in a lot of it. It usually sounds bad to people with good hearing.

I agree. A friend of mine does sound when his band isn't playing. He has a tendency to mix in too much high end. Also, his guitar tone has way too much high end in it. He does a good job on sound, and he's a good guitar player. If a musician is going to lose his hearing, the high frequency hearing is the first to go.

[Banned]

you guys playing are like behind those 6+ foot loudspeakers aren't you?

the best time i ever had was head banging six inches from one of those at Aldo's on a fright night! (i'm sure i am paying for it those)

my ears were ringing for 3 days....it was great!

[bassist_25]

you guys playing are like behind those 6+ foot loudspeakers aren't you?

!

There's still a lot of sound happening on stage, unless you're using IEMs and going DI on everything (e.g., Green Eggs). Albeit, it is generally not as volume-intensive behind the mains. However, some bands only run vocals through a PA. That can get loud on stage. I wore plugs in one band because we generally only ran vocals through the PA. We should have been running full FOH, at least for the guitars and kick drum. We'd gig about every two weeks. My hearing would be muffled for about a week and a half after the gig. I remember walking into Emporium and saying to Tommy, "I'm here to make the most important musical purchase of my life: A set of earplugs."

[Tegamal]

I use these:

[ToonaRockGuy]

This is something that I've struggled with for years. I'm paying the price now, unfortunately, but what's done is done.

I've tried several models of pretty decent plugs, but I just can't hear the rest of the band, along with struggling to hear what I'm playing and whether or not it''s balancing with the rest of the group. Drumming is kind of rough, since we have to constandly adjust with each stroke to what's going on (if you're that detailed oriented, that is).

I tried IEM's once and absolutely despise them with a passion. I cannot feel what I'm playing. I did a one-off sub job with a band years ago, and they used IEMs. Ripped 'em out after one song. I couldn't even tell if my snare drum was on or off. Did the rest of the gig just listening to the amps.

Give me a wedge or two behind my kit any day. I know that I'll end up struggling with my hearing (I already am to a point), but until I can find an ear-saving solution that works for me, I'll just have to deal.

[shredder138]

cigarette filters work better then ear plugs.

Twenty for six bucks.

[Flaw]

cigarette filters work better then ear plugs.

Twenty for six bucks.

rip em in half and you got 40

[Banned]

the first show i show up and you have ear plugs in..

i'm going to bust your balls big time.pussy

if you need ear plugs your audience prob needs them worse!

seriously, why would you even consider ear plugs? isn't this sending the wrong message?

[bassist_25]

the first show i show up and you have ear plugs in..

i'm going to bust your balls big time.pussy

if you need ear plugs your audience prob needs them worse!

seriously, why would you even consider ear plugs? isn't this sending the wrong message?

The audience should be wearing earplugs. Exposure to sound over 120 db for an extended period of time can permeantly damage your hearing.

1. Posting threads about national bands on a constant basis - check
2. Trying to have intelligent debate with musicians and failing - check
3. Arguing with people over music topics with no clue at all - check
4. Posts about EN_ER_GY and lasers - well, no check yet, but give it time

Yes, I definitely think Gosteelers = no surrender.

[Banned]

i'm passionate about music.. guilty as charged.

i am opininated.. guilty as charged.

i am intelligent.. guilty as charged.

i have lots of time on my hands.. guilty as charged.

i like to talk.. guilty.

when i join a group i express my opinin. talk to me. why else do we have a message board but to message one another?

if i've been over the line please tell me:(

[Banned]

maybe i have too much timeon my hands, i'm sorry

i'll try to back it down

[bassist_25]

i'm passionate about music.. guilty as charged.

i am opininated.. guilty as charged.

i am intelligent.. guilty as charged.

i have lots of time on my hands.. guilty as charged.

i like to talk.. guilty.

when i join a group i express my opinin. talk to me. why else do we have a message board but to message one another?

if i've been over the line please tell me:(

I'm not really offended or anything. You just remind of a former poster from a few years ago.

[witchhunt]

I remember watching a vid of Megadeth once and Mustaine and Ellefson were pointing and chuckling at some guys in the front row who were wearing ear plugs.

[VENTGtr]

seriously, why would you even consider ear plugs?

Because I don't want this constant "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" in my left ear to
progress to an "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!", then to that "EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"
being the only thing I can hear...

It's always a good idea to learn from the mistakes of others....and Pete
Townsend, Jeff Back, Sing, Phil Collins, Peter Frampton and many others
say to wear hearing protection...because they didn't and do a lot of "WHAT
DID HE SAY?!?!?".

Better late than never....I guess...and I'd like to keep doing this a while.

[lonewolf]

I tried IEM's once and absolutely despise them with a passion. I cannot feel what I'm playing. I did a one-off sub job with a band years ago, and they used IEMs. Ripped 'em out after one song. I couldn't even tell if my snare drum was on or off. Did the rest of the gig just listening to the amps.

Did you ever try the type of earbuds that don't seal your ear canal?

With regular earbuds (as opposed to the canal buds), you can still hear the stage volume and your drums, but at a lower level. I had the same reaction as you to canal earbuds, but when I tried the other kind, I really liked them.

On a side note: Did anyone ever call you Bugsy? lol

[Jim Price]

Considering how close I often get to the stage, I know I should wear ear protection, but usually don't. Over the years, I've experienced slight ringing in my ears from time to time, but it usually never lasts more than a few hours directly after a show.

As I've mentioned to others when discussing this topic, I can stand in front of a bigger sound system that's mixed well and experience very little ringing or problems afterward. But if it's a small system that's operated loudly by someone who doesn't know what they're doing, that's when I feel some effects.

But per Hawk's original post, consider the message received, and I'm doing something I've meant to do for some time. Just because of this thread, I have just dropped pairs of foamy ear plugs in both of my camera cases so I have them handy...especially for when I happen upon that gig with the excruciating, poorly-run small sound system.