Ear plugs/ear protection???

[James Lugo]

So I started rehearsing with my band and I can't do the ear plugs. I have the cheapy foam ones and when they are in I can’t really dig it, it seems like the pitches coming in are warped and making singing and playing weird. So I take the out halfway through the first song and just go wide open, then come home with ringing ears. Which doesn’t really bother me but I’m a mixer and I can’t fukk up my hearing. Is anyone using something that cuts down some of the sound but allows enough through to vibe with and doesn’t alter the pitch?

 

[MrDan666]

Here ya go James :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/musical-instrum ... B000VO8PR0

Use the lightest filters and they will reduce the damaging noise levels without screwing up all the sound. I use them and they're great!

 

[Rødskjegg]

I also use those, cheap and quite good.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

Been using these for years. WAY better than the crappy foam ones.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Been using these for years. WAY better than the crappy foam ones.

I use those. Hole in the middle to let some treble in so it is not the muffled mess of foam.

 

[philb]

Been using these for years. WAY better than the crappy foam ones.

I use those. Hole in the middle to let some treble in so it is not the muffled mess of foam.

Me too. Great plugs.

 

[Pushead]

http://www.etymotic.com/hp/er20.html

Probably the same as the Heros above, but I've used this brand for 10-15 years. I keep sets at home, practice, my gig bag and my car.

 

[metalmaniac93]

You can also go to your dr and get fitted for custom earplugs. My buddy has these for going to live concerts and playing and he swears by these and there is no apparant loss of sound/muffledness, etc. I don't use earplugs but I should!!!

 

[luther910]

My band practice through pro tools and with ordinary headphones. Works just fine and good for the hearing For live use I would use ultimate ears, but I haven't tried that yet.

 

[rlord1974]

You can also go to your dr and get fitted for custom earplugs. My buddy has these for going to live concerts and playing and he swears by these and there is no apparant loss of sound/muffledness, etc. I don't use earplugs but I should!!!

I got some of these years ago and used them for about 3 months. They do sound great; way better than anything else mentioned in the thread so far - but, they should, given that they are custom-fitted and, as such, cost significantly more. That being said, I stopped using them after about 3 months because I found it difficult to get psyched and into a show/performance when the music didn't seem loud. Maybe I'm an old dinosaur, but to me, rock music needs to be loud. Now, I just go without hearing protection and try to be responsible with stage/rehearsal volumes. My ears DO ring after every show/rehearsal. It typically goes away by noon the next day. I do have a light case of tinnitus that has not worsened over the past 10 years or so. Frankly, I think the tinnitus originated from loud, heavy-handed drumming and cymbal crashes, moreso than loud guitars.

 

[fluff191]

I used the Alpine ones for years but have recently switched to these Surefire EP4 ones:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001V2 ... UTF8&psc=1

More accurate across the frequency board to my ears.

 

[NinjaRaf]

https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research ... s=etymotic

 

[Random Hero]

I use these - http://www.acscustom.com/uk/index.php?o ... &Itemid=52

The cheaper ones are ok but they still don't offer a flat response, IMO. The moulded versions aren't perfect but they are so much better. Very comfy too.

 

[blackba]

I used the hi-fi hearos, they work great. In all the bands I have been in, I have always been the only one to wear ear plugs.

When wearing ear plugs, care has to be taken when EQing your rig. I try to Eq it without the plugs, then only adjust slightly with them in if needed.

 

[James Lugo]

Thanks guys, I just ordered a couple of the earplugs suggested on this thread. I will report back.

 

[syncrodude007]

http://www.etymotic.com/hp/er20.html

Probably the same as the Heros above, but I've used this brand for 10-15 years. I keep sets at home, practice, my gig bag and my car.

X2

 

[D-Rock]

One of my ears crackles with high volumes. Sucks. I wear plugs most of the time too.

 

[Psychotronic]

You can also go to your dr and get fitted for custom earplugs. My buddy has these for going to live concerts and playing and he swears by these and there is no apparant loss of sound/muffledness, etc. I don't use earplugs but I should!!!

I got some of these years ago and used them for about 3 months. They do sound great; way better than anything else mentioned in the thread so far - but, they should, given that they are custom-fitted and, as such, cost significantly more. That being said, I stopped using them after about 3 months because I found it difficult to get psyched and into a show/performance when the music didn't seem loud. Maybe I'm an old dinosaur, but to me, rock music needs to be loud. Now, I just go without hearing protection and try to be responsible with stage/rehearsal volumes. My ears DO ring after every show/rehearsal. It typically goes away by noon the next day. I do have a light case of tinnitus that has not worsened over the past 10 years or so. Frankly, I think the tinnitus originated from loud, heavy-handed drumming and cymbal crashes, moreso than loud guitars.

You do know that you can swap out the noise filters for different dB amounts, right? Just get a lower filter.

 

[rupe]

You can also go to your dr and get fitted for custom earplugs. My buddy has these for going to live concerts and playing and he swears by these and there is no apparant loss of sound/muffledness, etc. I don't use earplugs but I should!!!

I got some of these years ago and used them for about 3 months. They do sound great; way better than anything else mentioned in the thread so far - but, they should, given that they are custom-fitted and, as such, cost significantly more. That being said, I stopped using them after about 3 months because I found it difficult to get psyched and into a show/performance when the music didn't seem loud. Maybe I'm an old dinosaur, but to me, rock music needs to be loud. Now, I just go without hearing protection and try to be responsible with stage/rehearsal volumes. My ears DO ring after every show/rehearsal. It typically goes away by noon the next day. I do have a light case of tinnitus that has not worsened over the past 10 years or so. Frankly, I think the tinnitus originated from loud, heavy-handed drumming and cymbal crashes, moreso than loud guitars.

That mirrors my experience exactly, only I took mine out during the first set of the first gig that I used them on and haven't touched them since. The plus side is that they do exactly what they are supposed to...lower the volume while retaining all the frequencies.

I have rehearsal tonight and plan to start using them again as my Tinnitus has been a bit worse lately than it typically is. After seeing what my Dad is going through with the same ailment (he's in the top 5% of worst cases...actually potentially suicidal due to the constant screaming sound in his ears...he's been heavily medicated since last November), I don't want to take any more chances.

 

[guitarmike]

Been using these for years. WAY better than the crappy foam ones.

I use those. Hole in the middle to let some treble in so it is not the muffled mess of foam.

Me too. Great plugs.

I have had a pair of these for years. I use them at concerts and whenever I can't use in ear monitors.