Re: Ear problems?

mavsbball · Post by **mavsbball** » Sat May 19, 2007 8:06 pm

Just wondering what some of you guys do to protect your ears while practicing or gigging without muffling or distorting your sound which is common with ear plugs. And i have noticed ringing in my ears for a couple of days now as well.

JazzBlaster · Post by **JazzBlaster** » Sat May 19, 2007 9:04 pm

mine is a strategic move, point your amp at the drummer.

David

RumorsOFsurF · Post by **RumorsOFsurF** » Sun May 20, 2007 12:26 am

That's funny, I was thinking of posting the same question! I've tried the Hearos, but they seem to muffle certain freq's too much.(Highs, and upper mids esp.) They really work, but it's a definite trade for sound quality. My Twin Reverb is so much cleaner and brighter than my HR Deluxe, so it really messes with my ears.

http://www.hearos.com/products-00211.htm

jetset · Post by **jetset** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:10 am

I went to an audiologist who made a mold of my ears and ordered me a set of musicialns earplugs. They are like $150 for a custom fit pair and they attenuate the sound level without muffling or distorting it. I wear them at concerts all the time. Best $150 I ever spent.
-J

Post by **zhivago** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:20 am

RumorsOFsurF wrote: That's funny, I was thinking of posting the same question! I've tried the Hearos, but they seem to muffle certain freq's too much.(Highs, and upper mids esp.) They really work, but it's a definite trade for sound quality. My Twin Reverb is so much cleaner and brighter than my HR Deluxe, so it really messes with my ears.

http://www.hearos.com/products-00211.htm

I used to use these with my old band.

the new band I'm in has a drum machine, so rehearsals aren't very loud....

when we play live, I don't wear earplugs...I know I should, but it just isn't the same for me....our sets are about 30 mins long...I dunno...I guess I should get some like Jetset's

I do get ringing randomly sometimes, so I guess some damage to my hearing has already been done...

damn...I just re-read the above that I typed...I really should wear earplugs more....

RumorsOFsurF · Post by **RumorsOFsurF** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:19 am

jetset wrote: I went to an audiologist who made a mold of my ears and ordered me a set of musicialns earplugs. They are like $150 for a custom fit pair and they attenuate the sound level without muffling or distorting it. I wear them at concerts all the time. Best $150 I ever spent.
-J

If I go to an audiologist, they will know what I want? That is exactly what I need. We play five 45 min. sets some nights, and by the end, I'm ringing pretty bad!

jetset · Post by **jetset** » Sun May 20, 2007 1:52 pm

Just find an audiologist that will do musicians earplugs. They will do a full hearing test, make the molds and order the plugs. Everything was covered by my insurance except the plugs themselves. I had always had ringing in my ears after gigs, but a few years back it stopped going away. Tinitis is basically irreversable, so nip it in the bud if you can.

You can get different ratings for the plugs too - 25 dB's, 15 dB's, 9 dB's, etc. I got the 15's which are fine.
-J

flatfiver · Post by **flatfiver** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:16 pm

I use the Hearos pictured above. They work fine for me. I know it's not a perfect representation but live sound is usually a pretty big compromise anyway, and I'm not going to fuck with my ears any more than I need to: I've already lost some hearing in my left ear due to a perforated ear drum (now repaired) and recurrent infections. It ain't cool, man!

I do plan to get the custom audiologist earplugs at some point.

FireAarro · Post by **FireAarro** » Sun May 20, 2007 11:50 pm

jetset wrote: I went to an audiologist who made a mold of my ears and ordered me a set of musicialns earplugs. They are like $150 for a custom fit pair and they attenuate the sound level without muffling or distorting it. I wear them at concerts all the time. Best $150 I ever spent.
-J

How much do they stick out of your ear? I had a set of the Hearos and they stuck out of the ear too much to be comfortable in a rough crowd. I stopped using the Hearos when I lost one down the sink while cleaning it.

Post by **mynameisjonas** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:28 am

i use something similar to the hearos, but i find that those cheap yellow ones work really well if you push them in properly. if you wear them like most peolpe do (just kinda stick them in there without squeezing them into a small roll first), they let a lot of lower frequencies get through and all you hear is rumble rumble, but push them in all the way (not ALL the way, you know what i mean right?) and they kill the bass too. i gigged with them for years.
i've never gone to a concert or rehearsal without earplugs since i was about 16-17. i once read that the suicidal rate with people who suffer from serious tinnitus is really high. i really don't want to end up in that situation.

mjet · Post by **mjet** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:44 am

Ask this guy.

Superfuzz · Post by **Superfuzz** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:18 am

I've always hated earplugs, since I've used them to watch F1 when I was a kid..I definitely hate having something pushed in my ears..I think my life will go along with these rings and crackle..

jetset · Post by **jetset** » Mon May 21, 2007 7:36 am

FireAarro wrote:
jetset wrote: I went to an audiologist who made a mold of my ears and ordered me a set of musicians earplugs. They are like $150 for a custom fit pair and they attenuate the sound level without muffling or distorting it. I wear them at concerts all the time. Best $150 I ever spent.
-J
How much do they stick out of your ear? I had a set of the Hearos and they stuck out of the ear too much to be comfortable in a rough crowd. I stopped using the Hearos when I lost one down the sink while cleaning it.

Really not at all, maybe an eigth of an inch.
-J

Deckard · Post by **Deckard** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:00 am

I'm suprised there aren't a few people with some sort of in ear monitor system on here. i guess that really depends on the size of the venues you play, right?

jetset · Post by **jetset** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:31 am

Another suggestion that has worked for me is to gig with lower wattage amps. I use an old JMI Vox Ac15 for most venues. Almost all places I play mike your amp anyway, and the lower power gets you to the ear pleasing tube distortion without the ear damaging volume. I'll pull out the AC30 for larger halls or outdoor gigs, but for most, the 15 watts is plenty.
-J