Ear plugs or not?

[tbaumgartner]

I am curious, how many of you working pickers are able to use ear plugs to protect your hearing and what kind of plugs do you use?

I have tried a variety of types and finally broke down and spent $150 on a custom made set of silicone plugs with attentuators by Westone. I was reassured that the db reduction for the most part, would be flat across the EQ spectrum. Probably like most of you, unless my tone is perfect, I aint happy. And even with these expensive plugs, my tone seems too altered to live with.

I play 6 nights a week and loud drummers and vocal wedges are out of my control, so I got to come up with a livable way to protect my hearing.

Please share your thoughts and experiences.

[maestrovert]

i've been using Norton Sonics for at least a couple of decades now.....
i absolutely refuse to play or attend shows without 'em !

[Tele Fan]

I just always bought what was on sale when I was playing big enough shows to need plugs. Of course I was living on cigarettes and roman noodles at the time to.

[Cole]

I don't play in loud bands anymore, so don't use them when I play. However I've attended a few concerts that I should have brought a pair with me!

I always use plugs when I go target shooting...

[BroadMaster]

The Nortons are my choice ,too. For my perspective ,I've learned to live with the altered perception of my tone thru plugs. The alternative is hearing loss, so it's a no brainer, to me.

[Califiddler]

I went to an audiologist and got the $150 Westones. I use 15db attenuators, which are enough. I use them for practices and gigs unless we're playing outdoors, where the sound isn't confined to a small area. It took a while to get used to them, but now I can even sing lead or harmonies with them in. Highly recommended.

[Radspin]

I went to an audiologist and had custom-molded earplugs made, with removable noise filters. The filters are available in various degrees of attenuation and they work really well across the frequency spectrum--you don't get that muffled-highs effect you get with foam plugs, cotton etc.

One thing to be aware of, though--your voice sounds strange and muffled and like it's coming from inside your head when you wear these types of ear plugs--for me, it's impossible to sing background vocals while wearing these plugs. (My voice sounds bad anyway, but that's another story :-}).

I can't emphasize this enough, especially to the younger folks on this board--protect your hearing! I foolishly didn't when I was younger, playing in blastingly loud bands and attending concerts where the bands played at ridiculously high volumes--and now I'm paying for it with significant hearing loss and tinnitus.

[ehren]

I've been wearing plugs for about 5 yrs now. I've tried all sorts from really expensive to super cheap and the one thing I've discovered is that you have to force yourself to wear them whenever you practice or play gigs, i.e., when it's loud. You can't go back and forth thinking that you'll get used to them slowly, you have to just use them until it's normal. Now I actually prefer to sing with them in as I have learned to stay in pitch better with them in. Without them things sound so incredibly loud.

[Edutainment]

My friend's been playing drums for just over a year and he told me he's already started to notice a bit of hearing loss. Now he never plays without 'em, and I try to have a pair with me when we jam. I just use cheap foamy ones.

[68tele]

The key is to put your earplugs in BEFORE you play a single note. This way your not to deflated by the altered sound.

[woodman]

remember the stock line in the old horror films: "it's too late for me, but you can still save yourself!" hahahahaha!

[GoldieLocks]

I've met a few professional musicians who put earplugs in as soon as they're done playing. It gives your ears a chance to cool down and not hear so much room noise (which can be more annoying than music).

I've been doing this for 10 years. My Tinnitus hasn't gotten any worse in over 15 years.
I also always wear earplugs at other peoples concerts. "If i'm gonna go deaf its gonna be from my own music".

[hockey_head]

not

[hockey_head]

what?

[gtrjones]

I use the westone's too. Won't play a gig (or go to a show) without 'em.

It took a show or two for me to 'relearn how to hear', but I'm very happy now.

[harry the filter]

I use plugs for mowing and weed-wacking, but not on stage. Huh? Yurginda Ho-Teph?! Who the hell is Yurginda Ho-Teph?!

[drewsblues]

The Etymotics were recommended to me by the fine folks in this group. I played my first gig with them two weekends ago and, for 12 bucks, they are outstanding. Great bang(?) for the buck.

Etymotic Research High Fidelity Earplugs

[graphs]

i have some similar to those and they're ok. i would like to get custom ones at some point soon though.

if i forget mine for practice, i will stuff toilet paper in my ears. i can't even concentrate on playing without, i'm too busy thinking about how much damage i'm doing.

[eddiewagner]

i use them in rehearsals but only in one ear to protect me from the noise. the other ear is free and is not pointing at the amp, so i have a nice mix. wearing both earplugs makes me feel a bit strange.